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Toxo

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Toxo is short for toxoplasmosis (tok-soh-plaz-MOH-suhss). It is an infection that can damage your brain. It causes headache, confusion, fever, seizures, poor coordination, eye pain, problems seeing, and nausea. Toxo can be spread in two ways:

• By eating undercooked meat
• By touching cat feces (poop) that has toxo germs in it

People with toxo must be treated until the condition improves. If you have AIDS, you might need treatment for a long time or for the rest of your life. The good news is that toxo can be prevented.

Prevent toxo:

• Don't eat undercooked or raw red meat. Cook meat until its inside temperature reaches 150 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a meat thermometer, cook meat until it's no longer pink in the center. Red meat is also safe from toxo if it has been frozen for at least 24 hours, smoked, or cured. Chicken, other fowl, and eggs almost never contain toxo. But you should still cook these foods until well done.

• Take special care if you have a cat. You do not need to give up your cat.

• Ask someone who does not have HIV and is not pregnant to change the litter box every day. This will help get rid of any toxo germs before they can hurt you. If you must clean the box yourself, wear gloves and wash your hands well with soap and water right after changing the litter.

• Keep your cat indoors to prevent it from hunting.

• Feed your cat only cat food or cook all meat thoroughly before giving it to your cat.

• If you adopt or buy a cat, get one that is healthy and at least 1 year old.

• Avoid stray cats and kittens. They are more likely than other cats to have toxo.

• Wash your hands well after touching raw meat and after gardening, yard work, and other outdoor activities.

• Wash all fruits and vegetables well before eating them raw.

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Additional Resources:

Publications

1.   Toxoplasmosis — This web resource provides general information about toxoplasmosis, how a person can become infected, symptoms, who is at risk, prevention, and treatment options.

   http://www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/

2. Toxoplasmosis (Copyright © Project Inform) — This publication explains what causes toxoplasmosis, what the symptoms are, how it is treated, how it can be prevented, and why it is a concern for people with HIV.

   http://www.projectinform.org/info/toxo/index.shtml

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated March 4, 2009.