Toxoplasmosis?

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"Do you have any info on toxoplasmosis?? I have four cats (and had cats my whole life) one is outdoors. At 4 or 5 weeeks I did change litter with gloves on and washed hands etc... Hubby now does this. Was not too concerned until OB said that you can inhale it via dust.... have googled this and info is conflicting. Most vet.. sites say can not be inhaled. Also do you know how the toxo test works some info says can be tested during pregnancy and others say no point as there is no way to tell when infected. am now 26 weeks. Lorraine"
What is toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is an infection that can threaten the health of an unborn child. It is caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite multiplies in the intestine of cats and is shed in cat feces, mainly into litter boxes and garden soil. You can get the parasite by handling cat litter or soil where there is cat feces. You can also get the parasite from eating undercooked meat (such as rare beef) from animals infected with the parasite.

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What happens if I have it?
Healthy adults usually do not suffer ill effects from toxoplasmosis and many times do not have enough symptoms to suggest infection. Symptoms are rare, but can resemble the flu. However, if you become infected while pregnant, your unborn child may also become infected. Infected babies may not develop any disease, or they may become very ill, with serious damage to the brain and eyes.

If you have been infected previously (at least 6 to 9 months before your pregnancy) with toxoplasma, you will develop immunity to it. The infection will not be active when you become pregnant, and so there is rarely a risk to your baby.

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How do I know if I have it?
Blood testing for detecting past or recent exposure to this parasite is available, but is not routinely done. If you are not tested and you don't know if you're immune or not, or if testing does not show immunity from previous infection, you can still take steps to protect yourself and your unborn child.

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How can I avoid toxoplasma during pregnancy?
Here are some tips to help you avoid exposure to toxoplasma during your pregnancy:

Do not allow your cat to go outside your home where it may come into contact with toxoplasma. If possible, have someone else take care of your cat while you are pregnant.
Have another family member change the cat litter box and then disinfect it with boiling water for 5 minutes.
If you must handle the chore of changing the litter box, wear rubber gloves to avoid contact with the litter and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
Use work gloves when gardening and wash your hands afterwards. Cover children's sandboxes when not in use (cats like to use them as litter boxes).
Control flies and cockroaches as much as possible. They can spread contaminated soil or cat feces onto food.
Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat (or poultry) and unwashed fruits and vegetables.
Wash your hands thoroughly before you eat and after handling raw meat, soil, sand or cats.
Avoid rubbing your eyes or face when preparing food, and wipe the counter clean afterwards.
Avoid eating raw eggs and drinking unpasteurized milk.
How harmful is toxoplasmosis?

The infection rarely causes problems in healthy adults, but it can be dangerous to a developing fetus, possibly resulting in miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe complications such as blindness and mental retardation. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 60 million people in the United States are probably infected with toxoplasmosis -- and most don't even know it. That's because the parasite is no match for a normal, healthy immune system, and most people who have it don't show any signs of illness.



The few who do get sick -- usually those with compromised immune systems -- will suffer flu-like symptoms such as swollen glands, muscle aches, fever, and fatigue. These symptoms may last for as long as a month. After the parasite has been in your body for six to nine months, you'll develop immunity to it, and the infection is considered inactive. Once that happens, you shouldn't be bothered by it again, and you won'tpass it on to your baby if you become pregnant later on.



The problem occurs if you become infected while you're pregnant -- or in rare cases, shortly before you become pregnant, when the infection is still active. Within the cycle of pregnancy, the later you become infected, the more likely you are to transfer the infection to your developing baby. However, the younger the fetus, the more severe the effects of the disease are likely to be. According to the CDC, anywhere from 400 to 4,000 babies are born in the U.S. each year with the disease. About 90 percent of them won't show any symptoms at birth but may later develop health problems like chronic eye infections, hearing loss, and learning disabilities.



About 10 percent of infected babies can have severe problems at birth, and some may only live a few days. A baby with severe toxoplasmosis may have jaundice, pneumonia, or an enlarged liver or spleen. Long-term health complications can include mental retardation, poor eyesight or blindness, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other problems.

GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATS  (+ info)

toxoplasmosis?

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im 8 months pregnant and i have a new kitten, he hasent got any shots or been to the doctor yet, and he hasnt been out side to eat any bords of any thing like that. his mother is and outdoor/indoor cat but im not sure who the father cat is. i got the cat when i was about 7 1/2 months pregnant. im very far along now so is there any risks. i dont touch the poo with bare hands.

p.s. could breathing in the aroma of his kitty litter give me this disease?
Have you had cats before? I ask this because usually if you've had 'em before, you're immune to the disease anyway. If not, or not sure, get tested by your doctor. Thirdly, get someone to do the litterbox for you if you can.
You can't get it by breathing in the fumes that I know of.. it's transferred by saliva or scratches from an infected cat. But, beware, it's contagious, and can be fatal to your baby and almost always very damaging if not fatal to the baby, even now at 8 months! Hope this helps!  (+ info)

What are the risks of getting toxoplasmosis?

