Cat Poop, Parasites, and Lost Vision: The Unseen Epidemic in New Zealand
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The Feline Culprit
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Drop bears, New Zealand 's real sneaky menace is small, fluffy, and perhaps cuddled up on your sofa. As much as Kiwis adore their cats (with 40 per cent of the population owning one or more, Companion Animals NZ states), not many know that their feline friends are infested by Toxoplasma gondii , a small parasite with a flair for drama.Toxoplasma gondii grows in cat guts and is shed out in cat feces in the form of eggs (oocysts). These eggs can then hide in soil, water, or even your hands after getting your hands dirty gardening. Up to 43 per cent of New Zealanders may be harboring the parasite- one of the highest proportions in the world. For most people, it's nothing, no worse than a cold. But for around 40,000 Kiwis, the parasite infects the eye, causing inflammation, scarring, and even permanent blindness. That's 10,000 New Zealanders who may have lost their sight- sometimes overnight. Otago University nurse Danielle Wilson learned the hard way. Her eye grew cloudy and hurt one day. Diagnosis: ocular toxoplasmosis. Treatment: a daily regimen of hourly eye drops, antibiotics, and steroids for 18 months, with a kicker: the parasite can lie low and re-activate whenever it wants, so every twinge is cause for worry.Otago eye doctor Dr. Francesc March de Ribot examines young patients- occasionally even medical students- whose dreams are dashed by sudden loss of sight. "When the inflammation goes, it leaves a scar, and the vision is never going to return," he says.Even at this extent of the problem, New Zealand's quest for better treatments is constrained by budgetary challenges. Professor Bruce Russell's team at Otago discovered possible new drugs, but their grant application was rejected. The laboratory closed in 2023, and research has headed offshore. "The developed world has forgotten parasites largely," Russell laments, even as T. gondii continues to wreak havoc- not just among humans, but also native animals and livestock.Here's the mind-bending aspect: T. gondii has the ability to control animal behavior. The parasite-infected mice become relaxed in the presence of cats, becoming easy prey. Some researchers even half-jokingly say that our nation's cat mania could be the result of the parasite. Who's ultimately calling the shots?- Immunocompromised or pregnant? Avoid raw meat, unpasteurised milk, and wearing gloves when touching cat litter or soil.- Cat owners: Wash litter every day, cover sandpits, and hand wash after gardening.- Everyone: Be aware of your risks-sometimes the greatest dangers are the most insidious.And so it's a classic Kiwi story: cats, a hidden danger, and a plea for more science. Just remember-next time your mog fixes you with that enigmatic gaze, it may well be hatching something. or it might be the parasite issuing the orders.
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Economic Times
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- Economic Times
Parasite responsible for Australians losing job, road accidents; here's why toxoplasmosis is creating havoc
Synopsis A common parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, affects many in Australia. It comes from cat waste and uncooked meat. Research links it to slower reactions and risky actions. Studies show infected people face more job losses and mental issues. A new online test can detect the infection. Experts advise caution with cat litter and raw meat to stay safe. TIL Creatives Studies have linked the Toxoplasma gondii to reduced self-control, increased impatience, and greater appetite for risky behaviour such as drinking, drug use. A parasite carried in cat faeces and raw meat is silently affecting millions of Australians, with new research linking it to slower reaction times, higher risk-taking, and even job losses. The parasite Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis, one of the most widespread infections in the world. A study published in April 2025 in Science Direct, 'An inexpensive method to measure latent toxoplasmosis and its behavioral consequences,' estimates that more than two billion people globally carry it. According to a article, around 20 per cent of Australians are affected by it, that are causing mental health issues and reaction is often contracted by handling cat litter after cats eat infected mice or by consuming contaminated raw meat. Most people never realise they are infected, as symptoms are rare in healthy from the University of Melbourne, Lancaster University, and Zeppelin University found that toxoplasmosis can subtly alter human behaviour and decision-making. Dr Michele Garagnani, senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne, told that infected people are about two per cent more likely to be involved in a car crash. Studies have also linked the parasite to reduced self-control, increased impatience, and greater appetite for risky behaviour such as drinking, drug use, and impulsive business ventures.A larger survey of 1,010 people found that those with the infection were more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, have mental health problems, and experience unemployment. On average, infected individuals earned less than those who were not infected. Previous studies have shown that the parasite can affect dopamine levels in the brain, influencing mood, risk-taking, and reaction time. In one trial, people with toxoplasmosis had slightly slower responses to visual cues, which could explain the increased crash economic and social effects are significant. Research published in Acta Psychologica found infected individuals in the UK earned about £2,500 less per year and had an 11 per cent lower employment now, toxoplasmosis has been diagnosed through blood or saliva tests. But Dr Garagnani's team has developed an online reaction-time tool that can identify likely infection with 97 per cent accuracy, as per the test involves a two-minute task where participants respond to colour changes on a screen. Researchers measure both speed and ability to maintain focus, then compare results to known infection healthy people usually show no apparent symptoms, toxoplasmosis can be dangerous for those with weakened immune systems and pregnant women, as it may cause serious health problems for unborn World Health Organisation still lists it as a 'neglected parasitic infection,' but has recently shifted focus to other global health threats like recommend wearing gloves or a mask when handling cat litter, washing hands thoroughly, and avoiding undercooked or raw the infection's effects are small on an individual level, researchers warn that its widespread presence means it could have a large-scale impact on society, from road safety to workplace productivity.
