How to protect a cat from toxoplasmosis: routes of infection, symptoms, treatment and prevention.

Toxoplasmosis in cats is a serious disease that poses a danger to the health of not only the pet, but also the owner.

Penetrating into every cell, the pathogen causes numerous organ damage, paresis, convulsions, paralysis and leads to the death of the animal. To avoid toxoplasmosis, you need to know how the pathology manifests itself, how to treat it, and how to prevent it.

What to do in such a situation? To get started, we recommend reading this article. This article describes in detail methods of controlling parasites. We also recommend that you consult a specialist. Read the article >>>

Toxoplasmosis is a natural focal anthropozoonotic disease caused by the protozoan intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii

Who causes toxoplasmosis?

The causative agent of toxoplasmosis is the smallest parasite Toxoplasma gondii , which is able to live in the bodies of many birds and mammals, penetrating into the cells of the body.

A feature of Toxoplasma is the ability to reproduce in two different ways:

sexual (occurs only in the intestines of cats with subsequent release of oocysts in feces);
division (occurs in the cells of other infected organisms).

In view of this feature, it is believed that the main route of entry into the human body is contact with a sick animal (caring for it, cleaning the toilet, etc.) without observing the basic rules of protection and personal hygiene.

However, there are many more ways for Toxoplasma gondii to enter the cat's body (and the human body). You can become infected:

eating raw (or undercooked) contaminated meat such as pork, beef or venison;
through contact with a sick animal or contaminated raw meat;
during blood transfusions and organ transplants.

Toxoplasma is also able to penetrate the placental barrier, which explains another route of transmission - from mother to fetus during pregnancy.

What treatment does an infected cat need?

How to treat toxoplasmosis in cats if diagnostics have confirmed the presence of parasites in the pet’s body? In most cases, therapy is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease, which contributes to the transition of the acute stage of toxoplasmosis to the chronic stage. A favorable prognosis is expected for healthy and adult animals; for weak, young and sick animals, the disease can be fatal.

An infected cat should be regularly examined and the amount of Toxoplasma antibodies in the blood monitored.

Theoretically, Toxoplasma can colonize any organ and system in a living organism, so the symptoms can be completely different. According to statistics, in 50% of cases cats need treatment for the respiratory system, in 25% for treatment of the gastrointestinal tract, and in another 25% for nervous and visual disorders .

Antibiotic drugs - clindamycin, spiramycin, sulfonamide and pyrimethamine - are most often chosen by owners to treat their pets.
In addition to antibiotics, supporting vitamin and mineral complexes, folic acid and yeast are prescribed.
For inflammation of the animal's genitourinary system, anti-inflammatory drugs are used - prednisolone, dexamethasone.
At the very beginning of the disease, treatment with coccidiostats is recommended to suppress the formation of oocysts in the intestines of cats.

When treating toxoplasmosis, drugs and a treatment regimen should be suggested by a doctor, based on the clinical picture of the disease and the condition of the animal, based on the results of tests and studies.

Routes of infection

Domestic cats become infected with Toxoplasma by eating raw meat, caught birds and rodents. Small animals hunted by felines are carriers of parasites.

Toxoplasma reproduces only in the bodies of human pets and certain wild species of cats. Once in the intestines of rodents, birds or farm animals, Toxoplasma quickly invades macrophage cells and spreads to various organs. There they form intracellular latent forms (bradyzoites) and do not reproduce, since the host’s immune system quickly copes with the tachyzoids emerging from the cells.

By eating food or prey containing Toxoplasma in the latent phase of development, or licking fur contaminated with its own feces, a cat can become infected and re-infected with both intracellular and extracellular forms, as well as oocysts of the parasites. The duration of the incubation period depends on the type of pathogens entering the body: from 3-10 days to 2-3 weeks. Excreted in feces from the cat's intestines, protozoan eggs return to the natural environment (soil, water).

Based on the methods of infection, its sources can be determined. For cats they are:

raw meat;
small animals are objects of hunting;
dirty tray;
water from open sources (puddles, ditches, etc.).

Prevention of toxoplasmosis in cats and people

To prevent the above disease, the following measures are indicative:

Proper nutrition. Give your cat sufficiently cooked homemade food or high-quality industrial food. Eliminate raw meat and fish from the diet, and drink only boiled water.
Keeping the house clean.
Tray hygiene.
Limiting purring cats' contacts with homeless relatives.
Regular checkups with a veterinarian.

