Question 1

How is toxoplasmosis typically contracted and who is most at risk?

Accepted Answer

Toxoplasmosis is caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite and can be transmitted through eating contaminated undercooked meat or shellfish, accidentally consuming the parasite through contact with cat feces or contaminated soil, or from mother to child during pregnancy. Approximately 11 percent of the US population 6 years and older have had a Toxoplasma infection, with areas having hot, humid climates and lower altitudes often having the highest rates of infection. The parasite causes serious problems for people with weak immune systems and babies whose mothers become infected for the first time during pregnancy, potentially causing damage to the brain, eyes, and other organs.

Question 2

What symptoms might indicate a toxoplasmosis infection?

Accepted Answer

Most people with healthy immune systems who are infected with Toxoplasma gondii do not know they have it because they do not have any symptoms, but if symptoms occur, individuals may experience mild flu-like symptoms. Those with symptoms may experience flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and pains, while severe toxoplasmosis causes damage to the brain, eyes, or other organs. People who are immunocompromised may experience severe symptoms if infected, and those with HIV infection who were not previously infected are more likely to develop a severe primary infection.

Question 3

Why is toxoplasmosis testing important during pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

If a woman becomes newly infected with Toxoplasma during or just before pregnancy, they can pass the infection to their unborn baby during pregnancy through congenital transmission, and often the earlier in pregnancy that transmission occurs, the more severe the damage to the unborn child. Congenital toxoplasmosis results from an acute primary infection acquired by the mother during pregnancy, with the incidence and severity varying with the trimester during which infection was acquired. Because treatment of the mother may reduce the incidence of congenital infection and reduce sequelae in the infant, prompt and accurate diagnosis is important.

Question 4

How long do antibodies persist after toxoplasmosis infection?

Accepted Answer

Low levels of Toxoplasma IgM may persist for months to years after an initial infection, and they may persist for months or years after infection, with only negative results in the vast majority of cases excluding acute infection. IgG levels stabilize after the Toxoplasma gondii parasite becomes inactive. However, the parasite stays in the body in an inactive state and can relapse (reactivation of infection) if an individual becomes immunosuppressed or develops a weakened immune system.

Question 5

What should I do if my test results are positive?

Accepted Answer

If individuals think they have toxoplasmosis, they should talk to their healthcare provider, who may order different blood tests to help determine if they are infected. Most people with healthy immune systems do not need treatment, and if symptoms occur, they will usually go away within a few weeks to months. The CDC suggests equivocal or positive results should be retested using a different assay from another reference laboratory specializing in toxoplasmosis testing. Healthcare providers can interpret results in the context of symptoms, medical history, and risk factors to determine if further testing or treatment is needed.

Toxoplasmosis (IgG/IgM)