A Global Problem of Toxoplasmosis

Abstract The causative agent of toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii , is an intracellular parasite and member of the Apicomplexan family. Toxoplasmosis can be seen all over the world together with a growing human population. People can be infected with T. gondii in several ways, such as contact with infected animals, contaminated blood, a leukocytes transfusion, congenital transmission, and foodborne transmission. There is a special risk for pregnant women who get infected with T. gondii , as the fetus may be stillborn or have some abnormalities such as hydrocephalus, intracranial calcifications, microcephaly, fetal growth retardation, ascites, or hepatosplenomegaly. Ocular toxoplasmosis causes blindness and loss of eyes. Toxoplasmosis becomes especially important regarding nervous system infections. In this chapter, we describe the general characteristics and life cycle of T. gondii , epidemiology and transmission, diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis, and clinical pictures of diseases. We especially focus on the relation between toxoplasmosis and the central nervous system.