Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that affects cat health and should be treated as a concerning pet health issue. This disease is caused by a single-celled parasite known as the Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). And it is a danger for all cats
Toxoplasmosis is actually a very common parasitic disease that affects overall cat health and normally harvests itself in only warm-blooded animals, which can even include humans. The extent of cat health condition will depend on the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. It’s life cycle is actually quite complex and involves 2 different types of host: the definitive and intermediate.
Cats can act as the definitive hosts for the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This basically means that the Toxoplasma gondii parasite will only be able to produce oocysts or eggs while infecting the cat. If the cat consumes infected raw meat or prey then the parasite will automatically be released into his digestive tract giving rise to a pet health issue.
Once the parasite is inside the stomach of the cat, this parasite will start multiplying within the walls of his small intestine and start producing eggs. This type of condition is called intraintestinal infection cycle and during this period, the eggs can even be seen in cat faeces. These eggs have the ability to survive in different or fluctuating environment conditions for more than a year. Most cats infected by this parasite will not display any symptoms at all.
When disease actually occurs, the immune system of the cat will not be able to tackle it and stop the spreading of the tachyzoite forms and this can raise the question of pet health issue. The disease will spread in cats and at the same time suppress their immune systems. Young and newborn cats are highly susceptible to this disease and if unchecked, it will not only adversely affect cat health but also infect them with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukemia virus (FELV).
There are some common symptoms of this parasitical infestation and they include loss of appetite, fever, and lethargy. There are some other symptoms too but their occurrence will vary depending on the extent of the infection i.., whether the infection is chronic in nature or acute in nature. The T. gondii infection can easily spread to different parts of the body and cause pneumonia by infecting the lungs. This will lead to respiratory distress faced by your cat and aggravate the current pet health issue.
Toxoplasmosis is a concerning cat health issue because the infection can affect just about any organ in the body including the nervous system as well as the eyes. It will lead to inflammation in the eyes and the retina and the size of the pupil will be abnormal. If after diagnosis, it is found that your cat has Toxoplasmosis then there is always the chance of recovery. Treatments normally include the use of an antibiotic known as Clindamycin. Depending on cat health condition other drugs can be used that include sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine.
