Toxoplasmosis in a cat is a rather dangerous disease. This is one of the parasitic pathologies. Its causative agent is the simplest microorganism. It lives in the intestines of animals, and can also invade cells. Then the pathogen is carried throughout the body, affecting muscles, organs and tissues in its path. Every owner of furry pets needs to know about the signs of this disease, as parasites can be transmitted to humans from cats. This pathology is especially dangerous for pregnant women.
What is toxoplasma
Toxoplasma is a unicellular microorganism. It is adapted exclusively to parasitic existence within the host. The life cycle of toxoplasmas is complex, they can exist in several forms:
Endozoite is an arched microorganism. He has no special organs for movement. However, it can move due to host cell structures. Once in the environment, endozoites quickly die. They do not tolerate heating, drying and sunlight. In liquids, parasites can live for several hours.
Cystozoite is a parasite that lives inside the protective membrane (cysts). This form is very stable. Cysts can be found in meat and in the brain for a long time.
If any of these forms of parasites has entered the cat’s stomach, then toxoplasmas begin to invade the cells. There endozoites form new cysts. In this form, toxoplasma can live for a long time in the body of an animal. At this time, the disease does not manifest itself. The immune system also does not recognize an intracellular parasite. But as soon as the cyst shell bursts, microorganisms go outside and begin to multiply actively. From this moment, the symptoms of toxoplasmosis in cats begin to appear.
A particularly large number of cysts accumulate in the brain and muscles. This microorganism is well adapted to parasitize inside warm-blooded animals.
Infection pathways
Cat infection occurs when parasite cysts enter the body. The intermediate owners of toxoplasmas are very many species of animals and birds, but only cats become final. Very often infected are rodents (mice and rats), as well as small birds. Toxoplasmas are found in their meat and feces. When these animals are eaten, the cat may receive an invasion. Cysts can enter the body during games with prey, as well as when sniffing feces of rodents and birds.
Infection can occur even when licking a paw contaminated with soil particles with cysts. Toxoplasma can be found in water from puddles and ponds.
Even if the cat leads a home lifestyle, it is not protected from invasion. A pet can become infected by eating raw meat containing cysts. In some cases, the owner of the animal may bring the causative agent of the disease on the soles of the shoes.
How the disease is transmitted to humans
How is toxoplasmosis transmitted from cats? People also suffer from this disease. Very often, infection occurs when eating poorly cooked or cooked meat. But you can get infected from your pet. Knowing this, many people are afraid of communicating with cats. However, you need to know exactly how the invasion from animals is transmitted.
The cat secretes toxoplasma cysts along with feces, nasal secretions and saliva. This process lasts about 2-3 weeks. After this period, the pathogen invades the cells and spreads throughout the body. Feces of the animal during this period are no longer contagious. The risk of transmission of toxoplasmosis from cats to humans exists only within 14-21 days after infection of the animal.
Very often people become infected from the cat tray. But at the same time, stool should lie for at least 24 hours. At this time, cysts mature. Therefore, it is very important to carry out timely cleaning of the cat's toilet. The causative agent can penetrate the human body through wounds on the skin if the animal secretions get there.
Which animals are at risk
A cat of any breed can get toxoplasmosis. Also, the probability of invasion does not depend on the gender of the pet. However, the following groups of animals are at greatest risk of infection:
- stray cats;
- eating raw meat;
- pets with weak immunity;
- animals living in unsanitary conditions;
- free-range cats on the street.
Specialists also noted a higher incidence of toxoplasmosis in kittens up to 1 year old and in older animals over 7 years old.
Pathogenesis of the disease
After the cat enters the body, part of the toxoplasma enters the intestines, is converted into cysts and comes out with feces. Another part of the microorganisms affects the blood forming organs - the spleen and bone marrow. Further, toxoplasmas enter the vessels and are carried throughout the body.
Symptoms of Invasion
The incubation period is from 2 to 3 weeks. During this time, the cat secretes cysts with feces and secretions. The animal is already contagious.
The first manifestations of toxoplasmosis in cats resemble a cold or food poisoning. There is lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting with diarrhea, runny nose, and discharge from the eyes. These symptoms last about 2-3 days.
