title: Potential contamination of drinking water with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts.
abstract: The world's first documented toxoplasmosis outbreak associated with a municipal water supply was recognized in 1995 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It was hypothesized that domestic cat (Felis catus) or cougar (Felis concolor) faeces contaminated a surface water reservoir with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts. An extensive investigation of the Victoria watershed 1 year following the outbreak documented the presence of an endemic T. gondii cycle involving the animals inhabiting the area. Cats and cougars were observed throughout the watershed. Serological evidence of T. gondii infection was demonstrated among domestic cats living in the Victoria area. Cougars were found to shed T. gondii oocysts. Serological evidence of T. gondii infection in deer mice living in the riparian environments of the watershed suggested that T. gondii oocysts were being shed near the water edge. Contamination of Victoria's water supply with T. gondii oocysts potentially occurred during the study period and future waterborne toxoplasmosis outbreaks in this and other communities are possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Herd Medicine and Theriogenology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Aramini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stephen
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Engelstoft
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schwantje
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ribble
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002335:Carnivora / Q000469:parasitology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D002415:Cats; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology*; D014876:Water Pollution; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D014867:Water