What is toxoplasmosis? Our four-legged friends, diseases of cats and dogs, parasitic diseases

The course of the infectious process is characterized by great variability, which is directly related to the state of the human immune system. Both asymptomatic carriage of Toxoplasma, and severe manifestations of the disease are noted. Most often, the disease in humans has a mild course. Toxoplasma is able to cross the placenta of a pregnant woman. They affect the course of pregnancy itself and cause developmental pathology in the fetus.

Rice. 1. In the photo of Toxoplasma gondii (Toxoplasma gondii).

Toxoplasma: life path and main forms of existence

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan. Pathogens are able to form spores, reproduce sexually and asexually, and are located intracellularly.

Rice. 2. Domestic and wild cats are the main source of distribution of Toxoplasma.

What happens in a cat's body

Rice. 3. In the photo, Toxoplasma oocysts.

What happens in the body of the intermediate host

Bradyzoites that have come out to the outside are called tachyzoids. Their appearance resembles a crescent. They are motile and continue to reproduce asexually by infecting other cells. Toxoplasma gondii at this stage of development are exposed to chemotherapy and antibodies of the intermediate host.

Part of tachyzoids forms in tissues (most often muscle tissue and the brain) cysts.

Rice. 4. In the photo, toxoplasma (the moment of penetration into the host cell).

Rice. 5. On the left - a pseudocyst, inside which Toxoplasma bradyzoids multiply, on the right - colonies of tachyzoites.

Rice. 6. The photo shows the release of Toxoplasma bradyzoids from the pseudocyst.

Rice. 7. In the photo, the reproduction of toxoplasma gondii by division.

Tissue cysts

Cysts produce antigenic metabolites, which maintains a certain level of humoral immunity in the body.

Rice. 8. The photo shows three-layer cysts.

Epidemiology of toxoplasmosis

About 20% of the Russian population is infected with toxoplasma. They are found in 200 species of mammals and about 100 species of birds. Women are infected 2-3 times more often than men.

Carrier infection and sporadic cases of the disease support the constant spread of infection.

final host toxoplasma are representatives of the cat family (domestic cats, lynxes, cougars, ocelots, Bengal cats, jaguars, etc.). They are the main source of infection.

intermediate hosts pathogens are not released into the external environment. It is dangerous to eat raw meat of these animals (often minced meat), where the pathogens are in the form of cysts.

Greens contaminated with toxoplasma, vegetables and fruits collected from the ground, water and dirty hands are additional factors in the transmission of the infection.

Toxoplasma enters the human body most often through the mouth; transmission of infection from an infected pregnant woman to the fetus is less common, with blood transfusions and organ transplants.

Patients with toxoplasmosis do not pose a danger to others, which allows them not to be isolated for the duration of treatment, but to be treated at home or in a general somatic hospital.

Toxoplasmosis in humans has a variety of clinical symptoms, which is associated with the degree of damage to a particular organ. The disease can proceed in the form of carriage, have a latent (secret) course, have an acute or subacute course, acquire a chronic course with periodic exacerbations.

Toxoplasmosis in adults most often has a benign course.

In clinical practice, congenital and acquired toxoplasmosis is distinguished. The course of acquired toxoplasmosis directly depends on the state of the human immune system.

Latent form of toxoplasmosis

Signs and symptoms of toxoplasmosis in the latent form of the disease are absent. The carrier of toxoplasma is regarded as a healthy person. With a latent form, it is almost impossible to detect the disease.

Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is based on the results obtained during serological tests and the results of an intradermal test with toxoplasmin. The first encounter with pathogens almost always (in 95 - 99% of cases) leads to the production of antibodies. Determining the level of antibodies of the IgM class is of the greatest diagnostic value. A moderate increase in the titer of IgM antibodies characterizes the reactivation of latent toxoplasmosis.

Any kind of immune suppression (past influenza, taking cytostatics, taking glucocorticoids, exposure to the immune system of radiation therapy, stress) latent course of toxoplasmosis acquires an acute course.

Signs and symptoms of acute toxoplasmosis

• The incubation period (period of reproduction of Toxoplasma) averages several weeks and is manifested by general weakness, malaise, muscle pain, chills and subfebrile body temperature.
• Enlarged lymph nodes (more often in the neck and nape, less often in the axillary and inguinal regions) have a soft texture, are slightly painful on palpation, and are not soldered to each other. Their size is not more than 1.5 cm. An increase in mesenteric lymph nodes simulates a picture of an acute abdomen.
• The disease often proceeds as a neuroinfection with the phenomena of meningoencephalitis or encephalitis. Optic neuritis and paresis develop.
• The rash is short-term, has the character of spots (roseol) and papules.
• With damage to muscle tissue, myositis and myocarditis develop.
• In some cases, the liver and spleen are enlarged.
• With damage to the organs of vision, chorioretinitis develops.

The acute form of toxoplasmosis is always difficult. The disease is often fatal. During recovery, the patient has residual effects of varying severity in the form of atrophy of the optic nerves, diencephalic disorders, epileptiform seizures, intracranial hypertension, sluggish arachnoiditis, foci of chorioretinitis with decreased vision, calcifications.

The acute form of toxoplasmosis lasts from several days to several months. Subsequently, a secondary latent form of the disease is formed or the disease acquires a chronic course.

Signs and symptoms of chronic toxoplasmosis

Chronic toxoplasmosis occurs with constant exacerbations and rare intervals of weakening of the symptoms of the disease, with little effectiveness of anti-infective treatment. Prolonged low-grade fever, phenomena of intoxication and asthenia, generalized enlargement of the lymph nodes are the main symptoms of toxoplasmosis in the chronic course of the disease.

In addition, patients develop weakness, weakness, appetite worsens, sleep is disturbed, memory decreases, psycho-emotional instability is noted.

Exacerbations of chronic toxoplasmosis provoke acute viral diseases, treatment with cytostatics and immunosuppressants.

