Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can infect many animals, including man.
Most infections are silent and have no ill effect on the patient.
Occasionally, T. gondii infections can be devastating. If a woman who has not previously been infected with T. gondii becomes infected while she is pregnant, there is a significant chance that the organism will produce severe neurological damage in the developing fetus. T. gondii is a protozoan parasite that passes one stage of it's life cycle in the gut of cats, and another stage of it's life cycle in the tissues of other animals. Humans can be infected by both phases. Oocysts are produced in the gut of cats that have recently eaten an infected prey animal, such as a mouse.