%0 Journal Article
%T Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management.
%A Hartmann K
%A Addie D
%A Belák S
%A Boucraut-Baralon C
%A Egberink H
%A Frymus T
%A Gruffydd-Jones T
%A Hosie MJ
%A Lloret A
%A Lutz H
%A Marsilio F
%A Möstl K
%A Pennisi MG
%A Radford AD
%A Thiry E
%A Truyen U
%A Horzinek MC
%J J Feline Med Surg
%V 15
%N 7
%D Jul 2013
%M 23813830
%F 1.971
%R 10.1177/1098612X13489228
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Toxoplasma gondii infection is common in cats, but the clinical disease is rare. Up to 50% of cats, especially free-roaming ones, have antibodies indicating infection and the presence of cystic stages.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Clinical signs only appear in few cats when they become immunosuppressed - in these situations cystic stages can be reactivated. Commonly affected are the central nervous system (CNS), muscles, lungs and eyes. HUMAN INFECTION: Cats can pose a risk for humans when they shed oocysts. However, this happens only once in their lifetime, usually only for 3-10 days after ingestion of tissue cysts. Thus, cats that have antibodies to T gondii no longer shed oocysts, and do not pose a risk to humans.