What is Toxoplasmosis?

1. 77

   dallas93444posted 12 years ago

   Most of the world is infected with this parasite. There is no cure. It changes behaviors. It changes cultures. The definitive host is cats (felines). It is associated with schizophrenia, bi-polar, brain cancers, third leading cause of food related deaths, risk-seeking behaviors (all motorcycle riders are infected... people involved in car wrecks are 2.5 times more infected with T. gondii). see:
   http://dallas93444.hubpages.com/hub/T-G … Us-Have-It
   
   It is in our drinking water... recent case in Canada where cougars spread parasite into reservoirs.. T. gondii is in rural wells.  T. gondii is in our oceans! Morro Bay, California has the highest death rate for seals. All are infectged with T. gondii. Morro Bay dumps their sewage off-shore... There is no regulations requiring Toxoplasmosis be removed. Toxoplasma Gondii (T. gondii) causes Toxoplasmosis.
   Most sewage treatment plants do not remove Toxo. Chlorine does not kill the oocytes (eggs) Cat litter is dumped into toilets. Ferral cats dump T. gondii onto the ground and the millions viable oocytes can infect for years - depending upon the environment.
   California allows central valley cities to dump their "treated" sewage into the California Water Project delivery system which provides 25 million people their water... see:
   http://dallas93444.hubpages.com/hub/Why … Into-Water
   
   Be aware. Be alert. Do something!

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2. 95

   cat on a soapboxposted 12 years ago

   Our natural world is home to many parasites. You are correct that Toxoplasma gondii exists in most animals and birds and spreads into soil and water through feces. I will disagree with you re. the threat that it presents to most of us. The ones at greatest risk of getting this single cell parasite  are those with HIV or impaired immune systems and pregnant women. Even those at risk can avoid contamination by thoroughly washing fruits and veggies before cutting, peeling, or eating; staying away from raw or undercooked meats and shellfish, wearing gloves in the garden and removing them before touching facial areas, and delegating cat litter clean-up to someone else. Proper hand washing and good kitchen hygiene are usually sufficient in staving off infection. Any chronic flu-like symptoms, blurred vision, and unexplained confusion should be evaluated by a doctor- especially if one falls into the high-risk category and suspects exposure.

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3. 60

   rhysclayposted 12 years ago

   Toxoplasmosis is essentially a parasitic disease most commonly caused by faecel contamination, i.e. drinking water. Although most warm blooded animals can be carriers it is most common in cats.
   
   It is estimated that almost 1/3 of the worlds population is a Toxoplasmosis carrier.
   
   I would not be overly concerned about Toxoplasmosis in a developed country, in most cases the disease only cause mild flu-like symptons. Only people with weakened immune systems are susceptible to more severe symptons.

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