Follow-up of the 1977 Georgia Outbreak of Toxoplasmosis

Jeffrey L. Jones Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Ophthalmology, Akstein Eye Center, Riverdale, Georgia; Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California; Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California

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Ricardo B. Akstein Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Ophthalmology, Akstein Eye Center, Riverdale, Georgia; Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California; Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California

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Michele C. Hlavsa Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Ophthalmology, Akstein Eye Center, Riverdale, Georgia; Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California; Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California

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Adriana S. Lopez Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Ophthalmology, Akstein Eye Center, Riverdale, Georgia; Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California; Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California

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Mariana Wilson Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Ophthalmology, Akstein Eye Center, Riverdale, Georgia; Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California; Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California

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Gary N. Holland Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Ophthalmology, Akstein Eye Center, Riverdale, Georgia; Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California; Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.15-0919
Volume/Issue:
Volume 94: Issue 6
Page(s):
1299–1300
Restricted access
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In 1977, an outbreak of toxoplasmosis occurred among 37 persons associated with exposure to an indoor horse arena. Cat feces containing the organism were most likely stirred up when horses ran on the dirt floor, and were inhaled or ingested by riders and observers. After 25 or more years, we attempted to locate persons from the outbreak and offer them an eye examination. Of the 37 persons in the outbreak, 18 (49%) were located; four had died, and the remaining 14 agreed to an examination. Among the 14 persons examined, three (21%) were found to have lesions typical of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. If these three persons were the only ones with ocular disease among the 37 persons in the outbreak, the disease rate would still be high (8%). As a result of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii during this outbreak, a relatively high percentage of persons developed ocular disease.

Author Notes

* Address correspondence to Gary N. Holland, Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA, 100 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7000. E-mail: uveitis@jsei.ucla.edu

Authors' addresses: Jeffrey L. Jones, Michele C. Hlavsa, Adriana S. Lopez, and Mariana Wilson, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, E-mails: jlj1@cdc.gov, acz3@cdc.gov, ail7@cdc.gov, and ytb4@cdc.gov. Ricardo B. Akstein, Department of Ophthalmology, Akstein Eye Center, Riverdale, GA, E-mail: nietskabrazil@aol.com. Gary N. Holland, Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, E-mail: uveitis@jsei.ucla.edu.

Copyright:
© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2016
Received:
23 Dec 2015
|
Accepted:
02 Mar 2016
|
Published Online:
01 Jun 2016
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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