toxoplasmosis

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toxoplasmosis (toks-oh-plaz-moh-sis) n. a disease of mammals and birds due to the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which may be transmitted to humans (usually by eating undercooked infected meat or by contact with cat faeces). Generally symptoms are mild (swollen lymph nodes and an influenza-like illness), but the disease can be serious in immunocompromised patients. congenital t. toxoplasmosis transmitted by a woman infected during pregnancy to her fetus. It may produce severe malformations of the skull and eyes or active liver infection in the newborn.

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