Garden soil where cats mess may be infected with the parasite for up to 18 months. So there is a risk of catching toxoplasmosis by hand to mouth contact during gardening or by eating uncooked, unwashed fruit and vegetables. Waterborne infection Oocysts survive well in water and toxoplasmosis can result in animals and humans if they drink water from oocyst contaminated sources. In March 1995 a sudden increase in serologically diagnosed cases of acute toxoplasmosis was noted in the Greater Victoria area of British Columbia, Canada. A municipal water system that uses unfiltered, chloraminated surface water was the likely source of this large community-wide outbreak of toxoplasmosis.
Most people have few or no symptoms, or experience a mild flu-like illness.
However, in an acute prolonged infection, symptoms may be similar to glandular fever, which is often considered first as a diagnosis. Sore throat, swollen glands in the neck, armpit and groin, headache, fever, night sweats, aching limbs, muscles and joints, and extreme exhaustion are commonly reported. Other complications, such as heart or eye problems, occur on rare occasions. Unfortunately, some people with severe symptomatic toxoplasmosis experience relapsing of symptoms. However, symptoms usually subside and the person makes a complete recovery.