La toxoplasmosis, lo que tenemos que saber sobre nuestro gato

En primer lugar, tenemos que saber que el Toxoplasma es un parásito unicelular que puede alojarse en cualquier mamífero o ave, incluyendo el hombre, los perros y los gatos, pero sólo se reproduce dentro del gato.

The cat acquires the parasite by eating raw meat from an infected animal, once in the cat, the Toxoplasma reproduces. Between three days and a month later, the cat begins to excrete oocysts, which are the infectious forms of the parasite. The oocysts must fall to the ground and remain there for 24 hours before becoming infective to other animals. Oocysts can also be distributed in water and survive for long periods of time. This is the main route of infection for herbivores like cows and rabbits.

Cats shed these oocysts for a few days after infection, but - after this period, they no longer shed them, even if they become infected again!

Knowing all this, we must consider some things:

1. The most common route of transmission of toxoplasmosis to cats is through the consumption of meat from infected animals: this can include birds (chickens and hens), ruminants (goats and cattle), and lagomorphs (rabbits). However, not only cats are infected this way, but humans as well. Therefore, it is very important to handle raw meat carefully and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

   
   

2. Oocysts must remain in the soil for a few hours to become infectious. This is why the main route of transmission for humans is through gardening. Keep in mind that cats generally bury their feces, which may contain oocysts, and - if we handle contaminated soil without gloves or do not wash thoroughly afterwards, we can become infected.

   
   

3. Once a cat has been infected and released the oocysts, it will not do so again, so there is no need to getting rid of a cat - that has been with us all its life, due to the risk of transmitting toxoplasmosis to us.

Cats rarely show clinical signs when infected; occasionally, they may present with abdominal pain, weakness, and fever, and - rarely, diarrhea.

How to keep our cats healthy?

First and foremost, it's important not to feed them raw meat or let them hunt wild birds or mice. It's also essential to clean the litter box every day (remember that oocysts require 24 hours to become infectious).

What about pregnant women?

Toxoplasma can infect fetuses in the womb, and the infection is usually very serious, so it is important for pregnant women not to eat raw meat, drink purified water, wash their hands thoroughly after handling raw meat, not garden without gloves, and not clean cat litter boxes (but this is no reason to get rid of the cat—have your husband clean the box!).