Understanding Toxoplasmosis: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
School
Pennsylvania State University, World Campus**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
SC 135N
Subject
Biology
Date
Dec 11, 2024
Pages
2
Uploaded by HighnessDiscoveryCrane44
TOXOPLASMOSIS (Toxoplasma gondii):1.Ecological environment where this parasitic disease is located. (For example, tropical areas, wetlands, etc.) Toxoplasma gondii oocysts can be found in water, soil, and food. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7033973/2.The country, region within a country, or a single city you choose to study. France because it hadthe highest number of reported cases. http://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/AER_for_2015-toxoplasmosis.pdf3.What is the preferred host of this parasite or hosts if it infects multiple organisms during its lifecycle? Felidae (cats) are the preferred and only host of toxoplasmosis as it is the only animal thatcan sexually reproduce the parasite. https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/toxoplasmosis/index.html#:~:text=The%20only%20known%20definitive%20hosts,large%20numbers%20may%2020be%20shed.4.What are the symptoms of the infection? Symptoms of toxoplasmosis is swollen lymph glands, muscle aches and pains, headache, fever, inflammation of the lungs, hear muscle and eyes. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/toxoplasmosis5.What is the treatment for this infection? People who have a healthy immune system who are not pregnant often recover from toxoplasmosis without treatment. If treatment is needed, the recommendation is a combo of drugs such as pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, plus folinic acid.https://www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/treatment/index.html#:~:text=Treatment%20Options,-Healthy%20people&text=People%20with%20healthy%20immune%20systems%20who%20are%20not%20pregnant%20often,and%20sulfadiazine%2C%20plus%20folinic%20acid.6.Can a host be reinfected with this same parasite - can you get sick multiple times throughout your life? Typically, if a person has a healthy immune system they can not be reinfected with toxoplasmosis, but there have been reports of people who have gotten infected more than once.https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/toxoplasmosis-pregnancy/#:~:text=In%20most%20cases%2C%20once%20you,develop%20another%20active%20toxoplasmosis%20infection.7.How could the infection rate in this community be lowered? A reduction of T. gondii in meant, improvements in hygiene and food preparation practices and a reduction of environmental contaminations can prevent toxoplasmosis, but more research is needed on how to implement these measures.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4015566/#:~:text=Reduction%20of%20T.,how%20to%20implement%20these%20measures.8.Are there correlations between the disease and the local economy or social structure of the region where it is found? The annual economic impact of toxoplasmosis in the US is estimated to be $7.7 billion.
https://academic.oup.com/aje/article-abstract/154/4/357/62015?redirectedFrom=fulltext