Toxoplasmosis in cats

 

Toxoplasmosis in cats is a serious disease that poses a health hazard not only to pets, but also to their owners. Penetrating into every cell, the pathogen causes a lot of 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, how to prevent it.

• Disease nature
• How do cats get toxoplasmosis
• Symptoms of toxoplasmosis in cats
• Methods for detecting toxoplasmosis
• How to treat toxoplasmosisplasm
• Treatment with traditional medicine
• Can cats get toxoplasmosis again?
• Is this disease contagious to humans and animals?
• Is there a vaccination against toxoplasmosis?
• Toxoplasmosis prevention

Disease nature

Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. The causative agent is highly prevalent, resistant to external environmental factors (remains up to 1.5 years or more) and complex developmental cycles. It can be found on any object or surface, as well as in aquatic environments. Toxoplasma lives in the body of the world's population and more than mammals.

In the process of its development, the simplest pass through several stages, and for this it is necessary to change the owner. In the external environment, these parasites are contained in the form of cysts. Penetrating into the intermediate host organisms – animals, birds, humans, protozoa begin to multiply vigorously by simple division into two and spread through the tissues with subsequent cyst formation. When eating infected rodents or birds, cats become the final owners, where Toxoplasma reproduces sexually.

The simplest reproduction causes many disorders in the activity of all organ systems of the host, destruction of cells, and severe poisoning. The cysts that form on the cat's body are released into the external environment, where they await the next intermediate host.

How do cats get toxoplasmosis

Examples of Toxoplasmosis Infection

How do cats get toxoplasmosis? There are many paths to disease:

• eating raw meat products;
• when catching mice, birds;
• eating grass infected with protozoan cysts;
• drinking water containing parasites;
• through scratches or cuts, as when fighting with another cat;
• direct contact with animal carriers;
• through infections that are transmitted through humans (by shoes).

Very often, newborn kittens become infected during fetal development or during lactation. As a rule, most babies die. If a person manages to survive, then his presence is accompanied by severe damage to the respiratory system, liver, central nervous system.

Symptoms of toxoplasmosis in cats

Purulent discharge is one of the symptoms of toxoplasmosis.

At first, after the penetration of Toxoplasma into the cat's body, there are no symptoms. A few days later, the disease begins to manifest itself in a mild form. You can suspect toxoplasmosis in a cat by the following signs:

• lack of interest in the environment;
• loss of appetite;
• the animal becomes lethargic, panting;
• vomiting and intestinal disorders;
• the eyes look inflamed, the mucous membranes may turn yellow (due to liver dysfunction);
• twitching at the tip of the ear;
• fever condition.

As the disease progresses, the symptomatology becomes more pronounced – the pathology enters the acute stage. Its characteristics are:

• increased temperature, fever;
• discharge of pus from the eyes and nostrils;
• muscle cramp;
• apathetic, lethargic, indifferent;
• hard to breathe.

In the acute period of the disease, cats are a source of infection for nearby animals and humans. Timely handling of the litter box and taking care of the cat is very important during this period. If the animal is an adult and has a strong immune system, it will recover quickly. Otherwise, the pet will die, or the pathology becomes chronic, which is manifested in a lack of appetite, weight loss and frequent muscle cramps.

Methods for detecting toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis in cats is diagnosed using tests and laboratory tests. For this, blood is taken from pets for serological examination, feces for the detection of cysts, swabs from the nasal and oral mucosa. A positive result is a signal for the immediate appointment of therapy.

How to treat toxoplasmosisplasm

Toxoplasmosis not only develops against the background of already weakened immunity, it is the cause of the development of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system and lungs in cats. If Toxoplasma is detected, the doctor will definitely prescribe antimicrobial, antibacterial and other drugs.A drugFeatures of applicationSulfonamides should not be given during pregnancy and should not be given to animals with weakened immune systems.Pyrimethamine Requires concomitant intake of folic acid. Allowed during the gestation period of kittensKhimkokcidHelps reduce the severity of symptoms during disease exacerbationsClindamycinPrevents reproduction of parasites

The dose of each drug is calculated based on the body weight of the animal, taking into account the condition and severity of the symptoms. In addition, it is recommended to drip sedatives, glucose (intravenously), anti-inflammatory drugs and diuretics into pets.

