By screening these retinal photographs, we estimated the prevalence of ocular toxoplasmosis at one in 150 Australians. This might seem surprisingly common, but it fits with the way people catch Toxoplasma. In addition to pet cats, Australia has huge populations of feral cats.
One in 150 Australians have retinal scars caused by the Toxoplasma parasite, according to new Flinders University analysis.
2021;11:3420), the prevalence of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis was estimated to be 0.67% or 1 per 149 persons. Conclusions: Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is common in Australian adults.
The toxoplasma parasite can infect your placenta and your baby and cause a condition called congenital toxoplasmosis, but it's very rare for this to happen. Of all babies born, between one in 10,000 and one in 30,000 are born with congenital toxoplasmosis .
In the United States it is estimated that 11% of the population 6 years and older have been infected with Toxoplasma. In various places throughout the world, it has been shown that more than 60% of some populations have been infected with Toxoplasma.
Toxoplasmosis can cause severe illness in infants infected before birth (when their mothers are newly infected just before or during pregnancy), or in persons with a weakened immune system.
The chances of getting toxoplasmosis for the first time during pregnancy are thought to be very small. Even if you do become infected for the first time during pregnancy, this doesn't necessarily mean your baby is in danger. In many cases the infection doesn't spread to the baby.
The later in your pregnancy that you get infected (third trimester), the more likely it is that your baby will also get infected. But the earlier in pregnancy you get infected, the more serious the baby's problems may be after birth. For example, your baby could have damage to the liver, brain and eyes.
How is toxoplasmosis diagnosed? Women are not routinely offered a test for toxoplasmosis as part of their antenatal care. But if you are worried, you can ask your midwife or GP for a blood test to check for the infection at any time during pregnancy.
The prevalence of oocyst shedding in cats is very low (0-1%), even though at least 15-40% of cats have been infected with Toxoplasma at some point. This means very few cats at any one time are actually able to pass their infection on to people.
You can have toxoplasmosis and have no symptoms. You might feel like you have the flu, with fever, swollen glands, headaches, fatigue or muscle pains. It can last for months. Some people get seriously ill with it.
Keep outdoor sandboxes covered. Wear gloves when gardening and during contact with soil or sand because it might be contaminated with cat feces that contain Toxoplasma. Wash hands with soap and water after gardening or contact with soil or sand. Wash your hands and safely diaper and feed your baby.
Infants born to mothers who are newly infected with Toxoplasma gondii during or just before pregnancy. Persons with severely weakened immune systems, such as individuals with AIDS, those taking certain types of chemotherapy, and those who have recently received an organ transplant.
Adults can become infected after by eating raw or undercooked meat infected with Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts. People can only become infected with Toxoplasma gondii parasites through contact with infected animal faeces (usually cat faeces).
Incubation period is 5–23 days. Symptoms can include influenza-like symptoms or a mononucleosis syndrome with prolonged fever, elevated liver enzymes, lymphadenopathy, lymphocytosis, and weakness.
Toxoplasmosis (tok-so-plaz-MOE-sis) is an infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. People often get the infection from eating undercooked meat. You can also get it from contact with cat feces. The parasite can pass to a baby during pregnancy.
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis include fever, swollen glands and muscle aches. Most people who become infected with Toxoplasma have no symptoms.
Clinical Signs
The most common symptoms of toxoplasmosis include fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy.
A toxoplasmosis test is used to detect a current or past infection with the microscopic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Most often it may be performed for: A woman prior to or during a pregnancy to determine if she has been previously exposed to Toxoplasma gondii and during a pregnancy if exposure is suspected.
Babies who become infected during the first trimester of pregnancy usually have the most severe symptoms. However, detecting TOXO early and beginning proper treatment immediately may help prevent some of the severe health outcomes associated with the infection. This is why newborn screening for TOXO is so important.
Pregnant women should, when possible, have someone else clean their cat's litter box. That's because cats can have an infection called toxoplasmosis (tok-so-plaz-MOE-sis).
As the cat feces dry, the oocysts may become aerosolized. They can thus be inhaled by a person changing cat litter or just walking in an area where cats have defecated. An outbreak of toxoplasmosis among patrons of a riding stable was thought to have occurred in this manner.
It's unlikely that your cat will give you toxoplasmosis. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "people are more likely to get [toxoplasmosis] from eating raw meat or from gardening."
It is extremely unlikely that you would pick up toxoplasmosis by petting your cat or being scratched or bitten by your cat, because the organism is not spread by the fur or saliva. You CAN, however, pick up toxoplasmosis by eating undercooked infected meat, particularly lamb and pork.
While T. gondii can infect anyone, most people won't have symptoms. Your body usually fights off the parasite without you knowing it was there. Toxoplasmosis is most dangerous in pregnancy and for those with weakened immune systems, like people living with HIV or cancer.