Overview
- In lab tests, Toxoplasma gondii caused 22.4% of human sperm to lose their heads within five minutes of exposure and increased malformed cells over time.
- Animal research shows the parasite reaches the testes and epididymis within days and forms dormant cysts in male reproductive tissues.
- An estimated 30% to 50% of people worldwide carry Toxoplasma, which can remain in the body for life and reactivate to cause serious illness.
- Global male infertility rates rose nearly 80% from 1990 to 2019, leading scientists to explore infectious factors alongside diet, obesity and environmental toxins.
- Health experts recommend preventing toxoplasmosis by thoroughly cooking meat, washing fruits and vegetables and practicing careful hygiene around cat litter.