ABSTRACT
I. BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan organism that is currently becoming a popular model for researching cellular, immunological, and molecular aspects of intracellular parasitism. Toxoplasma was first isolated in 1908 from a North African rodent, the gondi-hence the species name. The generic appellation is derived from the Greek word toxon, for bow, which refers to the crescentic shape of tissue zoites of the parasite. Toxoplasma can be harbored by many vertebrates. Most infections in humans are subclinical, but Toxoplasma is an important opportunistic pathogen in persons who are immunocompromised. It can be a particular danger to the fetus. One of the most important sources of human toxoplasmosis is food.
