It is extremely unlikely that you would pick up toxoplasmosis by petting your cat or being scratched or bitten by your cat, because the organism is not spread by the fur or saliva. You CAN, however, pick up toxoplasmosis by eating undercooked infected meat, particularly lamb and pork.
Owning a cat does not mean you will be infected with the parasite. It is unlikely that you would be exposed to the parasite by touching an infected cat because cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur.
You can keep, and continue to cuddle with, your friendly feline — just don't change your cat's litter box. An infection called toxoplasmosis can be spread through soiled litter boxes and can cause miscarriage and serious problems in a fetus, including seizures and severe eye and brain damage.
The CDC says your cat isn't the greatest threat
It's unlikely that your cat will give you toxoplasmosis. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "people are more likely to get [toxoplasmosis] from eating raw meat or from gardening."
People can be infected by: Accidental ingestion of oocysts after cleaning a cat's litter box when the cat has shed Toxoplasma in its feces. Accidental ingestion of oocysts after touching or ingesting anything that has come into contact with a cat's feces that contain Toxoplasma.
The most common symptoms of toxoplasmosis include fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Other symptoms may occur depending upon whether the infection is acute or chronic, and the location of the parasite in the body.
Toxoplasmosis (tok-so-plaz-MOE-sis) is an infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. People often get the infection from eating undercooked meat. You can also get it from contact with cat feces. The parasite can pass to a baby during pregnancy.
Infection is more common in pets that go outside, hunt, or are fed raw meat. The prevalence of oocyst shedding in cats is very low (0-1%), even though at least 15-40% of cats have been infected with Toxoplasma at some point.
In Australia, primary infection with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is rare Gilbert 2002 although it is estimated that between 60% and 80% of Australians are non-immune (Pappas et al 2009).
After a cat has been infected, it can shed the parasite for up to two weeks. The parasite becomes infective one to five days after it is passed in the feces of the cat.
People who should avoid close contact with cats include: Very young children. Pregnant women. Immunocompromised people (such as those with HIV or undergoing cancer treatment).
How common is toxoplasmosis during pregnancy? The chances of getting toxoplasmosis for the first time during pregnancy are thought to be very small. Even if you do become infected for the first time during pregnancy, this doesn't necessarily mean your baby is in danger.
"The concern when it comes to pregnancy and cat litter is a type of parasitic infection called toxoplasmosis. This is the type of infection that cats can get. They might not have any symptoms of it themselves, but they shed the parasite in their stool.
Please note animals can be known to carry viruses that can be harmful to pregnant women, although our cats are looked after we cannot guarantee that they won't catch something from being handled by the public therefore it is at the discretion of any pregnant person to enter at their own risk.
Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is usually based on clinical symptoms and serologic tests. During acute infection, IgM and IgG are detected in serum within 1 to 2 weeks. In pregnant women, dating the likely start of infection is critical.
The main host in Australia is the domestic cat, which become infected mainly through eating small infected mammals, including rodents and birds. Acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women can affect the unborn child. Adults most commonly become infected after by eating raw or undercooked meat infected with T.
The risk of maternal transmission of the parasite to the fetus during the first trimester of pregnancy (when the baby is most vulnerable) is relatively low, at 15 to 20 percent. However, by the third trimester, a pregnant woman with toxoplasmosis has a 60 percent chance of infecting her child.
New research from Flinders University has revealed one in 149 Australians are impacted by the illness caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, which was discovered more than 100 years ago. Part of the reason for this increase could be attributed to people eating raw or undercooked meat from infected livestock.
In order to protect their own health and that of their unborn child, women who are, or who may be, pregnant should be advised to avoid close contact with livestock animals. This is because infectious organisms may be present in birth fluids of animals, particularly sheep, cattle and goats.
You can safely clean a litter box while pregnant by wearing a mask and other protective gear such as gloves. It's important to protect yourself against all kinds of harmful bacteria when you're pregnant.
In the subgroup analysis, the global pooled seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was equal (33%, 95% CI: 29–37%) in male and female domestic cats (Tables 3, 4).
Avoid drinking untreated water. Wear gloves when gardening and during any contact with soil or sand because it might be contaminated with cat feces that contain Toxoplasma. Wash hands with soap and water after gardening or contact with soil or sand. Teach children the importance of washing hands to prevent infection.
Eating undercooked, contaminated meat (especially pork, lamb, and venison) or shellfish (for example, oysters, clams or mussels). Accidental ingestion of undercooked, contaminated meat or shellfish after handling them and not washing hands thoroughly (Toxoplasma cannot be absorbed through intact skin).
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis include fever, swollen glands and muscle aches. Most people who become infected with Toxoplasma have no symptoms. If people develop symptoms, they usually begin 1 to 3 weeks after being exposed to the parasite. Symptoms usually last for 2 to 4 weeks.
High pressure processing at 300 MPa or higher inactivates tissue cysts 2. Heating tissue cysts to 67°C will kill them instantly 2.