The development of exacerbations in chronic toxoplasmosis is based on the immune response of the patient's body to toxoplasma antigens and their metabolic products.

Increase in body temperature

An increase in body temperature is observed in 90% of patients. The temperature fluctuates between 37 - 37.5 ° C and worries the patient for many months. Subfebrile body temperature is one of the main symptoms of toxoplasmosis, as a chronic sluggish inflammatory process.

Enlarged lymph nodes

Enlarged lymph nodes are noted in 85% of cases. Generalized lymphadenopathy and subfebrile body temperature are the main symptoms of toxoplasmosis. Lymph nodes increase to 1 - 3 centimeters, in some patients they are painful on palpation.

An increase in the size of the mesenteric lymph nodes is observed in half of the patients and is often mistaken for chronic appendicitis, inflammation of the appendages, tuberculous mesadenitis.

Damage to the central nervous system

The defeat of the central nervous system in chronic toxoplasmosis occurs mainly in people with immunodeficiency. The disease is manifested by inflammation of the choroid of the brain, followed by the formation of adhesions with the pia mater, increased intracranial pressure, the development of epilepsy and vegetative vascular disorders.

Rice. 10. In the photo, toxoplasmosis of the brain. On the left is a normal CT scan. On the right, focal lesions of the substance of the brain during the disease are visible.

Rice. 11. In the photo, the consequences of toxoplasmosis of the brain. The arrows indicate multiple calcifications in the brain tissues, they are small, often rounded.

Muscle damage (myositis)

When muscles are affected (usually the legs), patients experience pain in the affected muscles and joints. Over time, calcifications form in the muscles.

With damage to the heart muscle, myocarditis develops, followed by myocardial dystrophy. Palpitations, arrhythmias, and pressing pains behind the sternum are the main symptoms of toxoplasmosis when the heart muscle is affected.

Rice. 12. Trichinosis, cysticercosis, echinococcosis and toxoplasmosis are the main types of infectious diseases in which calcifications form in muscle tissue. Pain in the muscles and joints are the main symptoms of toxoplasmosis in this case.

Toxoplasmosis of the eye

Focal chorioretinitis, less often conjunctivitis, keratitis and optic neuritis complicated by myopia are the main types of damage to the organs of vision in toxoplasmosis.

Rice. 13. The photo shows conjunctivitis with toxoplasmosis.

Rice. 14. The photo shows residual changes in toxoplasmic chorioretinitis.

Toxoplasmosis of the liver and spleen

Almost every third patient has an enlarged liver. However, hepatitis in toxoplasmosis never takes a chronic course and does not lead to cirrhosis of the liver. The spleen at a toxoplasmosis increases less often.

Damage to the autonomic nervous system

Marbling of the skin, hyperhidrosis and acrocyanosis are symptoms of damage to the autonomic parts of the nervous system in toxoplasmosis.

Rice. 15. In the photo, one of the symptoms of damage to the autonomic nervous system in toxoplasmosis is marbling of the skin.

Damage to the peripheral parts of the nervous system

The defeat of the peripheral parts of the nervous system with toxoplasmosis is manifested by plexitis (damage to the nerve plexuses of the anterior branches of the spinal nerves) and an increase in neuromuscular excitability in the work of the heart muscle.

Adnexitis

Adnexitis (inflammation of the genitals in women) is complicated by the formation of infertility. Hormonal deficiency, which is formed during the chronic course of toxoplasmosis, often leads to miscarriage.

Diagnosis of chronic toxoplasmosis

Diagnosis of chronic forms of toxoplasmosis is based on the clinical picture of the disease. By the dynamics of the antibody titer, one can only judge the degree of permeability of cysts for the metabolic products of Toxoplasma at a particular point in time, and not the activity of the infectious process.

The absence of the disease is indicated by:

• negative serological reactions and negative intradermal test with toxoplasmin;
• detection of IgM in individuals who do not have clinical manifestations of toxoplasmosis.

X-ray examination in some cases will reveal calcifications in the brain tissue and muscles.

Chronic toxoplasmosis always occurs with damage to many organs and systems. In some cases, lesions of certain organs and systems come to the fore.

Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis

Serological methods

When diagnosing toxoplasmosis, serological methods are used:

• RSK (complement binding reaction),
• ELISA (enzymatic immunoassay),
• RNIF (indirect immunofluorescence reaction).

The diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is confirmed by the increasing dynamics of these tests, their high level and the presence of IgM class antibodies.

Antibodies in toxoplasmosis

Antibodies protect a person from a new infection and cause an asymptomatic course of the disease in a large proportion of infected individuals. Of great importance in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is the determination of antibodies (classes of immunoglobulins). With toxoplasmosis, there is an increase in the level of antibodies of all classes during the period of the end of the second to the beginning of the third week from the moment of infection. IgM class antibodies have the greatest diagnostic value.

• Primary infection and the development of the disease are characterized by positive serological reactions, in which there are high antibody titers and the detection of specific IgM.
• A moderate increase in the titer of IgM antibodies characterizes the reactivation of latent toxoplasmosis.
• Low titers of the reaction of indirect immunofluorescence (RNIF) indicate chronic toxoplasmosis in a patient or a latent course of the disease.
• Even low antibody titers in patients with fresh eye pathology indicate toxoplasmosis.
• With an increase in lymph nodes, high antibody titers are not the final verdict in making a diagnosis. The final diagnosis is carried out only after a histological examination of the contents of the lymph node, followed by a consultation with an oncologist.
• The result of a single study does not allow to establish the duration of the course in the human body, however, it is fundamental in assessing the risk of infection of the fetus.

Rice. 16. Toxoplasma (indicated by arrows). View under a microscope. In the acute phase of the disease, Toxoplasma is always found in the blood serum. They are crescent-shaped, one end is rounded, the other is pointed. In the intercellular space, Toxoplasma move by sliding.

Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy

Toxoplasmosis, which a woman had before pregnancy, or the presence of a chronic form of the disease in her completely insure the fetus from intrauterine infection.

If infection occurs in the first three months of pregnancy, then the risk for the outcome of the pregnancy itself and the fetus increases many times over.

Detection of antibodies to Toxoplasma with subsequent confirmation of the presence of IgM in pregnant women is not an indication for termination of pregnancy. In this case, it is necessary to apply all diagnostic methods for the final diagnosis.

Rice. 17. Hydrocephalus is a malformation of the nervous system in toxoplasmosis.

Immunity in toxoplasmosis

Immunity in toxoplasmosis is maintained as long as the pathogens are present in the body (usually in the form of cysts). Cysts constantly produce metabolites (waste products). In response, the body responds by producing antibodies. Such immunity is called non-sterile (infectious).

Treatment of toxoplasmosis

• Toxoplasma carriers (without clinical manifestations of the disease) do not require treatment.
• Treatment of acute and subacute forms of toxoplasmosis is mandatory.
• In chronic toxoplasmosis, treatment is prescribed depending on the severity of clinical symptoms and the nature of the lesions of a particular organ or system.
• Treatment of women is mandatory at the initial detection of the disease.

The choice of tactics for the treatment of toxoplasmosis is influenced by:

• nature of the infectious disease
• the severity of clinical symptoms,
• severity of toxoplasmosis,
• presence of complications
• the predominance of certain organ-systemic lesions.

Groups of drugs for the treatment of toxoplasmosis

The group of drugs for the treatment of toxoplasmosis includes drugs with antimicrobial activity and immunotropic agents.

Chemotherapy drugs for the treatment of toxoplasmosis:

• macrolide antibiotics ( Rovamycin).
• The pyrimethamine group of drugs ( Fansidar- a combination drug containing pyrimethamine).
• Sulfanilamide preparations ( Biseptol).

Immunotropic agents are presented Lycopid, Cycloferon, natural thymus hormones and their synthetic analogues - Taktivin, Timamine, and Thymogen.

Folic acid administered between courses of antimicrobial treatment. This vitamin is essential for the normal functioning of the immune system.

Systemic enzyme therapy drugs have an immunomodulatory effect Wobenzine and Phlogenzyme.

play an important role in the normal functioning of the immune system pro- and prebiotics.

Prevention of toxoplasmosis

• eat thermally processed meat products,
• eat well-washed vegetables, herbs and fruits,
• wash hands thoroughly after working with raw meat, working with the ground,
Articles of the section "Toxoplasmosis"Most popular

Toxoplasmosis is a chronic, rarely acute, zooanthroponotic disease of various animal and human species. The disease is characterized by damage to various organs and systems (nervous, lymphatic, endocrine, organs of vision, etc.), abortions, stillbirths or the birth of a weak, non-viable offspring, often with various deformities.

The definitive hosts are cats that become infected by eating the organs and tissues of animals with toxoplasmosis (mainly rodents) affected by cysts, and in acute cases, by trophozoites. In cats, Toxoplasma develops in the epithelial tissue of the intestine, where sexual reproduction and the formation of oocysts occur, which are excreted into the external environment with feces. When they mature, sporocysts are formed inside with four sporozoites each. The process of maturation of oocysts in the external environment is called sporogony. When oocysts are swallowed with food or water, the released sporozoites penetrate into the internal parenchymal organs of the intermediate hosts, where they reproduce asexually and cause the disease - toxoplasmosis (the proliferative stage).

Infection with toxoplasmosis is also possible when susceptible intermediate hosts of trophozoites released from infested animals with various excretions (saliva, urine, feces, milk) enter the body. Infection occurs by ingestion of trophozoites with feed, food, or their penetration through mucous membranes and damaged skin. In pregnant animals, Toxoplasma is transmitted to the fetus through the placenta.

Dogs are intermediate hosts, while cats can be intermediate and definitive. If cats get trophozoites or toxoplasmosis cysts, they have only the intestinal (sexual) stage of toxoplasmosis. When cats swallow mature oocysts, the proliferative (asexual) stage develops first, and then the intestinal (sexual) stage.

The biological cycle of development of toxoplasma (according to Frenkel): A - in the body of the definitive host; B - in the body of the intermediate host. /, 2, 3 - sporogony; 4.5 - proliferative stage; 6 - intestinal stage

Epizootology. Toxoplasmosis is a widespread invasion of various species of animals and humans. Of great importance in its distribution are cats and dogs that are in close contact with humans. Domestic carnivores become infected with toxoplasmosis by eating infested rodents, raw meat, and milk.

Signs of illness. Toxoplasmosis in dogs can be acquired or congenital. Acquired toxoplasmosis occurs acutely or chronically. The acute course of invasion is more often observed in young dogs. The animal weakens, becomes lethargic, often lies down, its body temperature rises, breathing becomes more frequent, mucopurulent outflows appear from the eyes and nose, the work of the gastrointestinal tract is upset (diarrhea, vomiting). Dermatitis and eczema often form on the scalp and paws. In some cases, nervous phenomena (convulsions, epilepsy, paralysis, paresis) are observed. Sometimes pneumonia occurs. Clinical signs of toxoplasmosis in dogs may be the same as in the nervous form of distemper. The acute course of the disease can result in the death of the animal.

Older dogs get toxoplasmosis chronically for months or even years. Clinical signs of the disease are the same as in acute toxoplasmosis, but less pronounced. In pregnant animals, abortions, stillbirths and the birth of a weak offspring are observed as a result of damage to the fetus by Toxoplasma. A dog is often a source of infection with human toxoplasmosis in close contact with him, since her trophozoites can be excreted with saliva, urine, feces, sweat, etc.

Diagnosis. In dogs and cats, the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is based on clinical signs with mandatory laboratory tests. During the life of the animal, the blood serum of RSK is examined with a special Toxoplasma antigen and smears prepared from the material for biopsy of internal organs (liver, spleen) are examined to detect trophozoites. To obtain serum, venous blood of animals is taken.

