Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty…

You know that Facebook friend who loves to post pictures of their newborn baby snuggled up with the family cat? Well, maybe those photos are great to all the cat lovers out there, but to those of us who cringe at the sight, we have good reason to be concerned.

Toxoplasmosis is caused by the single-cell parasite Toxoplasma gondii, and it seems this vicious little germ reproduces only in the stomachs of cats. Unless you regularly sanitize your cat (inside and out), it is entirely possible that T. gondii is present not only in its feces but possibly on its fur or your hands.

Once infected, you are infected for life. T. gondii will take up residence all throughout your body, especially in the brain, muscles and heart. Initially, you may only feel flulike symptoms, and as long as your immune system remains healthy, you may feel just fine. But if your immune system becomes compromised, the parasite can reactivate itself and then you’re in a world of trouble.

Young children, the elderly or persons with lowered immune systems from disease or certain medications can then be infected with full-blown toxoplasmosis. Symptoms include headaches, confusion, loss of coordination, convulsions, lung problems and blurred vision. If a woman is pregnant when infected, she is prone to miscarriage and her child may suffer from birth defects. (Some of these defects may not manifest until the child is a teenager.)

T. gondii can also be found in contaminated food or water or possibly transmitted via blood transfusion.