TOXOPLASMOSIS

• Second most common TORCH infection resulting from the transplacental infection with Toxoplasma gondii.
• Source of infection - domesticated cat or ingestion or handling of contaminated meat.
• Lives in gastro-intestinal tract of host e.g. cat
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  Sexual cycle occurs and oocytes produced.
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  Excreted in feces and women infected by cleaning litter box or handling contaminated soil or meat.
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  Oocytes ingested and parasites in blood (tachyzoites).
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  Penetrate into tissues (muscles and brain).
  Spread transplacentally (hematogenous spread to fetus).

• Risk to fetus
• Ultrasound
• Prognosis