In the intestinal form of the disease in cats, feces are examined, in which Toxoplasma oocysts are found. To accurately determine the type of oocysts, cat feces are kept in a thermostat for 2-3 days at a temperature of 27 ... 30 ° C, then oocysts are isolated from feces and injected into mice with a small dose of water. In positive cases, Toxoplasma trophozoites develop in the internal organs, and mice die on the 7-10th day after infection.

Treatment. In acute toxoplasmosis, for the treatment of dogs and cats, chemcoccid is used at a dose of 0.024 g per 1 kg of animal weight mixed with food for 3 days. In the future, the drug is prescribed for another 25 days, 0.012 g each. Low-value animals are euthanized.

Prevention. Feeding to animals of raw meat of animals that have not passed veterinary control, meat of wild animals and rodents is not allowed. Stray dogs and cats are destroyed. Domestic cats are periodically examined scatologically in order to detect Toxoplasma oocysts in their feces and take timely therapeutic and preventive measures.

04. Sarcocystosis
05. Isosporosis
06. Eimeriosis

Very often, owners of domestic cats have a situation where they are advised to get rid of their pets, because "all cats are latently sick with toxoplasmosis and are a threat to human health." This usually happens in families where there are pregnant women or weakened children who are often ill. At the same time, the attending physicians do not bother explaining the mechanisms of infection with toxoplasmosis, but immediately make a devastating diagnosis: “If you have a cat, it means that she has toxoplasmosis, and you will also get infected from it.” Especially often the problem of toxoplasmosis worries pregnant women.

This article describes the possible ways of infecting humans and animals, methods of prevention and treatment, as well as the features of diagnosis and interpretation of the results of laboratory tests in humans and animals. Knowledge of the peculiarities of the mechanism of infection with toxoplasmosis and the correct interpretation of the research results will allow the owners of domestic cats to competently understand each specific case and protect themselves and their pets from unnecessary worries and problems.

ETIOLOGY

Trophozoites.

tissue cysts.

A tissue cyst is, in fact, an accumulation of a large number of trophozoites (sometimes up to 3000), enclosed inside the shell. Toxoplasmosis is transmitted to carnivores, including humans, by eating tissue cysts found in large numbers in raw or undercooked meat. Digestive enzymes contained in the gastric and intestinal juices break down the cyst wall and release viable microorganisms, which then invade the mucosa of the digestive tract and spread throughout the host. Tissue cysts can be found in any organ, but are most commonly found in the brain, heart, and skeletal muscle. They remain viable throughout the life of the host organism (latent infection), providing intense specific non-sterile immunity. When the host's immune system is weakened, the presence of tissue cysts in his body leads to the development of an acute form of the disease. Freezing meat (up to -20 C) and thawing, heating above +60 C, as well as drying destroy tissue cysts.

Oocysts.

Oocysts are a type of tissue cysts that are not produced in the internal organs, but in the intestines. only in the cat family. It is through the oocysts excreted with feces that you can become infected with toxoplasmosis from domestic cats. Oocysts isolated from cat feces remain in the soil for many months and even years. gardens, kitchen gardens, children's sandboxes, etc.

Life cycle of toxoplasma.

The ultimate host of toxoplasmosis is the feline.

After tissue cysts (found in raw meat) or oocysts (found in cat feces) are ingested by a cat, viable microorganisms are released and invade the cat's intestinal cells, where they proliferate. As a result, millions of oocysts are excreted in the feces within 1-3 weeks from the moment of infection. But these oocysts are infectiously safe, i.e. not contagious. Oocysts become infectious after maturation in the environment (sporulation).

Sporulation occurs:

at +4 C - in 2-3 days,

at +11 C - in 5 - 8 days,

at +15 C - for 14 - 21 days.

Oocysts do not ripen at temperatures below +4 C and above +37 C, remaining infectiously safe. In addition, oocyst sporulation depends on aeration and humidity conditions. Oocysts can remain infectious in moist soil for more than a year, but are quickly destroyed by boiling or exposure to dry heat above +66 C.

Thus, if the owners cats regularly clean the toilet of their animals, the oocysts in the feces do not have time to ripen to an infectious stage and cause human infection.

After initial infection toxoplasmosis excretion of oocysts in cat feces lasts 1-3 weeks and then stops. Re-infection of a cat with the release of a large number of oocysts with feces is possible no earlier than 4-6 months after the primary one.

Both cats and humans can become infected with oocysts. At the same time, cats form new oocysts in the intestines, while other animals and humans have only tissue cysts in the internal organs, that is, only cat feces are infectious. Toxoplasmosis cannot be transmitted through the feces of other animals (including dogs) and humans.

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Toxoplasmosis is widespread throughout the world.

Studies performed in the USA and France have shown that, depending on the locality, from 3 to 70% of the healthy adult population is infected with toxoplasmosis.

In most cases, infection occurs when cysts enter the digestive tract when eating raw minced meat or insufficiently thermally processed meat, especially lamb, pork, rabbit meat. So in the USA, up to 25% of lamb and 25% of pork contained tissue cysts. In beef, they were found less frequently. Not only meat with tissue cysts, but also vegetables contaminated with soil containing oocysts are an important route of transmission for toxoplasmosis. There are also isolated reports of the presence of toxoplasma in fresh milk.

The second route of infection is realized when oocysts excreted by cats with feces enter the digestive tract (when hands are contaminated with soil, sand), upon contact with cats. In the studies carried out in various parts of the world, oocyst excretion in faeces has been found in only about 1% of cats.

Another route of transmission of toxoplasmosis is intrauterine from a mother with acute toxoplasmosis to an unborn child.

