Toxoplasmosis – Is it Harmful to Humans?

Have you ever wondered why pregnant women are told NOT to empty or clean the cat litter box? Doctors are concerned about Toxoplasmosis, a potentially deady disease that can cause stillbirth, miscarriage, blindness, mental retardation or other conditions in a fetus and newborn child.

Toxoplasmosis is rarely fatal in healthy adults. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 60 million people in the United States could possibly be infected with toxoplasmosis. Most don’t even know it. The parasite is simply no match for a normal immune system. Most of its victims don’t show any sign of a serious illness.

For the few who do become ill, usually a compromised immune system is at fault. Should you have toxoplasmosis, you will suffer flu symptoms such as swollen glands and muscle aches, fever and fatigue. You may feel ill for as long as a month. After approximately six to nine months you will develop an immunity to the parasite and your infection will be considered inactive. Once the parasite is considered inactive you shouldn’t be affected by it again and it is again safe to become pregnant.

In recent years, toxoplasmosis has also been linked to schizophrenia. Out of 19 studies that began in 1953, 18 of those have had end results of increased rates of schizophrenia in patients that had toxoplasmosis.

So how does one avoid this potentially deadly infection? Here are some tips to help you stay healthy.

If you are in a high risk group such as immunologically suppressed conditions, elderly and chemotherapy patients, avoid exposure to cats. Especially those cats that are out of doors and have a habit of eating rodents and other potential carriers of toxoplasmosis.

Make sure that cat litter boxes are emptied daily so that the parasite does not have time to develop fully.

Use gloves whenever handling the litter box or contents.

If at all possible, have someone else that is not immunologically suppressed empty the litter box.

Keep your cats indoors to avoid their exposure to rodents that may carry the parasite.

Feed your cat only commercially prepared cat food and avoid feeding your cat any raw meat as it could possibly carry the parasite.

Ask your veterinarian to test your cat for the parasite. A simple blood titre can tell you the results.

Keep children’s sandboxes covered when not in use.

Wear gloves when gardening.

Wash all fruits and vegetables prior to eating them.

Cook meats thouroughly making sure to get up to at least 165 Fahrenheit. Freezing meat for 3 days will also kill these parasites.

Wash counters and other areas that cats may jump onto with a good detergent and hot water.

By following these simple steps you should be well on your way to preventing this dreaded condition. Cats make great pets when we remember to care for them properly and safe guard ourselves.

Reference:

• www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm