Toxoplasmosis: A relevant zoonotic food borne disease in tropical conditions

Infection of humans with the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii is very common all over the world. Humans become infected when exposed to infective sporulated oocyst from cat feces or most commonly by consumption of meat containing tissue cysts. All domestic and wild animals are susceptible to become infected with T. gondii. When infected, they rarely develop clinical signs but become reservoirs of the protozoa. Pork meat is recognized as the most likely source of infection in humans. However, poultry, domestic ruminants and wild species are increasingly playing an important role in the exposition to humans when their meat is handled or consumed. Oocysts are environmentally resistant stages of T. gondii and may remain viable in the soil even for years. When environmental conditions such as humidity and temperature are adequate, sporulation occurs and oocysts become infective. In tropical regions environmental conditions may be ideal through the year to constantly maintain the environment with infective forms of T. gondii and thus more likely to infect animals designated for human consumption.