Toxoplasmosis copyright Wanda C. Metcalf 2012 Unsporulated oocysts are shed in the cat’s feces Oocysts take 1-5 days to sporulate in the environment and become infective. Intermediate hosts in nature (including birds and rodents) become infected after ingesting soil, water or plant material contaminated with oocysts Oocysts transform into tachyzoites shortly after ingestion. These tachyzoites localize in neural and muscle tissue and develop into tissue cyst bradyzoites G This is a song about Toxoplasmosis C G A7 D7 a plague which induces small rodent psychosis G C it makes mice so bold that they'll enter the fold G D7 G of a cat who has got halitosis Em D Em C D Em It's a wild protozoa whose sexual phase - occurs in the bowels of a cat C G oocysts that are shed to new critters will spread A D7 if they should contact the cat's scat Em D Em C D Consumed oocysts become tachyzoites - which are motile and lodge in the Em brain C G they replicate there and then please be aware A D7 they may cause one's behavior to change chorus Em D Em C D They Produce dehydroxylase enzymes which lead - to a brain with increased Em dopamine C G Research has neglected just how we're affected A D7 Tho' mice become feisty and keen Em D Em C D Em 10-20% of us humans are blessed and carry this pathogen too C G The questions not trivial do we get convivial A D7 quarrelsome, reckless or blue? chorus