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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffAnyone can become infected with toxoplasmosis. The parasite is found throughout the world. In most cases, if you do contract toxoplasmosis, you'll have few, if any, signs and symptoms. But you're at risk of serious health problems if you:
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Are living with HIV/AIDS. Many people living with HIV/AIDS also have toxoplasmosis. In some cases, the infection is recent (acute), and in others, an old infection has turned active.
If you have HIV/AIDS, it's important to have a toxoplasmosis test. If the test is positive, your doctor can monitor the infection, which is most likely to become active if your CD4 lymphocyte count — a measure of your body's immunity — falls below 100. A negative test means you can take measures to prevent future infection.
- Are undergoing chemotherapy. Chemotherapy affects your immune system, making it difficult for your body to fight even minor infections.
- Are taking steroids or other immunosuppressant drugs. Medications used to treat certain nonmalignant conditions suppress your immune system and make you more likely to develop complications of toxoplasmosis.
- Are pregnant. If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, ask your doctor whether it would be appropriate for you to be tested. If you have active toxoplasmosis, treatment can greatly reduce the risk to your baby. If you've already had toxoplasmosis before becoming pregnant, you generally can't pass the infection to your baby.
- Toxoplasmosis fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/factsheet.html. Accessed May 5, 2009.
- Martin-Rabada P, et al. Blood and tissue protozoa. In: Cohen J, et al. Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: Mosby; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/135708454-2/0/1209/737.html?tocnode=49359306&fromURL=737.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02407-6..50247-6--cesec17_8111. Accessed May 4, 2009.
- Kasper LH. Toxoplasma infections. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2896423. Accessed May 4, 2009.
- McLeod R, et al. Toxoplasmosis (toxoplasma gondii). In: Kleigman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/135783748-2/0/1608/732.html?tocnode=54480801&fromURL=732.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50289-9_6064. Accessed May 4, 2009.
- Toxoplasmosis. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1228.asp. Accessed May 6, 2009.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al. Preventing congenital toxoplasmosis. MMWR Recommendations and Reports. 2000;49:57. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4902a5.htm. Accessed May 8, 2009.
- You can prevent toxo. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/toxo.htm. Accessed May 5, 2009.
- Montoya JG, et al. Diagnosis and management of toxoplasmosis. Clinics in Perinatology. 2005;32:705.
