Common Cat Parasite Affects Many Other Hosts

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is the most widespread parasite on earth, found across all continents and in a staggering variety of habitats. We have only recently discovered how many different animals it infects. To the surprise of many, University of British Columbia scientists found the parasite in beluga whales in the Arctic in 2014. Off the California coast, infection has been revealed to be responsible for sea otter deaths formerly attributed to sharks or boats.

The wily intruder owes its success in part to a high rate of expansion. A cat newly infected with can excrete up to 800 million packets containing the parasite—called oocysts—in the span of about seven to 14 days. Once released, an oocyst can persist in soil or water for years. Inhaling or ingesting just one oocyst is enough to establish infection, which virtually guarantees that the parasite will find its way into a variety of new hosts.

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