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Pregnant
Women And Toxoplasmosis
Pet Safety
Tips
Pregnant
women need to be aware that toxoplasmosis (TOX-so-plaz-MO-sis)
can cause problems with pregnancy, including abortion. Toxoplasmosis is
an infection caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. This
parasite is carried by cats and is passed in their feces (stool). However,
people are more likely to get toxoplasmosis from eating undercooked meat
or gardening than from contact with pet cats. By following simple safety
tips, pregnant women can reduce the risk of getting toxoplasmosis
from cats.
- If you
own a cat, have a non-pregnant person change the litter box every
day. If there is no one else to change the litter box, wear gloves and
wash hands with soap and running water after changing the litter.
- Risk may be reduced if the litter box is changed every day.
- Keep
cats indoors.
- Avoid
adopting or handling stray cats.
- Feed
cats only canned or dried commercial cat food, never undercooked or
raw meat.
- Do not
bring a new cat into your house that might have been an outdoor cat
or might have been fed raw meat.
Source:
Attention
Pregnant Women: What You Can Do to Keep Germs From Harming You and Your
Baby. (CDC parental care pamphlet).
Preventing
congenital toxoplasmosis. Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report, March 31, 2000; Vol 49(No RR02):
57-75.
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