In this month’s article, we will be discussing a very important disease that is known to be found in felines. We aim that this article will especially be helpful towards our readers who are pregnant or know of those who are expecting. Being well informed in this topic will allow yourself or others you know to be more equipped with how to practice precautions with your pet cat at home during this important time.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease that is mainly caused by a well-known parasite called, Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite is able to affect not only animals, but also humans. Hence, it is known as a zoonotic disease. The concerning fact of this disease is that at many times if your cat is infected, she or he may not even show any symptoms at all. Consequently, this allows owners to feel at ease and let their guard down on precautions that should be taken. Therefore, being infected themselves by silent carriers. According to the statistics done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is recorded that approximately more than 60 million people in North America are suspected to be dealing with toxoplasmosis, whether silently or blatantly.

When it comes to the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii, many characters can be involved. Your cat can become infected by ingesting raw meat or an outdoor wild prey that contains Toxoplasma gondii organisms already in it. This parasite targets the gastrointestinal system of the feline. Hence, this is why a form of the parasite is commonly shed then in the feces of your cat. The contaminated feces can be ingested by a mouse and then in return spread to another healthy cat when it is hunted down and eaten. Or those who handle the litter boxes of infected felines and do not regularly wash their hands, maintaining good hygiene, can also acquire this condition zoonotically. Felines who are raised on farmland with other farm animals can also spread this disease through their feces to animals (cattle, sheep, pigs) that ingest it accidentally. This again can cause potential harm and exposure to personals handling farm animals without proper cleaning protocols.

If your cat is infected with Toxoplasma gondii, it is possible that it may present to be asymptomatic. However, it is also common to see signs, such as: lethargy, fever and loss of appetite, anorexia, diarrhea, eye issues and even neurological signs like an unusual walk or seizures, etc. If you feel that your pet is exhibiting any of the forementioned symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately and have your cat examined professionally. A diagnosis for toxoplasmosis can be established by taking the cat’s full history, the symptoms shown and the results found after performing a few laboratory tests. Cats infected with Toxoplasma gondii will reveal high levels of two types of antibodies known as IgG and IgM. Tissue samples can be taken from your cat and examined under a microscope to see the presence of

When officially diagnosed for toxoplasmosis by your veterinarian, he will most likely prescribe a specific antibiotic course of treatment known as Clindamycin. If there are other complications or symptoms showing, your veterinarian will also focus on giving a specific treatment plan towards healing them. The outcome of this condition’s prognosis will be better if treatment is started earlier rather than later.

Two categories of individuals that are at most risk from toxoplasmosis are pregnant women and individuals who have weaker immune systems for whatever health reasons. These two populations of people can have detrimental outcomes from being exposed to Toxoplasma gondii. For pregnant women, this parasite can provide the greatest concern of all. Expecting mothers should avoid changing litter boxes of their pet cats during their course of pregnancy. Other individuals within the household should be given this duty and should be aware of properly cleaning their hands and the box. If there is no one else to do this, then it is strongly advised that gloves be worn when cleaning. Majority of women who become infected while pregnant will not necessarily exhibit any signs, however it can affect their children developing inside the womb. Many of these children will be asymptomatic at the time of birth; however, may show signs later on in life, such as: mental retardation, blindness, deafness or even death.

Pregnant women and immunodeficient individuals are the two populations most at risk of developing health problems after T. gondii exposure. In utero infection is of the greatest concern in humans. Between one-third and one-half of infants born to mothers who acquired Toxoplasma during pregnancy are infected. The vast majority of women infected during pregnancy have no symptoms themselves, and the majority of infected infants will show no symptoms of toxoplasmosis at birth. Many of these children, however, are likely to develop signs of infection later in life, including loss of vision and hearing, mental retardation, and, in severe cases, death. For those who are immunodeficient, this parasite can cause complications of enlarged lymph nodes or even disturbances in almost any other organ system of the body. There is unfortunately no vaccination that can help protect you or your pets from toxoplasmosis. It is a disease of which necessary well-informed awareness and precautions must be taken.

 

 Dr. Sifti Bhullar