They can cause extra-intestinal as well as intestinal infection in the definitive host. In addition it can passed transplacentally to the unborn. Diagnosis is via fecal floatation and oocyst identification. These organisms can be carried asymptomatically but they can also be associated with diarrhea. On rare occasions rapidly acquired, heavy infestations can be fatal before any oocyts have been shed in the feces.
Coccidial infections respond well to treatment with sulpha based antibiotics.
T.gondii is capable of extensive parasitism of tissues outside the gut. Following acute infection, cysts persist for long periods of time in many body tissues. Humans can contract T.gondii from infected cat feces or from ingesting uncooked meat containing toxoplama cysts. If pregnant women become infected it is possible for the fetus to be infected transplacentally. Although the Lower Mainland area has all the necessary factors to support endemic heartworm populations it does not do so at this time.