what organism is the main reservoir and host for toxoplasma gondii?
The microorganism Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis. This protozoan parasite infects wild and domestic animals including birds, cats, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and poultry. Cats are the most common source of the Toxoplasma protozoa that are transmitted to other animals or people. There are three forms of Toxoplasma gondii : the tachyzoite (the rapidly reproducing form), the bradyzoite (a slower reproducing form contained in tissue cysts), and the sporozoite (contained in oocysts).