Travel Med Infect Dis. 2014 Jun 7. pii: S1477-8939(14)00115-X. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2014.05.007. [Epub ahead of print]

Toxoplasmosis as a travel risk

Sepúlveda-Arias JC¹, Gómez-Marin JE², Bobić B³, Naranjo-Galvis CA⁴, Djurković-Djaković O⁵.

 

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with worldwide distribution that infects more than one third of the global population. Primary infection in immunocompetent individuals is usually asymptomatic; however, different organs can be affected in immunocompromised individuals leading to the development of encephalitis, myocarditis or pneumonitis. The prevalence of infection with Toxoplasma as well as its genetic structure varies geographically and for that reason travel may be considered as a risk factor to acquire the infection. As toxoplasmosis is a foodborne disease, health care providers should give health education on prevention measures to all prospective travelers in order to decrease the risk of infection in endemic areas. This review presents an overview of the infection with T. gondii with some considerations for travelers to and from endemic zones.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

Clinical presentation; Prevention; Toxoplasmosis; Travelers; Treatment

PMID:

24951321

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]