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What is
toxoplasmosis? Discovered
in 1908, toxoplasmosis
is an intracellular parasitic infection caused by the protozoan
known as toxoplasma gondii. It infects multiple of warm
blooded including humans, livestock, birds etc., however cats are
the definitive hosts to toxoplasma gondii. This means that the
parasite is only able to sexually reproduce in cats (both wild
& domesticated). Most
people have heard of toxoplasmosis due to the risks infections
pose to pregnant women. If infection occurs during pregnancy
it can cause abortion or congenital defects to the fetus.
Toxoplasmosis infection in humans is extremely common &
approximately 30 - 50% of the population have been exposed to
it. Oocysts
are passed in the cat's faeces. They become infective after
approximately 2-5 days. This is why it is so important to
scoop your cat's litter tray daily. What
is a protozoa? Protozoa
are single celled organisms.
What are
the symptoms of toxoplasmosis in cats? Most
cats don't show outward signs of infection. Although some cats
will show clinical symptoms such as lethargy, loss of
appetite, fever. Symptoms most often occur in kittens &
young cats. More
severe symptoms may also include inflammation in the eye,
pneumonia, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), causing
vomiting & diarrhoea, enlarged lymph nodes. What
are the symptoms of toxoplasmosis in humans? Enlarged
lymph nodes, flu like symptoms, fever. Severe
toxoplasmosis in humans can sometimes occur & cause damage
to the eyes, brain & other organs. This is more likely to
happen in immunocompromised individuals such as people with
HIV, organ transplant recipients & patients undergoing
some forms of chemotherapy. How
is toxoplasmosis diagnosed? Diagnosis
usually involves a routine blood test. Your veterinarian could
also examine a stool sample, although this would only offer a
diagnosis if the cat was shedding oocysts at the time. Also,
the oocysts could be mistaken for another parasitic infection,
so a blood sample is the best & most accurate way to
diagnose toxoplasmosis. How
does a cat become infected with toxoplasmosis? The
most common way a cat will become infected with toxoplasmosis
is from eating the oocysts present in the tissue of
chronically infected prey such as rodents & birds. As
with humans, it is also possible for cats to become infected
from eating raw or undercooked meat.
How is
toxoplasmosis treated?
Your
veterinarian will prescribe a course of medication for your
cat. Pyrimethamine, Clindamycin and Sulfadiazine.
What about
pregnant women & toxoplasmosis? If
a pregnant woman hasn't had prior exposure to toxoplasmosis
her immune system wouldn't have had the chance to build up a
resistance to the disease. Therefore if she is exposed to it
during pregnancy she is at risk of becoming infected &
passing it on to her unborn fetus. Having
said that, there is a greater chance of her becoming infected
from eating undercooked meat or improperly washed fruit &
vegetables than from her cat.
Should a
pregnant woman rehome her cat? No,
this isn't necessary. If you have a cat & become pregnant
it is strongly recommended that you speak to your doctor,
midwife or obstetrician about this, they may recommend a blood
test which will check for antibodies to toxoplasmosis. If you
have antibodies, you have been exposed to toxoplasma gondii at
some stage in your life. This means your immune system has
already built up a resistance therefore you are very unlikely
to become re-infected. My own obstetrician tested me
multiple times during my two pregnancies as I was negative
& he wanted to ensure I remained negative. What
precautions can a pregnant woman take to avoid toxoplasmosis? Cats
aren't the only source of infection to humans. They can also
become infected via improperly cooked meat, improperly washed
vegetables, drinking untreated water (from a stream or river
for example) & gardening.
-
Avoid
cleaning the litter trays, if this is not possible wear
gloves & a mask. During my pregnancy I would also
change & wash my clothes after cleaning litter
trays.
-
Ensure
litter trays are scooped at least once a day.
-
Ensure
your meat is cooked thoroughly. This means it is no longer
pink in the middle, the juices run clear & it has been
cooked at 160F.
-
Wash your
hands after handling animals.
-
Wear
gloves in while gardening.
-
Wash fruit
& vegetables thoroughly before eating.
-
Wash your
hands after handling raw meat, fruit &
vegetables.
-
Wash your
hands before eating.
-
Don't let
your cat(s) hunt.
-
Cover sand
boxes to prevent cats defecating in them.
-
Don't
drink unpasteurised milk.
-
Thoroughly
cleaning chopping boards & utensils. Use separate
boards for fruit/vegetables & meat.
-
Keep the
litter tray away from the kitchen & other eating
areas.
What about
immunocompromised
people: Immunocompromised
people can still enjoy living with their cat but must take
precautions listed above. If
an immunocompromised person is looking to obtain a cat, it is
worthwhile looking at an older (2 years or above). Regularly
treating your cat for parasitic infections such as worms &
fleas. Yearly
physical exams for your cat are also important, including
fecal tests & vaccinations.
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a
veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a
veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for
informative purposes only.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great
care has been made in the creation of these articles, we
cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages.
If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical
advice. |
