Pathogenesis (development of disease)
The causative agent of toxoplasmosis is the obligate (Latin: obligare = to oblige) intracellular (inside the cell) parasite Toxoplasma gondii. One can distinguish an asexual and a sexual development cycle. Development proceeds from oocytes (egg cell) to sporozoites (infectious stage) to tachyzoites (form after entering the intermediate host and multiply there).
The pathogen is ingested orally (by mouth). especially in the reticuloendothelial tissue, a proliferative multiplication phase occurs in which the many daughter cells keep infecting new cells.
The tachyzoites are transformed into bradyzoites, whose proliferation is greatly slowed down, by the human immune defense system. This cyst-forming phase, in turn, can proceed in various tissues, but preferentially the brain or muscle.
Etiology (causes)
Behavioral causes
- Contact with cats
- Contact with contaminated soil
- Consumption of contaminated vegetables
- Consumption of raw or insufficiently cooked meat, especially from pork (in raw sausage or minced meat), sheep, goat, game animals and poultry.
Further
- Transplant recipients: recipients of solid organs or after hematologic stem cell transplantation may develop toxoplasmosis. Cause may be tissue cysts contained in the transplant or reactivation of a latent infection.
