How to decrease risk. On a personal level, we can decrease T. gondii infections by not eating undercooked meat. Pregnant women and individuals who are immunocompromised should not change cat litter. When gardening, we should wear gloves because cats favor loose soil for depositing their feces. We should also protect children by covering sandboxes when not in use and by not allowing children to play in uncovered public sandboxes.
Treatment. Toxoplasmosis typically is treated with pyrimethamine, usually in combination with a sulfa drug. However, pyrimethamine does not cross the blood brain barrier and thus is ineffective when T. gondii infects the brain. The development of a drug that will effectively treat T. gondii in the brain should be a high priority.
For additional details on the studies discussed in this article as well as more resources on the impact T. gondii can have if proper precautions are not taken, see my open-access book at https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-86811-6.
Bottom Line
Some evidence suggests that infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) may cause psychotic symptoms, may increase an individual’s risk of developing psychosis, and may result in more severe psychotic symptoms. Cats can transmit T. gondii to humans. Educate patients that they can reduce their risk by keeping their cats inside, avoiding exposure to cat feces, particularly while pregnant or if immunocompromised, and not eating undercooked meat.
Related Resources
- Torrey EF. Parasites, Pussycats, and Psychosis: The Unknown Dangers of Human Toxoplasmosis. Springer Nature; 2022. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-86811-6
Drug Brand Names
Pyrimethamine • Daraprim