Article on Toxoplasma gondii

sugarsandz

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I read through it twice and couldn't find what part you mentioned, I'm half out of though so I'll go for a third round lol.

As far as I'm concerned not enough cat owners and gardeners even know what toxoplamsa gondii is and that combined with not washing up properly is more of an issue than the parasite to me. I get that it can make me sick so I wear gloves when cleaning poop and planting flowers, it's not on my list of things in nature to worry about. I'm just thankful that the parasites and diseases we deal with here are not those of third world countries. It makes me sad to think that this issue is even an issue when there are people drinking water that is making them sick and living in poor conditions elsewhere.

I would take note of people at my job that didn't wash their hands after using the restroom and those people are probably the ones who are more at risk. I couldn't imagine not washing my hands after going to the bathroom, cleaning up cat or dog poop or handling raw meat.

Sorry for ranting, people that put these articles out make me upset. One study is not going to sway me, I want many studies over the course of a long period of time from different groups and countries.
 
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ondine

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Wow!  I'd seen an article on CNN (below).  Then I went over to NBC news and saw the first one I posted.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/09/health/expertqa-cat-poop-risks/index.html?hpt=hp_c4

This is the paragraph I wondered about (in the CNN article):

It's also well-known that Toxoplasma gondii can cause major brain infections in individuals with AIDS and other conditions associated with immune deficiency.

Well-known among whom?  I'd never heard this and it really startled me...

He also talks about how people who have schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder have "higher concentrations" of the organisms.  In the CNN article, it sounds like there's a direct link between having the organism and having the mental illnesses.  In the NBC article, he tones that down.

He said that the recognized risks of toxoplasmosis infection are well known – and well communicated to the people who may be most affected, including pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.  But the links between the infection and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are tenuous, he said.

This also shows you how easy it is for the media to manipulate things.  (And I was once a reporter, so I can say this.)
 

ldg

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Yeah, the anti-TNR crowd really like to play up the "public health hazard" aspect of cats. But basically we just try to point out that infection prevention is pretty simple, as sugarsandz said: if you work in the garden, wash your hands, wash your vegetables, and don't eat dirt. :rolleyes:

The anti-TNR crowd also love to hammer home the "cats are the definitive host of T. gondii." That's true. All felids are: the parasite only reproduces sexually in the gut of a feline (including wild felines). The anti-TNR point is that our domestic cats are in "unnatural" concentrations. But remove ALL felids from the face of the earth, and T. gondii persists, because it reproduces asexually in the tissues of animals.

Further, our felines only actively shed the oocysts once in their lifetimes, usually for 3-4 days, and that's a few days after being infected.

There are also studies that show that exposure to T. gondii when you're young can help prevent the development of allergies when you're older, and help prevent several different types of cancerous tumors. (If anyone wants the links to the studies, just let me know!).

But boy, it sure can sound scary! :eek: And that's just it. It boils down to the soundbite.
 
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ondine

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I knew you'd have some solid info, Laurie!  This is exactly what I meant.  Both articles sounded like feral cats are constantly shedding the organism and WE ARE IN DANGER from it.  (The all-caps was my attempt at being sarcastic).

But if they only shed once in their lives, the danger is way smaller!

This kind of reporting drives me crazy.  But sadly, without this kind of drama, no one would click on the article.

Thanks for the info, Laurie.
 

ander35

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Fact: You are more likely to get toxoplasmosis  from eating undercooked pork than from your cat.
 

StefanZ

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Fact: You are more likely to get toxoplasmosis  from eating undercooked pork than from your cat.
Yeah.  And not enough cleansed vegetables is another common source...
 
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