Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii are obligate intracellular Parasites that belong to the family Sarcocystidae.T. gondii is ubiquitous and isfound around the world and considered to be a leading cause of death attributed to foodborne illness. Oftenly found in hot, humid climates and lower altitudes and occurs in a wide range of intermediate hosts that include warm­ blooded vertebrates, such as birds, carnivores, rodents, pigs, primates, and humans.

Organism Details:
Shape and Size
4.7 X 2.1 um ,ovoid Zoonotic parasite
Genome Information
Toxoplasma gondii ME49 is a Zoonotic parasite ( GI:212657802) has a linear DNA of 62966896 bp .The genome structure of Toxoplasma gondii ME49 consists of 8,155 genes and 7,987 proteins, tRNAs: 162, Pseudo Genes: 6. The GC content of Toxoplasma gondii ME49 is about 52.3 %.
Food Source
By eating raw or under cooked,contaminated meat not only meats like pork lamb, or wild game and beef,but also seafoods,like clamsandoysters;undercooked or raw meats .fruits and vegetables (cont aminated with cat fece s or drinking of water containing sporulated oocysts.)
Pathological Factor
Toxoplasma's unique ability to infect almost any nucleated cell by oocysts.Infection through Oocysts bcause of Survival of oocysts in the environment.Humans, can be infected by Cysts,ingestion take place via Consumption of meat. Tissue cysts remain infectious in refrigerated(1°C to 6°C) or minced meat .Food-borne contamination mainly associated with tachyzoites.Therefore, the horizontal transmission of Toxoplasma via tachyzoites . Type I isolates are highly virulent, inoculation of <10 tachyzoites, while type II or III strains are considered avirulent strains, allowing survival after the inoculation of >103 tachyzoites.
Disease
T. gondii parasite could make anyone very sick. T. gondii infections in pregnant women pose a serious health concern to the fetus. When a woman becomes infected with T. gondii, either at conception or during pregnancy, the parasite can cross the placenta and infect the fetus. These neonates can either be asymptomatic, or the infection can lead to a range of disabilities; e.g., hydrocephalus, developmental delay, or death. It can spread to other parts of the body,such as the brain,eyes,or heart and other muscles. Seizures, vision loss,or heart and lung problems are just a few Potential outcomes of infection.
Affected Body Organs
Classification
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Chromalveolata
Superphylum Alveolata
Phylum Apicomplexa
Class Conoidasida
Order Eucoccidiorida
Family Sarcocystidae
Subfamily Toxoplasmatinae
Genus Toxoplasma
Species T. Gondii