Toxoplasmosis is usually diagnosed based on a cat's history, signs of illness, and laboratory test results. Measurement of two types of antibodies to T. gondii in the blood, IgG and IgM, can help diagnose toxoplasmosis. High levels of IgG antibodies to T.
Blood tests will determine whether a cat has been exposed to the organism. These tests do not necessarily mean that Toxoplasma is the cause of any disease since most exposed cats do not develop disease; however, high levels of certain antibodies can suggest current infection.
If you are pregnant, or are planning on becoming pregnant, you might want to have your cat tested for toxoplasmosis. The test checks for antibodies to Toxoplasma parasites. If your cat tests negative, this means he has never been exposed to the Toxoplasma organism and cannot transmit the disease to you.
The prevalence of oocyst shedding in cats is very low (0-1%), even though at least 15-40% of cats have been infected with Toxoplasma at some point. This means very few cats at any one time are actually able to pass their infection on to people.
Owning a cat does not mean you will be infected with the parasite. It is unlikely that you would be exposed to the parasite by touching an infected cat because cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur.
This will keep you away from any cat feces. If you have an indoor cat who only eats cat food and doesn't have contact with outside animals, your risk of toxoplasmosis is very low.
Cats who have been infected with toxoplasmosis will frequently have no symptoms. A smaller number of cats might develop diarrhea, or respiratory problems, or even problems with their eyes. The majority of cats, though, will be permanently infected with the parasite and show no outward signs of illness.
What is the treatment? Antibiotics are the only treatment currently used, and most cats recover from clinical toxoplasmosis when a complete course is given. Clindamycin is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic. Whilst it will not eliminate dormant cysts, it is effective against the active forms.
You may get infected if you touch your mouth after touching anything that has been in contact with cat feces. This may be gardening or cleaning a litter box. Contaminated food or water. Undercooked beef, lamb, pork, venison, chicken and shellfish are all known carriers of the parasite.
We estimated the costs of two cat-dependent diseases (toxoplasmosis, cat scratch disease) in people at AU$6.06 billion (plausible range AU$2.11–10.7 billion) annually, and the costs to livestock production from toxoplasmosis and sarcocystosis at AU$11.7 million (plausible range AU$7.67–18.3 million).
Toxoplasmosis in cats
Although infection with T gondii rarely causes disease in cats, signs of illness can sometimes be seen and these include: Fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy. Pneumonia causing breathing difficulties. Inflammatory eye problems (uveitis and retinitis)
Toxoplasmosis is a common infection from the microscopic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It appears in many species of animals, but cats are the most common that transmit the parasite to humans. Over 40 million people in the U.S. are infected with toxoplasmosis.
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis include fever, swollen glands and muscle aches. Most people who become infected with Toxoplasma have no symptoms.
The Biopanda Toxo IgG/IgM Rapid Test detects and differentiates between IgG IgM for Toxoplasma gondii in human serum and plasma samples.
It is extremely unlikely that you would pick up toxoplasmosis by petting your cat or being scratched or bitten by your cat, because the organism is not spread by the fur or saliva. You CAN, however, pick up toxoplasmosis by eating undercooked infected meat, particularly lamb and pork.
Treatment of Toxoplasmosis in Cats
Treatment in cats usually consists of a 2-4 week course of the antibiotic clindamycin and may be combined with other therapies including supportive care. It has been reported that cats shed oocysts only once in their lifetime since they develop immunity after the initial infection.
A convincing body of evidence now exists to indicate that the ubiquitous protozoan Toxoplasma gondii can cause permanent behavioral changes in its host, even as a consequence of adult-acquired latent infection.
Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In the United States it is estimated that 11% of the population 6 years and older have been infected with Toxoplasma. In various places throughout the world, it has been shown that more than 60% of some populations have been infected with Toxoplasma.
Toxoplasma and Cats:
Cats that eat raw meat or rodents can be infected, and the parasite lives in the cat's feces for only two weeks. If infected cat feces is buried in soil, Toxoplasma gondii eggs can live up to 18 months.
Risks to your baby's breathing
Never allow cats into any room where a baby or child is sleeping. A cat may settle to sleep near a baby's face. This is very dangerous. It could interfere with your baby's breathing.
The overall positive rates of Toxoplasma gondii in stray cats were 38.9% (28/72), with 15.3% (11/72) in ELISA and 30.6% (22/72) in PCR. The positive rate in male stray cats was slightly higher than that of female stray cats.
Owning a cat does not mean you will be infected with the parasite. It is unlikely that you would be exposed to the parasite by touching an infected cat because cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur.
As the cat feces dry, the oocysts may become aerosolized. They can thus be inhaled by a person changing cat litter or just walking in an area where cats have defecated. An outbreak of toxoplasmosis among patrons of a riding stable was thought to have occurred in this manner.
The chances of getting toxoplasmosis for the first time during pregnancy are thought to be very small. Even if you do become infected for the first time during pregnancy, this doesn't necessarily mean your baby is in danger. In many cases the infection doesn't spread to the baby.