Cat Box Illness

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan parasitic disease that affects thousands of Americans every year. In developed countries, toxoplasmosis is not usually spread by felines. The most common culprit is unwashed food that is contaminated with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. According to UC Santa Barbara, "most Americans contract toxoplasmosis through ingestion of raw/undercooked meat or unwashed produce that has contaminated soil on it." Though most people with strong immune systems do not become ill from this parasite, toxoplasmosis is a life-threatening infection for fetuses, newborns, and people who are immunologically impaired.

  1. Transmission of Toxoplasma Gondii

    • Toxoplasma gondii is transmitted in three ways. The first, and most common, is by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. If oocysts (similar to eggs) containing toxoplasma from a cat's feces are in gardening soil, they may be transmitted to the mouth if you don't wash your hands well after gardening or if you eat unwashed fruits and vegetables. Ingesting undercooked meat from animals can also transfer toxoplasma to humans. Pregnant mothers can transfer toxoplasma to their unborn children. Blood transfusions and organ transplants can transfer toxoplasma from one person to another.

    Toxoplasmosis Symptoms

    • For people with healthy immune systems, the toxoplasma infection may cause only mild flulike symptoms. A pregnant mother may display mild symptoms or be asymptomatic. Toxoplasma can cause miscarriage or the child to be stillborn. Babies born with toxoplasmosis may show no symptoms at first but later develop vision loss, mental disability and seizures. People with compromised immune systems are at great risk for developing life-threatening conditions. Those with HIV or those undergoing treatment for cancer can develop symptoms that include fever, confusion, headache, seizures, nausea and poor coordination.

    Diagnosis

    • Toxoplasmosis can be difficult to diagnose clinically, because its symptoms are similar to those related to influenza or mononucleosis. Blood serum tests can detect the presence of antibodies, but the tests may not indicate the presence of active disease. Definitive diagnoses are made by examining tissue or certain body fluids under a microscope for the presence of toxoplasma oocysts.

    Treatment

    • Most healthy people can recover from toxoplasmosis without treatment. Medications used to treat toxoplasmosis include antiparasitic and antibiotic drugs such as pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, plus folinic acid. Ocular (eye) toxoplasmosis can cause lesions of the eye and blindness. Patients with ocular toxoplasmosis are given corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and swelling, in addition to antiparasitic and antibiotic drugs.

    Prevention of Toxoplasmosis

    • You can reduce the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis by not eating undercooked meat and by sanitizing knives and cutting areas used to prepare raw meat. Refrain from drinking untreated water, especially when traveling in undeveloped countries. You should wash fruits and vegetables well and wear gloves when gardening. Wash your hands well after gardening. If you have a cat, clean the litter box daily, and wear gloves when you change the cat litter box