Intervention Strategies to Reduce Human Toxoplasma gondii Disease Burden.

[congenital toxoplasmosis]

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is acquired through consumption of undercooked infected meat , or by uptake of cat-shed oocysts . Although congenital toxoplasmosis is generally considered to contribute most to the disease burden of T . gondii , ocular disease from acquired infection was recently shown to add substantially to the burden . In addition , toxoplasmosis in immune-compromised individuals usually results from reactivation of an infection acquired earlier in life . Nevertheless , prevention of toxoplasmosis commonly targets mainly pregnant women . We summarize current prevention strategies of congenital toxoplasmosis and evaluate options to improve protection of the general population (including pregnant women ). To protect the general population , freezing of meat destined for raw or undercooked consumption is the most readily applicable option , especially when limited to meat from animals originating from nonbiosecure husbandry systems . In the long term , more health benefits are expected from cat vaccination ; therefore , development of a cat vaccine and evaluation of its implementation is a research priority .