Disease Can Be Spread By This Animal.

  Most people claim to be a cat person or a dog person.  Dogs are great for taking with you when you bicycle or go for nice long walks and they tend to sit on laps or toes a lot.  Sometimes they ae a bit big for your lap.  On the other hand, cats tend to be a bit more independent, purr when petted, and let you know when they don't like something much faster.

If you have ever been pregnant, you've heard that you should never change the kitty litter box because there might be a parasite in the poop. 

The parasite, called Toxoplasma gondii, can cause an infection in pregnant women so this is where the waning comes from.  The only way to become infected is if you touch the infected poop and then manage to get it into your mouth.  It is recommended you use gloves when cleaning litter boxes.

What fascinated me about this creature is that it does not just infect cats.  The parasite can be spread to other animals via the cat's poop.  In fact, scientists have discovered the parasite inside of the Arctic Baluga whales found dead near Quebec.  The one celled animal was found in 15 out of 34 whales or about 44 percent.

There is no proof the parasite is responsible for their deaths but if they tested positive, the parasite was mostly found in the brain or heart. According to one scientist, they've always been in contact with the Toxoplasma gondii but with the rise of the domesticated cat population in the Arctic, the number of parasites within the whale population has grown.

They are not sure how the parasite got into the whales.  It is thought the cat when depositing poop outside gets wet, releases the pathogen into the liquid that eventually goes into rivers before flowing to the sea.  

Scientists claim this discovery supports the idea that the warming of the climate in the Arctic has opened the way for the easier spread of pathogens.  In the past, Ice has acted as a barrier to the spread but since things have warmed up a bit, more pathogens are being found in places they haven't been found before.

The only suggestions they have to prevent parasites from ending up in the ocean is to bag the kitty litter up and toss it properly.  In addition, it is recommended one should not flush it down the toilet.

Let me know what you think.  I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.