What does toxoplasmosis do to humans?
What does toxoplasmosis do to humans?
Untreated, these infections can lead to blindness. But if your immune system is weakened, especially as a result of HIV / AIDS , toxoplasmosis can lead to seizures and life-threatening illnesses such as encephalitis — a serious brain infection. In people with AIDS , untreated encephalitis from toxoplasmosis is fatal.
How do you get infected with toxoplasmosis?
Eating undercooked, contaminated meat (especially pork, lamb, and venison) or shellfish (for example, oysters, clams or mussels). Accidental ingestion of undercooked, contaminated meat or shellfish after handling them and not washing hands thoroughly (Toxoplasma cannot be absorbed through intact skin).
Is toxoplasmosis viral or bacterial?
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a single-celled protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which usually affects warm-blooded animals, including humans. The infection is most commonly acquired from contact with cats and their feces or with raw or undercooked meat.
What are the symptoms of toxoplasmosis in humans?
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis
- Swollen lymph glands, especially around the neck.
- Muscle aches and pains.
- Headache.
- Fever.
- Generally feeling unwell.
- Inflammation of the lungs.
- Inflammation of the heart muscle.
- Inflammation of the eye, for example, the retina (at the back of the eye).
What does it mean if I have toxoplasmosis antibodies?
Abnormal results mean that you have probably been infected with the parasite. Two types of antibodies are measured, IgM and IgG: If level of IgM antibodies is raised, you likely became infected in the recent past (or current). If level of IgG antibodies is raised, you became infected sometime in the past.
What are the long term effects of toxoplasmosis?
The long-term or chronic effects of the infection result when the cysts spread to the brain and muscle cells. The cysts, which can stay in the body as long as the person lives, can rupture and cause severe illness including damage to the brain, eyes and other organs.
Does toxoplasmosis go away?
Does toxoplasmosis go away? For most people, toxoplasmosis will go away without treatment after a few weeks or months. But those people requiring treatment may need to stay on medication for weeks or months for the infection to clear.
Does Toxoplasma go away?
What happens if IgG is positive?
The presence of IgG suggests that the infection happened weeks to months in the past. It also suggests that you may no longer be infectious. IgG indicates that you may have some immunity to the virus, though you may not. How much it might protect you from getting sick with COVID-19 in the future is unknown.