Epidemiology


Etiology


  • Route of transmission
    • Oral ingestion: The oocysts are excreted in the feces of cats (final host) and are orally ingested by other mammals such as humans, hoofed animals, and birds (intermediate hosts). Primary modes of transmission include the following:
      • Cat feces
      • Raw or insufficiently cooked meat (most common)
      • Unpasteurized milk (especially goat milk)
    • Transplacental transmission: see toxoplasmosis in pregnancy
    • Via organ transplantation or blood transfusion

Pathophysiology


Clinical features


Ocular toxoplasmosis

  • Clinical features
    • Chorioretinitis
      • Defects in the visual field at the site of inflammation
      • Pain
      • Optic atrophy or macular scar formation can progress to blindness.
  • Diagnostics
    • Fundoscopy
      • Acute toxoplasmosis
        • Yellow-white retinal lesion
        • Marked vitreous reaction
        • Concomitant vasculitis

Diagnostics


Treatment