From the Guidelines

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite.

It can be spread through:
- Undercooked or raw meat, particularly pork, lamb, or venison 1
- Contact with cat litter or soil, especially if hands are not washed thoroughly afterwards 1
- Unwashed fruits and vegetables 1
Prevention measures include:
- Cooking meat to an internal temperature of at least 165°F (73.8°C) 1
- Washing hands after contact with raw meat, cat litter, or soil 1
- Washing fruits and vegetables well before eating them raw 1
- Keeping cats inside and not adopting or handling stray cats 1
- Feeding cats only canned or dried commercial food or well-cooked table food 1
Prophylaxis may be recommended for certain individuals, such as those with a CD4+ T lymphocyte count of <100/µL 1
Testing for Toxoplasma IgG antibody can help identify individuals who have been infected with the parasite 1

From the Research

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which infects a wide range of animals and can cause zoonotic infections in humans 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
The parasite can be acquired through ingestion of contaminated food or water, or by eating undercooked or raw meat containing tissue cysts 3, 6.
Toxoplasmosis can also be transmitted through organ transplantation or congenitally from mother to fetus 3, 4, 6.

Primary infection is usually subclinical, but can cause cervical lymphadenopathy or ocular disease in some patients 3.
In immunocompromised individuals, reactivation of latent disease can cause life-threatening encephalitis 3, 4, 5.
Toxoplasmosis can also cause severe damage to the fetus if acquired during pregnancy 3, 4, 6.
The parasite can infect a wide range of nucleated cells and can propagate in the intermediate host, leading to severe ocular or neurological outcomes in immunocompromised individuals or in developing fetuses 5.

Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis can be established by direct detection of the parasite or by serological techniques 3, 4.
The most commonly used therapeutic regimen is the combination of pyrimethamine with sulfadiazine and folinic acid 3.
Laboratory diagnosis, including PCR and serologic assays, plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of congenital infection and assists in the confirmatory diagnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis and ocular toxoplasmosis 4.

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide infection, with at least a third of the world's population infected with the parasite 4, 6.
High prevalence groups have close contact with cats, dogs, consume uncooked raw fruits, meat, or vegetables, and have a low socio-economic level 6.
Immunosuppressed groups and pregnant women are highly vulnerable to toxoplasmosis 3, 4, 6.
Unfiltered water acts as a primary reservoir of toxoplasmosis transmission, and consumption of contaminated food is a major route of disease transmission 6.