Toxoplasmosis is a fairly common infection caused by a protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma gondii.
Toxoplasmosis is a common disease found in birds and mammals across North America. The infection is caused by a parasite called
Toxoplasma gondii. Most healthy people who get toxoplasmosis do not feel sick or have very mild symptoms. However, it can be serious during pregnancy.
People can get toxoplasmosis from contaminated food, contact with contaminated cat feces or soil, from parent to baby during pregnancy, and, rarely, through infected blood transfusions or organ transplants.
Most people who get toxoplasmosis do not have symptoms. Those with symptoms may experience
- Fever
- Rash
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Sore muscles
- Tiredness
- Swollen glands in the neck, armpits or groin, but are usually not sore
- In some cases the infection can also cause temporary blurred vision or loss of vision
The incubation period is from five to 23 days.
Cats are the primary hosts where the parasite reproduces. The parasite can spread through their feces. Humans can become infected with toxoplasmosis when changing a cat litter box or working in an area contaminated with cat feces. All animals and birds can be infected with the toxoplasmosis parasite. The parasite enters the muscles of a bird or animal when it eats raw meat or drinks the milk of another animal that is infected.
Animal to human transmission:
- Cleaning cat litter boxes
- Working in gardens or playing in sandboxes that contain cat feces
Foodborne transmission:
- Eating raw or undercooked meats
- Drinking unpasteurized milk
Congenital transmission:
- If a person gets the infection during pregnancy, it can be passed to the fetus before birth
Less common ways for people to become infected with toxoplasma include:
- Drinking water contaminated with toxoplasma
- Although extremely rare, by receiving an infected organ transplant or blood transfusion
If you are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant soon, follow the advice in the
HealthLink File on how to avoid infection.
A growing fetus can become infected with the toxoplasmosis parasite. This can happen if someone is infected with the parasite while pregnant or slightly before becoming pregnant. Infection in the unborn child early in pregnancy can result in miscarriage, poor growth, early delivery or stillbirth. Children born with toxoplasmosis can experience eye problems, hydrocephalus (water on the brain), convulsions or mental disabilities.
Treatment of an infected pregnant person may prevent or lessen the disease in the fetus. Treatment of an infected infant will also lessen the severity of the disease as the child grows.
Your healthcare provider will diagnose toxoplasmosis based on a clinical assessment and blood tests or identification of the parasite in the body's tissues.
Most people will recover from toxoplasmosis without treatment. Treatment may be needed if the eyes or heart are affected or if the infection occurs in pregnant people or persons with weak immune systems or long lasting diseases (e.g. AIDS or cancer).
- Do not eat raw or undercooked meat.
- Wash your hands, utensils, and cutting boards after handling raw meat to prevent contamination of other foods.
- Do not drink unpasteurized milk from any animal.
- Cats can spread toxoplasmosis to people. Most infected cats do not look sick. The parasite is shed in a cat’s feces (poop) for about two weeks after infection, and can remain infectious in the environment for more than a year.
- Indoor cats that do not hunt mice or birds, and have never been fed raw meat are unlikely to be infected. A stray or unfamiliar cat which appears sick should not be handled and should be reported to the SPCA.
Here are some ways to lower your risk of infection while enjoying your pet cat:
- Wash your hands after patting, brushing or being licked by your cat
- Clean out the litter box every day so that the parasite does not have a chance to become infectious.
- Dispose of dried litter without shaking to avoid releasing dust containing the parasite into the air.
- Dispose of cat feces in a plastic bag in the garbage.
- Do not compost cat litter, or dispose of the litter near your garden.
- Avoid cleaning cat litter boxes if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
- Wear gloves when cleaning the cat litter box, then wash your hands
- Talk to a vet if there are any signs of illness in your cat or if you have questions about your cats and their risk.
- Do not feed raw meat to your cat.
- Place a secure lid on your sandbox to prevent cats from using it as a litter box.
- Wear gloves when gardening, then wash your hands.
Talk to your healthcare provider about additional precautions if you are pregnant or have a weak immune system.
- order or cook your meat well done
- do not eat raw or undercooked meat
- wash your hands, utensils, and cutting boards after handling raw meat to prevent contamination of other foods
- do not drink unpasteurized milk from any animal
- be careful not to accidentally swallow dust when cleaning the cat litter box; clean the litter box daily so that the parasite does not have a chance to become infectious
- avoid cleaning cat litter boxes if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
- wear gloves when cleaning the cat litter box, then wash your hands
- place a secure lid on your sandbox to prevent cats from using it as a litter box
- wear gloves when gardening, then wash your hands
- persons who are pregnant or have a weak immune system due to AIDS, cancer or following organ transplants and who are concerned about the quality of the water in their community should consult with their doctor about whether they should be treating their drinking water or using bottled water
Cats and you
Just like other family members, your pet cat can pass disease on to you. Most cats which are infected do not appear sick. The cat's faeces contain the parasite for only two weeks after the cat is infected. However, the feces themselves may remain infectious for well over a year.
Cats which have been raised indoors, have never caught and eaten mice or birds, and who have never been fed raw meat are not likely to be infected. A stray or unfamiliar cat which appears sick should not be handled but should be reported to the SPCA or to the pound.
Here are some tips to help you continue to enjoy your pet cat:
- wash your hands after patting, brushing or being licked by your cat
- clean out the litter box every day
- dispose of cat faeces in a plastic bag in the garbage
- do not compost the cat litter, or dispose of the litter near your garden
- see a vet if there are any signs of illness in your cat
- don’t feed raw meat to your cat
