Toxoplasmosis – What is It and Should You Be Worried for your Family?
Many cat owners have been unfortunate as to contract toxoplasmosis, a disease that can be contracted through cats. All cat owners should be aware of this disease, how it can affect the entire family, and how it can be prevented. Being educated about the disease is the best way to protect yourself and your family from its affects.
The disease is caused by a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite can be found in many places throughout the world. However, the number of people in the United States who are at risk of being infected with the site is terribly high. It is suspected that over sixty million people are at risk of being infected.
Even when people are affected by the parasite, they might not even know it. When a person has a healthy immune system, the parasite can exist in the body without causing any kind of illness. Those people who do not have healthy immune systems and pregnant women could have serious health problems as a result of the Toxoplasma parasite.
There are several different ways that the parasite can be introduced to the body. In some places, the drinking water has been contaminated with the Toxoplasma parasite. Drinking this water can introduce the parasite to the body. Although it is rare, an organ transplant or blood transplant can lead contaminate the body with the Toxoplasma parasite. The most common way that the parasite makes its way into the human body is through cats.
Cats can easily become infected with toxoplasmosis, even without your knowing it. When the cat is infected with the parasite, it passes the organism through its body and passes it through feces. If a human accidentally swallows the contaminated feces then he or she could in turn become contaminated.
Most people think that they are safe from the disease because they feel certain they are not going to be eating cat feces. However, the feces can be ingested even without your knowing it. You might touch your hands to your mouth after you have cleaned the cat’s litter box. Even though you make a practice to always wash your hands before touching anything, you might sneeze or have an itch that causes you to touch your mouth. In other situations, you might not be aware of the presence of the parasite. One example is when the cat spends time in your garden.
For many people, the parasite can be present in the body and symptoms never develop. However, there are some specific kinds of people that are at a higher risk of developing the disease. Women who are pregnant or intending to become pregnant should take great care not to be exposed to the parasite. Infants who are born to mothers that have been infected with the parasite for the very first time are at risk for developing a severe case of toxoplasmosis.
In addition to these infants, a person with an immune weak system is at risk of developing the disease. This includes those individuals who have HIV/AIDs, those who have recently received a blood transfusion or organ transplant, and those people who are taking chemotherapy. Cat owners in this category should take great care not to be exposed to cat feces as they are at risk of developing a severe case of toxoplasmosis.
There are some ways for cat owners to prevent their cat from contracting the parasite. Since it is primarily spread to cats through raw meat, make sure that you don’t feed your cat any raw or undercooked meat. You should keep your cat inside the home so that it does not contract the disease from the soil or from other animals.
If you are pregnant, you should consider having another person change your cat’s litter box. Make sure this person thoroughly washes his or her hands after changing the litter. Alternatively, you should wear gloves when changing the litter box and make sure to wash your hands when the task is complete. Avoid taking in any new cats while you are pregnant because these cats may have a prior infection. Stay away from stray cats as there is no visible way to tell if a cat is infected with toxoplasmosis.
When it comes to cats, you must be careful to ensure that neither you nor your family members get infected with toxoplasmosis.