Also, to maintain immunity, a pet under the age of 3 months will need to be vaccinated against toxoplasmosis for cats. The purr is vaccinated to develop acquired immunity to infection. But caring owners should know that before vaccinating a cat, the pet needs to be dewormed. This procedure will increase the effectiveness of the vaccine.

To prevent infection, people should adhere to certain standards of behavior:

Eliminate insufficiently cooked or fried meat, unwashed vegetables and fruits, unboiled milk, and raw eggs from the diet.
Work in the garden or vegetable garden only with rubber gloves.
Wash your shoes after returning from the street.
Wash your hands after close contact with pets.

To date, doctors have not created a vaccine against toxoplasmosis in humans. They don't even plan to develop it. Since the above disease is associated with an intracellular microorganism, the effectiveness of vaccination will always be questionable.

Feline pregnancy and toxoplasmosis

If Toxoplasma gundi infects a pregnant female, then the risk of intrauterine infection of the fetus is very high.

The consequences are miscarriages, the birth of dead or non-viable kittens.

But it should be remembered that infection through the placenta is possible only in the first, shortest, stage of oocyst development. That is, a danger to the offspring can only arise if the female is infected either right before pregnancy or in its first days.

With chronic toxoplasmosis, a cat cannot infect its offspring. If intrauterine infection of kittens in a given individual occurs once, it cannot happen again.

Is it transferable or not?

A person has the same symptoms of the disease as a cat. Namely: elevated temperature, very heavy breathing, purulent discharge from the eyes.

It is especially not advisable for young children and pregnant women to suffer from toxoplasmosis.

Children have a very weak body to this disease. You may not even know that your child has toxoplasmosis, because it does not manifest itself clearly.

The single biggest drawback of this disease is death. Unfortunately, there were many cases that were recorded by doctors when no medications or antibiotics helped.

Symptoms of toxoplasmosis in cats

At first, after Toxoplasma enters the cat’s body, there are no symptoms. After a few days, the disease begins to manifest itself in a mild form. You can suspect toxoplasmosis in a cat based on the following signs:

lack of interest in the environment;
loss of appetite;
the animal becomes lethargic and breathes heavily;
vomiting and intestinal upset;
the eyes look inflamed, yellowing of the mucous membrane is possible (due to impaired liver function);
twitching of the tips of the ears;
feverish condition.

As the disease develops, the symptoms become more pronounced - the pathology enters the acute stage. Characteristic features are:

increased temperature, fever;
purulent discharge from the eyes and nostrils;
muscle cramps;
apathy, lethargy, indifference;
labored breathing.

During the acute period of the disease, the cat is a source of infection for surrounding animals and humans. During this period, timely, thorough treatment of the tray and cat care are of great importance. If the animal is an adult and has a strong immune system, then it can soon recover.

Otherwise, the pet either dies or the pathology becomes chronic, which manifests itself in lack of appetite, weight loss and frequent muscle cramps.

How to detect toxoplasmosis in a cat

Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in cats is carried out exclusively in a veterinary clinic. Unfortunately, not all veterinary hospitals have laboratory equipment to detect such infections. Routine tests may be false negative. Testing your body for toxoplasma is not easy.

Let's consider what diagnostic tests are carried out to detect toxoplasma in the animal's body.

Caporgram

Cat fecal analysis is the most unreliable method for diagnosing toxoplasmosis. The problem is that parasites live in the intestines and form cysts only for the first 2-3 weeks after infection. The larvae of parasites are so small that they cannot be detected through every microscope. In most cases, stool examination of infected cats does not reveal the presence of pathogenic microorganisms.

Serological analysis

Venous blood is taken for analysis. It is carried out in two ways :

Agglutination. Antibodies produced by the cat's immune system against Toxoplasma are introduced into the blood serum. If the pathogen is present in the animal's blood, agglutination will occur.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). An antigen (Toxoplasma) is injected into the blood serum and the antibody reaction is observed. If the immune response is immediate and strong, then the infection is already present in the cat's body.

