Toxoplasmosis / Disease

Diseases & Conditions

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Toxoplasmosis

Synonyms of Toxoplasmosis

No synonyms found

Disorder Subdivisions

No synonyms found

General Discussion
Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease that can be caused by contact with a microscopic parasitic organism called Toxoplasma gondii. This parasitic infection, found worldwide, can either be acquired or be present at birth (congenital). The congenital type is a result of a maternal infection during pregnancy that is transmitted to the fetus and involves lesions of the central nervous system. These lesions may lead to blindness, brain defects and more serious conditions. The disorder may be most severe when it is transmitted to the fetus during the second through sixth month of pregnancy.

Millions of people are infected with the Toxoplasma parasite, but very few exhibit symptoms because a healthy person?s immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. For people with a compromised immune system, such as those with HIV-AIDs, toxoplasmosis can be a serious disorder.

The most common ways in which the acquired form is spread include cleaning a cat?s litter box, eating contaminated meat that is raw or under-cooked, and drinking contaminated water.

Organizations related to Toxoplasmosis

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta GA 30333
Phone #: 404-639-3534
800 #: 800-311-3435
e-mail: http://www.cdc.gov/netinfo.htm
Home page: http://www.cdc.gov/
MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6610 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda MD 20892-6612
Phone #: 301-496-5717
800 #: --
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
The Arc (a national organization on mental retardation)
1010 Wayne Ave
Silver Spring MD 20910
Phone #: 301-565-3842
800 #: 800-433-5255
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.thearc.org/

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ? (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html