Epidemiology and control of toxoplasmosis in cats

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonosis of worldwide distribution, has importance in human and veterinary medicine. Animals can be direct or indirect source of infection to man. The infection can be acquired by ingestion of tissue cysts in infected meat, ingestion of food or water contaminated with oocysts and congenitally, by tachyzoites crossing the placenta from the infected mother to the fetus. Cats may act as intermediate or definitive hosts of this parasite. Among the infected animals, felines have an important role in the epidemiology of this agent because like definitive hosts eliminate oocysts in the environment. Evaluations of the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in felines has drawn the attention of research worldwide. The aim of this chapter wil be clear some clinical manifestations aspects, address the true participation of cats in the spread of the disease, as well as discuss methods of diagnosis, therapeutic measures, prophylaxis and control of this disease. © 2013 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.