Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Humans can become infected by ingestion of raw or undercooked meat that contains tissue oocysts (the reproductive cell), or by direct contamination from the environment contaminated by infected cat feces. Although toxoplasmosis is most often asymptomatic in humans, it can cause serious illness in immune-compromised individuals and in fetuses. At this time, there is no cure for the disease; prevention is the only method of control.

This model examines the principal factors that influence the spread of the disease from animals to humans on a case study of 43 Illinois swine farms. Most of the data for this model were obtained from^2,3, and⁴. Some of the references are given in the model variable icons.

The main questions we wish to answer with this model are: How is the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in people on swine farms in Illinois affected by exposure to cats, ingestion of infected food, and the handling of dirt? Which one of these factors affects the prevalence most? How would the prevalence be affected if we vaccinated the cats, and which rate would be optimal?