[Toxoplasmosis as zoonoses]
1986
Hagland, A.
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most worldwide zoonoses. The disease is caused by an intracellular protozoon and animals of the cat family are the main hosts for the parasite. Approximately 1 % of the total cat population in the world will at any time actively be shedding the infective agens. Man can be infected from the cats directly, or by ingestion of raw or undercooked meat. Cockroaches and houseflies may act as vectors for the parasite. Infection through the placenta barrier from the mother to the offspring is considered to be the most important mode of infection among the humans. Pregnant women who get acute toxoplasma infection may give birth to babies with brain or eye defects. Approximately 25-45 % of the adult human population worlwide have been exposed to toxoplasma infection. Acute infection may reoccur during immunodepressive conditions like e.g. AIDS. Artificial infection of the cats, with chemotherapeutical suprression of the shedding of the infective agens seems promising, but still more research needs to be done before general use of this method is recommended. In mice infected by toxoplasma increased resistance against other infections has been reported
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