Toxoplasma Infection

Naot Y, Desmonts G, Remington JS IgM enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasma infection. J Pediatr 1981 98 32-36. 

G5. Grover, C. M., Thulliez, P, Remington, J. S., and Boothroyd, J. C., Rapid prenatal diagnosis of congenital Toxoplasma infection by using polymerase chain reaction and amniotic fluid. J. Clin. Microbiol. 28, 2297-2301 (1990). 

The sulphonamides were the first drugs found to be effective in the treatment of systemic infections and although they do still have some specific uses, for example treatment of toxoplasma infections in patients with HIV (see page 170), they are not much used nowadays because of bacterial resistance and the development of more effective drugs, which are less toxic. Silver sulfadiazine is used topically to treat infected wounds (see Chapter 8). 

Most cases of infection with toxoplasma are self-limiting and do not need specific treatment. For treatment of toxoplasma infection of the eye (which can cause blindness) and general infection in the immunocompromized, the preferred treatment is with a combination of pyrimethamine (a folate antagonist) and sulfadiazine (a sulphonamide). 

Toxoplasma infection is common in the United Kingdom and normally causes a mild illness that can go unnoticed. In pregnancy, it can however damage the developing foetus and may cause abortion. In patients with HIV infection, toxoplasma can cause encephalitis. Pneumocystis can cause serious pneumonia, almost exclusively in AIDS patients. Both toxoplasma and pneumocystis are treated with drugs containing sulphonamides. 

A possible relationship exists between iodine deficiency and toxoplasma infection. 

Lingelbach, K. Joiner, K. A. The parsitophorous vacuole membrane surrounding Plasmodium and Toxoplasma An unusual compartment in infected cells. J. Cell Sci. 1998, 111, 1467-1475. 

Toxoplasmosis. This disease is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which normally causes an asymptomatic infection in healthy adults. This protozoan also infects a very wide variety of animals domestic cats are one source of human infection. Unlike Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma is an intracellular parasite and can invade numerous organs of infected individuals. In AIDS patients, the... 

Although inferior to pyrimethamine plus sulphonamides, both puromycin and the aminonucleoside are active against Toxoplasma gondii in vivo [403]. These drugs are also effective against Endamoeba histolytica in vitro [404], and puromycin is active against the infection in man [405]. 

Spiramycin is another macrolide, recently introduced into medicine for the treatment of toxoplasmosis, infections caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. This contains a 16-membered lactone ring (erythromycin has a 14-membered ring), and two aminosugars, o-mycaminose and o-forosamine. o-Forosamine is remarkable in having only one hydroxyl group, and that is bound up in the hemiacetal ring system. 

In combination with pyrimethamine or trimethoprim, sulfanilamides are active with respect to a few protozoal infections, including Toxoplasma, Plasmodium falciparum, and Pneumocystis carinii. 

Infections of the external eye can be caused by viruses and by bacteria from the respiratory tract such as pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae. Infections of the internal eye can be caused by the same bacteria through spread from a corneal (traumatic) ulcer or by S. aureus. The same pathogens are responsible for periorbital spread in severe sinusitis. Treponema pallidum, CMV and Toxoplasma cause intra-ocular infections. 

Toxoplasmosis is caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In the immuno-... 

Toxoplasma gondii Consumption of undercooked meat or poultry or contact with infected animals 0.7 Minimum effective dose for fresh pork... 

Hibbs, J. B., Jr., Lambert, L. H., and Remington, J. S. (1971). Resistance to murine tumors conferred by chronic infection with intracellular protozoa, Toxoplasma gondii and Bes-noitiajellisoni. J. Infect. Dis. 124, 587-592. 

Toxoplasmosis HIV-infected patients with IgG antibody to Toxoplasma and CD4 count < lOO/M L Trimethoprim- sulfamethoxazole Good... 

Kijlstra, A. 2004. Toxoplasma gondii infection in organic pig production systems. In Hovi, M.,... 

Toxoplasma Central nervous system infections (cerebral degeneration, meningoencephalitis] Pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine... 

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