Economic losses caused by food-borne parasitic diseases

Fragmentary data indicate that various parasites cause human illnesses with medical costs and productivity and disability losses totalling billions of dollars annually. Food is an important vehicle for some of these parasitic diseases. For instance, in the United States of America congenital toxoplasmosis is estimated to cost up to US $5.3 x 109 annually, of which sum perhaps half can be attributed to food sources. Irradiation of fresh pork could decrease cases of congenital toxoplasmosis. Similarly, other parasitic diseases could be reduced by irradiating beef, pork or fish. To determine whether irradiation is the most cost effective method of disease reduction, alternative control techniques need to be evaluated, such as farm management strategies to reduce Toxoplasma gondii in hogs. (author). 42 refs, 15 tabs