The parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been found to manipulate the behavior of its secondary hosts to increase its own dissemination which is commonly believed to be to the detriment of the host (manipulation hypothesis). The manipulation correlates with an up-regulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission. In humans, different pathologies have been associated with T. gondii infections but most late...

(See pages 716–717 for the Photo Quiz.) Figure 1. Bone marrow smear showing Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites (arrows). Diagnosis: Acute disseminated toxoplasmosis in a cord-blood transplant recipient. Figure 1 shows Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites, whereas Figure 2 portrays a cystic form within a macrophage. T. gondii was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction detection in bone marrow and blood spec...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunoglobulin (Ig) G avidity of serological toxoplasmosis testing in patients with ocular inflammation and to determine the clinical manifestations of ocular toxoplasmosis. METHODS A retrospective review of all patients presenting with ocular inflammation to the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia between 2005 and 20...

BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is becoming a global health hazard as it infects 30-50% of the world human population. Clinically, the life-long presence of the parasite in tissues of a majority of infected individuals is usually considered asymptomatic. However, a number of studies show that this 'asymptomatic infection' may also lead to development of other human pathologies. AIMS OF THE STUDY The...

BACKGROUND Congenital toxoplasmosis is associated with severe complications. German state health insurance covers rubella, but not toxoplasmosis, immunity screening. We analysed the effect of socioeconomic factors on the efficiency of private toxoplasmosis screening during pregnancy. METHODS Toxoplasmosis and rubella screening data (n = 5402 mothers) were collected within the population-based...

The sex ratio may be influenced by many factors, such as stress and immunosuppression, age of parents, parity and sex of preceding siblings. In animal systems, parasitism often changes the sex ratio of infected hosts, which can increase the probability of their transmission. The most common human protozoan parasite in developed countries, Toxoplasma gondii (prevalence 20%-80%), is known to chan...

Background and Aim: Latent toxoplasmosis is the most frequently occurring parasitic infection worldwide, which causes hormonal behavioral changes that seriously affect pregnant women. It has also been linked to several autoimmune diseases, including thyroid disease (AITD). This study aimed investigate association between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity dysfunction, considering impact of latent...