Is Toxoplasma gondii intracellular or extracellular?

Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. Toxoplasma can invade and multiply inside any nucleated cell of a wide range of homeothermic hosts.

Is Toxoplasma gondii extracellular?

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite. However, a small number of parasites exist as free extracellular tachyzoites in the blood flow (extracellular parasite). It is still controversial whether the extracellular parasites in the blood flow disseminate into the peripheral tissues.

Is Toxoplasma gondii anaerobic?

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that causes opportunistic disease, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.

Is Toxoplasma gondii facultative?

Toxoplasmosis is one of the more common parasitic zoonoses world-wide. Its causative agent, Toxoplasma gondii, is a facultatively heteroxenous, polyxenous protozoon that has developed several potential routes of transmission within and between different host species.

What cells does Toxoplasma infection?

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect all nucleated cells belonging to a wide range of host species. One of the particularities of this parasite is its invasion and persistence in host cells of immunocompetent people. This infection is usually asymptomatic.

How does toxoplasmosis spread to humans?

Etiologic Factors: Toxoplasma can be transmitted to humans by three principal routes: a) ingestion of raw or inadequately cooked infected meat; b) ingestion of oocysts, an environmentally resistant form of the organism that cats pass in their feces, with exposure of humans occurring through exposure to cat litter or …

How long does Toxoplasma gondii live in humans?

The Toxoplasma parasite can persist for long periods of time in the bodies of humans (and other animals), possibly even for a lifetime. Of those who are infected however, very few have symptoms because a healthy person’s immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness.

How do you get rid of Toxoplasma gondii?

If you have a weakened immune system, your doctor will treat you with a combination of drugs to kill the Toxoplasma parasite. The usual treatment of choice is pyrimethamine combined with sulfadiazine.

Is Toxoplasma gondii a bacteria or virus?

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite. This parasite is called Toxoplasma gondii. It can be found in cat feces and undercooked meat, especially venison, lamb, and pork. It can also be transmitted through contaminated water.

How does toxoplasmosis affect cells?

During cell invasion Toxoplasma creates a subcellular compartment termed the parasitophorous vacuole, which acts as an interface between the parasite and host cytoplasm, and in many cases serves as a platform for modulation of several host cell functions that support parasite replication and infection.