DISEASE SCANNER

Global Incurable Diseases Tracker

Back to Globe
Infectious Disease

Toxoplasmosis

MODERATE

A parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Most people experience no symptoms, but can cause serious complications in pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. Transmitted through undercooked meat, cat feces, and mother-to-child.

Global Affected

2.0B

Countries

111

Symptoms

Often asymptomatic
Flu-like symptoms
Muscle aches
Swollen lymph nodes
Headache
Fever
Sore throat
Congenital: brain/eye damage

Treatment Options

Pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine + leucovorin
Pyrimethamine + clindamycin
Spiramycin (pregnancy)
Supportive care
Treatment for immunocompromised (lifelong)

Risk Factors

1Eating undercooked meat
2Exposure to cat feces
3Mother-to-child transmission
4Immunocompromised status
5Organ transplantation
6Blood transfusion (rare)
7Gardening without gloves

Diagnostic Methods

  • 1Serology (IgM, IgG)
  • 2PCR
  • 3Amniocentesis (prenatal)
  • 4Brain imaging (CNS disease)
  • 5Ophthalmologic exam
  • 6Lymph node biopsy

Prognosis

Usually excellent in healthy individuals. Congenital: severity varies from mild to severe neurological damage. Immunocompromised: can be life-threatening without treatment.

Prevention

  • Cooking meat thoroughly
  • Washing hands/vegetables
  • Avoiding cat litter during pregnancy
  • Wearing gloves when gardening
  • Screening pregnant women
  • Freezing meat

Research Status

Pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine + leucovorin for active disease. Spiramycin for pregnant women. No vaccine available. Research into parasite biology and host immunity. Link to psychiatric disorders being studied.

Affected Countries

United StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAustraliaGermanyFranceItalySpainJapanChinaIndiaBrazilRussiaSwedenNetherlandsBelgiumSwitzerlandAustriaDenmarkNorwayFinlandPolandCzech RepublicHungaryRomaniaBulgariaCroatiaSloveniaSlovakiaLTLVEEIrelandPortugalGreeceCYMTLUIcelandNew ZealandSouth KoreaSingaporeTaiwanHong KongMalaysiaThailandVietnamIndonesiaPhilippinesSouth AfricaNigeriaEgyptTurkeyIranSaudi ArabiaUAEQatarKuwaitOmanJordanLebanonSyriaYemenIraqAfghanistanPakistanBangladeshLKNPMMKHLAMNKazakhstanUzbekistanTMKGTJAzerbaijanAMGEUkraineBelarusMDALBAMEMKSerbiaXKMexicoArgentinaChileColombiaPeruVenezuelaEcuadorUYPYBOCRPAGuatemalaHNSVNIBZJMHaitiDominican RepublicCuba

Sources

  • https://www.idsociety.org
  • https://www.cdc.gov/
  • https://www.hematology.org/education/patients
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books
  • https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases

Medical Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult healthcare professionals for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.