With a fourfold increase in case numbers from 2023 to 2024, authorities across Australia are warning about toxoplasmosis and cryptosporidiosis. However, few have even heard of these parasitic infections let alone know how to avoid them.


TOXOPLASMA

Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite that infects humans and other warm-blooded animals across the world. A recent study found there were 15,500 cases of toxoplasmosis in Australia each year and 25% to 30% of the population show signs of past infections.

Commonly transmitted by cats, Toxoplasmosis can also occur through eating raw or rare sheep, pork, kangaroo, or game meat, as well as offal such as heart, liver, and tongue, or duck and goose pâté.

Infection with Toxoplasma can cause blindness and stroke. Pregnant women and their babies as well as people with compromised immune systems - including those with HIV, and people being treated with chemotherapy are at considerable risk.

Symptoms

  • Fever.
  • Swollen lymph nodes that may last for weeks.
  • Headache.
  • Muscle aches.
  • Skin rash.
  • Eye pain/poor vision


Treatment

Toxoplasmosis is treated with a combination of anti-parasitic medicines and antibiotics.

 

3 Ways to Mitigate Toxoplasma Gondii Infection.

1. PETS

Household pets pose the greatest risk to humans. While toxoplasmosis is transmitted by domestic and feral cat faeces, dog’s do not shed the parasite in their faeces, but it can be contracted as a result of petting their fur,

  • Clean out cat litter trays daily.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly and if you are pregnant or immune compromised, get someone else to do this or wear rubber gloves.
  • Don’t feed your cat raw red meat.
  • Keep cats out of areas where you are preparing food (especially kitchen benchtops)
  • Don’t allow pets lick or take food from your plate.
  • Wash pet food bowls separate (in a laundry sink if you have one) and never with your own dishes.
  • Wash your hands with soap and dry thoroughly after handling your pet, their food or toys.

 

2. FOOD

The parasites can reside as cysts (like eggs or seeds) in the muscle tissue of raw or undercooked meats and this is the most common way people get infected.

  • Cook your meat to the safe temperature.
  • Use a digital meat thermometer and cook meat (including minced products) to at least 75°C and leave to rest 3 to 5 minutes.

 

3. HOME GARDENS

If you grow your own fruit and vegetables.

  • Fence or cover your gardens to make sure your pets or wild animals can’t poop where you are growing food.
  • Wear gloves when gardening in case you come into contact with animal faeces.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly when you have finished.

 

Don’t forget to secure and cover children’s sandpits when they are not in use, to deter cats from using them as a makeshift litterbox.


CRYPTOSPORIDIUM

Cryptosporidiosis is better known and mostly spread by swimming in contaminated water. Cryptosporidium infections have increased alarmingly with a quarter of all cases occurring in children under four and mostly in Queensland. It’s thought this might be because of the warmer weather that allows people to swim most of the year.

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by microscopic parasites in the faeces of infected domestic animals, farm animals and humans. through contact with an infected person, or by drinking unpasteurised milk or dairy products. The parasite cysts (eggs) are not killed by chlorine.


Symptoms

  • The most common symptoms are watery diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
  • Other symptoms may include fever, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. You may also have no symptoms.
  • The first symptoms typically appear after 7 days but can take anywhere between 1-12 days after infection.


 


Treatment

Most people with a healthy immune system don't need to be treated. Cryptosporidiosis will resolve on its own. In those who have a weak immune system, the focus of treatment is often on getting the immunity back. Otherwise, a medicine called nitazoxanide can be used to treat this parasite.


Ways to Mitigate Cryptosporidiosis infection.

  • Stay home if you or your child has diarrhoea - don’t go to work or send your children to school or daycare as diarrhoea is highly contagious.
  • Don’t enter a swimming pool or spa if you have diarrhoea until 2 weeks after symptoms have ended. You may still be shedding cysts, which are resistant to chlorine.
  • Don’t swim in rivers, creeks and dams during and for at least three days after heavy rain, or swim in the ocean during and at least one day after heavy rain.
  • Not preparing food for others and not sharing towels or linen for at least 48 hours after your diarrhoea has stopped.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly before handling food, after going to the toilet or changing nappies, after gardening and after touching pets and farm animals or handling their faeces/manure.


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