Simultaneous Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis in Goats and Goatowner's Family

Abstract

Four out of 6 goats from a small British goat herd gave birth to weak or stillborn kids. All were seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite was isolated from the tissues of one kid and the milk of one goat. Concurrently, one of the goatowner's sons developed a mononucleosis-like illness with serological evidence of current toxoplasma infection. Investigation of the famiily showed past infection in the other son, but both parents were seronegative. The source of infection for both boys appeared to be the consumption of unpasteurized goat's milk.