What is it?
A parasitic protozoa that causes the disease toxoplasmosis, this bacterium can infect all warm-blooded animals, but cats are the primary hosts. Some estimates say that up to 30% of the world’s human population has been infected.
How is it spread?
The most common modes of transmissions include consuming raw or undercooked meat containing T. Gondii, ingesting water, soil, or foods contaminated with the feces of infected animals or humans, and in rarer cases through blood transfusions, organ transplants, and transplacental transmission from mother to unborn child.
Typical Symptoms
Infected persons are often asymptomatic as the immune system prevents the disease from causing illness, but some people experience sore lymph nodes and muscle aches. Pregnant women can transmit it to their babies, causing miscarriage, eye and brain damage, vision problems, and seizures. Those with weakened immune symptoms may report confusion, fever, headaches, nausea, poor coordination, and seizures.
Most at risk
Pregnant women and immunocompromised peoples are most at risk.
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