Toxoplasma

What is Toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasmosis is caused by infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma Gondii. You can catch this infection if you get the parasite in your mouth. This can happen if you handle or eat raw, cured or undercooked infected meat, in particular lamb or pork. You can also catch it if you eat unwashed fruit or vegetables or if you drink water that has been contaminated by the faeces of infected cats or if you don’t wash your hands after cleaning a cat litter box.

When should I test for Toxoplasmosis

If you have eaten undercooked lamb or pork, have a cat and regularly clean out its litter box, are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, are immune compromised or have any other chronic illness, you should get tested. It is estimated that globally, there is an average of 190,000 cases of toxoplasmosis passed from mother to child per year and around 1.5 neonatal cases per 1,000 live births annually.

Around a third of the global population is thought to have been infected with Toxoplasma Gondii, but with high variability from country to country.

Toxoplasmosis is relatively common in the UK, with The UK Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) estimating that toxoplasmosis affects 0.6% of the UK population each year and studies have shown that up to a third of UK adults have evidence of toxoplasma infection.

Toxoplasmosis can be treated in both adults as well as in young children, but whilst the treatment will likely never get rid of the infection, it will help reduce any damage that may have already been caused. If you suspect a Toxoplasmosis infection, you need to be tested quickly so that treatment can be started and damage to your body minimised.

Symptoms of Toxoplasmosis Infection

Toxoplasmosis often has no symptoms but when it does, symptoms can include:

• Flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, sore throat, body aches, tiredness, nausea, and vomiting
• Inflammation of the lungs and heart
• Muscle aches and pains
• Pain in the eyes, redness and tearing
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Reduced or blurry vision
• Confusion
• Muscle weakness
• Seizures

Adverse consequences of a Toxoplasmosis infection

Toxoplasmosis can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, or the infection can pass to the baby and cause a condition called Congenital Toxoplasmosis. This condition can cause brain damage, epilepsy, hearing loss, eye damage and learning disabilities in the baby.

In adults, a Toxoplasmosis infection can cause vision problems including blurred vision, floaters or a loss of vision. If the person suffers from a weak immune system, the infection can spread to other organs and lead to headaches, confusion, poor co-ordination, seizures, high temperatures, all symptoms of cerebral toxoplasmosis. This condition can be life-threatening.

Symptoms usually begin 1–3 weeks after exposure and last 2–4 weeks. However, the parasite can remain in your body in an inactive state and reactivate if your immune system becomes compromised.

How do I schedule my appointment?

To book your appointment, please click the “Get Started” button at the top of the page or call us on the number above. Select a suitable clinic, date, and time that meets your needs.

What can I expect at my appointment?

At your appointment, your blood sample will be collected by one of our doctors.

They will send it to our accredited laboratory for analysis. We will report your results as soon as they are ready. This is usually the next working day after your sample is received in the laboratory.

How will I receive my test results?

Your test results will be uploaded to your secure online Patient Area as soon as they become available. Additionally, you will receive a notification through your preferred method of communication, whether it be a telephone call, email, or text message. We will contact you within the first three days of reporting your result to discuss your next steps if you are positive.

What if I test positive?

If your test results indicate a positive result for Toxoplasma, your Better2Know doctor will be there to help you. They will discuss your options with you and advise on the next steps. There is no cure for a Toxoplasma infection as the bacteria leaves cysts behind which can reactivate. There are however treatment options to help you feel better and lead a normal life.