CONGRESS INVITATION
Imagine a parasite that is present over the world, contaminates soil, water and vegetables with a highly resistant form; is present in meat; is infective for all warm blood animals and humans by the oral route, congenitally, and through organ transplantation or transfusion; invades blood, lymph nodes, and almost all organs; generates devastating damage in the central nervous system, eyes of congenitally infected children or in immunocompromised patients; and remains persistent for life in the brain of billions of persons throughout the world.
Such a nightmare has a name: Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite, discovered 100 years ago by an Italian physician in Brazil and by two French researchers in Tunisia.
The “Toxoplasma Centennial Congress: From Discovery to Public Health Management” will celebrate the centennial anniversary of the parasite’s discovery. It will be held in September of 2008 at the city of Búzios, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.
We invite you to attend this international meeting that will provide a unique opportunity to re-examine or discover this fascinating parasite and its multiple facets, through up-to-date presentations and debates. This meeting will also be a unique forum to design, in a concerted and international fashion, the research priorities and the disease management strategies for the future.
Since 1908, more than 50 years were necessary to fully elucidate the complex life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii, highlighting the major role of cats in the dissemination of the parasite. It took almost as long to identify the first effective treatments and set up the first serodiagnostic methods.
In the two past decades, a large body of information on the biology, immunology and genetics of Toxoplasma gondii has been accumulated, revealing a fascinating mode of penetration and survival in cells, the presence of a unique prokaryotic structure within the parasite (which function is still not elucidated), and recently, the identification of genetic virulence factors. This remarkable progress has also highlighted Toxoplasma gondii as a model and a unique tool for the study of other apicomplexan parasites, such as Plasmodium.
However, in spite of the advances in the basic science of Toxoplasma gondii, it should be stressed that many uncertainties remain on major aspects of the epidemiology, surveillance, and treatment of human and animal toxoplasmosis.
In regard to the devastating effect of Toxoplasma infection and its public health consequences over the world, basic and clinical research on Toxoplasma gondii and management of toxoplasmosis undoubtedly remain medical and public health priorities.
We hope you will have an exceptionally rewarding time at the Congress and your presence will greatly contribute to its success.
Best regards,
Organizing Committee