There are times when these tests give false results. Immunoglobulins against Toxoplasma can remain at high levels for several years, even if the infection has been completely suppressed. Still, it’s worth checking the cat using this method.

Cytological examination

It is carried out by taking a smear from the mucous membrane of the animal. For a more accurate result, it is better to have lymph tissue or cerebrospinal fluid collected and checked for infection. Diagnostics gives more accurate results, but its implementation requires special equipment and reagents.

PCR analysis

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the newest diagnostic methods based on molecular biology. Artificially created enzymes that copy the DNA and RNA of pathogenic microorganisms are used for research. The following can be used for analysis: blood, urine, sputum and other animal biomaterials. If there is an infection in the body, then the enzymes released into the biomaterial will show this. Diagnostics gives accurate results and there are no errors, which is its main advantage.

If the test for toxoplasmosis is confirmed, the cat is prescribed treatment. To suppress parasites, drugs of the sulfonamide group are used, and vitamins and immunomodulators are used to increase defenses.

At-risk groups

The degree of damage to a cat depends on many signs:

Age. More often, adults, even older ones, pets or kittens in the womb are infected.
Gender. This sign is not obvious, but infectious disease veterinarians note that stray or free-roaming mature, uncastrated cats most often become ill. Although Toxoplasma is absolutely not transmitted sexually. Most likely, the high percentage of damage to these individuals is associated with their lifestyle.
The type of strain and the amount of Toxoplasma that entered the animal’s body during infection.
Path of infection. The disease is most severe in kittens that become ill in utero. They usually experience weakness, anorexia, breathing problems, and discharge from the eyes and nose. In case of death, extensive damage to the liver and lungs is diagnosed. Sometimes kittens can develop encephalitis. Babies sleep almost constantly, suffer from poor coordination of movements, and cannot eat. They die from exhaustion.
Stressful situation. As a result, the body’s immune forces are weakened and its response is lower.
Associated pathologies. The most severe toxoplasmosis occurs simultaneously with viral immunodeficiency, leukemia, mycoplasmosis, and panleukopenia.
Some types of drug therapy. For example, when treated with Cyclosporine antibiotics or with glucocorticoid injections.

Manifestation of toxoplasmosis in animals

Symptoms of the disease may appear in your pet after two or three weeks. You will notice from your pet that he has a different mental state, which may be accompanied by outbursts of aggression.

There are many factors that influence a pet's behavior. Some people confuse the symptoms of toxoplasmosis with a common cold or with poisoning. But that's not true.

Of course, the cat’s stool color will change; most likely, it will be liquid. Strange discharge from the eyes that looks like tears. Decreased activity and energy.

Further, the disease sharply worsens the cat's health. The animal may have convulsions, various discharges from the eyes and nose. And also sometimes the temperature rises.

To make sure that your cat is sick, you need to take her to the veterinarian and get tested for toxoplasmosis in cats.

Do kittens get sick and how to treat them?

Kittens, just like cats, can get toxoplasmosis. The course of the disease in small kittens differs little from the same process in adults. There is only one exception - kittens are more susceptible to the acute form of the disease. The most striking symptoms of this condition are:

convulsions and paralysis;
loss of coordination;
general weakness, malaise, loss of appetite;
jaundice (you can examine the oral cavity or the mucous membrane of the eyelids).

Kittens are often prescribed the same medications as cats, but in lower dosages. Only a veterinarian can correctly assess the baby’s condition and prescribe treatment. I know of cases where a cat suffered from something, and then its owners treated their kittens for the same disease. At the same time, they themselves decided which drugs and in what quantities to give, and this is wrong, because the kitten’s body perceives not only the disease, but also the drugs differently.

Kittens are as likely to get toxoplasmosis as cats.

What are the symptoms of the disease

For some time after infection, there are no obvious clinical features, the pathology proceeds without manifestations. After a few days, the first symptoms of toxoplasmosis in cats appear:

the animal becomes apathetic, loses interest in any external stimuli;
refuses to eat or reduces portions to minimum;
heavy breathing can be heard against the background of general lethargy;
the organs of vision become inflamed, due to liver dysfunction a yellowish tint appears in the mucous membranes;
the tips of the ears are regularly twitched;
symptoms of fever with chills are observed.

