ANALYSIS OF PREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION IN SELECTED RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN THE LUBLIN REGION

The article describes the analysis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among people and animals from the selected rural households in the Lublin province. To identify the potential sources of infection, parasitological and/or PCR examinations of the samples of water, soil, cats' faeces, and meat eaten by the household members were carried out. The study indicated high percentages of seropositive results among the household members (N=57) and domestic animals (N=94) - 61.4% and 53.2%, respectively. In two households, the parasite was detected in drinking water. The study results seem to confirm the possibility of family character of toxoplasmosis, and point at the environmental conditions leading to the infection in rural environment.