Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ), an obligate intracellular parasite, is a globally distributed zoonosis. It is estimated that one third of population has been infected by this parasite world...Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ), an obligate intracellular parasite, is a globally distributed zoonosis. It is estimated that one third of population has been infected by this parasite worldwide. In some regions of Europe, the serum antibodies against T. gondii were detected in more than 80% of the examined population. In China, T. gondii was isolated for the first time from a rabbit in Fujian Province in 1954, 1 and the first case of human toxoplasmosis was reported in Jiangxi Province in 1964. 2 Later, in 1978, the first epidemic survey on toxoplasmosis was carried out in Guangxi Province. In 1982, the first national survey on toxoplasmosis supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China was carried out and the result was published in 1988. Since that, many surveys on toxoplasmosis were reported in China. These results indicated that T. gondii infection in this country is very common and in some circumstances, the infection causes serious disease. For instance, T. gondii infection in pregnant women causes abortion, stillbirth, abnormal embryo and thus, it has been considered as the most commonly infectious agent of “TORCH syndrome” (TORCH syndrome refers to infection of a developing fetus or newborn by any of a group of infectious agents. “TORCH” is an acronym meaning toxoplasmosis, other agents, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simples). In immunocompromised patients, toxoplasmosis is also one of the most frequent complications. Because of the medical importance of T. gondii , more and more Chinese researchers are interested in this parasite. Aetiology Infected animals are the most important source for T. gondii infection, although humans can also be taken as the infective source for this disease particularly the vertical transmission from pregnant woman to fetus through the placenta. T. gondii widely distributes in variant animals from mammals to birds. At least 190 species of animals displayed serologically positive to T. gondii and 141 species of these animals pathogenically infected by T. gondii have been confirmed in China. 3展开更多
文摘Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ), an obligate intracellular parasite, is a globally distributed zoonosis. It is estimated that one third of population has been infected by this parasite worldwide. In some regions of Europe, the serum antibodies against T. gondii were detected in more than 80% of the examined population. In China, T. gondii was isolated for the first time from a rabbit in Fujian Province in 1954, 1 and the first case of human toxoplasmosis was reported in Jiangxi Province in 1964. 2 Later, in 1978, the first epidemic survey on toxoplasmosis was carried out in Guangxi Province. In 1982, the first national survey on toxoplasmosis supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China was carried out and the result was published in 1988. Since that, many surveys on toxoplasmosis were reported in China. These results indicated that T. gondii infection in this country is very common and in some circumstances, the infection causes serious disease. For instance, T. gondii infection in pregnant women causes abortion, stillbirth, abnormal embryo and thus, it has been considered as the most commonly infectious agent of “TORCH syndrome” (TORCH syndrome refers to infection of a developing fetus or newborn by any of a group of infectious agents. “TORCH” is an acronym meaning toxoplasmosis, other agents, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simples). In immunocompromised patients, toxoplasmosis is also one of the most frequent complications. Because of the medical importance of T. gondii , more and more Chinese researchers are interested in this parasite. Aetiology Infected animals are the most important source for T. gondii infection, although humans can also be taken as the infective source for this disease particularly the vertical transmission from pregnant woman to fetus through the placenta. T. gondii widely distributes in variant animals from mammals to birds. At least 190 species of animals displayed serologically positive to T. gondii and 141 species of these animals pathogenically infected by T. gondii have been confirmed in China. 3
