SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Cat Care
Cat Care Tips
What
is Toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the single-celled toxoplasma
gondii parasite. This parasite is found throughout the world,
but more than 60 million people in the United States alone
may be currently infected with the toxoplasma parasite. Few
people show symptoms of toxoplasmosis because the immune
system wards it off. In pregnant women or people with compromised
immune systems, however, toxoplasmosis can cause serious
health problems.
Cats and Toxoplasmosis
Cats can become infected with toxoplasmosis in the same way
as humans, which is by eating contaminated food or
drinking contaminated water. In humans, toxoplasmosis can also be contracted
by eating infected vegetables that have not been cleaned. In
addition, toxoplasmosis can be transmitted by receiving an
infected blood transfusion or organ transplant, though this
is rare.
Eating birds, mice, or other animals infects the most common
means for cats to become infected with toxoplasmosis with the
toxoplasma parasite. For indoor cats, eating uncooked scraps
of meat is the most common means of infection.
After a cat ingests the toxoplasma parasite, it excretes toxoplasma
oocysts in its feces. In fact, it excretes millions of them
every day for up to two weeks. These oocysts become infections
after one or two days. Feces usually don’t remain on cats for
two days, so humans aren’t generally infected by contact with
the cat. Instead, humans become infected by accidentally swallowing
the cat’s feces. This occurs by accidentally touching the feces,
then touching the mouth. Accidentally touching the feces can
occur during gardening or when cleaning the cat’s litter box.
Signs of Toxoplasmosis in Cats and Humans
Cats do not usually show signs of a toxoplasma infection.
For this reason, it is difficult to determine what cat feces
can transmit the parasite.
Children who become infected with toxoplasmosis often do not
show signs at birth, either, but they develop signs later in
life. Signs of toxoplasmosis include loss of hearing, mental
retardation, loss of vision and even death. For this reason,
it is important for a woman who is attempting to become pregnant
to be tested for Toxoplasma gondii prior to becoming pregnant.
It is estimated that approximately 3,000 children in the United
States are born with a toxoplasmosis infection every year.
Testing is particularly important as many adults do not experience
symptoms of toxoplasma and, therefore, don’t realize they are
infected. Some adults, however, have flu-like symptoms and
suffer from swollen glands or ache and pains in their muscles.
These symptoms can last over a month.
In severe cases, adults can experience damage to their eyes,
brain, and other organs. These severe cases are more likely
in individuals who have a weakened immune system, though eye
damage can occur in individuals with healthy immune systems.
Preventing Toxoplasmosis
To prevent a toxoplasmosis infection in a cat, it is best
to keep it indoors where it cannot eat rodents and birds. In
addition, cats should only be feed cooked meat or meat that
has been processed and commercially canned for cats. There
is currently no vaccine to prevent toxoplasmosis.
Owning a Cat: for those with risk factors
People who are at a greater risk for toxoplasma such as those
who are pregnant or who have a weakened immune system, can
still safely keep a cat as a pet. In order to avoid becoming
infected with toxoplasma, however, care must be taken to keep
the cat healthy and free from toxoplasma.
The best way to prevent an infection in the cats is to keep
it indoors and to feed it dry or canned cat food. A new cat
who may have previously spent time outdoors or who might have
been fed raw meat should not be brought indoors. Stray cats
and kittens should also be avoided, as should the outdoor areas
they tend to frequent. This includes sand boxes, where outdoor
cats tend to defecate often.
In addition, a person with a healthy immune system and who
is not pregnant should change the cat’s litter box every day.
Failure to keep the litter box clean increases the chances
of feces getting stuck to the cat’s fur and spreading toxoplasma.
If there is no one available to clean the litter box, gloves
should be worn when cleaning the litter box. Afterward, hands
should be washed with antibacterial soap and water.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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