Toxoplasmosis: Real role of the felines

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is considered a systemic disease caused by an intracellular parasitic protozoan called Toxoplasma gondii, belonging to the Protista kingdom, phylum Apicomplexa and family Sarcocystidae. It has a heterogenic biological cycle; therefore, it can only be completed when it has two or more hosts. It occurs in two different phases: the asexual extraintestinal cycle and sexed enteroepithelial cycle, with mammals and birds and definitive hosts as felids as the intermediate host. It is an essential disease concerning public health, as it affects pregnant women, causing harmful consequences at the fetal level. It is already known that felids are part of the transmission of Toxoplasmosis; despite this, differently from what was believed in the past, these animals do not play such an important role in this regard. The present study decided to evaluate the knowledge of 472 people regarding this. It was concluded that most interviewees know that felines are not the main culprits in transmitting the disease. However, many responded that the most important form of prevention is to avoid contact with cat feces or substances contaminated with these feces.