Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease. It is a parasitic disease that mainly harms cats and pregnant women. Once a pregnant woman is infected with toxoplasmosis, it may cause premature birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, fetal malformation and other phenomena. Extremely harmful to humans.

1. Pathogens and Transmission

Toxoplasma gondii is also a type of protozoa, and its intermediate hosts include more than 200 animals such as humans, mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish. Cats are not only the intermediate host of Toxoplasma gondii, but also its final host. Toxoplasma gondii can only form oocysts in cats, and infected cats can discharge 10 million oocysts every day for 2 weeks; therefore, cats undoubtedly play a very important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis. ​​​​​​

2. The transmission routes of this disease include

Oral infection occurs through oral ingestion of infectious oocysts in cat feces, consumption of Toxoplasma cysts in the meat and internal organs of the intermediate host, as well as the excrement, exudate, and milk of the intermediate host. Tachyzoites are transmitted through the skin and mucous membranes. Vertically transmitted from the placenta to the fetus.

3. Symptoms

Toxoplasmosis is a silent infection in cats. Except for young cats, old cats, or cats with compromised immune systems and poor resistance, clinical symptoms usually do not show. The symptoms are also very variable: fever, diarrhea, loss of physical strength and appetite, cough, difficulty breathing, enteritis, vomiting, jaundice, neurological symptoms, etc. are all possible and must be diagnosed by a professional veterinarian.

4. Prevention

For cats, cats must be prevented from preying on mice or birds that may be infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Fish and meat must be cooked before feeding. Pay attention to environmental hygiene, and prohibit cats from approaching sick cats suspected of being infected. Go to the veterinary hospital for regular check-ups.

For humans, dairy products must be thoroughly sterilized, fish and meat must be cooked before eating, vegetables must also be washed, good hand washing habits must be developed, and cat feces must be properly disposed of.