Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a tiny little protozoa that can cause a lot of trouble for both humans and animals. Controversy has always surrounded Toxoplasmosis and the ownership of cats. One of the main reasons that Toxoplasmosis can become a very hot topic is because it poses a great risk to unborn human children. If their mother is infected whenever she is pregnant and she has never been exposed to Toxoplasma before, there is a good chance the child will be affected. This can include a miscarriage, eye problems as they get older or even developmental problems once born. For that reason it is important to be aware of the risks and try to prevent exposure.

 

Source

There are many ways that animals and people can be infected with Toxoplasma. Cats are a natural host of this organism and are therefore blamed for the majority of exposures. However it is more common for humans to become infected after eating undercooked or improperly prepared meat. They can also contract it from the soil when gardening. Another source of human exposure is definitely the stool of animals currently shedding the organism. To help prevent some of these occurrences it is best to never sample meat until it is FULLY cooked and remember to wear gloves when gardening or cleaning litter boxes. By practicing good hygiene and trying to clean litter boxes once or twice daily, this will prevent the organism from becoming infective to humans.

 

Source

While not the main source of infections in people, it is still important to monitor cats closely especially if there is a pregnant women in the house. This does NOT mean pregnant women cannot have cats as pets, but they should practice caution especially around the litter box. If possible having someone else clean the boxes can alleviate some of the exposure. Cats with an active infection can shed the organism at anytime, and most of the time may not demonstrate any symptoms of illness. Unfortunately, the symptoms can look like many other conditions. Generally they will lie around a more, not be interested in food and just have no energy. In severe cases there can be GI upset or liver disease but typically this is seen in the very young kitten or an immuno-compromised cat.

There are tests that can be run to determine if cats are currently infected and if their symptoms are mild treatment can be started. Many times since symptoms are very generic treatment may be initiated prior to an official diagnosis. If the condition progresses to more severe signs treatment is not always successful.

 

Source

Due to the risk Toxplasma poses to unborn children it is very important for pet owners to be aware of the condition and take necessary steps to keep everyone safe. There is a lot of great information out there that can provide more details on this condition. You can visit the CDC website here or veterinary partner’s page here and finally Cornell’s website here.