• @Aux
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    1 month ago

    25% of the world’s population has toxoplasmosis. The main distribution vector is cats. That’s why we all love cats!

    • @Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In
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      -21 month ago

      Do Germans love cats twice as much, or can we assume raw pork is also a factor?

      • @Aux
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        01 month ago

        It doesn’t matter as it doesn’t hurt anyone in any way, shape or form.

        • @Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In
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          01 month ago

          Incorrect.

          Yes, healthy people hardly ever notice the disease. However, the infection can have serious consequences for them if their immune system is weakened, for example if they have an organ transplant or if they contract AIDS. The parasite can then become active again and cause brain inflammation.

          If the mother becomes infected with this pathogen during pregnancy, it can be transmitted to the unborn child, and the unborn child also becomes infected and suffers developmental disorders. This leads to the unborn child being born deformed or a miscarriage occurring.