So contact with cats as well as cat hair will never cause infertility in women. And Toxoplasmosis disease does not pose a danger to women. To prevent Toxoplasmosis disease in humans, consider the following: 1- Kitchen utensils and surfaces that are in contact with raw meat must be thoroughly washed with soap and water.
An unborn child contacting toxoplasmosis or cat feces disease can lead to symptoms which may be severe enough to cause a loss of life while still in the womb, or lead to that child being born with a disability.
To date, there is no evidence of a link between common pets and infertility. Having dogs, cats, hamsters or others will not affect your fertility. However, there exist certain parasitic infections that can be passed from them to humans and might have a negative impact on human fertility.
In addition, cats kept indoors (that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat) are not likely to be infected with Toxoplasma. But, if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or have a weakened immune system, it is important to protect yourself from infection.
Several studies made links between male genital damage and testicular toxoplasmosis,29 testicular inflammation,24, 30 and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism caused by congenital toxoplasmosis. All in all, available evidence suggests that toxoplasmosis in men could be associated with infertility.
Toxoplasmosis is usually diagnosed based on a cat's history, signs of illness, and laboratory test results. Measurement of two types of antibodies to T. gondii in the blood, IgG and IgM, can help diagnose toxoplasmosis.
Cats get Toxoplasma infection by eating infected rodents, birds or other small animals, or anything contaminated with feces from another cat that is shedding the microscopic parasite in its feces. After a cat has been infected, it can shed the parasite for up to two weeks.
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. This means very few cats at any one time are actually able to pass their infection on to people.
Cats who have been infected with toxoplasmosis will frequently have no symptoms. A smaller number of cats might develop diarrhea, or respiratory problems, or even problems with their eyes. The majority of cats, though, will be permanently infected with the parasite and show no outward signs of illness.
Cats that hunt or who are fed raw meat are more likely to carry toxoplasma parasites. You may get infected if you touch your mouth after touching anything that has been in contact with cat feces. This may be gardening or cleaning a litter box.
Cow. The cow is yet another animal that's easily connected to Earth. This also represents the symbol of power, nurturing, and fertility. Other meanings behind the cow include steadfastness, compassion, and perception.
Caring for a pet has many therapeutic benefits, particularly for a cancer patient. But this is especially true for those dealing with infertility.
For the most part, there's no reason your dog can't be part of the family when you're pregnant. But take these steps to help keep yourself safe during pregnancy: Don't let your dog jump up on your belly. If your dog has bad habits, like biting or jumping, train him to stop doing these things before you have your baby.
So contact with cats as well as cat hair will never cause infertility in women. And Toxoplasmosis disease does not pose a danger to women.
Supervise your child around cats
Babies, children and cats should never be left together unsupervised. It is important an adult supervises them at all times.
Blood tests will determine whether a cat has been exposed to the organism. These tests do not necessarily mean that Toxoplasma is the cause of any disease since most exposed cats do not develop disease; however, high levels of certain antibodies can suggest current infection.
T. gondii infects essentially all cats that spend any time outdoors. Cats get this parasite by eating small animals or raw meat that's infected. The parasite is then passed on through the cat's feces.
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.
Avoid changing cat litter if possible. If no one else can perform the task, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands with soap and water afterwards. Ensure that the cat litter box is changed daily. The Toxoplasma parasite does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it is shed in a cat's feces.
But the earlier in pregnancy you get infected, the more serious the baby's problems may be after birth. For example, your baby could have damage to the liver, brain and eyes. Up to 1 in 2 babies (50 percent) who are infected with toxoplasmosis during the pregnancy are born early (preterm). Some infected babies may die.
gondii. The toxoplasmosis parasite can cause a long-term infection. Following infection, a small number of parasites can remain locked inside cysts within certain parts of the body, such as the brain, lungs and muscle tissue. Such dormant infections persist for life and can reactivate in the immunosuppressed person.
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. In many cases the infection doesn't spread to the baby.
A test that measures immunoglobulin G (IgG) is used to determine if a person has been infected. If it is necessary to try to estimate the time of infection, which is of particular importance for pregnant women, a test which measures immunoglobulin M (IgM) is also used along with other tests such as an avidity test.
The long-term or chronic effects of the infection result when the cysts spread to the brain and muscle cells. The cysts, which can stay in the body as long as the person lives, can rupture and cause severe illness including damage to the brain, eyes and other organs.