Toxoplasmosis – Can Your Cat Make You Sick?
This is quite a worrying thought.
Cats are host for T. gondii, the parasite can complete its life cycle and reproduce using the cat as the host. The eggs are called oocysts and are passed through cat feces into the environment, where they can infect additional cats and other warm-blooded creatures. If the conditions are right, the oocysts can persist for quite some time in the soil.
Pregnant women who become infected may pass the infection on to the developing fetus, resulting in birth defects. Symptoms in these children may include nervous system disorders, premature birth, hearing loss, anemia, and retinal damage. You may have heard that pregnant women should avoid litter boxes (or more accurately, cat feces),
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This is quite a worrying thought.
Cats are host for T. gondii, the parasite can complete its life cycle and reproduce using the cat as the host. The eggs are called oocysts and are passed through cat feces into the environment, where they can infect additional cats and other warm-blooded creatures. If the conditions are right, the oocysts can persist for quite some time in the soil.
Pregnant women who become infected may pass the infection on to the developing fetus, resulting in birth defects. Symptoms in these children may include nervous system disorders, premature birth, hearing loss, anemia, and retinal damage. You may have heard that pregnant women should avoid litter boxes (or more accurately, cat feces),
