Question

Todd's girlfriend insisted he clean the cat litter box before he went to work at the restaurant. He was late and forgot to wash his hands afterward. As soon as he entered the kitchen, the cook threw an apron at him and told him to start plating the food. Several customers came down with flu-like symptoms after their meal. Which parasite most likely infected them?

Answer 1

Answer:

Toxoplasma gondii

Explanation:

Toxoplasma gondii is a single celled parasitic organism. It is found in cat feces. It can cause toxoplasmosis by consumption of contaminated meat, coming in contact with infected cat feces or from mother to child during pregnancy. Most people do not develop symptoms but people with weak immune system and babies may develop flu like symptoms. The symptoms are headache, bodyache, swollen lymph nodes, fever and fatigue.

Since Todd had cleaned the cat litter box and forgot to wash his hands afterwards, he might have come in contact with the cat feces. The parasite was transferred from the feces to his hands from where it was transferred to the food which the customers ate and hence they call came down with flu like symptoms.

Answer 2

Toxoplasmosis is a bacteria in cat litter and can cause the flu.