‘Cat lady’ parasite linked to suicide attempts
Women who were infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite were 1.8 times more likely to attempt suicide by violent means than uninfected women.
This is why you should change the litter box EVERY day and why pregnant women are recommended against touching cat litter.
Toxoplasma gondii is excreted in feline faeces in its unsporulated, noninfective form. It sporulates (become infective) in the environment within 2-4 days. Cleaning the litter box daily prevents zoonotic infection and reinfection of your cat.
Upon entering a non-feline host, T. gondii enters the circulatory system through the intestines and gets distributed all over the body. When the immune system kicks in, they go into “hibernation mode” and encyst in brain, skeletal and heart muscle. They stay dormant until your immune status drops (stress, another infection) then break out of their cysts to infect other tissue, including the foetus. Foetal infection results in abortions, stillborns and congenital abnormalities (eg with the brain).
T. gondii infections are lifelong so proper hygiene and litter disposal should always be practiced.
(via zombiepoo)
