title: Intervention strategies to reduce human Toxoplasma gondii disease burden.
abstract: Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is acquired through consumption of undercooked infected meat, or by uptake of cat-shed oocysts. Although congenital toxoplasmosis is generally considered to contribute most to the disease burden of T. gondii, ocular disease from acquired infection was recently shown to add substantially to the burden. In addition, toxoplasmosis in immune-compromised individuals usually results from reactivation of an infection acquired earlier in life. Nevertheless, prevention of toxoplasmosis commonly targets mainly pregnant women. We summarize current prevention strategies of congenital toxoplasmosis and evaluate options to improve protection of the general population (including pregnant women). To protect the general population, freezing of meat destined for raw or undercooked consumption is the most readily applicable option, especially when limited to meat from animals originating from nonbiosecure husbandry systems. In the long term, more health benefits are expected from cat vaccination; therefore, development of a cat vaccine and evaluation of its implementation is a research priority.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven.
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Opsteegh
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven.
authors.forename: Titia M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kortbeek
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arie H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Havelaar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven.
authors.forename: Joke W B
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van der Giessen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D057805:Pets; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission
keywords: Toxoplasma gondii; control; disease burden; intervention; prevention