title: Outbreak of ocular toxoplasmosis in Coimbatore, India.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that infects up to a third of the world's population. Infection is mainly acquired by ingestion of food that is contaminated with oocysts. We report an outbreak of ocular toxoplasmosis, which is an acute acquired type rather than reactivation of congenital toxoplasmosis. Our preliminary investigation points to municipal water contamination. This outbreak only proves the need of an effective public health system and health education in curtailing any outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Aravind Eye Care System, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. micro@cbe.aravind.org
authors.forename: Manikandan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palanisamy
authors.forename: Bhaskar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Madhavan
authors.forename: Manohar Babu
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Balasundaram
authors.forename: Raghuram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andavar
authors.forename: Narendran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Venkatapathy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan