History of the discovery of the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii

Int J Parasitol. 2009 Jul 1;39(8):877-82. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2009.01.005.

Abstract

It has been 100 years since the discovery of Toxoplasma gondii in 1908. Its full life cycle was not discovered until 1970 when it was found that it is a coccidian parasite of cats with all non-feline warm blooded animals (including humans) as intermediate hosts. The discovery of the environmentally resistant stage of the parasite, the oocyst, made it possible to explain its worldwide prevalence. In the present paper, events associated with the discovery of its life cycle are recalled.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cat Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cat Diseases / history*
  • Cat Diseases / parasitology
  • Cat Diseases / transmission
  • Cats
  • Disease Outbreaks / history*
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Felidae / parasitology
  • Female
  • History, 20th Century
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Life Cycle Stages*
  • Mice
  • Oocysts / parasitology
  • Rodent Diseases / history
  • Rodent Diseases / parasitology
  • Species Specificity
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / history
  • Swine Diseases / parasitology
  • Toxoplasma / growth & development*
  • Toxoplasma / pathogenicity
  • Toxoplasmosis / epidemiology
  • Toxoplasmosis / history
  • Toxoplasmosis / transmission
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / history*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / transmission