Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, also known as T. gondii.

What is going on in the body?

Toxoplasmosis is found worldwide, and can infect most species of warm-blooded animals. It is often found in cats. Once infected, a cat will excrete the parasite in its feces for a few weeks. The parasite in the feces needs 1 to 2 days to mature before it can infect other animals. Once mature, the parasite causes infection and forms cysts in the tissues of the animal that eat the feces. People can acquire T. gondii by eating undercooked meats with the cysts or by swallowing the parasite in dirt or foods contaminated with cat feces.

What are the causes and risks of the infection?

The parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is the cause of toxoplasmosis.

People can acquire toxoplasmosis by eating poorly cooked or raw meat and by caring for cats infected with the parasite.