Enteritis in cats: symptoms and treatment

Further progression of the pathological process leads to the appearance of a pronounced clinical picture. Acute toxoplasmosis in a cat is dangerous, its symptoms are as follows:

increased temperature, febrile syndrome;
discharge from the nasal passages and eyes with purulent patches;
convulsive muscle contractions;
solitude in secluded places, lack of reaction to one’s own name;
hoarse, heavy breathing with shortness of breath.

The acute phase of the disease leads to the activity of parasitic protozoa. At this time, cats are dangerous to others: any contact can lead to infection. At this time, proper handling of the tray, treatment and care of the sick animal are of great importance.

Important! If the pet has a good immune system, then recovery occurs after some time. In other cases, the pathology causes the death of the animal or its transition to a chronic course. Symptoms include weight loss, frequent muscle cramps and loss of appetite.

Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in cats

Quite complicated. External signs can accompany many other diseases, and it is impossible to draw a conclusion about the damage to the animal only from the clinical picture.

In the first days of infection, fecal analysis will not reveal cysts. And in the future, with the help of laboratory tests, they are detected in no more than 1% of cats, although most pets are carriers of the parasite in one form or another.

But oocysts are clearly detected by serological testing for immunoglobulin (IgA antibodies), which are detected within 3-4 months after infection, while Toxoplasma itself is only 1-2 weeks.

But it is still possible to identify the parasite directly, namely through a cytological analysis of mucus, cerebrospinal fluid, lymphatic and peritoneal fluids (by smears).

Molecular PCR analysis also detects cysts in the blood, amniotic fluid, feces, and some other biological fluids of a sick animal.

When analyzing clinical signs, veterinarians may order an ultrasound or x-ray of your pet's chest and abdomen, especially if there are signs of jaundice, pancreatitis, uveitis, and central nervous system dysfunction.

Symptoms of pathology in cats

There are three forms of toxoplasmosis in pets.

Acute

Toxoplasma enters the cat's intestinal epithelium in each of its three forms and quickly divides, spreading throughout the body through the lymphatic system.

With a high degree of organ damage in this form of the disease, the pet may die.

In this phase, all biological fluids of a sick animal are affected by tachyphyosis, but it is almost impossible to become infected with them, since they immediately die in the external environment.

Subacute

During this phase, a so-called “immune response” occurs in the cat’s body. It is expressed in the production of IgA antibodies, which stop the process of cyst division and reduce their activity in the intestinal epithelium. But at the same time, the tachyzoites in the central nervous system of the individual are still alive.

Chronic

In this phase of the disease, tachyositis is localized only in cysts; they are not present in the epithelium of the intestines and other internal organs.

Chronic damage by the parasite can be very long - from 2-3 months to decades, and the cat usually becomes an inactive carrier for life.

This form of pathology is formed during a powerful immune response, when antibodies have already completely freed all vital systems from parasites. Now they have taken their place in the formed nodes - cysts.

Treatment

Treatment of toxoplasmosis in cats should be carried out by doctors at a veterinary clinic. The most common drug used to treat toxoplasmosis is clindamycin. The daily dose of the drug (from 25 to 50 mg per 1 kg of animal weight, divided into several doses) is 2-4. The course of treatment is 2-4 weeks. Clindamycin is often prescribed together with pyrimethrine to increase its effectiveness. During treatment, a sick animal must be given 5 mg of folic acid daily to avoid damage to the bone marrow. After treatment, it is necessary to conduct a control study in a veterinary laboratory. In addition to this drug, the following is used in the treatment of toxoplasmosis:

Rovamycin – 100,000 (¼ tablet for cats weighing 4 kg), orally 2 times a day. The course of treatment is 3-4 weeks.
Fansidar (Daraprim) – 1 mg/kg (¼ tablet for cats weighing 4-5 kg), orally once every 5 days to avoid constipation, the course of treatment should consist of 6-8 doses.
Sulf 120 – 1 tablet per 4 kg of animal weight, administered orally 2 times a day, course of treatment is 2-3 weeks.
Zinaprim – 0.1 mg/kg, intramuscularly, course of treatment 10-14 days.
Biseptol -30 mg/kg, orally 3 times a day, course of treatment is 2-3 weeks.

Pregnant cats should not use sulfonamides and pyratamin when treating toxoplasmosis; spiramycin is used for them.

