The cause is tiny and the symptoms are easily dismissed as flu-like. To the majority of healthy people it poses no problem. However, for expectant mothers, a parasitic protozoan called Toxoplasma gondii—the cause of Toxoplasmosis—can lead to serious health issues for an unborn child. There are a few simple precautions to take to significantly reduce the chance of exposing your unborn child to the dangers of Toxoplasma gondii and, as in many cases, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

The March of Dimes states that each year between 400 and 4000 babies are born in the United States with a toxoplasmosis infection. Babies born with the infection can develop serious complications including learning disabilities and vision problems. Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy can also cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or pre-term delivery. Although most people are unaware of it, toxoplasmosis infection is one of the most common infections in the world and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that in the United States, alone, more than 60 million men, women, and children are carriers of the toxoplasma parasite. The majority of those infected are unaware of their infection since their normal healthy immune system prevents the parasite from causing illness. For those individuals who do develop signs of illness, even the symptoms can be misleading. The Mayo Clinic states that toxoplasmosis symptoms are very similar to those found in conditions such as mononucleosis and the flu. Toxoplasmosis symptoms include body aches, fatigue, fever, headache, swollen lymph glands, and occasionally a sore throat. In people with compromised immune systems, toxoplasmosis symptoms can become more severe and include blurred vision, confusion, headache, lung problems, poor coordination, and seizures.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the problem starts with the single-celled parasite called toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). The organism is capable of infecting most animals and birds. The organism reproduces most effectively in cats, making wild and domestic cats the ultimate host for the parasite. The life cycle of the organism begins when a cat eats an infected animal such as a bird or mouse. Cats may also become infected if they are fed raw contaminated meat or if they eat infected soil. Once the cat ingests the organism, the T. gondii burrows into the walls of the cat's small intestine where it forms cells (oocysts) that the cat eliminates in its solid waste over a period of two to three weeks. The danger of passing the infection on to humans occurs at this time. Under the right conditions, the Mayo Clinic states that the highly infectious cells can survive in the soil for months. You pick up the infection by touching or handling soil or litter that has come in contact with waste from the cat. The parasite can then be transferred to the mouth by unwashed hands and the toxoplasma gondii enters the body of the new host.

Following a few basic precautions recommended by the CDC easily prevents toxoplasmosis infection:

• When cooking food, use a thermometer and cook food to a safe temperature.
• Do not sample meat until it is sufficiently cooked
• Cook beef, lamb, and veal (roasts and steaks) to at least 145° throughout.
• Cook pork, ground meat, and wild game to a temperature of 160°
• Cook whole poultry to a temperature of 180° in the thigh.
• Wash or peel vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating.
• Wash cutting boards, utensils, countertops, and hands with hot, soapy water after having contact with raw meat, poultry, seafood, or unwashed vegetables or fruit.
• Avoid drinking untreated water, especially in less developed countries.
• Wear gloves when gardening or any time when you may be in contact with soil or sand.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after gardening or having contact with soil or sand.
• Keep outdoor sandboxes covered (outdoor cats may use them as a litter box).
• Freeze meat for several days before cooking it to greatly reduce the chance of toxoplasma infection.
• Avoid feeding cats raw or undercooked meat. Feed them only canned or dried commercial food.
• Change the litter box daily if you own a cat. The toxoplasma parasite does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after a cat eliminates it in its solid waste.
• If you are pregnant or have a compromised immune system, avoid changing cat litter if possible. If no one else is available for the task, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards.
• Do not get a new cat while you are pregnant.
• Do not adopt or handle stray cats, especially kittens, while pregnant.
• Keep cats indoors.

The Mayo Clinic advises that you should see your doctor or health care provider if you develop any of the signs or symptoms of severe toxoplasmosis including serious eye infections, confusion, or seizures. In most cases, following a few simple hygienic practices you can keep you and your family members free from this potentially troublesome infection.

As with any medical condition, consult with your doctor or health care provider to discuss any questions or concerns regarding your family's health.

Sources:
March of Dimes—www.marchofdimes.com
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—www.cdc.gov
The Mayo Clinic—www.mayoclinic.com

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