Is toxoplasmosis contagious?

Toxoplasmosis primarily is transmitted when infected undercooked meat is eaten. It also infects domestic cats, which can release eggs in their feces to later infect their human caretakers. The parasite does not become infectious until one to five days after it is shed in cat feces. It can cause mild aches and pains and severe damage to the brain, eyes, or other organs.

Toxoplasmosis is not contagious because it cannot spread from one person to another. This can only occur in instances when a mother passes the infection to her child during pregnancy. Rather, toxoplasmosis is developed from raw or undercooked food or from a contaminated organ transplant. Additionally, toxoplasmosis can be passed from animal to human through contact with cat feces.