Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasma Gondii
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Figure 1. Toxoplasmosis under microscope. Image from shorturl.at/gnuwD
Figure 1. Toxoplasmosis under microscope. Image from shorturl.at/gnuwD
Introduction
Introduction
Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii) is a protozoan parasite found living in cats (Stacey A. Elmore, et al. 2010).
Primary Literature article: T cell mediated immune responses to Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women with primary toxoplasmosis (Ignazia Prigione, et al. 2006)
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Chromista (Stacey A. Elmore, et al. 2010)
Superphylum: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Conoidasida
Order: Eucoccidiorida
Family: Sarcocystidae
Subfamily: Toxoplasmatinae
Genus: Toxoplasma
Species: Toxoplasma gondii
Figure 2. Toxoplasmosis infection cycle. Image from shorturl.at/iopRS
Figure 2. Toxoplasmosis infection cycle. Image from shorturl.at/iopRS
Background
Background
Parasite of most bird and mammal species (Stacey A. Elmore, et al. 2010)
Cats are only definitive host
Cats get T. gondii by eating infected rodents or small animals
T. gondii contaminates soil and water in the environment when cats are let outside
Obtain all resources from parasitic host (food, shelter, and other resources)
Infection occurs by ingesting contaiminated soil and water, undercooked meat, touching infected cat feces, or present from birth
Direct contact with cats is not risk for humans
Feline infection is asymptomatic
Common symptoms in cats: fever, fatigure, eye inflammation, lack of appetite/weight loss, and stoamch pain
Infection during pregnancy causes harmful disease in fetus
Figure 3. Immune response to T. Gondii in the presence of anitgens. Image from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1286457905003059
Data Analysis
Data Analysis
Immune Response to T. Gondii in Pregnant Women
Short-term cultures of blood samples from pregnant women (Ignazia Prigione, et al. 2006)
T cells in patients with primary toxoplasmosis increased rapidly to the major antigens
CD4+ T cell blasts killed both ESA and tachyzoite infections (outside the body)
SAG-1 T cells did not proliferate in the presence of rIL-2
TCRγδ+, TCRαβ+ and CD8+ cells were found to kill Tg-infected cells rapidly
Positive link between these cells and immune response to T. gondii
Primary Tg infection leads to an overproduction of Th-1 to fight infection
This increases risk of unsuccessful pregnancy
Conclusion
Vitro responses against T. gondii were successful through type 1 T helper cells (Th1) (Ignazia Prigione, et al. 2006)
Parasite left unchanged in presence of progesterone
Cytokine production allows the infection to spread through increased transplacental passageways
Improved knowledge in subject but did not conclude an effective outcome for immunity.
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