Car Accidents caused by Parasites?

[wonderwanders]

This is just disturbing...    apparently about half the people on the planet are infected with this parasite ,called Toxoplasma gondii.

It used to be considered almost harmless, as we humans are not the target species and our immune system prevents its spread.  However, now research is showing that the parasite DOES affect us.....

It's been linked

Comments

Litterbox Disease!

[brown__eyes]

Toxoplasmosis, caused by T. gondii and also known as litterbox disease, is cause by a coccidian protozoa. It is found worldwide in more with than 60 million people in the United States potentially infected. Very few infected people have symptoms because an immunocompetent person's immune system usually prevents the parasite from causing illness. However, pregnant women, infants that were infected in utero, and immunocompromised people could develop serious health problems with toxoplasmosis. The definitive host of T. gondii is the domestic cat and other Felidae, in which the sexual cycle takes place in the pithelial cells of the intestines.

Clinical presentations in humans include:
*Acute infection in immunocompetent adults: Toxoplasmosis in this group of people is typically asymptomatic (80%-90%). If symptoms are present they are localized (mainly cervical) or generalized lymphadenopathy producing sighs such as headaches, low grade fever, lethargy, and muscle pain. Most symptoms will resolve themselves in a few weeks.
*Infection in ummunocompromised adults: Most cases of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised adults are typically from reactivation of latent infections and are rarely a result of new infection. Clinical signs include CNS abnormalities (personality changes, apathy, ataxia, vison problems, and seizures), dyspnea, and diarrhea.
*Ocular toxoplasmosis: Chorioretinitis in people is caused by infection acquired in eutero with symptoms including blurred vision, photophobia, and loss of central vision.
*Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy and congenital toxoplasmosis: Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy is a result of primary infection with T. gondii during gestation when helper T lymphocytes have decreased. The risk of fetal infection depends on the time of material infection: if the infection is acquired more than 6 months prior to conception the fetuses are not affected. During the first trimester, the risk of fetal infection is 15% but the fetal disease is more severe. During the third trimester, the risk of fetal infection is 65%, but the fetal disease is less severe or asymptomatic. Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy may cause abortion, sillbirth, or preterm delivery. Congenital infection can be manifested immediately postpartum or many years later. Signs in newborns include mucrocephalus, hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis, seizures, anemia, and jaundice.

Prevention of toxoplasmosis in cats involves not allowing them to hunt rodents and birds, keeping them indoors, and feeding them only cooked meat or processed food from commercial sources. There is currently no vaccine for toxoplasmosis in cats.

In people, toxoplasmosis can be prevented by:
*Thoroughly washing hands with soap and water when handling meat
*Thoroughly washing all cutting boards, sink tops, knoves, and other materials after preparing meat on them with soap and water (kills all stages of the parasite)
*Cooking meat throughout to 160F (67C) or by cooling to -13C
*Refraining from tasting food until it is properly prepared
*Using gamma irradiation of meat in areas where traditional food processing techniques do not include heating or freezing
*Testing women who are planning on becoming pregnant for Toxoplasma
*Testing immunocompromised people for toxoplasmosis
*Having pregnant women avoid contact with cat litter, soil, and raw meat
*Feeding pet cats only dry, canned, or cooked food
*Cleaning the cat litter box daily, preferably by not by a pregnant woman
*Wearing gloves while gardening and
*Washing vegetables thoroughly before eating because they may have been contaminated with cat feces.

Currently there is no vaccine to prevent toxoplasmosis in humans.

All above taken from 'Understanding Zoonotic Diseases' by Jane Amundson Romich, Copyright 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning

I'm a vet tech geek, lord help me...

Re: Litterbox Disease!

[residualvisuals]

I was going to ask how common it is, but found this:

http://forums.obgyn.net/womens-health/WHF.9904/0668.html

Re: Litterbox Disease!

[nerdyjollies]

haha I think I love you. This is the best response ever (says another vet nerd).

BTW, according to my epidemiologist prof, the study that says that toxo may cause schizophrenia etc. is full of blaring errors in scientific method. If that class taught me anything it was to take research reported by the media with a couple of tablespoons of salt.

Re: Litterbox Disease!

[vampyran]

I've got this: Ocular toxoplasmosis - I've only got 8% sight on my left eye... but I'd be completely blind if it hadn't been treated...

But I also got infected through my mom, who apparently got infected through an infection in a midge bite.

Re: Litterbox Disease!

[harnessphoto]

i'm getting kittens in a few weeks, and this is making me really paranoid.

Re: Litterbox Disease!

[logansrogue]

What about smooshie kisses? Will kissing the cat on their furry little mooshie face make me sick? And playing "EAT DA PAW!!" is right out too, I guess?

Re: Litterbox Disease!

[99beauty_scars]

rofl @ eat da paw! hahahahahahhahaha

Re: Litterbox Disease!

[logansrogue]

The cat doesn't find it so funny. But I usually make sure she's not been at the litter tray for a while before I do that. And I never actually touch her paw with anything but my lips. It's still disgusting though, so I don't do it very often.