Toxoplasma gondii

It has been suggested that Tachyzoite, Tachyzoites and Bradyzoite be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Toxoplasma Gondii
T. gondii tachyzoites
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Protista Phylum: Apicomplexa Class: Conoidasida Subclass: Coccidiasina Order: Eucoccidiorida Family: Sarcocystidae Genus: Toxoplasma Species: T. gondii
Binomial name
Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle & Manceaux, 1908)

Toxoplasma gondii is a species of parasitic protozoa in the genus Toxoplasma.^[1] The definitive host of T. gondii is the cat, but the parasite can be carried by the vast majority of warm-blooded animals, including humans. The causative agent of Toxoplasmosis, the disease is usually minor and self-limiting but can have serious or even fatal effects on a fetus whose mother first contracts the disease during pregnancy or on an immunocompromised human or cat.

Life cycle

The life cycle of T. gondii has two phases. The sexual part of the life cycle (coccidia like) takes place only in members of the Felidae family (domestic and wild cats), which makes these animals the parasite's primary host. The asexual part of the life cycle can take place in any warm-blooded animal, like other mammals (including felines) and birds.

T. gondii constructing daughter scaffolds within the mother cell.

In the intermediate hosts (including felines), the parasite invades cells, forming intracellular so-called parasitophorous vacuoles containing bradyzoites, the slowly replicating form of the parasite.^[2]. Vacuoles form tissue cysts mainly within the muscles and brain. Since they are within cells, the host's immune system does not detect these cysts. Resistance to antibiotics varies, but the cysts are very difficult to eradicate entirely. Within these vacuoles T. gondii propagates by a series of binary fissions until the infected cell eventually bursts and tachyzoites are released. Tachyzoites are the motile, asexually reproducing form of the parasite. Unlike the bradyzoites, the free tachyzoites are usually efficiently cleared by the host's immune response, although some manage to infect cells and form bradyzoites, thus maintaining the infection.

Tissue cysts are ingested by a cat (e.g., by feeding on an infected mouse). The cysts survive passage through the stomach of the cat and the parasites infect epithelial cells of the small intestine where they undergo sexual reproduction and oocyst formation. Oocysts are shed with the feces. Animals and humans that ingest oocysts (e.g., by eating unwashed vegetables etc.) or tissue cysts in improperly cooked meat become infected. The parasite enters macrophages in the intestinal lining and is distributed via the blood stream throughout the body.

Acute stage toxoplasma infections can be asymptomatic, but often gives flu-like symptoms in the early acute stages, and like flu can become, in very rare cases, fatal. The acute stage fades in a few days to months, leading to the latent stage. Latent infection is normally asymptomatic; however, in the case of immunocompromised patients (such as those infected with HIV or transplant recipients on immunosuppressive therapy), toxoplasmosis can develop. The most notable manifestation of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients is toxoplasmic encephalitis, which can be deadly. If infection with T. gondii occurs for the first time during pregnancy, the parasite can cross the placenta, possibly leading to hydrocephalus, intracranial calcification, and chorioretinitis, with the possibility of spontaneous abortion or intrauterine death.

Toxoplasmosis

Main article: Toxoplasmosis

T. gondii infections have the ability to change the behavior of rats and mice, making them drawn to rather than fearful of the scent of cats. This effect is advantageous to the parasite, which will be able to sexually reproduce if its host is eaten by a cat. ^[3] The infection is almost surgical in its precision, as it does not impact a rat's other fears such as the fear of open spaces or of unfamiliar smelling food. There has been speculation that human behavior may also be affected in some ways, and correlations have been found between latent Toxoplasma infections and various characteristics such as increased risk taking behavior, slower reactions, feelings of insecurity, and neuroticism. ^[4]

Several independent pieces of evidence point towards a possible role of Toxoplasma infection in some cases of schizophrenia and paranoia, but this theory does not seem to account for many cases.^[5] A recent study has indicated toxoplasmosis is also correlated strongly with an increase in boy births in humans, leading to an alteration of the human sex proportion.^[6] According to the researchers, "depending on the antibody concentration, the probability of the birth of a boy can increase up to a value of 0.72 ... which means that for every 260 boys born, 100 girls are born." The study also notes a mean rate of 0.60 to 0.65 (as opposed to the normal 0.51) for Toxoplasma positive mothers.

References

External links

• ToxoDB : The Toxoplasma gondii genome resource
• Toxoplasma images, from CDC's DPDx, in the public domain
• Toxoplasma in Live Science
• Cytoskeletal Components of an Invasion Machine—The Apical Complex of Toxoplasma gondii
• The Culture-Shaping Parasites, in Seed Magazine
• Parasite 'turns women into sex kittens' - Toxoplasma gondii allegedly makes women more attractive and men more stupid
• Toxoplasma news and researchers blog The Anti-Toxo
• Sneaky Parasite Attracts Rats to Cats, All Things Considered, April 14, 2007

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