What type of environmental exposure could lead to Toxoplasma infection?

Toxoplasma infection is primarily associated with specific routes of transmission, and handling raw meat is recognized as a common risk factor. The parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which causes this infection, can be present in the tissues of infected animals. When individuals come into contact with raw or undercooked meat from these animals, they can ingest the cysts containing T. gondii.

Contaminated drinking water, while it can transmit various pathogens, is not a well-documented route for Toxoplasma infection. Similarly, swim and dive exposure or airborne exposure do not relate to Toxoplasma transmission, as the parasite does not spread through these mediums. Toxoplasma is primarily transmitted through ingestion of oocysts found in cat feces or consumption of contaminated food and water, but handling raw meat specifically poses a risk due to the potential presence of the parasite in the muscles of infected animals.

Therefore, handling raw meat is a significant factor in the environmental exposure routes leading to Toxoplasma infection, as it facilitates the direct introduction of the parasite into the human body.