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**Chapter 6** 

© 2012 Jokelainen, licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2012 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution,

**Endemic** *Toxoplasma gondii* **Genotype II** 

*Toxoplasma gondii* is a successful protozoan parasite of domestic animals, wildlife, and humans [1]. Despite this parasite is capable of causing disease and even killing its host, majority of infections are subclinical or asymptomatic. These latent, chronic infections are beneficial for the parasite: while the host is unaware of even ever acquiring the infection, the parasite stays dormant in the tissues of the host waiting for the host to be eaten by another

The latent *T. gondii* infections can be detected by measuring the antibody responses raised by the host against the parasite [1]. For most host species, the seroprevalence numbers are clearly higher than incidence of clinical and fatal cases. One exception is the European brown hare (*Lepus europaeus*), a host species that appears very susceptible to the infection [2]. It is worth emphasizing that if the infection proves fatal, it is not good for the parasite,

For this parasite, any nucleated cell of a warm-blooded animal will do, and the intestines of Felids are the place for sexual reproduction [1]. Humans are usually nothing but a deadend host for *T. gondii*. Animal hosts clearly outnumber human hosts living on this planet and are more important for the spread and surviving of the parasite – Felids are shedding the oocyst reservoir, migrating animals are introducing the parasite to new areas, and prey animals are harboring the parasite in their tissues ready to infect the predators and scavengers. Investigating the infections in animal hosts can provide relevant clues needed for better understanding the parasite and its epidemiology, which has implications for public health also. The larger animal host population provides more options for epidemiologic

and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

**Causes Fatal Infections in Animal Hosts** 

**in Europe – Lessons Learnt** 

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Pikka Jokelainen

**1. Introduction** 

host.

either.

studies.

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/49984

