More Information from Go Pets America
Toxoplasmosis in DogsDogs may act as a mecanical factor in transmitting Toxoplasmosis to humans by rolling in foul-smelling substances and by ingesting fecal material. Just remember that 50% of stray dogs and dogs carry T.gondii antibodies, which means that they have been infected and may transmit the parasite to you.
Toxoplasmosis - Infection Dangerous for Dogs and Humans
Toxoplasmosis is the most common parasitic infection worldwide. It is estimated to affect several billion people. The organism that causes toxoplasmosis is Toxoplasma gondii - a single-celled organism. The cat is the only animal in which sexual reproduction of the organism occurs, so cats are the only domestic animal that have the potential to shed the infected eggs.
Role of Dogs in Transmitting Toxoplasmosis
In dogs, toxoplasmosis is rare. It usually occurs in young dogs infected with distemper or other viral infection. In other cases, dogs develop disease without any other present infectious disease.It appears that many cases that were once considered to be toxoplasmosis in dogs are actually neosporosis - infectious disease of dogs caused by Neospora caninum. The dogs pass parasite cysts in the feces which are ingested through contaminated food and water by cattle, sheep, goats, horses and some other animals. Tissue cysts develop in these animals and dogs become infected by ingesting raw tissue containing these cysts.
Testing shows that many dogs are infected and are carriers of this parasite, but mostly puppies and young dogs develop the disease with clear clinical signs. These signs may include hepatitis, pneumonia and ulcerative dermatitis. Infection of the central nervous system and musculature may result in behavioral changes, limb shaking, blindness, circling, muscle pain, progressive paralysis and finally death. Younger animals may have limb paralysis.
Diagnosis is difficult and usually requires complex testing. The disease resembles many other infections such as distemper and rabies. In some cases treatment is effective with medications used to treat toxoplasmosis. However, your dog may develop very serious complications affecting nervous sytem and muscles.
Determining when Toxoplasma infection occurred in a pregnant woman is particularly important because infection before conception poses no substantial risk for transmission of infection to the fetus; however, infection after conception does pose such risk. Although most infants infected with Toxoplasma show no symptoms after birth, they are most likely to develop symptoms later in life that include, vision loss, seizures and mental disability.
How you can protect your dog and yourself against neosporosis:
- Avoid handling free-roaming dogs or any that show signs of illness
- Protect your dogs from infections by avoiding feedingt them raw meet or unpasteurized dairy products
- Pregnant women should avoid changing cat litter if possible. If no one else is available to change the cat litter, use gloves, then wash hands thoroughly. Change the litter box daily because Toxoplasma oocysts require several days to become infectious. Pregnant women should be encouraged to keep their cats inside and not adopt or handle stray cats. Cats should be fed only canned or dried commercial food or well-cooked table food, not raw or undercooked meats.
References:
1. US national labrary of medicine
2. IVIS
3. CDC - Parasitic Disease Information
Go Pets America recommends seeking the advice of your local veterinarian for the most appropriate vaccination program and for the diagnosis and treatment of your pet's health problems. For vaccination requirements please contact your state and local licensing authorities.
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