Toxoplasmosis exposure is commonly associated with which exposure?

• A. Poultry
• B. Fresh fruits
• C. Mosquito bites
• D. Cat litter and waste

Answer: (D)

Toxoplasmosis exposure most commonly comes from contact with cat feces. Cats are the definitive hosts for the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, and they shed infectious oocysts in their stool. Those oocysts contaminate soil, water, and surfaces, so handling cat litter or cleaning a litter box, or working in soil that’s been contaminated, can lead to infection if hands aren’t washed. This makes cat litter and waste the best fit for how people typically acquire toxoplasmosis. Other routes like poultry, fresh fruits, or mosquito bites aren’t the primary transmission pathways. For pregnancy, this is especially important to minimize—using gloves, washing hands after handling litter or soil, cooking meat thoroughly, and washing produce can reduce risk.