Many families with cats, if someone in the family is pregnant, generally send the cat away. This is because cats are very likely to carry toxoplasma, which can cause great harm to pregnant women. In severe cases, it can lead to miscarriage or fetal malformation in the pregnant woman’s womb. Therefore, once pregnant, one should no longer keep cats. So, do you know what toxoplasma is? How does cat toxoplasma infect humans? Let's understand it in detail below!

What is toxoplasma?

Toxoplasma is an intracellular parasite; some people also call it the three corpses parasite or the three corpse spirit, etc. Generally, toxoplasma parasitizes inside cells and can reach all parts of the body through blood circulation. Toxoplasma is one of the simplest structured and smallest parasites. If infected with toxoplasmosis, it can cause immunity decline, damaging the brain, heart, and other organs.

Symptoms: If a person is infected with toxoplasma, especially pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage or premature birth. In severe cases, it can lead to fetal malformation or death. Early infection has a higher chance of fetal malformation, so attention must be paid.

If a cat has toxoplasma, it can be acute or chronic, with different symptoms. Acute type: The cat's body temperature rises, the whole body feels hot, the cat is lethargic, has no appetite, or refuses to eat and drink, always lying and sleeping. Severe cases can cause breathing difficulties, vomiting, and diarrhea. Chronic type: poor appetite, gradual weight loss, anemia. Mild cases may only show mild diarrhea.

Transmission routes:

Generally, the main transmission route of toxoplasma is through cat feces. Cats and felines are the definitive hosts of toxoplasma, so feces from infected cats will shed oocysts, making toxoplasma contagious during this period, which usually lasts about one week to half a month. Therefore, timely handling of cat feces daily is very important. Hygiene should also be maintained, and any items contaminated by cat feces should be disinfected and cleaned. Another transmission route is through blood; if you accidentally come into contact with the blood of your home cat, it is also very easy to be infected with toxoplasma.