Life Cycle and Transmission
Toxoplasmosis is a disease produced by infection with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasite which was first isolated from the North African rodent, Cyterodactylus gondii, in 1908. Since that time, this organism has been shown to have worldwide distribution and is probably the most common parasite of mammals, birds and reptiles (Remington., 1960). In 1965, Hutchinson described toxoplasma oocysts in cat feces, but it was not until 1970 that the life cycle of the organism was disclosed. The felidae represent the primary host for toxoplasma and are the only animals known to harbor the intestinal form (Frenkel., 1973). The oocysts are shed by the cat within 3 to 5 days after infection and sporulate within the feces in another 3 to 4 days. This oocyst is fairly resistant to drying and disinfectants and may remain infective in fairly moist soil for up to several years (Jacobs.. 1974). (Figure 1)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:pacific.edu/oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-3056 |
| Date | 01 January 1981 |
| Creators | Matzen, Joyce Moell |
| Publisher | Scholarly Commons |
| Source Sets | University of the Pacific |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations |
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