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Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 5/4/2004 Publication Date: 5/24/2004 Citation: Dubey, J.P. 2005. Toxoplasmosis - a waterborne zoonosis. Veterinary Parasitology. 9(126):57-72. Interpretive Summary: infection by the single-celled parasite, Toxoplasma gondii causes mental retardation and loss of vision in children. In the present paper a scientist from the Beltsville Agricultural Reserch Center reviews information on biology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists and physicians. Technical Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite of warm-blooded animals including humans. It has a worldwide distribution. Cats, including all felines, are its definitive hosts and excrete environmentally-resistant oocysts in their feces. Hosts become infected by ingesting food or drink contaminated with oocysts or by ingesting undercooked meat infected with T. gondii. It causes mental retardation and loss of vision in congenitally-infected children and abortion in livestock. This chapter describes life cycle, epidemiology, diagnosis, and prevention of T. gondii in humans and animals. |
