What Is Toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is a common parasitic infection. Toxoplasma gondii is the name of this parasite. It grows inside cats and then spreads to other animals or humans.
People with healthy immune systems frequently have mild to no symptoms. Many adults have toxoplasmosis and are unaware of it. People with weakened immune systems, on the other hand, are at a much higher risk of serious complications. These complications could include harm to your:eyes brain lungs heart.
Pregnant women who get the infection can pass it on to their unborn child. This can result in serious birth defects in the baby.
What’s a toxoplasmosis test?
A toxoplasmosis test is a blood test that determines whether you have serum antibodies to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It's also known as a toxoplasma test.
After the T. gondii parasite infects you, your body produces antibodies. The number and type of antibodies you have indicate whether or not your infection was recent. Your doctor may order multiple blood tests over the course of several weeks.
Toxoplasmosis is usually harmless in adults and does not require treatment. The disease is frequently asymptomatic. If a pregnant woman contracts the infection, it may be passed on to her fetus.
Consuming raw or undercooked meat from an infected animal puts you at risk of contracting T. gondii. You can also get the infection if you come into contact with an infected cat or its feces while cleaning the litter box.
You will have T. gondii antibodies for the rest of your life if you contract the infection. This usually means you won't get the infection again.
What is the purpose of a toxoplasmosis test?
In the following cases, your doctor may recommend a toxoplasmosis test:
You're pregnant, and they want to know if you have antibodies to T. gondii.
You're pregnant, and they want to know if your unborn child has toxoplasmosis.
A T. gondii infection in a developing baby can cause brain damage and blindness. A sample of amniotic fluid, the fluid that surrounds your baby in the womb, can be tested to see if they have the infection.
If you have a weakened immune system as a result of an illness such as HIV, your doctor may also want to test you. A weakened immune system increases your chances of contracting toxoplasmosis and other infections.
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