Basically, all friends who keep pets have been warned to be careful of Toxoplasma gondii, especially families with pregnant women, who often experience many debates on whether to give up pets. This article discusses the development and reproduction process of Toxoplasma gondii and how to prevent it.
1. Correct understanding of toxoplasmosis
1. What is Toxoplasma gondii?
Toxoplasma gondii, belonging to the subclass Coccidia, Eucalyptus, Isosporaceae, Toxoplasma.
2. The growth and development process of Toxoplasma gondii
The growth and development process of Toxoplasma gondii is roughly divided into five morphological stages: trophozoite (tachyzoite), cyst, schizont, gametophyte and oocyst.
Trophozoites (tachyzoites): Refers to the worms that reproduce asexually (ie, divisional reproduction) in the host cell. A single host cell contains multiple tachyzoites, which are called pseudocysts.
Cyst: round or oval, containing several to hundreds of worms, the tachyzoites in the cysts are called bradyzoites.
Schizonite: It develops and proliferates in the small intestinal villus epithelial cells of felines, and contains multiple merozoites.
Gametophyte: It develops and develops after the merozoites invade the intestinal epithelial cells to form gametocytes.
Oocyst: It is formed by the union of female and male merozoites to form a zygote.
3. Life history of Toxoplasma gondii
The life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii is mainly divided into asexual reproduction in the intermediate host and sexual reproduction in the terminal host.
(1) Asexual reproduction in an intermediate host
The intermediate host of Toxoplasma gondii includes most animals such as humans, dogs, and rodents. It is mainly infected by animals swallowing meat containing cysts or pseudocysts or oocysts in cat feces, and asexual reproduction in the intermediate host, and finally.
Fig.1 The development and asexual reproduction of Toxoplasma gondii in the intermediate host
(2) Sexual reproduction in the terminal host
The terminal host of Toxoplasma gondii found so far is only felines. It should be mentioned that since Toxoplasma can also reproduce by division (ie asexual reproduction) in felines, felines are both the terminal end of Toxoplasma gondii.
Figure 2 The development and sexual reproduction of Toxoplasma gondii in the terminal host
Figure 3 Felines are the only known terminal hosts of Toxoplasma gondii
4. The harm of Toxoplasma gondii to humans
Toxoplasma gondii is best known for its harm to pregnant women, mainly manifested as miscarriage, premature birth, teratogenicity or stillbirth.
5. The main route of transmission of Toxoplasma gondii
(1) Eating animal meat or offal (raw or undercooked) containing cysts or pseudocysts of Toxoplasma gondii.
(2) After touching meat or viscera containing cysts or pseudocysts of Toxoplasma gondii, the food was eaten by hand without thorough cleaning in time.
(3) After contact with feline feces, food is eaten by hand without thorough cleaning in time.
(4) Living with animals suffering from toxoplasmosis for a long time.
(5) Mother-to-child transmission.
Figure 4 Sick cat feces is one of the main sources of infection of Toxoplasma gondii
2. How to prevent Toxoplasma gondii
1. Try not to adopt the free-range method for pets. When walking the dog, you should pay attention to controlling its actions, especially not to let it swallow the corpses of small animals outside. For cats, try not to let them go out. If you really like to play outside
Figure 5 Using a leash to walk the dog can effectively limit the dog's activities
2. Do not feed raw or undercooked meat to pets. The oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii can be killed by cooking at 80°C for more than 1 minute, so be sure to cook and thoroughly cook the meat.
3. Regularly take pets to the pet hospital for physical examination, timely detection and timely treatment.
4. For pets found to have Toxoplasma gondii, they should be treated in time.
5. The pregnant owner should take the cat to check in time, and should not touch the cat's feces easily, and the daily interaction with the cat should also be reduced.
6. Pet friends who keep cats should go to the hospital for regular check-ups as much as possible, and do a good job of daily cleaning and sanitation to prevent them from happening in the first place.