Congenital Toxoplasmosis In Humans And Domestic Animals

Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Humans and Domestic Animals presents information about Toxoplasma gondii and its infection in neonates and different animals (cats, cattle, dogs, goats, pigs and sheep). Readers will have quick access to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, reproductive disorders (such as abortion, neonatal mortality and prematurity) and treatment of both human and veterinary toxoplasmosis. In addition, important aspects for control programs of congenital toxoplasmosis and for maternal and neonatal screening in such control programs are discussed. Thus readers will be better equipped to conduct prevention programmes and routine diagnosis of zoonotic infections related to T. gondii. This handbook is of interest to epidemiologists, doctors, veterinarians and public health specialists.

Found worldwide from Alaska to Australasia, Toxoplasma gondii knows no geographic boundaries. The protozoan is the source of one of the most common parasitic infections in humans, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife, and has gained notoriety with its inclusion on the list of potential bioterrorism microbes. In the two decades since the publi

Scientific motivation to publish this book comes from the increased interest in the study of toxoplasmosis, showed all over the world. Though the Toxoplasma gondii infection was first discovered in 1908, toxoplasmosis remains a today's research topic, a realm of questions and dilemmas that interest both the veterinarians and the human doctors. Studies in the field are directed to the epidemiology of the disease, the sources of infection, epidemiological chains, being underlined the important feature in the transmission of this parasite: the ability to pass from one intermediate host to another intermediate host without passing through the final host - felids. An increased prevalence of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals, as well as the difficulty of coproscopic diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in cats, expensive serological examinations in both animals and humans, lack of diagnostic methods accessible to veterinarians in slaughterhouses, cultural and culinary differences of human patients, which can influence the prevalence of the disease, motivate the scientific and practical importance of the proposed book and reveal the importance of this topic for animal and human health. So, the proposed book will contain informations regarding the etiology and history of Toxoplasma gondii infection and also the parasite's morphology and biology. This work will contain a very detailed epidemiology of the toxoplasmosis from all over the world and for all species of animals. This chapter will include also personal findings of the authors about the Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in domestic animals from Romania. In the last part of the book we will present the main methods for toxoplasma diagnosis. At the end of the book we will synthesize the main routes for T. gondii infection and the recommendations for reducing toxoplasmosis seroprevalence.

Toxoplasmosis, a world-wide infection of animals and humans, may produce severe congenital abnormalities in pregnancy, while among the immunocompromised (malignancies, organ transplant, or human immunodeficiency virus infection), death may result. Toxoplasmosis is likely to become more common, and those who manage high-risk patients must be aware of the infection, and the latest techniques for minimizing its serious complications. Women need testing consistent with medical defence advice as well as advice on avoiding infection. This comprehensive volume contains chapters on the history of toxoplasmosis, its clinical features and life cycle, diagnosis management, prevention, and possible future developments. Animal infection, with its important economic and human implications, is considered separately. The appendix contains a detailed treatment of common questions that arise in pregnancy, which will help practitioners explain the condition to their patients. This important book will be of value to medical practitioners and other professionals dealing with toxoplasmosis.

This open access book analyzes the evidence linking Toxoplasma gondii to the increasing incidence of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the United States. Initially establishing that infectious agents are regularly transmitted from animals to humans, lead to human disease, and that infectious agents can cause psychosis, it then examines the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii in detail. Infecting 40 million Americans, Toxoplasma gondii is known to cause congenital infections, eye disease, and encephalitis for individuals who are immunosuppressed. It has also been shown to change the behavior of nonhuman mammals, as well as to alter some personality traits in humans. After discussing the clinical evidence linking Toxoplasma gondii to human psychosis, the book elucidates the epidemiological evidence further supporting this linkage; including the proportional increase in incidence of human psychosis as cats transitioned to domestication over 800 years. Finally, the book assesses the magnitude of the problem and suggests solutions. Parasites, Pussycats and Psychosis: The Unknown Dangers of Human Toxoplasmosis provides a comprehensive review of the evidence linking human psychosis in the United States to infections of Toxoplasma gondii. It will be of interest to infectious disease specialists, general practitioners, scientists, historians, and cat-lovers.

This 2e of Toxoplasma gondii reflects the significant advances in the field in the last 5 years, including new information on the genomics, epigenomics and proteomics of T. gondii as well as a new understanding of the population biology and genetic diversity of this organism. T. gondii remains the best model system for studying the entire Apicomplexa group of protozoans, which includes Malaria, making this new edition essential for a broad group of researchers and scientists. Toxoplasmosis is caused by a one-celled protozoan parasite known as T. gondii. The infection produces a wide range of clinical syndromes in humans, land and sea mammals, and various bird species. Most humans contract toxoplasmosis by eating contaminated, raw or undercooked meat (particularly pork), vegetables, or milk products; by coming into contact with the T. gondii eggs from cat feces; or by drinking contaminated water. The parasite damages the ocular and central nervous systems, causing behavioral and personality alterations as well as fatal necrotizing encephalitis. It is especially dangerous for the fetus of an infected pregnant woman and for individuals with compromised immune systems, such as HIV-infected patients. Completely updated, the 2e presents recent advances driven by new information on the genetics and genomics of the pathogen Provides the latest information concerning the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of toxoplasmosis Offers a single-source reference for a wide range of scientists and physicians working with this pathogen, including parasitologists, cell and molecular biologists, veterinarians, neuroscientists, physicians, and food scientists