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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #229178
Title: TOXOPLASMA GONDII

Author
item SU, CHUNLEI - UT KNOXVILLE,TN
item Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2009
Publication Date: 7/1/2009
Citation: Su, C., Dubey, J.P. 2009. Toxoplasma gondii. In: Liu, D. editor. Molecular Detection of Foodborne Pathogens. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. p. 741-753.

Interpretive Summary: Interpretive summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite of all warm-blooded hosts worldwide. It causes mental retardation and loss of vision in children, and abortion in livestock. Cats are the main reservoir of T. gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete the resistant stage (oocyst) of the parasite in the feces. Humans become infected by eating undercooked meat from infected animals and food and water contaminated with oocysts. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and University of Tennessee report on diagnostic methods. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is difficult. In the present chapter molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma in humans and animals is reviewed.