Toxoplasma gondii oocyst-specific antibodies and source of infection.
Infection source can determine cost-effective public health interventions. To quantify risk of acquiring Toxoplasma gondii from environmental sources versus from meat, we examined serum from pregnant women in Chile. Because 43% had oocyst-specific antibodies, we conclude that contaminated meat remains the primary source of infection but that environmental sources also pose substantial risk.
Munoz-Zanzi
Claudia A
CA
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454, USA. munozzan@umn.edu
Fry
Paulina
P
Lesina
Blaz
B
Hill
Dolores
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology; D033661:Oocysts / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D055815:Young Adult
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan