Toxoplasma gondii Oocyst–specific Antibodies and Source of Infection

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• Toxoplasma gondii
• oocysts
• infection source
• transmission
• sporozoite-specific protein
• parasites