Please schedule an

appointment with your 

veterinarian to discuss any 

questions or concerns!

Understanding Toxoplasmosis.

 Your Veterinary Treatment Facility can help!

Zoonotic Disease

http://phc.amedd.army.mil

1-800-222-9698

APHC Animal Health

This information brochure was written by Army 

Veterinary Services personnel and published by the 

Army Public Health Center to inform and educate 

Service members, beneficiaries, and retirees about 

Animal Health. Comments or questions regarding 

content can be directed to ARMY-VSPublications@

mail.mil. Locate your local Veterinary Treatment 

Facility at https://tiny.army.mil/r/JG66r/VTFs

Approved for public release, 

distribution unlimited. 

TA-393-0217

How can I protect my animals? 

Most adult dogs and cats do not show symptoms 

of T. gondii infection. However, congenital 

infection may be seen in puppies and kittens, with 

symptoms of lethargy, fever, and neurologic signs. 

Follow these precautions to prevent your animals 

from being infected:

• Keep cats indoors to prevent them from eating 

wild rodents or birds and to keep them from 

spreading the parasite to the environment if 

they are already infected. 

• Feed your pets and all of your animals 

commercially prepared foods. 

• Do not feed your pets raw or undercooked 

meats, or unpasteurized milk.

• Clean litterboxes at least once a day. 

If you suspect you may have been exposed to 

T. gondii, contact your healthcare provider. If you 

suspect your animal may have been exposed to 

T. gondii, contact your veterinarian.

DOGS CATS POCKET BIRDS PETSRABBITS HORSES REPTILES /

AMPHIBIANS

Army Public Health Center Animal Health

 Toxoplasmosis

know the facts
What are the symptoms of 

toxoplasmosis in humans?

Most people who are infected with T. Gondii never 

develop any symptoms. For those who do develop 

symptoms, they may include: • mild, flu-like signs • fever • malaise • swollen lymph nodes

A small percentage of those who are infected may 

develop symptoms of a foodborne illness (nausea, 

diarrhea, fever). 

Rarely, more serious symptoms may include: • eye disease with loss of sight • infection of the brain • possible death, if left untreated

Infection during pregnancy can lead to

miscarriage or severe disease in the newborn.

How can I protect myself? 

You can reduce your risk of infection by following 

good hygiene practices and proper food safety 

precautions. For example: • Wash your hands often, especially before and 

after eating, after contact with any animal, and 

after using the restroom. 

• Ensure the meat you eat is cooked to a proper 

internal temperature, and avoid eating raw and 

undercooked meats.

• Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before 

cooking or eating.

• Wash items that contact meat or meat juices in 

hot, soapy water, and do not use the same items 

to prepare meats that you use to prepare other 

foods.

• Do not drink unpasteurized milk, and do not 

give it to cats.

• Boil and filter any water from the environment 

when enjoying the outdoors.

• Wear gloves while gardening and when 

changing the litterbox. Wash hands with soap 

and warm water immediately after gardening or 

cleaning the litterbox. 

• Clean your cat’s litterbox at least once a day 

to significantly reduce the likelihood of being 

exposed to T. gondii. T. gondii eggs become 

infectious only after being exposed to air and 

moisture for 1 to 5 days.

• Disinfect the litterbox weekly with soapy boiling 

water. 

• Pregnant women and immune-compromised 

individuals should avoid cleaning cat 

litterboxes, if at all possible. 

• Keep children’s sandboxes covered, and do not 

allow cats to use them as a litterbox.

• Control rodent populations in and around the 

home. 

• Keep cats indoors.

What is toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasmosis is a common parasitic disease 

found throughout the world in nearly all mammals, 

including pets and humans. The disease is 

caused by a microscopic protozoal parasite called 

Toxoplasma gondii (tox-oh-plasma gon-dee-eye), 

also referred to as T. gondii.

T. gondii infection is a leading cause of foodborne 

illness in the United States and infects over a 

million people annually. The greatest risk of 

infection is to pregnant women and individuals 

with weakened immune systems. 

How is toxoplasmosis spread? 

The parasite that causes toxoplasmosis has a 

complex life cycle that affects many mammals. 

It requires a cat host to disseminate its eggs 

throughout the environment. Once in the 

environment, T. gondii eggs can survive for months, 

even in harsh conditions. These eggs can then 

be ingested by other mammals through soilcontaminated food or through grazing. Cats may 

also become infected by eating smaller infected 

mammals. The parasite can also be transmitted 

during pregnancy from a mother to her unborn 

babies, in both humans and animals.

People can become infected with T. gondii 

by eating contaminated raw vegetables or 

undercooked meat. It can also be spread through 

contact with the feces from an infected cat that 

is shedding the eggs. In the United States, people 

are much more likely to become infected through 

eating raw or undercooked meat, unwashed fruits 

and vegetables, or drinking unpasteurized milk, 

than from handling cat feces.

What are my chances of being 

infected?

Owning a cat does not mean you will be infected 

with the disease. Cats that do not hunt prey, are 

not fed raw or undercooked meat, and do not drink 

unpasteurized milk are not likely to be infected 

with T. gondii. You cannot be exposed to the 

parasite by touching an infected cat or through cat 

bites or scratches. Because infected cats only shed 

the parasite for a few days in their entire life, the 

chances of you being exposed to toxoplasmosis 

from an infected cat are small. 

Wash your hands often, especially 

before and after eating, after contact 

with any animal, and after using the 

restroom. 

If you suspect your animal 

may have been exposed 

to T. gondii, contact your 

veterinarian.