In case of severe intoxication of the body and a bright clinic, the cat is injected intravenously with a glucose solution. Vitamins of groups B and C and folic acid are used to support immunity. Immunomodulators are used - gamavit, fosprinil, gamapren, mastim.

Pet owners should keep in mind that the course of treatment for toxoplasmosis in a cat lasts from 1 month to 3 months. During the course of treatment, the level of antibodies to toxoplasma in the blood is monitored every 2 weeks. The treatment is considered effective when two negative antibody results are obtained in a row.

Based on the fact that during treatment the cat may develop urolithiasis, it is necessary to use anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as diuretics of plant origin.

How to treat toxoplasmosis in a cat

Not only does toxoplasmosis develop against the background of an already weakened immune system, it causes the development of numerous diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, and lungs in cats. If Toxoplasma is detected, the doctor will definitely prescribe antimicrobial, antibacterial and other medications.

The dosage of each drug is calculated based on the animal’s body weight, taking into account its condition and severity of symptoms. Additionally, it is recommended to give your pet sedatives, glucose (intravenously), anti-inflammatory and diuretic drugs.

With timely and correct treatment, the cat becomes noticeably better already on the third day. However, the course of therapy must be completed completely. After its completion, you should be tested again for the presence of toxoplasma.

Disease prevention

Unfortunately, there are no vaccinations against this infection yet. But this does not mean that nothing needs to be done. The following actions can be taken as preventive measures in this case:

Daily cleaning of the cat litter box (once a week - using a 10% ammonia solution).
Complete exclusion from the diet of raw animal meat (especially pork, venison, lamb).
Limiting the cat's ability to catch mice, rats or birds.
Creating high-quality living conditions for the pet (cleanliness in the house, quality food, regular visits to the veterinarian, etc.).

Theoretically, almost every cat can be a carrier of Toxoplasma, so the cat owner should also take precautions.

How is toxoplasmosis transmitted from cat to person?

The larvae of the parasite enter the human body through raw meat of infected farm animals or through contact with the feces of an infected domestic animal, as well as through any environment in which Toxoplasma may be present - soil, water, etc.

How can you get toxoplasmosis from a cat?

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine against toxoplasmosis. A cat can be a carrier of infection. However, if you are scratched by a cat, then you are not yet at risk of toxoplasmosis. Infection with toxoplasmosis occurs only through contact with feces, which contain toxoplasma oocysts that have left the host’s body to continue their life cycle.

To the question of whether a domestic cat can have toxoplasmosis, we answer in the affirmative! At particular risk are those animals that have the opportunity to roam freely, where they can easily catch a mouse infected with toxoplasmosis or come into contact with the feces of a sick animal. If you are very afraid of becoming infected with toxoplasmosis, do not let your cat go free - let it live in the house without going outside.

Toxoplasmosis can occur in a domestic cat if the owner treats it to a piece of raw meat contaminated with toxoplasma. But do all cats have toxoplasmosis? Contrary to popular belief, this is far from the case, and most importantly, the simplest measures will allow you to avoid infection yourself.

It is possible to defeat parasites!

Antiparasitic Complex® - Reliable and safe removal of parasites in 21 days!

The composition includes only natural ingredients;
Does not cause side effects;
Absolutely safe;
Protects the liver, heart, lungs, stomach, skin from parasites;
Removes waste products of parasites from the body.
Effectively destroys most types of helminths in 21 days.

There is now a preferential program for free packaging. Read expert opinion.
Interesting to know:

Treatment methods

Never treat your cat with home remedies. Because they will not bring any benefit to the animal. You will only be wasting your time.

Seizures in cats - main causes, symptoms, first aid, treatment and choice of drugs (110 photos)
Polycystic kidney disease in cats - causes, diagnosis and symptoms of the disease. Treatment options and prevention of kidney disease (95 photos)
Tartar in cats - signs of the disease and methods of fully treating tartar (125 photos + video)

You definitely need help and advice from a veterinarian. Here you will definitely need a special vaccine against toxoplasmosis for cats.

The doctor will also prescribe tablets that will help boost the animal’s immunity and increase activity.

Around the fourth day of treatment, your pet should feel better. However, it is necessary to carry out treatment of toxoplasmosis in cats to the end. And fulfill all the doctor's requirements.