Toxoplasma in Animals, Food, and Humans: An Old Parasite of New Concern

Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2011 Apr 12. [Epub ahead of print]

Toxoplasma in Animals, Food, and Humans: An Old Parasite of New Concern

Cenci-Goga BT, Rossitto PV, Sechi P, McCrindle CM, Cullor JS.

1 Sezione di Ispezione degli Alimenti di Origine Animale, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia , Perugia, Italy .

Abstract
Abstract All hosts, including humans, can be infected by any one of the three forms of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii that correspond to three morphological stages: tachyzoite, bradyzoite, and sporozoite form. Felids are definitive hosts for T. gondii, which is an intracellular pathogen that infects a wide range of warm-blooded intermediate hosts. Toxoplasmosis is a disease where the interest of the diverse medical and veterinary specialties converge. Awareness needs to be increased that toxoplasmosis can induce clinical disease not only in immunocompromised patients or through congenital infections, but also in healthy patients. This is a review article that aims at illustrating why toxoplasmosis should be regarded a veterinary public health issue and how veterinary practitioners can contribute in controlling the infection.

PMID: 21486145 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]