Incidence of Contamination with Toxoplasma Gondii in Cats and their Owners

Toxoplasma gondii is a species of parasitic protozoa in the genus Toxoplasma. The definitive host of T. gondii is the cat, but the parasite can be carried by the vast majority of warmblooded animals, including humans. 150 blood samples were collected from indoor cats during 2007 to test for IgM, IgG and antigen serum titer. While collecting the samples, we asked the owners to test their blood to determine if they were affected too. Follow-up samples were taken three weeks later.

Blood samples of cats were tested with toxoplasma rapid test kits and 8 cases were positive (5%). Among the owners, IgM titers indicated acute infection in 15 cases (10%) and chronic infections with high IgG titers were present in 21 cases (14%).
It was found that 37 owners allowed their cats to go out on a daily basis so they couldn’t control their cat’s nutrition. All of the affected cases were found in this group. Mild normocytic normochromic anemia was demonstrated in 5 cats.
In 3 of these cats, IgM titers were high, which indicated acute disease without clinical signs. Clindamycine was used therapeutically for two weeks. After two weeks of treatment IgM, titers were normal. All of the 15 owners which had high IgM were treated by their physicians. To prevent contamination with toxoplasma from indoor cats, you should not feed cats with raw meat and not allow them to go outside. If a cat gets outdoors, you should wash your hands after any contact. Promote the use of a the cat litter and change it daily. Deworming should be executed every 3 months.