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(Humane Society)

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Cat poop could be a "vast and underappreciated" public health threat, scientists warn.

A parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, sometimes found in cat feces, can infect people and cause flu-like symptoms, blurry vision and in severe cases, brain and organ damage. That's why pregnant women and people with immune deficiencies have long been warned to stay away from cat feces.

A research review published Tuesday in Trends in Parasitology reports people with schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, rheumatoid arthritis and brain tumors are more likely to have Toxoplasma gondii antibodies than other people.

The review by psychiatrist E. Fuller Torrey and pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Robert H. Yolken also suggests the parasite can affect memory and other cognitive function in people who are not otherwise ill.

"This is a public health problem that bears more scrutiny," Torrey told NPR. "We're walking a tight line between alarming people and failing to point out obvious health problems that need to be paid attention to."

The researchers told CNN they have not established Toxoplasma gondii as a cause of these mental health disorders, but it has led them to rethink the possible risks of cat poop.

The link between the parasite and mental health problems has not been completely accepted by everyone, according to Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University. "If people were convinced of that, we would have acted on it," he told NBC News.

Katie Lisnik, the director of Cat Protection and Policy at the Humane Society, said there are 86 million cats that are household pets in the United States, and another 20 million to 80 million free-roaming cats.

Torrey said the risk of indoor cats becoming infected by the parasite is very low. The problem is more widespread among outdoor cats.

Infected cat feces can be found on playgrounds and in sandboxes, where children stick their hands in their mouths, according to Torrey. "If you have a sandbox that isn't covered, get rid of the sand and cover it when kids aren't playing," he said.

Gardeners should wear gloves since gardens are another favorite place for cats to relieve themselves.

You can contact health writer James T. Mulder at jmulder@syracuse.com or (315) 470-2245

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