Time of India
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Time of India
30-05-2025
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Common parasite can decapitate human sperm − with implications for male fertility
Bloomington: Male fertility rates have been plummeting over the past half-century. An analysis from 1992 noted a steady decrease in sperm counts and quality since the 1940s. A more recent study found that male infertility rates increased nearly 80 per cent from 1990 to 2019. The reasons driving this trend remain a mystery, but frequently cited culprits include obesity, poor diet and environmental toxins. Infectious diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia are often overlooked factors that affect fertility in men. Accumulating evidence suggests that a common single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii may also be a contributor: An April 2025 study showed for the first time that "human sperm lose their heads upon direct contact" with the parasite. I am a microbiologist, and my lab studies Toxoplasma. This new study bolsters emerging findings that underscore the importance of preventing this parasitic infection. The many ways you can get toxoplasmosis Infected cats defecate Toxoplasma eggs into the litter box, garden or other places in the environment where they can be picked up by humans or other animals. Water, shellfish and unwashed fruits and vegetables can also harbour infectious parasite eggs. In addition to eggs, tissue cysts present in the meat of warm-blooded animals can spread toxoplasmosis as well if they are not destroyed by cooking to proper temperature. While most hosts of the parasite can control the initial infection with few if any symptoms, Toxoplasma remains in the body for life as dormant cysts in brain, heart and muscle tissue. These cysts can reactivate and cause additional episodes of severe illness that damage critical organ systems. Between 30 per cent and 50 per cent of the world's population is permanently infected with Toxoplasma due to the many ways the parasite can spread. Toxoplasma can target male reproductive organs Upon infection, Toxoplasma spreads to virtually every organ and skeletal muscle. Evidence that Toxoplasma can also target human male reproductive organs first surfaced during the height of the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s, when some patients presented with the parasitic infection in their testes. While immunocompromised patients are most at risk for testicular toxoplasmosis, it can also occur in otherwise healthy individuals. Imaging studies of infected mice confirm that Toxoplasma parasites quickly travel to the testes in addition to the brain and eyes within days of infection. In 2017, my colleagues and I found that Toxoplasma can also form cysts in mouse prostates. Researchers have also observed these parasites in the ejaculate of many animals, including human semen, raising the possibility of sexual transmission. Knowing that Toxoplasma can reside in male reproductive organs has prompted analyses of fertility in infected men. A small 2021 study in Prague of 163 men infected with Toxoplasma found that over 86% had semen anomalies. A 2002 study in China found that infertile couples are more likely to have a Toxoplasma infection than fertile couples, 34.83 per cent versus 12.11 per cent. A 2005 study in China also found that sterile men are more likely to test positive for Toxoplasma than fertile men. Not all studies, however, produce a link between toxoplasmosis and sperm quality. Toxoplasma can directly damage human sperm Toxoplasmosis in animals mirrors infection in humans, which allows researchers to address questions that are not easy to examine in people. Testicular function and sperm production are sharply diminished in Toxoplasma-infected mice, rats and rams. Infected mice have significantly lower sperm counts and a higher proportion of abnormally shaped sperm. In that April 2025 study, researchers from Germany , Uruguay and Chile observed that Toxoplasma can reach the testes and epididymis, the tube where sperm mature and are stored, two days after infection in mice. This finding prompted the team to test what happens when the parasite comes into direct contact with human sperm in a test tube. After only five minutes of exposure to the parasite, 22.4 per cent of sperm cells were beheaded. The number of decapitated sperm increased the longer they interacted with the parasites. Sperm cells that maintained their head were often twisted and misshapen. Some sperm cells had holes in their head, suggesting the parasites were trying to invade them as it would any other type of cell in the organs it infiltrates. In addition to direct contact, Toxoplasma may also damage sperm because the infection promotes chronic inflammation. Inflammatory conditions in the male reproductive tract are harmful to sperm production and function. The researchers speculate that the harmful effects Toxoplasma may have on sperm could be contributing to large global declines in male fertility over the past decades. Preventing toxoplasmosis The evidence that Toxoplasma can infiltrate male reproductive organs in animals is compelling, but whether this produces health issues in people remains unclear. Testicular toxoplasmosis shows that parasites can invade human testes, but symptomatic disease is very rare. Studies to date that show defects in the sperm of infected men are too small to draw firm conclusions at this time. Additionally, some reports suggest that rates of toxoplasmosis in high-income countries have not been increasing over the past few decades while male infertility was rising, so it's likely to only be one part of the puzzle. Regardless of this parasite's potential effect on fertility, it is wise to avoid Toxoplasma. An infection can cause miscarriage or birth defects if someone acquires it for the first time during pregnancy, and it can be life-threatening for immunocompromised people. Toxoplasma is also the leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States . Taking proper care of your cat, promptly cleaning the litter box and thoroughly washing your hands after can help reduce your exposure to Toxoplasma. You can also protect yourself from this parasite by washing fruits and vegetables, cooking meat to proper temperatures before consuming and avoiding raw shellfish, raw water and raw milk. (The Conversation)
