Abstract

RIVERA FERNANDEZ, Norma  and  GARCIA DAVILA, Paola. The role of cats in toxoplasmosis. Reality and responsibility. Rev. Fac. Med. (Méx.) [online]. 2017, vol.60, n.6, pp.7-18. ISSN 2448-4865.

The causal agent of toxoplasmosis is the apicomplexa parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which can be the cause of a severe disease or even death on immunocompromised patients. Felids are their definitive hosts and the only ones who release oocysts in their feces, which contaminate the environment. Nevertheless, acquiring toxoplasmosis through direct contact with cats is unlikely since the oocyst is not infective when eliminated in cat feces, until up to five days after being released to the environment. On the other hand, the immunity that T. gondii generates in cats after a primary infection usually protects them against reinfections. This review discusses the importance of the ecological contamination by T. gondii oocysts and its impact on public health as well as the control measures to reduce this problem.

Keywords : Cats; toxoplasma; oocysts.

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