Toxoplasmosis Nikki Cox Abby Lyons

What is it? Toxoplasmosis is an infection that comes from parasites found in animal feces or raw meat. Most commonly found in warm blooded animals. It has been found worldwide form Alaska to Australia. More commonly found in cats.

Cause Toxoplasmosis is caused by an intracellular parasite called toxoplasma gondi. Most commonly contracted by raw contaminated meat. The animal ingests the infected meat and the parasite is released into the body. The animal begins shedding the oocyts between 3-10 days.

Symptoms Most animals don’t show any signs of being infected. If clinical disease toxoplasmosis occurs it may develop when the cat’s immune response is not adequate to stop the spread. The most common symptoms are; fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy.

Symptoms con… If found in the lungs toxoplasmosis can cause pneumonia. It can also affect the eyes and immune system.

Treatment Treatment is usually an antibiotic called clindamycin. Also there is pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, which work together to inhibit T. gondi reproduction. Treatment must be started soon as possible and continued for a few days. No vaccine for this disease yet.

Prevention Control rodent population Don’t feed raw or undercooked meat to your animal. Remove feces daily