It is now established that contact with intermediate hosts(dogs, farm animals, rodents) practically cannot lead to human infection. Special studies have also proved that the blood of donors cannot cause infection with Toxoplasma in recipients, therefore, the possibility of infection is also excluded by contact with the blood of gynecologists, surgeons, laboratory assistants, etc. Airborne, transmissible (through insect bites and ticks) and sexual contact are also excluded. transmission of toxoplasmosis infection.

CLINICAL SIGNS

Toxoplasmosis can be acute and chronic, clinically significant and asymptomatic. In older children and adults with a normal immune system, acute toxoplasmosis is usually asymptomatic or there are mild signs of the disease, and all manifestations of toxoplasmosis are short-lived. Only sometimes (about 1% of all infected) are observed sluggish, recurrent chronic forms of toxoplasmosis and extremely rarely (0.2-0.5% of patients with chronic forms) - acute forms of toxoplasmosis with a severe course. At the end of the acute phase of the disease, the microorganism in most cases persists in the human body in the absence of any signs of the disease. This presence in the body of Toxoplasma provides protection against re-infection, including more virulent (dangerous) strains. In a small number of cases in humans and animals, chronic toxoplasmosis can occur, most often manifested by eye lesions in the form of chorioretinitis (ocular toxoplasmosis) or neurological disorders.

Acute toxoplasma infection poses a serious danger to immunodeficient patients and prenatally developing child. In immunodeficient patients, such as, for example, AIDS patients, acute infection with Toxoplasma or activation of a latent infection can cause severe, life-threatening diseases: encephalitis, myocarditis, pneumonia.

If a woman has had toxoplasmosis before pregnancy and she has developed immunity, then her unborn child is not threatened by congenital toxoplasmosis.

When a woman is ill with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy in the first months of pregnancy, fetal death and spontaneous miscarriage or stillbirth are more common. The possibility of the birth of children with developmental defects is not excluded. When infected in the late period of pregnancy, the child is born with signs of generalized toxoplasmosis. Newborns infected in utero, with or without signs of infection at birth, may develop later serious, irreversible damage (visual impairment, neurological disorders, deafness).

Animals clinical signs of toxoplasmosis are varied and unspecific.

In cats 6-9 days after infection (incubation period), depression, fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, nervous phenomena, conjunctivitis and rhinitis are observed. The chronic course of the disease is characterized by the same, but less pronounced clinical signs that disappear after 2-3 weeks. In the future, the disease is asymptomatic. Often there are abortions, cases of births of ugly fetuses.

In dogs toxoplasmosis occurs acutely, subacutely and chronically. The incubation period in acute course is usually 2-3 days. There is an increase in body temperature, conjunctivitis, increased pulse and respiration, coughing, purulent-mucous discharge from the nasal cavities. Sick animals are depressed, refuse food and water. There is diarrhea, vomiting, feces often mixed with blood. Dermatitis and eczema often develop on the scalp and paws. There are abortions, cases of births of malformed fetuses. Sometimes the clinical signs of toxoplasmosis can be the same as in the nervous form of the plague. In the subacute course of the disease, the incubation period lasts from 5 to 10 days. In this case, there is a progressive emaciation of animals, gastroenteritis, nervous disorders and lack of appetite. The chronic course of toxoplasmosis is characterized by short-term fever. The symptoms of the disease are the same as in the subacute course, but less pronounced. Often the disease in dogs is asymptomatic.

To date, it has been proven that it is impossible to become infected with toxoplasmosis from clinically healthy dogs (by contact with saliva, urine, blood, etc.).

DIAGNOSTICS

Human

When diagnosing toxoplasmosis in It is very important for a person to find a doctor who could competently and calmly explain to you the results of laboratory tests, since a lot depends on them. It is the misinterpretation of the results that leads many people to decide to get rid of their animals as a source of a dangerous disease.

In humans, blood tests are carried out by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). In this case, specific proteins are detected - immunoglobulins (Ig), which are produced by the immune system in response to the penetration of Toxoplasma into the body. There are two types of immunoglobulins - M (IgM) and G (IgG). The absence of immunoglobulins indicates the absence of toxoplasma in the body. The presence of immunoglobulins M indicates that acute toxoplasmosis is currently occurring in the body and if there are signs of the disease, specific treatment is not indicated. immunoglobulins G indicate a history of toxoplasmosis in the past (most often, as already mentioned, in an asymptomatic form) and the formation of immunity.

Knowing these features is very important for pregnant women. A competent doctor observing a woman during pregnancy will definitely prescribe a blood test for toxoplasmosis, and he will not be limited to a single study. To obtain reliable results, a two-three-time study is necessary. If IgG is detected in the blood of a pregnant woman, this means that the woman had had toxoplasmosis before pregnancy, acquired immunity and congenital toxoplasmosis does not threaten her unborn child. If IgM is detected in the blood, then this indicates an acute, recently acquired toxoplasmosis, which should be treated immediately. The absence of immunoglobulins G and M indicates that in the past the woman had no contact with toxoplasmosis, immunity was not formed, and the woman should be extremely careful throughout her pregnancy so as not to get toxoplasmosis. Such women are at risk for toxoplasmosis and should be instructed on how to prevent possible infection. Contact with cats is prohibited. If you have a cat at home, cleaning the cat litter should be entrusted to another family member. Cat toilet cleaning should be carried out
daily. Do not eat raw or undercooked meat. It is forbidden to use fresh milk and raw eggs (or soft-boiled eggs, fried eggs). It is forbidden to work with garden soil. There are increased requirements for the quality of hand washing. All fruits and vegetables eaten "raw" should be thoroughly washed.

Animals

Blood tests by ELISA, similar to those in humans, are not carried out for animals in Ukraine due to the lack of specific test systems. Some medical laboratories conduct such studies on their equipment and using human test systems that are unacceptable for animals. This is incorrect, unprofessional and gives frequent to false positive results.

