โรคทอกโซพลาสโมซิส

Key Facts

• Cats are the ONLY definitive host — parasite matures and reproduces only in cats
• Infection from eating infected prey, raw meat, or contaminated soil
• Most healthy cats show no symptoms and may carry the parasite for years
• Symptomatic cats: depression, lethargy, muscle pain, fever, appetite loss, cough, eye inflammation
• Kittens, pregnant cats, and immunocompromised cats most susceptible
• Zoonotic: pregnant women should avoid cleaning litter boxes
• Oocysts shed in cat feces for several weeks after initial infection
• Oocysts need 1-5 days outside the cat to become infectious — fresh feces are not immediately dangerous
• Diagnosis: blood work, fecal analysis, serology, tissue biopsy
• Treatment: antibiotics; cats generally respond well within 1-2 days
• Prevention: keep cats indoors, clean litter boxes daily, avoid raw diets
• No vaccine currently available