While many people carry the parasite without any symptoms, in some cases it can cause an infection known as toxoplasmosis which can have serious health consequences.<\/p>\n
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n A team of Australian researchers<\/a> has found the parasite can sometimes move to the retina, where it can damage a person\u2019s sight.<\/p>\n And it can have far more serious effects on unborn babies \u2014 even leading to miscarriage.<\/p>\n The Australian researchers are now joining international scientists in calling on the World Health Organisation to add toxoplasmosis to its list of neglected tropical diseases \u2014 thereby raising awareness and hopefully funding for more research.<\/p>\n Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite known to infect birds and mammals across the globe.<\/p>\n The bacteria\u2019s primary host are species in the felidae family \u2014 felines<\/a> such domestic cats and wild relatives such as lions. It is usually spread to other animals through cat faeces, even trace elements in soil or water.<\/p>\n Humans can also become infected through those trace elements, or by ingesting the uncooked meat of an infected animal.<\/p>\n While the exposure rate is alarming, in most cases it will go unnoticed as the body\u2019s immune system causes the infection to become dormant.<\/p>\n However, research led by Flinders University Professor Justine Smith has now revealed the more serious potential consequences for humans.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it infects a human it goes to certain parts of the body and it really likes the eye, particularly the nerve tissue lining the back of the eye \u2014 important for building vision \u2014 called the retina,\u201d Smith told 7NEWS.com.au.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it eats a little piece of the retina and it incites a lot of inflammation\u00a0and in some cases scarring.\u201d<\/p>\n A study of 5,000 Australians living in Busselton, WA, found one in 150 people on average had retinal scarring due to toxoplasmosis, with varying severities depending on how central the scarring was on the retina.<\/p>\n Major issues can arise with people who are immunocompromised, as the disease can wake from its dormant state and continue to cause scarring on the retina.<\/p>\n Potentially fatal effects can be caused if a woman first becomes infected with toxoplasma while pregnant, when it can be passed onto the unborn child.<\/p>\n Without a proper immune system the parasite can flood to the retina of the baby and cause life-long eye and neurological issues or, in some cases, cause a miscarriage.<\/p>\n Women are routinely warned not to go near cat litter trays while pregnant.<\/p>\n Smith says the worst-case scenarios for toxoplasmosis are often avoidable in developed countries such as Australia, but they are particularly an issue in undeveloped countries where it can spread through untreated water and unsanitary conditions, and where minimal medical infrastructure is insufficient to treat it. <\/p>\n Smith has now joined a group of researchers around the world calling for WHO to add toxoplasmosis to its list of neglected tropical diseases (NTD).<\/p>\n \u201cThat recognition is really important because it gives it visibility,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means that governments are aware of it and they build it into their public health programs. <\/p>\n \u201cIt unlocks the opportunity to obtain funding for better prevention, treatment and also research.\u201d<\/p>\n She added that toxoplasmosis already qualifies to be added to the list, but is being neglected despite being on WHO\u2019s list of most impactful food-borne illnesses.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the congenital consequences, including loss of the unborn child and the substantial contribution to childhood and adult vision impairment and blindness, there is no reason toxoplasmosis should remain excluded from the group,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Huge earthquakes strike US, Venezuela and Japan<\/p>\n 2 min read<\/p>\n![\"Scientists](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/79572d821e3f455bcc7385af21de1ce07e64e40e.jpg\")
Scientists have launched a call for the WHO to recognise toxoplasmosis, a disease ccarried by cats. Credit: Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ce72234709bd13792c09569deb60308f505b4d5f.jpg\")
The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii has infected as much as half of the world\u2019s population and can cause blindness or, at worst, kill unborn children. Credit: medicalpicture\/AP<\/p>\n