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What are the best ways to protect myself or my baby against toxoplasmosis?Ĭat owners and women who are exposed to cats should follow these tips to reduce exposure to Toxoplasma. You and your baby should be closely monitored during your pregnancy and after your baby is born. If you are infected during pregnancy, medication is available. Is there treatment available for toxoplasmosis? Wash hands with soap and water after gardening or contact with soil or sand. Wear gloves when gardening and during contact with soil or sand because it might be contaminated with cat feces that contain Toxoplasma.

Do not get a new cat while you are pregnant.

Feed your cat commercial dry or canned food, not raw or undercooked meats.

The Toxoplasma parasite does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it is shed in a cat’s feces.

Ensure that the cat litter box is changed daily.

If no one else can perform the task, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.

Avoid changing cat litter if possible.

You should follow these helpful tips to reduce your risk of environmental exposure to Toxoplasma: Fruits and vegetables may have contact with contaminated soil or water also, and you can be infected by eating fruits and vegetables if they are not cooked, washed, or peeled.Ĭats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis.ĭo I have to give up my cat if I’m pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant? Cats and kittens prefer litter boxes, garden soils, and sandboxes for elimination, and you may be exposed unintentionally by touching your mouth after changing a litter box, or after gardening without gloves. Mature cats are less likely to shed Toxoplasma if they have been previously infected. Kittens and cats can shed millions of parasites in their feces for as long as 3 weeks after infection. The parasite is then passed in the cat’s feces. They become infected by eating infected rodents, birds, or other small animals.

Your health care provider may suggest one or more varieties of blood tests to check for antibodies to Toxoplasma.Ĭats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis. How do I know if I have been infected with Toxoplasma? Occasionally, infected newborns have serious eye or brain damage at birth. Most infected infants do not have symptoms at birth but can develop serious symptoms later in life, such as blindness or mental disability. You may not have any symptoms from the infection. If you are newly infected with Toxoplasma while you are pregnant, or just before pregnancy, then you can pass the infection on to your baby. Some experts suggest waiting for 6 months after a recent infection to become pregnant. Generally, if you were infected with Toxoplasma before becoming pregnant your baby is protected by your immunity. When should I be concerned about toxoplasmosis?