
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Toxoplasmosis historical perspective
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Toxoplasma gondi was first identified in 1908 by Nicolle and Manceaux. Sabin & Olitsky in 1937 described that toxoplasma was an obligate intracellular parasite and could be passed onto laboratory animals by intracranial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal inoculation of brain homogenates (The slurry of tissues and cells which results when cell structure has been mechanically disrupted). They have also suggested that ingestion of toxoplasma contaminated tissue can result in toxoplasmosis. In 1937 to 1940, Wolf and Cowen have described necrotic and granulomatous lesions on autopsy of a 3 day old infant’s brain infected with toxoplasma. They have also reported that the mothers were asymptomatic but carried antibodies against toxoplasma and the possibility of congenital transmission was expressed. Sabin and Feldman developed a serological test to identify infected individuals by using antibodies specific to toxoplasma, called the Sabin Feldman Dye test. The serological test when used in large population studies showed a high proportion of humans and domestic animals carried antibodies against toxoplasma. Dubley described the life cycle of the parasite in 1970 and established that the cats are the definitive hosts and any warm blooded animal can be an intermediate host.[1][2][3] [4][5][6]
Historical Perspective
Historical Perspective
- In 1908, Nicolle and Manceaux described the parasite in the blood, spleen and liver of a North African rodentβgundi (Ctenodactylus gundi) and named it Leishmania gondii.[7]
- In 1909, Nicolle and Manceaux renamed the parasite as T.gondii.[8]
- In 1937, Sabin & Olitsky described that toxoplasma was an obligate intracellular parasite and could be passed onto laboratory animals by intracranial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal inoculation of brain homogenates (The slurry of tissues and cells which results when cell structure has been mechanically disrupted). They have also suggested that ingestion of toxoplasma contaminated tissue can result in toxoplasmosis.[6]
- In 1937 to 1940, Wolf and Cowen have described necrotic and granulomatous lesions on autopsy of a 3 day old infant’s brain infected with toxoplasma. They have also reported that the mothers were asymptomatic but carried antibodies against toxoplasma and the possibility of congenital transmission was expressed.[5]
- In 1940, Pinkerton and Weinman reported the first fatal case of toxoplasmosis in an adult.[9]
- In 1948, Sabin and Feldman developed a serological test to identify infected individuals by using antibodies specific to toxoplasma, called the Sabin Feldman Dye test. The serological test when used in large population studies showed a high proportion of humans and domestic animals carried antibodies against toxoplasma.[4]
- In 1965, Desmonts described that ingestion of under-cooked and uncooked meat plays a role in the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis.[10]
- In 1970, Dubley described the life cycle of the parasite and established that the cats are the definitive hosts and any warm blooded animal can be an intermediate host.[1][2][3]
References
References
- β 1.0 1.1 Dubey JP, Miller NL, Frenkel JK (1970). “Characterization of the new fecal form of Toxoplasma gondii”. J Parasitol. 56 (3): 447β56. PMIDΒ 5467864.
- β 2.0 2.1 Dubey JP, Miller NL, Frenkel JK (1970). “The Toxoplasma gondii oocyst from cat feces”. J Exp Med. 132 (4): 636β62. PMCΒ 2138867. PMIDΒ 4927658.
- β 3.0 3.1 Hutchison WM, Dunachie JF, Siim JC, Work K (1969). “Life cycle of toxoplasma gondii”. Br Med J. 4 (5686): 806. PMCΒ 1630290. PMIDΒ 5359949.
- β 4.0 4.1 Sabin AB, Feldman HA (1948). “Dyes as Microchemical Indicators of a New Immunity Phenomenon Affecting a Protozoon Parasite (Toxoplasma)”. Science. 108 (2815): 660β3. doi:10.1126/science.108.2815.660. PMIDΒ 17744024.
- β 5.0 5.1 Paige, Beryl H. (1942). “TOXOPLASMIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS”. American Journal of Diseases of Children. 63 (3): 474. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1942.02010030044004. ISSNΒ 0096-8994.
- β 6.0 6.1 Heath, Parker (1945). “TOXOPLASMOSIS”. Archives of Ophthalmology. 33 (3): 184. doi:10.1001/archopht.1945.00890150028003. ISSNΒ 0093-0326.
- β Weiss LM, Dubey JP (2009). “Toxoplasmosis: A history of clinical observations”. Int J Parasitol. 39 (8): 895β901. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2009.02.004. PMCΒ 2704023. PMIDΒ 19217908.
- β Weiss LM, Dubey JP (2009). “Toxoplasmosis: A history of clinical observations”. Int J Parasitol. 39 (8): 895β901. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2009.02.004. PMCΒ 2704023. PMIDΒ 19217908.
- β Weiss LM, Dubey JP (2009). “Toxoplasmosis: A history of clinical observations”. Int J Parasitol. 39 (8): 895β901. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2009.02.004. PMCΒ 2704023. PMIDΒ 19217908.
- β Desmonts G, Couvreur J, Alison F, Baudelot J, Gerbeaux J, Lelong M (1965). “[Epidemiological study on toxoplasmosis: the influence of cooking slaughter-animal meat on the incidence of human infection]”. Rev Fr Etud Clin Biol (in French). 10 (9): 952β8. PMIDΒ 5853186.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Β ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]
