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Title: Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans and animals in the United States

Author
item Dubey, Jitender
item JONES, J - CHAMBLEE, GEORGIA

Submitted to: International Journal for Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/11/2008
Publication Date: 8/1/2008
Citation: Dubey, J.P., Jones, J.L. 2008. Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans and animals in the United States. International Journal for Parasitology. 38:1257-1278.

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 Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta review toxoplasmosis in humans and animals in USA. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: This paper reviews clinical and asymptomatic Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans and other animals in the USA. Seroprevalence of T. gondii in humans and pigs is declining. Modes of transmission, epidemiology, and environmental contamination with oocysts on land and sea are discussed.