Here are some notes on toxoplasmosis in an infographic. I have to be very selective on what to include and omit due to limited space. I have focused on the zoonotic nature of the disease and pregnancy as these are the areas of greatest concern. You can read a lot more by scrolling down the page and clicking on the available links. Toxoplasmosis is a hotly debated topic between cat lovers and cat haters! It is a topic which crystallises these divergent passions. There was a time when cat haters promoted online the belief that Toxoplasma gondii causes madness in people, specifically schizophrenia. That bounced around the internet for a while and then went quiet.
There are some scientific reports on this on Google Scholar by the way. One scientist, E Fuller Torrey, concludes: “..given the fact that there appears to be a correlation between the rise of cats and the rise of psychosis [in the USA], is it likely that the correlation represents causation?….I believe the answer is yes, it is plausible.” One point of view. He is guessing. And he is probably a cat hater 😒. Perhaps the rise in psychosis in the USA is due to rampant drug taking such as fentanyl. That seems more plausible to me.
It is a great shame that the domestic, stray and feral cat is the primary vector (host) of the disease. It is just bad luck as it interferes with the human-to-cat relationship. It is a potential barrier as are: claws, teeth, the feline allergen Fel D1 and the fact that the domestic cat is a top and highly accomplished predator 💔. Despite those potential negatives the domestic cat is massively popular across the globe. A testament to its attractiveness both in appearance and personality.
Below are some more articles on Toxoplasma gondii.