In cats, toxoplasmosis is established by examining feces using the Fülleborn and Darling method and detecting pathogen oocysts at medium magnification of the microscope. When examining cat feces, Toxoplasma oocysts should be differentiate from oocysts of cystoisospores. Cystoisosporosis (isosporosis, coccidiosis) in cats is caused by two types of cystoisospores: Cystoisospora felis and Cystoisospora rivolta. Oocysts of Cystoisospora felis are large, ovoid, about twice as large as Toxoplasma oocysts, and it is not difficult to differentiate them. However, Cystoisospora rivolta has round-shaped oocysts, small, almost the same size and shape as Toxoplasma oocysts. With toxoplasmosis, the death of mice occurs on the 5-10th day. At the same time, a large number of cysts and free-lying trophozoites are found in the brain, liver, and spleen of dead mice. Mice do not die during isosoprosis. When making a diagnosis of ia toxoplasmosis, sarcocytosis must also be excluded. Sarcocyst oocysts are much larger than Toxoplasma oocysts, they enter the external environment already sporulated, that is, each oocyst contains two sporocysts, each of which contains four sporozoites, while Toxoplasma oocysts sporulate in the external environment.

During abortions and the birth of animals with developmental defects, a microscopic examination of smears-imprints from the aborted fetus, parenchymal organs or pieces of the placenta is carried out, as well as a bioassay. blood tests in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis are not carried out; such studies are not officially approved in our country.

In all cases of abortion and birth animals with developmental defects, it is necessary to deliver them to the laboratory for testing for toxoplasmosis.

TREATMENT

Treatment of the disease in animals is poorly developed. For cats, most of the drugs that are used in the treatment of humans are toxic. Cats with toxoplasmosis are treated with chemcoccidum at a dose of 24 mg/kg. The drug is administered orally with food once a day for three days. Then its use is continued for 25 days at a dose of 12 mg/kg. For the prevention of the disease, chemcoccid is administered at a dose of 12 mg/kg for one week. Recommend also sulfadimezin at a dose of 100 mg/kg orally. The daily dose is divided into four parts. Pyrimethamine (1 mg/kg) can be used simultaneously for 1-2 weeks. The release of oocysts from the introduction of clindacimin at a dose of 100-250 mg / kg is reduced.

According to our observations, the use of sulfadimethoxine 100 mg/kg 2 times a day for 7 days, followed by a ten-day break and a twofold repetition of the course of treatment, gave a good effect. During the last course, in order to increase the detoxification function of the liver and reduce the side effects of sulfonamides, folic acid was used at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg 2 times a day for 7 days. After the end of the course of treatment, diuretic and anti-inflammatory herbal remedies were prescribed to prevent the formation of urinary stones. After such treatment, the excretion of oocysts ceased and they were not found in the feces.

PREVENTION

Measures of specific active and passive prevention (vaccination) are absent. The basis for the prevention of toxoplasmosis is the measures to limit the spread of the pathogen in the environment and the prevention of individual infection.

It is necessary to exclude raw meat and offal from the diet of domestic animals. as a last resort, raw meat and offal must be fed after freezing. Domestic cats should not be allowed to prey on wild rodents, and cat litter should be cleaned daily.

In order to prevent human infection, the consumption of raw or insufficiently thermally processed meat is prohibited. For cutting raw meat, the kitchen should have a separate board, which should be thoroughly washed after each use. It is absolutely unacceptable to use one cutting board for cutting meat and, for example, bread. To prevent toxoplasmosis, it is necessary to wash your hands thoroughly after contact with raw meat, after gardening, after communicating with a cat. For children, sandboxes are quite a significant danger, which almost everywhere do not have devices to exclude cats from access, the sand in them is not subjected to seasonal processing or replacement. Just as thoroughly, it is necessary to wash all fruits and vegetables that are eaten without heat treatment. It is necessary to boil draft milk, do not eat fresh milk without boiling.

Thus, in order to never have a diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in your life, you should adhere to the following simple rules:

• exclude infection with toxoplasmosis through food for humans and through food for cats;
• clean the cat litter in a timely manner;
• do not allow the cat to hunt wild rodents;
• correctly interpret the results of their own laboratory studies.

And the most important thing is to sincerely love your cat and then you will never catch anything from it!

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What is toxoplasmosis, what animals are its carriers and how dangerous is the pathology for newborns - answers to these questions can be found in the article.

General information about the disease

Almost every inhabitant of our planet has a pet. Scientists unanimously argue that pets are the best way to relieve stress and tension after a tiring day at work. The owners have fun with them, sometimes not even realizing what danger they expose themselves and their environment.

Giardiasis, ringworm and many other pathologies hide in the fur and under the claws of pets. Of particular danger to humans is toxoplasmosis. This disease occupies a weakened body and begins its destructive activity. Only rapid detection and treatment can save you from dangerous complications.

A person with good health can be a carrier of the infection for many years. The blood of every fifth Russian contains Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease of an infectious nature. Especially often this infection occupies the body of birds and felines.

Having penetrated into the human body, the pathogen is located in the small intestine, from where it enters the bloodstream. Together with the blood, the infection spreads to the lymph nodes, where the active reproduction of bacteria begins. After some time, the blood spreads Toxoplasma throughout the body.

An infected person develops dangerous pathological conditions that require immediate treatment.

Chronic toxoplasmosis is accompanied by cold symptoms, severe mental disorders, etc.

The acute form occurs rapidly and has all the signs of serious poisoning.

The causative agent of toxoplasmosis - the simplest microorganism "Toxoplasma gondii" penetrates into the human blood and is activated at the slightest immune failure:

• past illnesses that require long-term therapy;
• nervous disorders;
• bad ecology;
• increased radiation;
• medications;
• pregnancy.

Immunity is transmitted to newborns and protects during the first year of life. However, if the pathogen enters the body during pregnancy, the child is diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis.

Pathology can lead to irreparable complications, occupying the body of a pregnant woman. The best measure to protect your own child is to have a blood test for toxoplasmosis first.

In a recovered patient, igm antibodies appear, which resist infection and exclude re-infection with toxoplasmosis.

