GC: n
S: NCBI – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563286/ (last access: 3 March 2025); CDC – https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/toxoplasmosis/index.html (last access: 3 March 2025).
N: 1. From toxoplasma, form of Greek of toxon + plasma + osis.
2. Infection by the protozoon Toxoplasma gondii, transmitted in oocysts in the feces of cats (the definitive host), usually by contaminated soil, exposure to feces, tissue cysts in the infected meat, or tachyzoites in blood. Most human infections are asymptomatic; when symptoms do occur, they are often a mild disease resembling mononucleosis. Occasionally toxoplasmosis becomes a fulminating, disseminated disease, usually in an immunocompromised patient or a fetus infected transplacentally; this may cause extensive damage to the brain, eyes, skeletal muscles, heart, liver or lungs. In domestic animals, toxoplasmosis may be any of several nonfatal conditions such as a type of infectious abortion in ewes.
3. toxoplasmosis, infection of cells of the central nervous system, spleen, liver, and other organs by a parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Infection occurs in domestic and wild animals, birds, and humans and is worldwide in distribution. It is estimated that 30 to 50 percent of the world’s human population carries demonstrable antibodies (indicating previous exposure), but overt symptoms are rare in adults. Swollen glands and fever are the most common findings in those who have any symptoms.
Organisms of the genus Toxoplasma reproduce by fission or internal budding. They move by a gliding motion, lacking either flagella or pseudopodia. They are classified in the family Sarcocystidae, which contains organisms known to have complex life histories; in the case of T. gondii, this centres on its ability to switch from a proliferative stage to a dormant stage, with the formation of latent tissue cysts that allow the organism to persist in the host.
There are several ways in which T. gondii can be transmitted. These include congenital transmission, passed from a pregnant woman to a fetus through the placenta; foodborne transmission, such as via consumption of undercooked contaminated meat; zoonotic transmission, from accidental ingestion of oocysts, which can occur after handling contaminated soil or cat litter; and, rarely, transmission by blood transfusion or organ transplantation. Toxoplasmosis acquired during pregnancy may result in stillbirth, miscarriage, or spontaneous abortion; infected infants may show various symptoms including jaundice, encephalitis, mental defects, and eye disease. Siblings of an infected infant are usually normal.
4. Cultural interrelation: In the Scottish film Trainspotting of 1996, directed by Danny Boyle, based on the novel with the same title, written by Irvine Welsh in 1993, one of the main characters, “Tommy” died of toxoplasmosis. In this particular case, the disease formed a large abscess (pocket of infected tissue) in Tommy’s brain, which likely caused one or more seizures and interfered enough with his brain function to kill him. As we have seen, toxoplasmosis is especially dangerous to people who have suppressed immune systems, like Tommy who contracted HIV.
S: 1. Etymonline – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=toxoplasmosis&searchmode=none (last access: 27 November 2014). 2. DORLAND p. 1944. 3. EncBrit – https://www.britannica.com/science/toxoplasmosis (last access: 3 March 2025). 4. IMDb – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117951/faq/ (last access: 27 November 2014); FA – https://www.filmaffinity.com/uk/film959573.html (last access: 3 March 2025).
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CR: AIDS, HIV, protozoa, protozoiasis, zoonosis.
