Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a microscopic parasite. It was first discovered in the early 1900’s and can be found in most pets, livestock, and human beings. Nearly 40% of all adults in the U.S and Europe already have antibodies, which means they have been exposed to this parasite.

Toxoplasmosis can be transmitted in a number of ways.

Meat from poultry, pigs, sheeps and goats that is infected with toxoplasmosis is still fit for human consumption if put in any household freezer for one to two days, or cooked at 152 degrees, or higher.

Of all infected animals only cats are considered perfect hosts for the resistant toxoplasma oocysts, which is then released with the cats feces. It is very resilient and can survive several months of extreme heat, dehydration or freezing. Water and wind can also carry it.

Although cats can be infected by the way as humans, the most likely sources of toxoplasmosis in cats is from eating mice, birds, and other small animals that are infected with the Toxoplasma parasite. For indoor cats, the most likely source is uncooked meat scraps. It is unlikely that humans become infected from direct contact with cats themselves. Most healthy exposed cats shed oocysts during acute infection with Toxoplasma with their feces, but will not shed them after the acute infection. Even in those few cats that do re-excrete oocysts after another exposure to Toxoplasma, the number of oocysts shed is smaller and may even be insufficient to transmit the parasite effectively. Because cats usually exhibit no signs of illness while passing oocysts, it is difficult to determine when a particular cat’s feces may be infectious to people or other mammals.

Pregnant women and immune deficient individuals (AIDS/HIV patients, etc.) should be very careful to avoid getting infected with toxoplasmosis. Infected infants rarely show symptoms at birth, many though are likely to develop signs of infections later in life. Mental retardation, loss of hearing and vision, and in severe cases death are the symptoms of infected children. A simple serological test will reveal if a woman that intends to get pregnant already tests seropositive, that means at no risk of acquiring an acute infection during pregnancy.

Prevention:

How to prevent your cat from getting infected:

No vaccine is as yet available to prevent either Toxoplasma infection or toxoplasmosis in cats, humans, or other species. Research in this area is in progress.