evidence: Most people know toxoplasma gondii as the "cat parasite", usually passed to humans through contact with infected cat poo – like when you clean out the cat tray and forget to wash your hands. But it can also be transmitted via contaminated or undercooked meat, or from handling soil that has come into contact with infected cat poo or infected dead animals. [...] But for those with compromised immune systems, such as people with AIDs or cancer, the parasite can cause a disease called toxoplasmosis. When the toxoplasma "wakes up" from its dormant stage, which happens in those with weakened immune systems, it can cause stroke and death – and in infants it can cause severe brain damage. This is because the active parasite replicates inside cells in the brain until these cells "break". Toxoplasmosis is particularly dangerous to unborn babies if the mother gets infected for the first time during pregnancy and can cause miscarriage and birth defects.