Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection of humans and domestic animals throughout the world.
An infection is usually of little consequence in humans unless they are immunocompromised as in the case of HIV, or organ-transplant recipients. If a pregnant woman is infected, the parasite can cross the placenta and cause infection of the unborn. Humans usually become infected from food or hands contaminated with cat feces or from eating improperly cooked meat. Studies by Dr. Jan. G. Humphreys of IUP and Dr. J.P. Dubey, a parasitologist with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, showed that 80 percent of 665 bears checked in recent years were positive for the parasite. They found live parasites in muscle and heat tissues, pointing out that the potential for infection exists in under-cooked bear meat.