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I'm am 14 1/2 weeks pregnant. A week ago my partner and I adopted two 8 week old kittens from the human society. I never clean the litter box, but the kittens are near me all the time. I pet them and play with them all the time. They sleep with me at night. I have quite a few scratches from them, too. I just wanted to know if being around the kittens constantly could put me at risk for contracting toxoplasmosis? Is just staying away from the litter box enough? Thanks.
No you can't get toxoplasmosis from the kittens themselves. Its only the cat poop you have to be worried about, and even then its rare as only outdoor cats who hunt mice & birds have a chance of carrying the bacteria. You are more likely to get toxoplasmosis from eating produce that hasn't been washed properly or gardening!  (+ info)

What does toxoplasmosis actually 'do' to the unborn baby?

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I have a friend that is 8 months pregnant and cleans her own cat litter with no gloves or anything. She says because her cats are TOTALLY indoors and don't get raw meat and rarely get scraps of any kind that is fine. (apparantely toxoplasmosis is found in raw meats that transfers to the fecus). What does this actually do to the baby?
I'm not sure, but if she has had cats for most of her life, she probably has already been exposed to toxoplasmosis, and has the antibodies.
This is what my Dr. told me  (+ info)

How do i avoid getting toxoplasmosis from my kitten?

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I'm a little over 20 weeks pregnant and i know the negative effects of toxoplasmosis that come from my kittens feces and can get on me while i'm changing her litter. Is there anything i can do other than wash my hands constantly to prevent this? And will washing my hands all the time really help?
i also just bought "litter liners" which is just like a trash bags for the litter box. i just grab the bag and tie it shut. will that help?
Your best bet is to just have someone else do it. If that's not possible then you may want to consider getting a litter pan that cleans it self. You can also try wearing latex gloves and a face mask to prevent you from breathing it in.  (+ info)

Can I get toxoplasmosis from a newborn kitten?

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I am pregnant and taking care of a newborn kitten right now. I think it's mother was killed. The kitten still has it's eyes shut. I have to wipe it's bottom to get it to pee and poop. I do this with a wet cotton ball, then dispose of everything and wash my hands afterwards. Am I at risk for toxoplasmosis?
A kitten can have the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii because it is transmitted from mother to fetus.

I would wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly after handling the kitten.  (+ info)

Toxoplasmosis - Pregnant and wondering just how easy it is to catch it from my cat?

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I don't go anywhere near the litter box, but I do play with my cat and hold her. Today she was in my lap and she hopped off to catch something and scratched my belly while doing so. I know I'm probably being paranoid, but is there any chance I can get toxoplasmosis from a cat scratch???
it doesnt actually come fromt he cat itself it comes form their poop! i have 3 cats and have done during all my pregnancies and i cleared the litter trays! i changed them with rubber gloves on and washed my hand thoroughly afterwards! it is quite rare and it can also be caught from eating unwashed fruit and veg! you wont get it from a cat scratch you'll be fine!!!


mum to 3 yr old, 2 yr old & 14 week old!  (+ info)

Toxoplasmosis and what I can do to prevent it?

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I live with two cats. I'm about 6weeks+ along and my mother is trying to scare me with the idea of getting toxoplasmosis. I've lived with cats all my life and my boyfriend changes the cat litter for me. I'm just very concerned about getting it. I always make sure to keep my hands clean and wash the sheets if they smell like cat litter. We try to keep the cats out of the room when we sleep. I'm just very concerned about this. What can I do to prevent this from happening?
You are more likely to get toxoplasmosis from undercooked beef. Also..if your cats are indoors, it's likely that they are not even carriers of the parasite. You'll be fine..your Mom is being over protective

I also wanted to add that the danger is for those women who are newly infected. If you have been around cats your whole life...you most likely have already contracted it a long time ago and were never aware of it.  (+ info)

Is it possible to contract toxoplasmosis from another human?

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If living with a latent carrier, could you possibly contract the T.gondii parasite from them? If they prepared you food and you ate it, and their hygiene was somewhat lax (what would have to occur besides them getting their feces in the food?), would that be a method of acquisition?

What about being around a person with acute toxoplasmosis? Is that person then more predisposed to spread the parasite to other residents sharing the household?
No, it is impossible. The organism that causes Toxoplasma has to phases of life: sexual and asexual. The sexual phase only occurs in cats and the cysts are shed in the feces. The only way to catch this is from the cysts from the sexual phase  (+ info)

When does toxoplasmosis pose a threat during pregnancy?

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I have two indoor cats...totally indoor, never been outside. Is toxoplasmosis still as risk and if so-when should i stop cleaning the litter box? I'm in very early pregnancy...i.e 1 week late for my period-so 5 weeks or so.
Get someone else to clean the litter box, if you can't then wear gloves and wash your hands after.  (+ info)

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