Changes

Sheep are often kept in an environment that is significantly contaminated with oocysts, and infection follows ingestion of infected food, primarily contaminated pasture. Fields treated with manure or bedding from buildings to which cats have access result in high levels of ovine toxoplasmosis, and insecure storage of supplementary feeds also poses a risk.

Sheep are often kept in an environment that is significantly contaminated with oocysts, and infection follows ingestion of infected food, primarily contaminated pasture. Fields treated with manure or bedding from buildings to which cats have access result in high levels of ovine toxoplasmosis, and insecure storage of supplementary feeds also poses a risk.

Members of the cat family are the definitive hosts of

As the definitive hosts of ''Toxoplasma gondii'', cats become infected when they hunt and eat infected wild rodents and birds. Between days 3 and 14 post-infection, cats shed over 100 million of oocysts in their faeces. Only 200 oocysts are required to cause abortion in naive pregnant sheep

the parasite and tend to become infected for the first

time when they start hunting and eating wild rodents

and birds already infected with T. gondii. Following

consumption of T. gondii cysts, the parasites excyst

in the gut of the cat and invade and infect host cells.

gut of the cat resulting in the production of oocysts

which are shed in the faeces. Shedding usually occurs

During this period a cat may shed over 100 million

During this period a cat may shed over 100 million

oocysts and experimental studies in sheep have shown

oocysts and experimental studies in sheep have shown