ANSC 350 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Apicomplexan Life Cycle, Toxoplasma Gondii, Cosmopolitan Distribution

• School: McGill University
• Department: Animal Science
• Course: ANSC 350
• Professor: Jennifer Ronholm

Document Summary

Part ii: toxoplasma, there is only one species, t. gondii in the genus toxoplasma. Three forms: oocyst, tachyzoites and bradyzoites (tissue cysts) A higher prevalence in central america has been related to the frequency of stray cats in a climate favoring survival of oocysts and soil exposure. Infects all mammals and birds, and all tissues in each of them. One of the most common of humans infections throughout the world. High prevalence (52-66%) in the inuit populations of northern canada. The overall prevalence in north america was found to be 30-35%. A high prevalence of infection (80%) in france has been related to a preference for eating raw or undercooked meat. Toxoplasmosis is commonly transmitted from cats to humans. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts: cats are definitive hosts, cats shed oocysts for only 1-2 weeks following infection, oocysts sporulate and become infective in 24 to 48 hours.