Toxoplasmosis

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Toxoplasmosis gondii
From: http://www.oculist.net/downaton502/prof/ebook/duanes/pages/v4/v4c046.html

The only definitive hosts for Toxoplasmosis gondii are cats.
From: http://www.economist.com/node/16271339

Description/Etiology/Taxonomy

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate, intracellular parasitic protozoan that infects most species of warm blooded animals, including humans, and is the causative agent of the disease Toxoplasmosis. While T. gondii may infect humans and cause disease, the only host in which the protozoa may complete its life cycle are family Felidae, more commonly known as domestic cats and their relatives. [1]

Taxonomy of Toxoplasma gondii
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom:Chromalveolata
Superphylum: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Conoidasida
Subclass: Coccidiasina
Order: Eucoccidiorida
Family: Sarcocystidae
Subfamily: Toxoplasmatinae
Genus: Toxoplasma
Species: Toxoplasma gondii

Pathogenesis

Toxoplasma gondii life cycle. From: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/biology.html

Transmission
Lifecycle
The only hosts in which "Toxoplasma gondii" can mature and reproduce are members of the family Felidae. Infected domestic cats (and those related to them) will shed large numbers of unsporulated oocysts in their feces for approximately one to two weeks. Oocysts released into the environment take from one to five days to form spores and become capable of causing infection. Intermediate hosts, commonly birds and rodents as they are typical prey of felines, may then become infected by consuming materials contaminated with "T. gondii" spores. After ingestion, oocysts develop into tachyzoites which localize in neural and muscle tissues to develop into cyst bradyzoites. Members of the family Felidae become infected after consuming intermediate hosts that have these cysts in their tissues. Additionally, other animals may become infected with cysts after ingesting "T. gondii" spores from the environment.

Infecting humans

Colonization

b>Infectious dose/Incubation period

Virulence factors</b

Clinical features

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Host Immune Response

References

1 Centers for Disease Control (CDC). General Information Toxoplasmosis. Page last updated: January 10, 2013

SAMPLE REFERENCES

1 Centers for Disease Control (CDC). General Information Salmonella.Page last updated: April 5, 2012
2 Shannon E. Majowicz, Jennie Musto, Elaine Scallan, Frederick J. Angulo, Martyn Kirk, Sarah J. O'Brien, Timothy F. Jones, Aamir Fazil, Robert M. Hoekstra The Global Burden of Nontyphoidal Salmonella Gastroenteritis.Oxford Journals. Medicine Clinical Infectious Diseases. Food Safety. Volume 50, Issue 6Pp. 882-889.
3 Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Newport Infections Linked to Cantaloupe (Final Update). Posted October 5, 2012 3:15 PM ET
4 Mayo Clinic Staff. Salmonella infection. April 16, 2011.
5 Marler Clark. PHow is Salmonella Infection Diagnosed? 2005-2013.
6 Juan Miguel Morata. Different Types of Agar.
7 National Institue of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Staff. Salmonellosis.
8 Wikipedia entry: Salmonella. page was last modified on 16 July 2013
9 Giannella RA. Salmonella. In: Baron S, editor "'Medical Microbiology. 4th edition. Galveston (TX): University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 1996. Chapter 21

Created by Magdalene C. Shaughnessy, student of Tyrrell Conway at the University of Oklahoma