With timely and correct care, the cat gets better on the third day. However, the course of therapy must be completed completely. When you're done, you'll need to pass another test for the presence of toxoplasma.

Treatment with traditional medicine

The use of traditional medicines to treat toxoplasmosis in cats is a controversial health safety issue. There are several methods suitable for humans, but it is not known whether the drug can be administered to animals, since most of the components of the drug contain toxic substances.

For the treatment of toxoplasmosis, clefthoof, buckthorn, cupena and some other plants are used. Raw materials should be poured with boiling water in proportion: for a teaspoon of dry grass (or fruit, roots) take one glass of boiling water. The mixture is placed in a “bath”, held for a quarter of an hour, after cooling, passes through a sieve. Cats are given a teaspoon of the solution twice a day.

Before using these funds, you should definitely consult your doctor. In addition, in order not to cause harm, one must take into account not only the symptoms, but also the age and condition of the animal.

Can cats get toxoplasmosis again?

After the disease, cats develop immunity to Toxoplasma for a certain time, so reinfection is unlikely immediately (provided that they recover completely). The disease can pass hidden, and the condition of the pet will not change. However, with a slight weakening of the protective forces (eg, helminthic invasion, stress), toxoplasmosis will manifest itself with the appropriate clinical picture.

When a cat is reinfected with Toxoplasma, the protozoa are no longer released in the form of cysts into the external environment, but form them in the internal organs of the animal, especially in the hematopoietic (spleen, liver) and brain tissue. It is possible to completely get rid of the parasite only through prolonged and continuous therapy under constant control of antibodies.

Is this disease contagious to humans and animals?

Despite the fact that a person or animal, such as a dog, is an intermediate host for Toxoplasma, when infected, it can exhibit the same symptoms of the disease as a cat. Moreover, the simplest ones pose the same threat to humans. With excellent immune system function, parasites can inhabit the human body for years without raising suspicion. If defenses leave much to be desired, Toxoplasma can cause serious health problems, up to and including death.

Toxoplasmosis is very dangerous during pregnancy. A pregnant woman can be infected from a house cat and not even suspect it. The weakening of immunity as a result of hormonal changes leads to the fact that the protozoa easily overcomes the placenta and affects the organs of the fetus, causing abnormalities. In this case, the diagnosis of Toxoplasma at the planning stage of pregnancy is very important.

Is there a vaccination against toxoplasmosis?

There is no vaccine against toxoplasmosis. This applies to both cats and humans, and because of the peculiarities of Toxoplasma. The essence of the vaccine is the introduction of an inactivated agent into the body to produce antibodies. And Toxoplasma, unlike viruses and other infections, colonizes the cells of organs, so they won't work in the same way.

However, this does not mean that the risk of developing the disease should be left alone. Vaccinations aimed at boosting and strengthening the cat's immune system will help prevent toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma is found in the body of animals (and humans) under normal conditions, but in very low concentrations, therefore it does not manifest itself as an exacerbation. As soon as immunity drops, the number of protozoa increases dramatically – animals become sick and become a source of infection for others.

An example of such a vaccine is Multifel, which is administered once a year, starting at six months of age from the pet's age.

Toxoplasmosis prevention

To prevent toxoplasmosis in cats, you must adhere to the following recommendations:Vaccination of cats is one way to prevent toxoplasmosis

• maintain immunity of pets by vaccination;
• protect against contact with wild and foreign animals;
• carry out timely treatment of worms and ticks;
• provide good nutrition, with sufficient vitamins;
• prevent rodents and birds from being caught;
• monitor the cleanliness of the tray;
• do not eat raw meat products (allowed after a long freeze);
• relieve stress;
• undergo preventive diagnosis.

Owners should also be careful not to let the cat sniff the outer shoe. It is also not recommended to pet the animal outside, and then your pet. And although such measures cannot provide a 100% guarantee, the chances of Toxoplasma infection will be reduced to a minimum for both the cat and its owner.