Intermediate host of toxoplasma:
- A. Cat.
- B. Mice.
- C. Human.
- D. Pork.
Final host toxoplasma=cat
Determining the Correct Answer: Intermediate Host of Toxoplasma
The statement "Intermediate toxoplasma = human" is accurate, but you also need to consider the context of "host" in the answer choices.
Let's analyze each option with an explanation:
A. Cat:
While humans are intermediate hosts, cats are the definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii. Sexual reproduction of the parasite happens only within cats, resulting in oocysts, the infectious stage. So, A is incorrect.
B. Mice:
This is correct. Mice, along with many other warm-blooded animals, like humans, birds, and livestock, are intermediate hosts. They harbor the parasite in tissue cysts but cannot sexually reproduce it.
C. Human:
As mentioned above, humans are intermediate hosts, not the final host. So, C is incorrect.
D. Pork:
Although pork can be a source of infection for humans due to tissue cysts from infected pigs, pork is not the actual intermediate host. The parasite doesn't actively replicate in pigs. So, D is incorrect.
Therefore, the correct answer is B. Mice. Both humans and mice are intermediate hosts, but the question specifically asks about the intermediate host, excluding the definitive host (cat).
Remember:
Intermediate hosts: Can harbor the parasite but cannot sexually reproduce it (e.g., humans, mice)
Definitive host: Can sexually reproduce the parasite (e.g., cats)
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