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Toxoplasmosis can be a sexually transmitted infection with serious clinical consequences. Not all routes of infection are created equal.
[congenital toxoplasmosis]
Toxoplasma
gondii
infects
about
30
%
of
the
human
population
.
Common
sources
of
infection
are
oocysts
in
cat
faeces
contaminating
drinking
water
or
unwashed
vegetables
,
undercooked
meat
containing
tissue
cysts
,
and
organ
transplants
from
infected
donors
containing
tissue
cysts
.
However
,
very
often
,
it
is
not
possible
to
identify
any
potential
source
of
infection
in
mothers
of
children
with
congenital
toxoplasmosis
.
Here
we
present
a
hypothesis
suggesting
that
toxoplasmosis
is
transmitted
from
infected
men
to
noninfected
women
during
unprotected
sexual
intercourse
,
which
can
result
in
the
most
serious
form
of
disease
,
congenital
toxoplasmosis
.
Arguments
for
the
hypothesis
:
(
1
)
Toxoplasma
tachyzoites
are
present
in
the
seminal
fluid
and
tissue
of
the
testes
of
various
animals
including
humans
.
In
some
species
infection
of
females
by
artificial
insemination
with
semen
from
infected
males
has
been
observed
.
(
2
)
Up
to
two
thirds
of
Toxoplasma
infections
in
pregnant
women
can
not
be
explained
by
the
known
risk
factors
.
(
3
)
Prevalence
of
toxoplasmosis
in
women
in
child-bearing
age
covaries
with
the
incidence
of
sexually
transmitted
diseases
in
particular
countries
.
(
4
)
In
some
countries
,
an
increased
incidence
of
toxoplasmosis
has
been
reported
in
women
(
but
not
men
)
aged
25
-
35
years
.
This
second
peak
of
infection
could
be
associated
with
women
having
regular
unprotected
sex
after
marriage
.
(
5
)
Toxoplasmosis
triggers
schizophrenia
in
predisposed
subjects
.
Onset
of
schizophrenia
is
about
2
-
3
years
earlier
in
men
than
in
women
.
However
,
this
difference
in
the
onset
can
be
found
only
between
Toxoplasma-infected
patients
.
The
increased
onset
of
schizophrenia
in
infected
women
could
be
associated
with
the
already
mentioned
second
peak
of
toxoplasmosis
incidence
.
(
6
)
The
prevalence
of
toxoplasmosis
decreases
in
developed
countries
in
last
20
years
.
This
trend
could
be
a
result
of
decrease
in
promiscuity
and
increase
in
safe
sex
practices
,
both
associated
with
the
AIDS
pandemics
.
(
7
)
In
women
,
probability
of
being
Toxoplasma-infected
correlates
positively
with
the
amount
of
unprotected
sex
with
the
child
's
father
before
the
conception
.
Evidence
against
the
hypothesis
:
Questionnaire
study
showed
negative
association
between
Toxoplasma
infection
and
the
number
of
earlier
partners
with
whom
the
woman
had
unprotected
sex
.
If
our
hypothesis
turns
out
to
be
true
,
then
sexual
route
of
transmission
,
even
if
rare
,
could
be
responsible
for
a
large
part
of
cases
of
congenital
toxoplasmosis
.
Women
should
be
warned
that
having
unprotected
sex
with
men
of
positive
or
unknown
toxoplasmosis
status
should
be
avoided
during
pregnancy
.
Diseases
Validation
Diseases presenting
"which can result in the most serious form of disease"
symptom
congenital toxoplasmosis
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