Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a disease that results from infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, one of the world’s most common parasites and found most often in cats.

Donor requirements for participation:

• You must be clinically diagnosed by a medical professional. Confirmation of the diagnosis and/or treatment must be verified with your physician.
• Be pre-screened to determine eligibility.
• You’re willing to donate plasma through the apheresis process.
• You must have a photo ID and be able to provide your social security number or proof of citizenship.
• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must weight at least 110 lbs.
• You must disclose if you have ever been diagnosed with Hepatitis C and/or HIV.

For questions and concerns about requirements or participation, contact us at (833) GO-4-CURE.

Symptoms

Toxoplasmosis may cause flu-like symptoms such as body aches, swollen lymph nodes, headache, fever, and fatigue. In some people, but most people affected never develop signs and symptoms. For infants born to infected mothers and for people with weakened immune systems, toxoplasmosis can cause extremely serious complications and symptoms that include headache, confusion, poor coordination, seizures, lung problems that resemble tuberculosis, and blurred vision.

Treatment

If you’re generally healthy, you probably won’t need any treatment for toxoplasmosis. However, you doctor may prescribe Pyrimethamine (Daraprim) or Sulfadiazine. If you are pregnant or have lowered immunity, certain medications can help reduce the infection’s severity. The best approach, though, is prevention: wearing gloves when gardening, avoiding raw or uncooked meats and unpasteurized milk, and covering children’s sandbox.

This information is not meant for clinical diagnosis, but as an educational resource derived from Mayo Clinic.