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Are You Pregnant?
 A
message from the National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,
National Institutes of Health
Toxoplasmosis
Pregnant women should be aware of a
disease called toxoplasmosis. When
acquired during pregnancy, it can
cause birth defects, spontaneous
abortion, or stillbirth.
Toxoplasmosis is relatively common
and is caused by a single-celled
parasite, Toxoplasma gondii.
Most people who are infected with
toxoplasmosis have few symptoms or
none at all. Others may have swollen
glands, fatigue, malaise, muscle
pain, low fever, rash, headache, or
sore throat.
The common household cat is the only
animal known to shed Toxoplasma
parasites in its feces. If your cat
is infected, you could get
toxoplasmosis from the feces in the
litter box or the garden.
Toxoplasmosis can be avoided. Keep
your cat free of infection by
feeding it only commercial cat food
or well-cooked meat. Keep it indoors
so that it cannot hunt and eat mice
and birds.
Change the cat litter daily. If
possible, someone other than the
expectant mother should do this.
Another important source of
toxoplasmosis is eating raw or
undercooked meats. Cook all meat and
poultry thoroughly. Wash or cook
homegrown vegetables that may have
come in contact with cat feces in
the garden.
Wash your hands after touching raw
meat, changing the cat litter, or
working in gardens which cats use as
their toilet.
For more information on
toxoplasmosis, write to:
NIAID Information Office
Building 31, Room 7A32
Bethesda, MD 20205
Gerald Pietsch,VMD
Anchor Animal Hospital
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