Toxomplasmosis is a disease caused by the toxoplasma gondii organism which is a parasitic protozoan. This parasite infects most warm-blooded mammals but cats are the primary hosts of these parasites. Animals (including humans) are infected by eating infected meat, by ingestion of faeces of a cat that has itself recently been infected, or by transmission from mother to fetus. The parasite can take up residence in the eye and the host's body will mount a defense against it there. Unfortunately, the defense that is mounted by the body causes severe inflammation of the retina (retinitis) and uveal tract (the blood vessels in the eye not including the retina; uveitis) which can lead to blindness.

Next Condition >>

Next Page >>