Fwd: Division of Parasitic Diseases - Toxoplasmosis Fact Sheet

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>Subject: Division of Parasitic Diseases - Toxoplasmosis Fact Sheet

>Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 15:24:56 -0400

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>Division of Parasitic Diseases - Toxoplasmosis Fact Sheet

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> Toxoplasmosis

> (TOX-o-plaz-MO-sis)

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> What is toxoplasmosis?

> Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a single-celled parasite

>named Toxoplasma gondii. It is found throughout the world. More than 60

>million people in the United States probably are infected with the

>Toxoplasma parasite, but very few have symptoms because the immune system

>usually keeps the parasite from causing illness.

>

> How can I get toxoplasmosis?

> a.. You can become infected after accidentally ingesting

>(swallowing) infective Toxoplasma eggs from soil or other contaminated

>surfaces. This can happen by putting your hands to your mouth after

>gardening, cleaning a cat’s litter box, or by touching anything that has

>come into contact with cat feces.

>

> b.. If you are pregnant when first infected with Toxoplasma, you

>can pass infection to your baby.

>

> c.. If you have eaten raw or partly cooked meat, especially pork,

>lamb, or venison, or if you have touched your hands to your mouth after

>touching the meat.

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> d.. Through organ transplantation or transfusion, although these

>instances are rare.

>

> What are the symptoms of toxoplasmosis?

> You may feel like you have the " flu, " swollen lymph glands, or

>muscle aches and pains that last for a few days to several weeks. However,

>most people who become infected with toxoplasmosis don’t know it. On the

>other hand, people with immune system problems, such as those with

>HIV/AIDS, those taking certain types of chemotherapy, or persons who have

>recently received an organ transplant, and infants, may develop severe

>toxoplasmosis, which results in damage to the eye or the brain. Infants who

>became infected before birth can be born retarded or with several other

>serious mental or physical problems.

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> How do I know if I have toxoplasmosis?

> See your health care provider who will order a blood sample to be

>taken.

>

> Who is at risk for severe toxoplasmosis?

> a.. Babies born to mothers who are FIRST exposed to Toxoplasma

>infection several months before or DURING pregnancy are at risk for severe

>disease. However, many exposed infants have no symptoms at all. Mothers who

>are first exposed to Toxoplasma more than 6 months before becoming pregnant

>are not likely to pass the infection to their children.

>

> b.. Persons with severely weakened immune systems are at greater

>risk for severe toxoplasmosis. In such cases, an infection that occurred

>anytime during life can reactivate and cause the severe symptoms of

>toxoplasmosis such as damage to the eye or brain.

>

> How can I prevent toxoplasmosis?

> Because Toxoplasma infections usually cause no symptoms or only mild

>symptoms, and your immune system keeps any remaining parasites in your body

>from causing further symptoms, most people don’t need to worry about

>getting it. However, if you have a weakened immune system or are pregnant,

>there are several steps you should take to prevent toxoplasmosis.

>

> a.. If you have a weakened immune system, get the blood test for

>Toxoplasma. If your test is positive, your doctor can tell you if and when

>you need to take medicine to prevent the infection from reactivating. If

>your test is negative, you can take precautions to avoid infection.

>

> b.. If you are planning on becoming pregnant, you may consider

>being tested for Toxoplasma. If the test is positive there is no need to

>worry about passing the infection to your baby. If the test is negative,

>take necessary precautions to avoid infection.

>

> c.. If you are already pregnant, you and your health care provider

>should discuss your risk of toxoplasmosis. Your health care provider may

>order a blood sample for testing.

>

> d.. Wear gloves when you garden or do anything outdoors that

>involves handling soil. Cats, who may pass the parasite in their feces,

>often use gardens and sandboxes as litter boxes. Wash your hands well with

>soap and warm water after outdoor activities, especially before you eat or

>prepare any food.

>

> e.. Have someone who is healthy and not pregnant handle raw meat

>for you. If this is not possible, wear clean latex gloves when you touch

>raw meat and wash any cutting boards, sinks, knives, and other utensils

>that might have touched the raw meat. Wash your hands well with soap and

>warm water afterwards.

>

> f.. Cook all meat thoroughly, that is, until it is no longer pink

>in the center or until the juices run clear. Don’t sample meat before it is

>fully cooked.

>

> Am I able to keep my cat?

> Yes, but if you have a weakened immune system or are pregnant there

>are some steps to take to avoid being exposed to Toxoplasma.

>

> a.. Help prevent your cat from getting infected with Toxoplasma.

>Keep cats indoors and feed them dry or canned cat food. Cats can become

>infected by eating or being fed raw or undercooked meat.

>

> b.. Don’t bring a new cat into your house that might have been an

>outdoor cat or might have been fed raw meat. Avoid handling stray cats and

>kittens. Your vet can answer any other questions you may have regarding

>your cat and risk for toxoplasmosis.

>

> c.. Have someone who is healthy and not pregnant change your cat’s

>litter box. If this is not possible, wear gloves and clean the litter box

>daily (the parasite found in cat feces can only infect you a few days after

>being passed). Wash your hands well with soap and warm water afterwards.

>

> Once infected with Toxoplasma is my cat always able to spread the

>infection to me?

> No. Cats can only spread Toxoplasma in their feces for a few weeks

>after they are first infected with the parasite. Like humans, cats rarely

>have symptoms when first infected, so most people don’t know if their cat

>has been exposed to Toxoplasma. There are no good tests available to

>determine if your cat is passing Toxoplasma in its feces.

>

> What is the treatment for toxoplasmosis?

> Once a diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is confirmed, you and your health

>care provider can discuss whether treatment is necessary. In an otherwise

>healthy person who is not pregnant, treatment is not needed. Symptoms will

>usually go away within a few weeks. For pregnant women or persons who have

>weakened immune systems, drugs are available to treat toxoplasmosis.

>

> For more information:

> 1.. Frenkel JK. Toxoplasmosis in human beings. JAVMA

>1990;196:240-8.

>

> 2.. Frenkel JK, Dubey JP. Toxoplasmosis and its prevention in cats

>and man. J Infect Dis 1972;126:664-73.

>

> 3.. s FO, Jr., Kovacs JA, Luft BJ. Preventing toxoplasmic

>encephalitis in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Clin

>Infect Dis 1995;21(Suppl1):S49-56.

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> *This information prepared in association with the American

>Association of Veterinary Parasitologists (AAVP).

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> This fact sheet is for information only and is not meant to be used

>for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care

>provider. If you have any questions about the disease described above or

>think that you may have a parasitic infection, consult a health care

>provider.

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> This page last reviewed August 15, 1999

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> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

> National Center for Infectious Diseases

> Division of Parasitic Diseases

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