Wild and Feral Cats in Populated Areas Release More Toxoplasmosis Parasites
Managing Feral Cats May Reduce Infection Risk for Humans
A new analysis suggests that wild, stray, and feral cats living in areas with higher human population density tend to release—or “shed”—a greater amount of the parasite that causes the disease toxoplasmosis. The study also draws links between environmental temperature variation and parasite shedding.
Sophie Zhu of the University of California Davis, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE today, June 21.
While the findings do not establish any causal relationships, the study suggests that rising human population density and temperature fluctuations may create environmental conditions that exacerbate the spread of Toxoplasm a gondii and other infectious diseases.