cats

Background: The highly prevalent parasitic infection of humans, toxoplasmosis, can have serious consequences even during an asymptomatic course of the disease. The causative agente of infection is Toxoplasma gondii, which proliferates in the intestine of cats. Risk of infection by direct contact with cats is low, but the infection can occur due to contaminated soil, water, unwashed vegetables and fruits, as well as insufficiently heat-treated meat. Objectives: The aim of this study was to synthesize the current knowledge about infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii in a brief review focusing on latent toxoplasmosis in humans. Materials and Methods: More than hundred articles, studies and reports from scientific journals were considered to summarize the infection's characteristics such as prevalence and symptoms in humans. Results and Discussion: The symptoms of acute toxoplasmosis are either featureless, or non-existent, although, for people with immunosuppression it can be fatal, and for expectants it can result in foetal harm. The detection of the infection is conducted with serology methods, however, only in a few European countries are general screenings present. The asymptomatic carrier state is dangerous as well, because the cysts subsist in the brain of the host, which affects behaviour, the regulation of emotions, and also the level of several hormones. The latent toxoplasmosis can be connected to aggression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar personality disorder, suicidal inclination, depression, and the reduction in intelligence quotient. For the reason of the deterioration of reaction time, the disease increases the risk of traffic accidents. The latent toxoplasmosis also influences personality traits; for women and men the alteration of the personality change differs. There is no data on the current epidemiological situation in Hungary, and not even in Europe. A research regarding the extent of asymptomatic carrier state and about the psychological changes in the Hungarian population has not been conducted so far.