This parasite reproduces magnificently inside cats. Cats get infected from eating infected mice, rats, birds, and other small animals, and spread Toxoplasma to humans through their feces. This is why pregnant women are advised to not clean cat litter boxes.
Toxoplasma is one of the most commonly spread microorganisms in the entire world. It can be spread through handling and/or eating undercooked and contaminated meat, such as lamb, pork, or venison. Poultry livestock that are fed Toxoplasma contaminated food or water can be a problem too.
Outdoor cats can contaminate water and soil with Toxoplasma, so clearly one does not need to have direct contact with a cat, or infected meat to have this microbe enter the body.
Unwashed fruits or vegetables can even spread it, which is why I suggest avoiding eating uncooked foods from restaurants (that’s right… salads can be bad for you!).
Years ago, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported the following:
“Toxoplasmosis is considered to be a leading cause of death attributed to food borne illness in the United States. More than 60 million men, women, and children in the U.S. carry the Toxoplasma parasite, but very few have symptoms because the immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. However, women newly infected with Toxoplasma during pregnancy and anyone with a compromised immune system should be aware that toxoplasmosis can have severe consequences. Toxoplasmosis is considered one of the Neglected Parasitic Infections, a group of five parasitic diseases that have been targeted by CDC for public health action.”