Question

what organism is the main biological reservoir and host for toxoplasma gondii

Answer 1

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that causes the disease toxoplasmosis. It has a complex life cycle involving both a definitive host and an intermediate host. Animals belonging to the family Felidae colloquially referred to as cats are the known definitive hosts for this organism. Upon ingesting oocysts or tissues that are ingested with bradyzoite cysts, the parasite begins its life cycle by shedding those oocysts in the feline's faeces. Further, if any animal ingests these oocysts, the asexual stage of its life cycle proceeds. If these oocysts are ingested by another cat then, the bradyzoites differentiate into the sexual stages and complete their full life cycle. In this way, Felines act as a major biological reservoir or host of Toxoplasma gondii.