Toxoplasmosis as a public health hazard.
Recent advances in the epidemiology and life cycle of toxoplasmosis are reviewed. Cats play a key role. Toxoplasma has a coccidian-type entero-epithelial cycle with oocyst prodlction in the feline host. An extra-intestinal cycle occurs in both feline and non-feline hosts. The worldwide distribution and the public health significance of toxoplasmosis as a zoonosis is discussed, with particular reference to available data regarding Southern Africa.
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000635:transmission; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011634:Public Health; D013019:South Africa; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D015047:Zoonoses