[Parasitological risks--from animal husbandry to food and humans]

Livestock management influences the infection risk with parasites. Extensive outdoor management increases the well being of the animals, but may also increase the infection risk with vector or intermediate host transmitted parasites. Several parasites can be transmitted by food. Trichinellosis again represents an increasing threat to human health by newly discovered species, new reservoir hosts and increasing meat import from eastern Europe. Tapeworm infections with Taenia saginata are more frequent than reported in the official statistics. The accurate prevalence and ways of distribution are not known. Toxoplasma gondii is a serious threat to pregnant, non-immune women and their babies. Cat faeces and pork meat are the most important sources of infection. Information, prevention of transmission and diagnostic examination of endangered persons are necessary to minimise the infection risk. Sarcocystis suihominis forms cysts in muscles of pigs, which may cause gastrointestinal symptoms after oral ingestion. In most cases however this protozoan parasite is not or only transiently harmful.