How can you get toxoplasmosis?

The disease belongs to a group of pathologies that are transmitted from mother to child. In other cases, it is not transmitted from person to person.

The main ways of infection:

• alimentary - a consequence of the use of infected and unprocessed food. At risk - infected pork and lamb;
• oral-fecal - a consequence of ingestion of contaminated dust, which is formed in places of cat feces (garden, children's sandbox, flower pot, etc.). You can become infected if you do not wash your hands after contact with an infectious animal, on the coat of which particles of feces remain;
• vertical or transplacental (through the placenta). This path is the most dangerous, because it leads to fetal pathologies (epilepsy, blindness, mental disability, etc.). If the infection occurred in the first trimester, the child dies.

Is toxoplasmosis transmitted from dogs?

Toxoplasmosis in dogs also occurs, but does not pose any danger to humans.

The main causes of toxoplasmosis:

1. The use of insufficiently processed meat dishes in food.
2. Use of unboiled water from dubious sources.
3. Unsanitary conditions.
4. Transfusion of infected blood.
5. Animal care.

Can you get toxoplasmosis from a domestic cat?

The cat is a carrier of this disease. Therefore, you can get infected, because. "Toxoplasma gondii" lives in the feces of a sick animal for 21 days. However, fresh stools do not pose any danger.

If there are skin lesions on the hand, infection occurs when the cat litter is replaced. Therefore, cleaning is best done every day and, just in case, in latex gloves.

Forms, signs and complications of toxoplasmosis

The first form is congenital, when the pathology is transmitted in utero. Occurs when toxoplasmosis occurs in women during pregnancy.

This form of the disease is divided into two groups:

• early, occurring if infection occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy. Early toxoplasmosis very often leads to fetal death. Therefore, an analysis for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is necessary so that the board of doctors can take appropriate measures. In most cases, abortion is used.
• late - a pregnant woman becomes infected after 16 weeks and transmits toxoplasmosis to the newborn. A child born with late toxoplasmosis often has some abnormalities (enlarged liver, spleen, etc.).

The second form is acquired when infection occurs during life.

Infection is a serious danger if the infected pregnant woman has not previously had toxoplasmosis. Pathology is detected in 1% of expectant mothers. Even if the tests showed toxoplasmosis in a pregnant woman, this does not mean that the fetus is also infected.

Congenital toxoplasmosis in newborns has several forms, depending on the time of infection of the mother:

• In the 1st, 2nd trimester - the possibility of infection of the fetus is about 15%. Infected children develop dangerous pathologies of the heart, brain, eyes. Toxoplasmosis of the brain leads to mental retardation;
• If the infection occurred in the 3rd trimester, 70% of newborns become infected. The child develops encephalitis, meningitis, and blindness;
• If the toxoplasmosis infection enters the child's body just before birth, acute toxoplasmosis develops. The baby begins jaundice, pneumonia, anemia;

Based on all of the above, it can be seen that infection of a pregnant woman has the most deplorable consequences for the fetus.

Non-congenital toxoplasmosis in children proceeds rapidly and acutely. The first signs of pathology appear on the third day.

Very rarely, an infected person develops brain toxoplasmosis. This complication occurs when the disease becomes chronic, in pregnant women, HIV-infected.

It can manifest itself in the form of inflammation of the brain, encephalitis, convulsive syndrome. A person develops migraines and other signs of brain disease.

If encephalitic toxoplasmosis develops, speech, motor functions are disturbed, and emotional disorders begin.

Without timely and adequate treatment, the disease leads to cerebral edema and death of the patient.

Symptoms of pathology

How do the symptoms of toxoplasmosis manifest in an adult with an acute form:

• a sudden jump in temperature to a critical point;
• chills;
• the body is strewn with inflamed pimples;
• inflammation of the lungs and other pathologies develop;
• develop brain diseases.

This form develops at lightning speed and, without medical intervention, leads to the death of the patient.

The symptoms of the chronic form are mild, sometimes appearing, then disappearing:

• the temperature rises slightly;
• headache;
• nausea;
• abdominal pain;
• weakness;
• dizziness;
• tachycardia;
• nervousness;
• weakening of memory;
• diarrhea.

Progressing, the pathology acquires the following symptoms and complications:

• Impotence in men.
• Menstrual disorders in women.
• Bumps, seals in the muscles.
• Damage to the heart muscle.
• Decreased visual function.
• Enlarged lymph nodes (in the occipital region).
• Migraine attacks.
• Loss of interest in life.
• Low pressure.

Symptoms of congenital toxoplasmosis

• obvious signs of poisoning;
• fever;
• yellow skin tone;
• inflamed rash on the face, limbs and trunk;
• headache;
• eye inflammation;
• encephalitis;
• excess fluid in the brain;
• underdevelopment;
• inflammation of the vessels of the eye;
• convulsive epileptic seizures.

Complications

• Blindness.
• Brain damage.
• Death.

However, the disease is safe for a healthy person with high immunity. In this case, antibodies will be produced in the body, which will become an obstacle to re-infection.

Symptoms of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women

• a sharp jump in temperature;
• muscle soreness;
• weakness;
• sleep loss;
• chronic fatigue.

If the chronic form worsens, the following symptoms may appear:

• stool disorder;
• flatulence;
• deterioration of visual functions;
• mental disorders.

At the first symptoms, you should undergo an examination and begin treatment. Otherwise, the consequences of toxoplasmosis in a pregnant woman can lead to the death of the fetus before birth.

However, this can be abandoned, but it should be remembered: if the infection is found in the amniotic fluid, the birth of a healthy child is unlikely.

Diagnostics

To determine toxoplasmosis in humans, it is necessary to carry out a number of diagnostic measures. Diagnosis is carried out several times, maintaining an interval of 15-30 days.

The most productive method of serological research is ELISA. With the help of serological analysis, antibodies are detected, if any.

