Epizootie Toxoplasma gondii u zwierząt dziko żyjących i hodowlanych

Epizootics of Toxoplasma gondii in wild and breed animals are relatively rare as compared with the percentage of positive results of serological tests. They were most often noted in sheep, goat, dogs and pigeons, less often in other species. Economical loses caused by the toxoplasmosis in large stocks farming, especially of sheep and goat are often very significant. The acquired toxoplasmosis spreads most often in oral and sexual way, other ways of infection are much less common. In carnivorous animals the cyst of T. gondii is of primary importance for the infection while in herbivorous ones the oocyst plays the main role. In omnivorous species, including humans, both forms of parasite are equally important. The change of host by means of a natural passage can lead to a decrease or an increase of pathogeneity of a strain of T. gondii, and in the latter case the host most often dies. Thus the strains of T. gondii of a moderate pathogeneity for their host have the best chance of survival and further passage in nature. Serological test OWD and OSF are not appropriate for bird serum since they give false negative results. The test OA-2ME enables an easy recognition of new infections past toxoplasmosis cases, being useful in preventing and controlling the toxoplasmosis. It is important in large stock farming, especially endangered by parasite invasions.