Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a common infection of animals and man, yet remains a rare disease. The disease appears in the offspring of mothers first infected during pregnancy and by relapse of chronic infection in immunodeficient animals and man. Toxoplasmosis can be prevented by the simplest of hygienic measures, such as handwashing. Further control can be achieved by widespread education of the public about the dangers of toxoplasmosis and the methods of prevention. Education of veterinary and zoo workers would reduce transmission in an environment where it is most likely to occur because of high concentrations of cats and cat feces. Toxoplasmosis of sheep and pigs on farms may be amenable to vaccination with the ts-4 strain of Toxoplasma. Finally, the new T-263 toxoplasmosis vaccine for cats offers the possibility of drastically reducing environmental contamination with oocysts, especially on farms. The reduction in numbers of viable oocysts in the environment would eventually reduce the infection of bird and rodent intermediate hosts, and ultimately, the infection of humans.