Human toxoplasmosis from swimming with the Amazon’s pink dolphins?

Travel Unravelled

ISTM podcast director Dr. Aisha Khatib and digital communications lead Dr. Sarah McGuinness discuss a strange medical case drawn from the pages of the Journal of Travel Medicine. Approximately two billion people around the world are afflicted with toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that typically results from exposure to cat feces. Most of those infected don't have any symptoms, but in some cases, the disease can cause muscle aches, fever and swollen glands. So is it possible that the Brazilian traveller contracted toxoplasmosis from the pink dolphins of the Amazon river? (A mini episode.)

LINKS

The Journal of Travel Medicine article: “Human toxoplasmosis as a result of swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon river?” By Sylvia Lemos Hinrichsen, PhD, Tatiana Aguiar Santos Vilella, MSc, Reginaldo Gonçalves Lima Neto, PhD

The episode web page at ISTM features supplementary pics of Drs. Aisha Khatib and Sarah McGuiness in the Amazon.

Travel Unravelled is sponsored by IAMAT, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers.

KEY MOMENTS

00:00 Introduction

00:10 Dr. Aisha Khatib and Dr. Sarah McGuinness introduce the topic of toxoplasmosis.

02:01 Dr. Aisha Khatib and Dr. Sarah McGuinness discuss their own experiences swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon River.

03:10 Explanation of what toxoplasmosis is—a zoonotic disease caused by a parasite that can infect warm-blooded animals, including humans.

04:31 Discussion of how toxoplasmosis is typically transmitted, including through contact with cat feces and eating undercooked meat.

05:57 Uncertainty around how the traveller in the case report contracted toxoplasmosis from swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon.

08:04 Overview of the main transmission routes for toxoplasmosis that travellers should be aware of, including contact with cat feces, eating undercooked meat, and swimming in contaminated water.

11:21 Advice on testing and treatment for toxoplasmosis, particularly for pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.

13:04 Key takeaways on the importance of good hygiene practices and being aware of potential disease risks when travelling.