• If a person has ever been ill with toxoplasmosis, immunoglobulin G is found in him.
• If antibodies M are found in the blood, the disease proceeds in the acute stage.

Deciphering the analysis for toxoplasmosis

• no IgG, IgM antibodies detected - no resistance;
• toxoplasmosis IgG positive, IgM was not detected - the disease is in a chronic form, the recovery period;
• antibodies IgG and IgM - exacerbation of the disease;
• detected IgM and IgG antibodies - acute form.

In order for the diagnosis to be complete, the following measures are carried out: ultrasound, MRI.

How to treat toxoplasmosis: drugs and alternative methods

Drug therapy is necessary for any form of the disease. If the form is acute, immediate treatment under the guidance of a specialist is necessary. Based on the results of the research, an experienced doctor will draw up a treatment regimen, select an effective and safe drug.

If a pregnant woman becomes infected, strong antibiotics are used for treatment in the second trimester, which is detrimental to the health of the unborn baby. Before this period, treatment is not applied.

How to cure toxoplasmosis?

The following medicines are used to treat toxoplasmosis:

• "Rovamycin" - macrolides.
• "Cycloferon" - immunomodulators.
• "Timogen" - hormonal.

Treatment with folk remedies is very popular. But it should be remembered that self-medication can play a cruel joke and worsen the patient's condition. Folk recipes should be used simultaneously with medications and only with the consent of the doctor.

Folk remedies for toxoplasmosis

Crush 5 cloves of garlic and add to a glass of milk. Put on low heat and cook for 15 minutes. Drink throughout the day, in small sips. The duration of treatment is 10 days. After a while, you can repeat.

Grind raw pumpkin seeds as finely as possible. 1 tsp Add the resulting powder to 200 ml of milk and drink on an empty stomach.

Prevention

To protect yourself from infection, you should follow the following rules:

1. Wash hands before eating.
2. Wash fruits and vegetables with boiling water.
3. Boil drinking water and milk.
4. Handle knives and cutting boards carefully.
5. Exclude from the diet not fried meat, shellfish (raw).
6. Clean the cat litter box and treat with an antiseptic.
7. After a walk, you should show the cat to the veterinarian, do an analysis for toxoplasmosis. Treatment of toxoplasmosis in cats is a measure against the spread of the disease.

Do you need a toxoplasmosis vaccine?

In the absence of contraindications, a person is vaccinated against toxoplasmosis.

To protect your unborn child from dangerous pathologies and safely endure pregnancy, you should do an antibody test in advance. The expectant mother should monitor her well-being, limit contact with animals and cut meat only with latex gloves.

To protect the cat from a serious illness, he is vaccinated. In this case, the minimum concentration of the causative agent of the pathology is introduced. After the introduction of the vaccine, the antibodies necessary for resistance to the disease are produced in the body of the animal.

Toxoplasmosis in dogs is a dangerous disease for both dogs and humans. Some owners simply do not know the consequences of the disease, others begin to panic.

Consider what it is, how it is treated, what is the danger of toxoplasmosis in a dog, what is the prevention of the disease, and other information.

Pathogen

The causative agent is bacteria of the genus Toxoplasma Gondi. Impossible to see with the naked eye. Compared to the size of a human hair, more than a few hundred bacteria can fit in.

Its small size is not comparable to the damage that it can cause to the body. Not only dogs, but also cats, humans, birds can be affected by the disease.

You can only stop the reproduction of pathogens for a while, or suppress them with special drugs. It will be necessary to constantly monitor the blood for the presence of antibodies to this disease.

In addition, if the dog is already a carrier of toxoplasmosis, then the bacteria tend to be excreted from the dog's body as part of urine, feces, tears, and milk.

It turns out that getting a disease is much easier than getting rid of it. When the dog first enters the body, the bacteria infect the intestinal epithelium.

The lesions are getting bigger and bigger. Moves with the help of blood flow. The only thing that does not hurt at the same time is the cells of red blood cells.

Symptoms

Toxoplasmosis can be acquired at a fairly young age. The course of the disease has an acute form at the beginning, then flows into a chronic one.

Leads to inflammation in the kidneys, pancreas, necrosis in the brain, spinal cord, spleen, liver, lymph nodes, in the abdominal, chest cavities.

What symptoms can be seen in a dog with an acute illness:

• Breathing difficult;
• Loses weight;
• Refuses food;
• Constipation;
• limbs;
• Strengthening sharply weakness.

In the chronic form, the symptoms are smoothed out. If the female is pregnant, then her entire litter of puppies will not be viable, since the pathogen enters the puppies through the placenta.

It causes changes in tissues and organs that are in no way compatible with life. It is important to know that the symptoms of toxoplasmosis are very similar to,. You will not be able to diagnose on your own, only in the clinic.

Diagnostics

In the veterinary clinic, they take blood for analysis. There are no capsules of bacteria in the feces. Therefore, only a serological blood test is carried out for the presence of a pathogen, antibodies.

If the form of the disease is extremely severe, then a biopsy of the spleen and liver is prescribed.

Treatment

With treatment, it is only possible to alleviate the symptoms of toxoplasmosis. They try to translate the course of the disease into a chronic form from an acute one. Many antibiotics, drugs simply do not have an effect on the disease.

What medications can a veterinarian prescribe?

• Delagil;
• Daraprim;
• Chloridine;
• Himkoktsid;
• Folic, ascorbic acid;
• B group vitamins.

In addition, disinfection measures are carried out in the dwelling in which the dog is kept, using the following means:

• Phenol;
• Lysol;
• Formaldehyde;
• Bleaching powder;
• Caustic alkali;
• Chloramine.

Prevention

If you give your dog raw meat, then you need to apply heat treatment for at least 30 minutes. The pathogen dies at low temperatures, so you can treat the dog with thawed meat.

Observe the rules of elementary hygiene in your home, from time to time take measures to disinfect items to care for your dog.

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