The presence of Toxoplasma gondii in the terrestrial and marine environments and its importance for public health.

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii occurred in terrestrial and marine environments. Many people still do not realize that how important are the role of prevention, especially hygiene and proper food processing as well as diagnostics for pregnant women. Humans become infected with T. gondii primarily by eating raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts, or by ingesting oocysts with contaminated water or food (e.g. vegetables), very rarely by blood transfusion or organ transplantation. The new risk is consumption raw mussels in this oyster or blue mussels. Other invertebrates, such as some of crustaceans, are also capable of bioaccumulation of oocysts in their body. Invertebrates are mainly responsible for the spread of toxoplasmosis among marine animals, but if eaten raw, they can also be a risk factor for humans. This indicate the need to monitor also other species of invertebrates, especially those consumed by humans, due to possibility of being vector of T. gondii. Most adults do not have clinical symptoms. However, primary infection is dangerous in pregnant women due to the possibility of intrauterine infection of the fetus and the occurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis. The group of people who may develop clinical symptoms also include immunocompromised persons, especially those suffering from AIDS and treated with immunosuppressive drugs. Especially this group of people should receive actual information about all potential sources of infection due to the still low public awareness of threats. This paper presents a life cycle and transmission routes of T. gondii in terrestrial and marine environments with an indication of the importance for public health.