Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma.
The infection is found all over the world, including in the UK, but is rarely reported because it usually causes no symptoms.
There are around 350 cases of the infection reported in England and Wales each year, but the true number is thought to be more than 350,000.
It is estimated that around a third of people in the UK will have a toxoplasmosis infection at some point in their lives, but most people do not know they have it.
Is toxoplasmosis dangerous?
Toxoplasmosis is not usually a serious illness because the body's immune system is strong enough to fight off the infection and prevent it from becoming a serious illness. Once infected, most people are usually immune to it for the rest of their lives.
However, the disease can be dangerous in the following situations:
When a pregnant woman is infected - toxoplasmosis can cause miscarriage or stillbirth; or the infection can be passed on to the baby and cause serious complications (congenital toxoplasmosis);
People with weakened immune systems - for example, those who have had an organ transplant; those who have HIV; or those who are undergoing chemotherapy; in these people, the infection can spread to the eyes, heart, lungs and brain.
Congenital toxoplasmosis is rare in the UK, with an estimated one in 10,000 to 30,000 babies born with this type of infection.
How is toxoplasmosis contracted?
The parasite that causes toxoplasmosis is found in the urine or faeces of infected cats, or in contaminated meat.
This parasite can enter the human body through the mouth in the following ways:
Eating or handling raw, smoked, or undercooked meat contaminated with this parasite – especially lamb and pork
Eating food such as fruits or vegetables that have not been washed properly or drinking water that has been contaminated with cat urine
Accidentally ingesting soil contaminated with this pathogen or accidentally getting cat urine or feces into the mouth
Toxoplasmosis is not transmitted from person to person, except in rare cases such as receiving an organ from an infected person (in an organ transplant), or transmitting the infection to a fetus from a mother who is in early pregnancy.
Toxoplasmosis test
A simple blood test can tell if you have this parasite.
If you are at risk of infection, have specific symptoms, or are at risk of serious conditions; for example, if you are at risk of HIV infection, it is recommended that you get tested for toxoplasmosis.
In the UK, pregnant women are not routinely tested for toxoplasmosis, but if you think you may have been exposed to the infection during pregnancy, you can ask your doctor or midwife to do this for you.
Treatment of toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis usually does not require any specific treatment in people who do not have any of the conditions listed above. The medicine used to treat this type of infection is usually a medicine that prevents severe symptoms and complications in people at high risk – for example, those with weakened immune systems. Pyrimethamine plus sulfadiazine and azithromycin are the main medicines used to treat this infection.
For pregnant women who have been infected with toxoplasmosis for the first time, they may be prescribed medicine to reduce the risk of passing the infection to the baby or harming the baby, although the effectiveness of these medicines is not yet known.
Preventing Toxoplasmosis
There are many ways you can help prevent toxoplasmosis, including:
Wearing gloves when gardening, especially when working with soil.
Washing your hands before eating.
Not eating raw or undercooked meat.
Washing utensils that have been used to hold raw meat.
Washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
Emptying and cleaning your pet's litter box daily.
Avoiding direct contact with cat urine or feces.
These are especially important if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system.