[Faline]

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that can infect a large variety of hosts, including humans, though it’s main reservoir is the cat. For humans an infection is usually acquired by handling cat feces or transmitted from mother to fetus. Toxoplasmosis in humans usually presents as an acute fever and then the infection is either cleared by the immune system or goes dormant. In people with compromised immune systems Toxoplasmosis can cause a variety of neurological diseases such as schizophrenia, depression, ADHD and OCD which is why it is often associated with the ‘crazy cat lady’ stereotype. The infection can also affect tissues like the heart, liver and eyes.

In rodents Toxoplasma has been shown to alter behavior in order to ensure transmission to the preferred reservoir of cats; Toxoplasma makes the rodent less afraid and more likely to encounter a cat and be eaten.

Toxoplasma is often diagnosed with a CT scan of the brain, revealing ring-like lesions. Once diagnosed it can be treated with many different antibiotics.

[Shakey]

Brains usually look tasty to me but not this one.

[Menalipa]

You can fry it and it's good to go

[Sharon]

That's an incredible image full size

[vagabond]

Interesting!

[Jere]

cats are nasty.

[reubthadude]

Gooey!

[blancadon]

Nice post!

[LadyCPlum]

MMMM, popcorn!

[invertigo]

It's actually much more common to develop Toxo symptoms from handling and consuming raw or undercooked meats and cross contaminated cooking surfaces . Toxoplasmosis is the leading cause of food-borne illness in the US. No cats involved there ;)

Because cats only shed the organism for a few days in their entire life, the chance of human exposure is small. Owning a cat does not mean you will be infected with the disease. It is unlikely that you would be exposed to the parasite by touching an infected cat, because cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur. It is also unlikely that you can become infected through cat bites or scratches. In addition, cats kept indoors that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat are not likely to be infected with T. gondii.

In the United States, people are much more likely to become infected through eating raw meat and unwashed fruits and vegetables than from handling cat feces.