Cats – Toxoplasmosis & Its Symptoms
If you're like many people, you are already immune
to the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. If you're
a pregnant woman, however, or have a compromised
immune system or share your home with young children,
you'll need to be extra careful of this disease
that can be passed on from cats to humans. Symptoms
of toxoplasmosis include fever, shortness of breath
and neurological problems such as seizures and incoordination.
If a mother-to-be contracts the disease in her first
trimester, it can produce cysts in the brain of
the fetus. This can lead to developmental abnormalities
or even miscarriage.
Where Do the Cat Parasites that Cause Toxoplasmosis Come from?
The organism that causes toxoplasmosis is common
in raw meat and gardening soil, and can also sometimes
be found in cat feces. Felines most often become
carriers of the disease by killing and eating live
prey. This is another good reason to keep your pet
indoors and away from wild animals.
Cats begin shedding immature eggs in their feces
about 3 to 10 days after ingesting infected tissues.
This continues for a couple of weeks, at which point
the cat has gained immunity. Experts believe that
while many cats in the United States have been exposed
to the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, most
felines show few, if any, signs of the disease.
Kittens exposed to the parasite while still in the
womb, however, are more likely to show symptoms.
Toxoplasmosis can affect a cat's central nervous
system, lungs and liver.
If you suspect that your cat is a carrier, take
him to the veterinarian for a test. If you think
your pet is actively shedding the eggs, ANIMED
recommends that you keep him isolated. Be sure to
clean his litter and bedding twice daily, and don't
forget to wear disposable gloves when doing so.
Precautions for Toxoplasmosis for At-Risk Individuals
If you are pregnant, elderly, immunocompromised
or share your home with an at-risk individual, there
are some very simple precautions that you can take
to guard against toxoplasmosis. First, have all
the cats in the household tested for the parasite.
And by all means, keep your companion felines inside.
It's also a good idea to stock up on disposable
rubber gloves. Pregnant moms should have someone
else clean the litter box once a day. Since the
entire contents of the box must be discarded daily,
it's fine to use only about an inch of litter at
a time. And as garden soil is now believed to be
the primary source of exposure to the parasite for
most people, be sure to don gloves and protective
clothing whenever you garden.
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