Nervous System- Infection & Inflammation I
Question No. 14. The Answer is: (B) 1 and 3 are true.
1. An intracellular parasite.
3. The definitive host are in domestic cats.
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Discussion: The microorganism being shown in the hematoxylin-eosin stained section is morphologically consistent with Toxoplasma gondii (as shown in the left panel) and their identity can be easily confirmed by immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies (as shown in the right panel). Toxoplasma gondii is known to infect a wide variety of warm-blooded animals. The domestic cats are the only definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii where the sexual and asexual cycle can be completed. The asexual phase can occur in incidental hosts like human. Primary infections in immunocompetent adult humans are usually asymptomatic. Toxoplasma gondii can cause serious congenital infections and also serious consequences in immunocompromised hosts.
[Click here to see a related case] [Click here to see a case with electron microgroph]