Toxoplasmosis (pregnant women and cats)

You may have heard that cats and pregnant women are dangerous. This is the disease toxoplasmosis. This article is about why toxoplasmosis is dangerous and what to watch out for when you are pregnant. Toxoplasmosis in cats is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite is one of the most common parasites and does not usually make your cat sick.

What is toxoplasmosis?
The parasite Toxoplasma gondii, hereinafter referred to as Toxoplasma, occurs in all mammals. However, not all animals get sick. In the life cycle of this parasite we know intermediate hosts and definitive hosts. Intermediate hosts are necessary for the development of the parasite, and they usually do not become ill. The final hosts are responsible for excreting the parasite. In the case of Toxoplasma, cats shed the parasite's infective eggs in their feces and are the definitive host. Humans (but also many other animals such as sheep, dogs and birds) are intermediate hosts. About 70% of adult cats are carriers of Toxoplasma.

How does my cat get infected with toxoplasmosis?
Most animals become infected indirectly. For example, by eating raw meat/organs or by coming into contact with infected cat faeces. But also by eating uncooked vegetables or from contaminated soil in the garden. Cats can also become infected by eating intermediate hosts such as mice. Cats can also become infected during pregnancy. Most cats do not get toxoplasmosis, but some cats do get mild diarrhea. Research shows that only 1% of cats shed infective eggs, and this is in young cats (less than 6 months old). After this first molt, the cats remain immune for life (provided they are regularly re-exposed to infection) and no longer shed infectious eggs or contract an infection.

How do I get infected with toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is best known because it can cause miscarriage in pregnant women. Cats shed the infectious eggs of Toxoplasma, which then need to mature. This process takes 1-24 days, the exact time depends on the environment (e.g. humidity and temperature). At room temperature, the ripening period lasts about 2-3 days. The eggs infect other species of animals, vegetables, fruit and most importantly the soil. Humans can become infected in the following ways;

Cleaning the litter box of young cats. Almost all cats become infected at some point, but only lay eggs in the first few weeks after initial infection.

• Gardening

• Eating raw or undercooked meat

• Eat unwashed vegetables

• Play in sandboxes that cats can get into

Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy
As already mentioned, Toxoplasma is a problem, especially for pregnant women, as it can infect the child. This can lead to miscarriage or death of the child early in pregnancy. This risk decreases later in pregnancy, but there is a risk of congenital abnormalities, such as permanent brain damage or eye damage. Eye defects are the most common. In healthy adults, Toxoplasma does not usually cause disease, very rarely does anyone get sick. The symptoms are then very similar to those of the flu.

What can I do?
When fighting toxoplasma in pregnant women, it is important to avoid the above tasks. You can also work in the garden with gloves. In addition, you should wash your hands regularly and heat meat sufficiently. Meat can also be frozen at -12°C for two days to kill the eggs. The litter box should be cleaned daily. As mentioned, it takes about 2-3 days for infective eggs to mature, so only cat feces a few days old are contagious. However, eggs can remain in the environment for long periods of time, so despite removal of visible feces, infectious eggs may still be in the tank. If necessary, you can disinfect the container with boiling water (note: disinfectants do not work).

Treatment of an infectious cat is not recommended, as the infection usually passes without any problems. In addition, a cat with toxoplasmosis is almost indistinguishable from a cat with another infection, and many medications are ineffective.

Can I get myself or my cat tested for toxoplasmosis?
It may make sense to have your cat tested. This way you can find out if your cat has ever had contact with the parasite. If so, there is no reason to worry that the cat will start shedding infectious eggs during pregnancy. Otherwise, your cat may be at risk during pregnancy.

The same applies to humans. A blood test can also be used to determine whether people have ever had contact with toxoplasma. If so, then a woman cannot infect her unborn child.

Conclusion Toxoplasmosis – Pregnant women and cats
Most adult cats are already infected and can no longer lay infectious eggs. Infectious eggs are laid only when a cat is first infected. Most people are already infected (30-80% of the Dutch). Only cat feces that are a few days old are contagious. If a pregnant woman first becomes infected with Toxoplasma during pregnancy, she can infect her baby, creating the above risks. If a pregnant woman has already been infected with Toxoplasma, she cannot infect her child during pregnancy.

This text was translated by a translation machine