Toxoplasmosis
By Kiana Oquendo
By Kiana Oquendo
Reservoir
Portal of exit
Fecal oocysts
Mode of transmission
Eating contaminated undercooked meat or shellfish
Eating contaminated undercooked meat or shellfish without washing your hands after handling said food
Drinking water that’s contaminated with toxoplasmosis
Drinking unpasteurized goat milk
Children playing in sandboxes that could have been contaminated by any cat that’s carrying Toxoplasmosis
Cat ingesting infected prey
Portal of entry
Susceptible host
Most pets, birds, livestock, rodents, & other mammals
Mainly cats are the ones that Toxoplasmosis can reach adulthood in and sexually reproduce
Pregnant women and immunodeficient people/cats
Prevention
Wear gloves while gardening or handling soil
Don’t consume raw or undercooked meat
Don’t consume raw shellfish
Wash kitchen utensils thoroughly
Wash all fruits and vegetables
Don’t consume unpasteurized goat milk
Don’t consume untreated water
Cover children’s sandboxes so that random cats that are possibly carrying toxoplasmosis won’t contaminate the sand
Keep your cat healthy
Avoid stray cats or kittens
If pregnant, have someone else clean the litter box
Quarantine newly infected cats as oocysts will continue to be shed for up to 14 days in feces
Clean litter boxes frequently if possible infected animal is using the litter box as oocysts are present in feces
Treatment with antibiotics
Cook meals given to cats thoroughly if diet consists of meat