Toxoplasmosis in cats: symptoms, causes and treatment of the disease

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Toxoplasmosis in cats is a rather dangerous disease. This is one of the parasitic pathologies. Its causative agent is a simple microorganism. It lives in the intestines of animals, and can also invade cells. Then the pathogen spreads throughout the body, affecting muscles, organs and tissues on its way. Every owner of furry pets needs to know about the signs of this disease, since parasites can be transmitted to humans from cats. This pathology is especially dangerous for pregnant women.

What is Toxoplasma

Toxoplasma is a single-celled microorganism. It is adapted exclusively to a parasitic existence within the host. The life cycle of Toxoplasma is complex, they can exist in several forms:

• endozoite;
• cystozoitis.

Endozoite is an arc-shaped microorganism. He has no special organs for movement. However, he maymove at the expense of the cellular structures of the host. Once in the external environment, endozoites quickly die. They do not tolerate heat, drying and sunlight. In liquids, parasites can live for several hours.

Cystozoite is a parasite that lives inside a protective shell (cyst). This form is very stable. Cysts can be in the meat and in the brain for a long time.

If any of these forms of parasites has entered the cat's stomach, then Toxoplasma begins to invade the cells. There, endozoites form new cysts. In this form, Toxoplasma can live in the body of an animal for a long time. At this time, the disease does not manifest itself in any way. The immune system also does not recognize the intracellular parasite. But as soon as the cyst shell bursts, microorganisms come out and begin to multiply actively. From this point on, the symptoms of toxoplasmosis in cats begin to appear.

Especially a large number of cysts accumulate in the brain and muscles. This microorganism is well adapted to parasitize inside warm-blooded animals.

Routes of infection

Infection of a cat occurs when cysts of parasites enter the body. Intermediate hosts of toxoplasmosis are very many species of animals and birds, but only cats become definitive. Very often, rodents (mice and rats), as well as small birds, are infected. Toxoplasma is found in their meat and feces. When eating these animals, a cat can get an invasion. Cysts can enter the body when playing with prey, as well as whensniffing the faeces 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 a cat leads a domestic lifestyle, it is not protected from invasion. A pet can become infected by eating raw meat that contains cysts. In some cases, the owner of the animal may bring the pathogen on the soles of the shoes.

How disease is transmitted to humans

How is toxoplasmosis transmitted from cats? People also suffer from this disease. Very often, infection occurs when eating poorly fried or boiled meat. But you can also get infected from your pet. Knowing this, many people are afraid of communicating with cats. However, you need to know exactly how the infection is transmitted from animals.

The cat excretes Toxoplasma cysts along with feces, nasal discharge and saliva. This process takes about 2-3 weeks. After this period, the pathogen enters the cells and spreads throughout the body. The 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 the animal is infected.

Very often people get infected from a cat litter box. But at the same time, bowel movements must lie for at least 24 hours. At this time, the cysts mature. Therefore, it is very important to carry out timely cleaning of the cat litter box. The pathogen can enter the human body through wounds onskin if animal secretions get there.

Which animals are at risk

A cat of any breed can get sick with toxoplasmosis. Also, the probability of invasion does not depend on the sex of the pet. However, the following groups of animals are most at risk of infection:

• stray cats;
• eating raw meat;
• pets with weak immunity;
• animals living in unsanitary conditions;
• Cats with free range outside.

Also, experts note a higher incidence of toxoplasmosis in kittens under 1 year old and in older animals over 7 years old.

Pathogenesis of disease

After entering the body of a cat, part of Toxoplasma enters the intestines, is converted into cysts and is excreted with feces. Another part of the microorganisms affects the hematopoietic organs - the spleen and bone marrow. Further, Toxoplasma enters the vessels and spreads throughout the body.

Invasion symptoms

The incubation period is 2 to 3 weeks. During this time, the cat excretes 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, discharge from the eyes. These symptoms last for 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. Suchthe 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 occur again.

If the immune system is weakened, then the animal gets sick. With a subacute (lighter) form of pathology, the following manifestations are noted:

• high temperature;
• cough;
• shortness of breath;
• hoarse breath;
• sluggishness.

Diagnosing a 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, there are more severe signs of toxoplasmosis in cats. The pathogen attacks the nervous system. There are convulsions, muscle tremors, tics, in severe cases, paralysis. This disease can lead to the death of neurons, and the consequences of the invasion can affect the he alth of the animal for a long time. Toxoplasma infections of the nervous system are rare in cats.

Toxoplasmosis in a cat during pregnancy can cause intrauterine death of the cubs. Also, kittens can be born infected. Congenital invasion most often ends in the death of babies.

Testing for toxoplasmosis

When testing for toxoplasmosis, a cat's blood is taken. The study is carried out by PCR, which allows you to detect the DNA of parasites. Serological diagnostic methods are also used, whichdetermine antibodies to toxoplasma.

In some cases, a biological test is used. Blood, urine or saliva is taken from a cat and injected into laboratory mice. If the rodents die in 2-3 days, then a microbiological examination of their organs for toxoplasmosis is carried out.

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 no longer possible to detect the pathogen in the feces. At such early stages, owners with pets rarely go to the veterinarian, as the disease does not yet manifest itself.

Treatment of disease

It is impossible to completely remove the parasite from the body. After suffering toxoplasmosis, the animal forever remains an asymptomatic carrier. 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.

Antibiotics and sulfonamides are used to treat toxoplasmosis in cats:

• "Clindamycin".
• "Biseptol".
• "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. Intravenous administration of glucose solutionto relieve the 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 a disease manifests itself in a person

Toxoplasmosis is transmitted quite easily from cats to humans. Therefore, it is necessary to know the signs of this disease in humans. This will help to see a doctor in time for diagnosis and medical help.

At the initial stage, a person has a fever and feels unwell. Then there is a headache, body aches, enlargement of the liver and spleen, lymph nodes in the neck increase. In severe cases, the pathogen can affect the nervous system, which manifests itself in symptoms resembling meningitis, in the deterioration of vision. There are painful changes in the myocardium.

The disease from cats toxoplasmosis in a pregnant woman in the first months can lead to intrauterine death of the child and miscarriage. If the infection occurred at a later date, then the fetus becomes infected, and the newborn may be born already sick.

Prevention measures

Currently, there is no vaccine for this disease in cats or humans. This is due to the fact that the introduction of inactivated toxoplasma 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.

Prevent toxoplasmosis in cats is possible only by observing the following preventive rules:

1. Do not give to animalseat raw meat.
2. Wash hands after taking out cat litter. Gloves and disinfectants should be used when cleaning the tray.
3. Do not allow cats to walk outside.
4. Pregnant women should better limit contact with cats.

The owner of the animal should also thoroughly wash their hands and shoe soles after returning from the street. It is important to remember that parasite cysts are very persistent and can be found anywhere.