Toxoplasmosis in Chickens - How serious is it?

[ChickyCh00k]

So, you're concerned about the behavioral effects of toxoplasmosis on humans? These observed behavioral differences between those with toxo and those without (at least in the study I read) don't seem to be a major problem ("Thus, the men were more likely to disregard rules and were more expedient, suspicious, jealous, and dogmatic. The personality of infected women, by contrast, showed higher warmth and higher superego strength (factors A and G on Cattell's 16PF), suggesting that they were more warm hearted, outgoing, conscientious, persistent, and moralistic. Both men and women had significantly higher apprehension (factor O) compared with the uninfected controls"). - you're not going to become a serial killer bcs you contracted toxoplasmosis. However, if you are pregnant, or immunocompromised, you SHOULD worry about the health effects of toxoplasmosis to yourself (and/or fetus).

As you probably know, these studies can only speculate and they often give explanations for their findings that offer alternatives for those findings. Correlation =/= Causation (i.e. "Alternate explanations for the effects of T. gondii on humans cannot be ruled out. It is possible, eg, that individuals with certain personality characteristics behave in a manner that makes it more likely that they will become infected. For example, it was found that specific risk factors for Toxoplasma infection, such as contact with cats and the eating of raw or undercooked meat, were also related to some of Cattell's personality factors. However, these personality factors were different from those related to Toxoplasma infection.4 Confounding factors must also be considered as possible explanations. For example, in some countries, infection with T. gondii occurs more commonly in rural areas that is also where individuals are likely to have less education and consequently score lower on tests of verbal intelligence.18 This can produce a spurious association between T. gondii infection and intelligence.").

This is to say, unless you're pregnant or immunocompromised, you likely don't need to worry about contracting toxoplasmosis.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2526142/

 

[Spetznaaz]

Thank you, that is quite interesting^. Going to give the full study a read when i'm back.

 

[Kiki]

Interesting. What "for life" (in humans) zoonotic diseases can chickens have other than toxoplasmosis?

Just to add in case i wasn't clear - It's not the hens i'm worried about (they rarely show symptoms) it's me and my family.



Your analogy is flawed for numerous reasons.

I'm curious about your response to this hypothetical example: Some of your hens have toxoplasmosis. You do not currently have it. The chances of it being passed on through an egg is low but possible, including fully cooked easy over eggs. The disease will causes permanent neurological defects if you catch it.

If all the above was a certainty, would you still not be worried? The only likely difference (assuming your hens are allowed to free range) between that hypothetical situation and reality is that it won't necessarily cause noticeable neurological issues.

Ahhhh.... I meant chickens. Chickens get diseases for life. I wasn't referring to human diseases at all. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Thank you, that is quite interesting^. Going to give the full study a read when i'm back.

Here's another, more recent, study that discusses discrepancies in findings between studies that may have discovered CNS changes and studies that show NO CNS changes in those infected with toxoplasmosis https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.02164-19. Bottom line: it doesn't seem clear that toxoplasmosis is a significant risk to healthy people (it's the immunocompromised, pregnant and fetuses we need to worry about), and again, research falls on both ends of the spectrum as far as affecting the brain, which means they don't know for sure and can only speculate based on data that may or may not be significant. The only way to protect yourself completely is to steer clear of all animals - don't own chickens and don't go around cats. But, what fun is that?!?! My advice is to maintain good biosecurity and hygiene, wash hands, change clothes, etc after handling chooks, and if you start acting funny..... welcome to the circus!

 

[Folly's place]

And you can get a blood test that will show if you have had a previous exposure/ infection with this parasite. If no, be very careful when gardening, etc. If yes, it's too late to worry about it anyway. And so, all that handwashing is #1, don't eat raw meat, and best to worry about something else.
Many people have had previous exposure; it's about handwashing mostly.
Mary

 

[Chicken Heel]

And you can get a blood test that will show if you have had a previous exposure/ infection with this parasite. If no, be very careful when gardening, etc. If yes, it's too late to worry about it anyway. And so, all that handwashing is #1, don't eat raw meat, and best to worry about something else.
Many people have had previous exposure; it's about handwashing mostly.
Mary

Handwashing practices seem to have gotten much better since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic. I have always been amazed at the number of folks that don't wash their hands after going to the toilet though, even now.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Handwashing practices seem to have gotten much better since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic. I have always been amazed at the number of folks that don't wash their hands after going to the toilet though, even now.

Uggghhh! I've ALWAYS been an avid hand washer (I have generalized anxiety disorder) and I can't believe the things people do without washing their hands before/after.

 

[Folly's place]

And remembering things done during childhood, when hand washing happened, but...