Toxoplasmosis in cats is caused by the common parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite can infect cats as well as people and other animals. Here’s what you need to know about treating and preventing toxoplasmosis in cats.
Toxoplasmosis is an illness of significant concern, capable of being fatal, which can impact cats, humans, and various other animals. Its root cause lies in a parasite named Toxoplasma gondii, often referred to as T. gondii. However, it is crucial to distinguish between being infected with the parasite and actually developing the disease. While cats serve as the definitive hosts for T. gondii, owning or interacting with infected cats does not pose a threat. Effective prevention of the disease necessitates comprehension of how the parasite is transmitted to both cats and humans.
What is Toxoplasmosis in Cats?
Toxoplasmosis arises from a combination of T. gondii and a weakened immune system. The T. gondii is a particular type of single-celled parasite known as a protozoa. It stands distinct from bacteria, viruses, and fungi as a completely different kind of microorganism. While it surpasses the minuscule size of viruses on the germ scale, it is still smaller than a worm.
This parasite infection is highly prevalent in cats. They typically acquire it by consuming contaminated meat from mice or rats. However, being infected does not automatically result in the disease. In fact, cats can remain healthy even with T. gondii present in their bodies. The development of the disease requires a compromised immune system, placing immunosuppressed cats at the greatest risk. Common causes of immunosuppression in cats include viral infections like feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), certain medications, and advanced age.
How Can You Tell If Your Cat is Sick?
The manifestations of toxoplasmosis in cats vary depending on the organs affected by the parasite. We cannot anticipate the specific organs that will be impacted, but the brain, eyes, lungs, and liver are frequently involved and significant in terms of disease progression. Here are some of the prevailing indications:
- Difficulty walking
- Seizures
- Eye inflammation
- Blindness
- Difficulty breathing
- Yellowing of the skin, indicating jaundice
- Fever
- Reduced appetite
- Lethargy (decreased activity)
Can Humans Get Toxoplasmosis From Cats?
Toxoplasmosis is categorized as a zoonotic disease, meaning it has the potential to be transmitted from animals to humans. However, direct transmission from cats to humans is extremely rare. Similar to cats, T. gondii infection is prevalent in humans. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that approximately 11 percent of the U.S. population aged six and above have been infected with the parasite. However, it is crucial to distinguish between infection and the development of the disease, as most infected individuals do not experience any adverse effects. Individuals with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of developing the disease, mirroring the situation in cats.
There are two primary ways for people to acquire the parasite. The first is by consuming undercooked meat from an infected animal, while the second is by inadvertently ingesting a form of T. gondii present in contaminated soil. Both of these sources can be traced back to cats, as they are the natural hosts of the parasite. The intestines of cats are the only location where the parasite can reproduce and produce oocysts, which are baby T. gondii.
These oocysts can be found in the feces of infected cats and are subsequently deposited wherever the cat defecates. Interestingly, these oocysts are not infectious until they undergo a process called sporulation, which typically takes at least 24 hours. Once sporulation occurs, the oocysts become infectious to any organism that consumes them, and they remain infectious for a year or longer.
For instance, if a grazing sheep consumes sporulated oocysts, becomes infected with T. gondii, and is later served undercooked at a restaurant, there is a possibility that the person who consumes the sheep meat may become infected. (This explains why restaurants include disclaimers on their menus regarding the risks of consuming undercooked meat.) Similarly, if a person engaged in gardening forgets to wear gloves and neglects to wash their hands before eating lunch, there is a potential for them to transfer infectious oocysts to their food and subsequently infect themselves. Another common route of infection is through unwashed fruits and vegetables that have been grown in contaminated soil.
However, it is highly unlikely for individuals to become infected while cleaning a litter box for three reasons. Firstly, sporulation, which renders oocysts infectious, takes at least 24 hours to occur, and many people clean or empty the litter box on a daily basis. Secondly, most individuals wash their hands after completing the task. Thirdly, infected cats only shed oocysts in their feces during the first two weeks following infection. After this initial period, the cat’s feces will no longer contain the parasite. While T. gondii may be present in the cat’s muscles, it will not be present in its feces.
Diagnosis
While T. gondii infection is prevalent in cats, the occurrence of toxoplasmosis disease is relatively uncommon. Diagnosing the disease it is not always straightforward. Ideally, the veterinary would be able to examine a sample of tissue or fluid from the cat under a microscope to detect the presence of toxoplasma organisms. However, this approach is difficult because it is often unclear which specific tissues have been affected and require testing. In most cases, veterinarians can diagnose toxoplasmosis by conducting tests to detect antibodies against the parasite. Cats produce antibodies in response to a toxoplasma infection. This involves a simple blood test that can be performed in nearly any veterinary hospital.
Treatment
Antimicrobial drugs can be utilized to address the symptoms of toxoplasmosis. However, the extent of recovery largely depends on which tissues have been affected by the disease. For instance, if toxoplasmosis has inflicted severe damage to the brain, eliminating the parasite may not be sufficient to save the cat. Conversely, if the disease is localized to the eyes, even if the cat experiences vision loss, they can still lead a fulfilling and lengthy life. Therefore, the prognosis is cautious. Cats can certainly experience recovery, but the parasite will persist in their tissues indefinitely.