Toxoplasma Gondii

Taxoplasma gondii is a single-celled protozoan parasite. The microbe was discovered in a North African rodent, Ctenodactylus gondii, in 1908 by Charles Nicolle, Louis Manceaux, and Alfonso Splendor. The organism was named Toxoplasma because of its crescent shape (the Greek word "toxon", meaning an arc or bow and the Greek word “plasma”, meaning form) and gondii after its rodent host. This parasite can be found worldwide in artic, desert, and tropical climates. It has been noted that approximately one third of the human population is infected with Taxoplasma gondii as it is a very resilient and adaptive microbe.
The organism does not have any appendages to aid in motility (such as flagella, cilia, or pili) so it uses it secretory organelles to facilitate a gliding type of movement. The apical, more pointed end of the cell, houses these secretory organelles. The conoid end is responsible the entrance into a host’s cell membrane.
T. gondii is an exclusively parasitic organism that can only grow inside of another cell therefore relying on warm-blooded hosts. Felines, the preferred host of the microbe, are categorized as definitive hosts. The parasite can only sexually reproduce within the gut of a cat. However, T. gondii can infect, be transmitted by, and asexually reproduce in essentially any warm-blooded animal or human. These secondary warm-blooded hosts are considered to be intermediate hosts. Additionally, T. gondii has been found in invertebrates such as filtrating mussels and oysters.
Taxoplasma gondii has a complex life cycle. The life cycle begins with a domestic or wild cat that has been infected by infected prey such as a rodent. T. gondii produces extremely tough and resistant oocyts in the intestinal lining of the ca...

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...t least a day to sporulate and become infectious after they are shed, so disposing of cat litter greatly reduces the chances of infectious oocysts being present in litter. Wash hands after changing cat litter.
2. Wear gloves when gardening or when in contact with soil or sand, as infectious oocysts from cat feces can spread and survive in the environment for months to years.
3. Avoid drinking untreated water.
4. Cover outdoor sandboxes when not being used.
Medical precautions for pregnant or immunocomprimised persons:
1. Do not change or handle cat litter boxes. If absolutely necessary, wear gloves and wash hands with hot, soapy water immediately afterwards.
2. Keep cats indoors, and only feed them commercial canned or dry food, or well-cooked table food.
3. Do not adopt or handle stray cats, particularly kittens.
4. Do not get a new cat while pregnant.
5.