gray cat with gray markings and hazel eyes

In cats; Respiratory symptoms (dyspnea and cough)

  • Anorexia
  • Fever
  • Jaundice
  • Myositis
  • Neurological Disorders
  • If there are signs of visual disturbances, Toxoplasma disease is among the possibilities.

Additionally, if the owner has a pregnancy plan, it is absolutely necessary to check the cat for Toxoplasma. Toxoplasmosis is seen in one of 500-1000 births in women every year. The greatest danger for pregnant women is transmission during the first six months of pregnancy. It causes miscarriages or anomalies.

Toxoplasma gondilli is an obligate intracellular protozoan. This parasite spreads widely, infecting humans and many types of animals.

Toxoplasma gondilli is a tissue protozoan with three life forms. These forms are tachyzoites, bradyzoites, and sprozoites. The tachyzoites are the very rapidly dividing form of the parasite in the blood and lymph circulation.

The cell divides and infects tissues until the cell is destroyed. Inflammation in the infected tissue leads to the appearance of clinical signs. The division of the organism slows down thanks to the immune response that occurs over time and tissue cysts form in this period. The cysts contain very slow dividing bradyzoites.

orange cat with black markings and green eyes

How Is Toxoplasma Transmitted?

Toxoplasma gondilli complete its life stage only in cats. In other words, cats can host all three life forms. Cats shed sprozoites with their feces and play a key role in spreading the infection.

Toxoplasma disease is transmitted by the transplacental route or by fecal-contaminated water.