It can affect birds, rodents, farm animals and cats and spread to humans.

• Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii.
• It can spread through
• Consuming raw or undercooked meat containing parasitic cysts
• Contaminated water
• Cat feces: soil or litter in contact with cat feces may contain the parasite, so it is essential to wash thoroughly after cleaning a cat's litter box and gardening
• Unpasteurised milk or its products, especially goat’s milk
• Eating raw, unwashed fruits or vegetables which have been in contact with Contaminated soil
• Eating food that has been in contact with Contaminated kitchen utensils
• Pregnant women can pass it on to unborn foetuses through the placenta (congenital toxoplasmosis)
• Transmission through an organ transplant or blood transfusion can occur but is extremely rare
• The risk factors include:
• HIV infection
• Chemotherapy
• Steroids or other immunosuppressant drugs

• If the infection spreads to the eye (ocular toxoplasmosis), it can cause lesions in the eye leading to loss of eyesight
• Congenital toxoplasmosis can cause loss of vision, brain damage, or even death