The population of endangered killer whales has hit a 30-year-low, numbering only 75 this year.

State officials are now blaming toxoplasmosis, a parasite carried in cat feces, for the deaths of three critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals on Oahu.

T. gondii infection in people was found to be associated with drinking water from home water tanks where T. gondii parasites remained, clinging to the walls—so cleaning of these water tanks would be one way to reduce infection.

The animals didn't necessarily become sick, researchers said, but were encountering the new pathogens much more frequently.

3-5-14 Advisory - beluga safety