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TOXOPLASMOSIS
Author(s) -
Boughton Clement R.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1970.tb50082.x
Subject(s) - subclinical infection , isospora , toxoplasma gondii , parasite hosting , biology , toxoplasmosis , disease , pregnancy , protozoa , immunology , zoology , virology , pathology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , world wide web , computer science , feces , genetics
Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoon, is a frequent parasite of marsupials, birds and mammals, including man. It occurs in three forms: (i) a vegetative or proliferative form; (ii) a “cystic” form in tissue cells; (iii) a recently discovered fæcal form, which resembles the coccidian oocyst of Isospora; this form Is highly resistant in the environment, and is probably the important infective form of the parasite. In man, as in animals, acquired Infections are usually subclinical. Fœtal infection may result when primary infection of a woman occurs during pregnancy. The clinical manifestations of the congenital and acquired forms of the disease are discussed, and laboratory diagnostic techniques and treatment are considered.