The further course of the disease depends on the immunity of the animal. If the body's defenses are strong enough, then the pathology may no longer manifest itself. Such an animal becomes an asymptomatic carrier of toxoplasma. The pet is contagious only in the first 2-3 weeks after infection. The causative agent of the disease will always be present in the cells, but signs of toxoplasmosis in cats may never again occur.
If immunity is weakened, then the animal becomes ill. With a subacute (milder) form of pathology, the following manifestations are noted:
- heat;
- cough;
- dyspnea;
- wheezing
- lethargy.
Diagnosing the disease with a mild course is quite difficult. Such symptoms can be observed not only with toxoplasmosis, but also with viral infections.
In the acute form of the disease, more severe signs of toxoplasmosis in cats are noted. The causative agent affects the nervous system. Convulsions, muscle tremors, tics, in severe cases, paralysis appear. This disease can lead to the death of neurons, and the consequences of the transferred invasion can affect the health of the animal for a long time. Toxoplasma damage to the nervous system is rare in cats.
Toxoplasmosis in a cat during pregnancy can cause intrauterine death of the cubs. Kittens can also be born infected. Congenital invasion most often ends in the death of babies.
Toxoplasmosis tests
When tested for toxoplasmosis, cats take blood. The study is carried out by PCR, which allows the detection of parasite DNA. Serological diagnostic methods that determine antibodies to toxoplasmas are also used.
In some cases, a biological test is used. The cat is taken blood, urine or saliva and injected into laboratory mice. If rodents die in 2 to 3 days, then they conduct a microbiological examination of their organs for toxoplasmosis.
Fecal analysis is rarely used in this case. The cat secretes cysts only in the first 2-3 weeks after the invasion, then it is already impossible to detect the pathogen in the feces. At such early stages, pet owners rarely go to the veterinarian, as the disease does not yet manifest itself.
Disease treatment
It is impossible to completely remove the parasite from the body. After toxoplasmosis, the animal remains an asymptomatic carrier forever. You can only reduce the activity of toxoplasma and transfer the disease to a latent period. But it must be remembered that a decrease in immunity can lead to a new occurrence of symptoms.
In the treatment of toxoplasmosis in cats, antibiotics and sulfonamides are used:
- Clindamycin.
- "Biseptolum".
- Rovamycin.
- "Daraprim."
- Zinaprim.
If a pregnant pet is being treated, then the drug "Rovamycin" is used, which has a more gentle effect.
It is also necessary to carry out symptomatic treatment aimed at alleviating the manifestations of the disease. A glucose solution is administered intravenously to relieve symptoms of intoxication. Folic acid is indicated to eliminate bone marrow lesions. To increase the body's resistance to parasites, immunomodulators Gamavit and Fosprinil are prescribed.
How does the disease manifest in humans
Toxoplasmosis from cats to humans is transmitted quite easily. Therefore, it is necessary to know the signs of this disease in people. This will help to see a doctor in time for diagnosis and medical help.
At the initial stage, a person rises in temperature and there is a malaise. Then there is a headache, body aches, enlargement of the liver and spleen, lymph nodes increase on the neck. In severe cases, the pathogen can affect the nervous system, which is manifested in symptoms resembling meningitis, in visual impairment. Painful changes in the myocardium are observed.
Disease from cats toxoplasmosis in a pregnant woman in the first months can lead to fetal death of the child and miscarriage. If the infection occurred in the later stages, the fetus becomes infected, and the newborn may be born already sick.
Preventive measures
There is currently no vaccine for this disease for either cats or humans. This is due to the fact that the introduction of inactivated toxoplasmas into the body does not lead to the formation of antibodies. This pathology is caused by parasites, and it is very difficult to create a vaccine against such a pathogen.
Toxoplasmosis in cats can be prevented only by observing the following preventive rules:
- Do not allow animals to eat raw meat.
- Wash hands after taking out the cat's toilet. When cleaning the tray, gloves and disinfectants should be used.
- Cat walks should not be allowed on the street.
- Pregnant women are better off restricting cats.
The owner of the animal should also wash their hands and soles thoroughly after returning from the street. It is important to remember that parasite cysts are very stable and can be found everywhere.