Toxoplasma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toxoplasma gondii |
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| T. gondii tachyzoites | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
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| Order: |
Eucoccidiorida
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| Family: |
Sarcocystidae
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| Genus: |
Toxoplasma
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| Binomial name | |
| Toxoplasma gondii |
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Toxoplasma gondii is a tiny living thing called a protozoan parasite. It can live inside almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans.
This parasite is very common in people. Studies show that about one-third of people around the world have been infected with T. gondii. How many people are infected can be very different from one country to another.
Most healthy adults who get infected with T. gondii do not feel sick at all. Sometimes, they might feel a little like they have the flu for a few weeks. But for babies, people with HIV/AIDS, or anyone with a weak immune system, this infection can be very serious. It can even be deadly.
How People Get Infected
People and other warm-blooded animals can get T. gondii in a few ways:
- By eating meat that is raw or not cooked enough. This meat might have tiny cysts of T. gondii inside.
- By drinking water or eating food that has been touched by infected animal poop. This poop can contain tiny T. gondii eggs called oocysts.
- From a blood transfusion or an organ transplant. This is very rare.
- From a mother to her unborn baby during pregnancy. The parasite can pass through the placenta.
Toxoplasma Life Cycle
The T. gondii parasite can only make baby parasites in a special way inside the intestines of cats. This means that cats are the main hosts for T. gondii. All other animals, including humans, are called 'intermediate hosts'. The parasite can live in these animals but cannot complete its full life cycle there.
Images for kids
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Dividing T. gondii parasites
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Diagram of T. gondii structure
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Lifecycle of Toxoplasma gondii
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T. gondii oocysts in a fecal flotation
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T. gondii tissue cyst in a mouse brain, individual bradyzoites can be seen within
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An unstained T. gondii tissue cyst, bradyzoites can be seen within
See also
In Spanish: Toxoplasma gondii para niños
