Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is an infection that reproduces in the feces of the cats, and it may cause serious effects in some cases.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is an infection that is caused by a parasite. It’s a very common disease, and it can affect anyone.

Causes of toxoplasmosis

• A parasite called Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis, and this parasite can infect most animals and birds, and the eggs of this parasite can be in the feces of cats. Therefore, human beings can be infected with toxoplasmosis from eating undercooked meat, coming in contact with cat feces, and eating contaminated food and water.

Symptoms of toxoplasmosis

• Toxoplasmosis doesn’t cause symptoms in most of the cases. Some people might have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, rash, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
• Toxoplasmosis can affect the eyes and cause eye pain, poor vision, floaters (specks swimming in the vision field), and blindness when not treated.
• Toxoplasmosis is serious in people with a weak immune system, and it may cause serious eye disease, lung infection, and encephalitis.
• Toxoplasmosis is also serious in pregnancy and may cause miscarriage, and it can also transfer to the fetus and cause hydrocephalus, severe eye infection, abnormalities in the brain tissues, and an enlarged spleen or liver. In severe cases, toxoplasmosis may cause seizures, hearing and vision problems, issues with mental or motor skills, and heart disorders.
• Effects of toxoplasmosis may not manifest until later in childhood or the teen years in most of the cases, such as eye infection recurrence, slowed growth, early puberty, and problems in the development of the mental and motor skills.

Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis

• Physical exam.
• Blood tests.
• Imaging tests.

Treatment of toxoplasmosis

• Anti-parasitic medications and antibiotics.

Prevention of toxoplasmosis

• Don’t eat undercooked or raw meat.
• Don’t eat raw shellfish, especially during pregnancy.
• Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating.
• Use gloves while gardening and touching soil.
• Wash kitchen utensils well.
• Try to prevent outdoor cats from using the litter box of your cat.