Conference misery::feline_v1

52.0. "Pregnant ladies and cats" by TOPDOC::LYNCH () Fri Dec 07 1984 13:57

The following information appeared in the USENET net.kids newsgroup. Since
it makes reference to cats, I reproduce it here.

-- Bill

==============================================================================

		Pregnancy Caution

	If you are pregnant, take special precautions to avoid
	a parasitic disease known as toxoplasmosis.  Anyone, pregnant
	or not can get "toxo."  But if acquired during pregnancy
	the disease can cause spontaneous abortion, stillbirth,
	or serious birth defects.

	People risk infection when they come into contact with
	the feces of infected house cats or eat undercooked meat.
	Cats acquire the disease by eating parasite-ridden meat
	such as mice or birds.  Humans may come infected when
	cleaning a litter box or gardening.

	Symptoms may be so negligible that a mother-to-be may
	not notice them.  Or she may have swollen glands, fatigue,
	muscle pain, and other "mono"-like symptoms lasting two
	weeks or more.  Even if the disorder is detected, drugs
	which normally are used to treat the condition may harm
	the unborn child.

	Fortunately, toxoplasmosis is easy to prevent.  If you
	are pregnant (or even if you're not), be sure to eat
	only well-cooked meat and wash your hands after handling
	raw meat.  If you are pregnant and own a cat, feed your
	cat only well-cooked meat or commercial cat food.  Keep
	your cat inside to prevent it from eating mice and birds.
	Wash your hands after handling the pet, and have someone
	else change the litter daily.

	Toxoplasmosis is not a widespread disorder.  Still, 
	pregnant women should take precautions that you own
	a cat, and don't get a new cat during pregnancy.  For
	a free new brochure with more information, write:

	Toxoplasmosis, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
	Diseases, Building 31, Room 7A32, Bethesda MD 20205.

Comments:

My first comment I cannot make too emphatically:  If your child
is born prematurely, insist on a blood test to see if toxo is
present.  The test can be done on the placenta or umbilical cord
at no pain to mother or child.  Blood test on the child requires
only a small amount of blood.  If you doctor is skeptical, yell,
scream, etc.  If you don't like to raise your voice, whisper 
"malpractice."

0) Toxo is easier to get and more widespread than the article
implies.  Experts believe that lots of mild cases go undiagnosed.
If you are pregnant, PLEASE BE CAREFUL !!!

1)  Cat saliva, as well as cat feces, can contain the parasite.
It is therefore dangerous for pregnant women to even pet a cat.

2) All types of raw and undercooked meat are dangerous:
Lamb (especially), beef, pork, poultry.  Raw eggs also.
(None of the cases we know of are thought to have been caused
by cats).

3) Toxo symptoms may be mild, or hard to spot in the 
infant as well as in the mother.  For example toxo
was the cause of the following in our son, but it took
a year to diagnose:

	a) premature birth

	b) weak appetite at birth

	c) inability to maintain body heat

	d) farsightedness

	e) crossed eyes

	f) susceptibility to respiratory infections, especially
	   pneumonia

	g) constipation

	h) "failure to thrive" syndrome: seriously underweight
	no appetite, uninvolved with social environment

	i) developmental delays  -- late to smile, sit
	reach for things, etc.

Other symptoms include hydrocephaly, rash, motor impairment,
and others.

4) While generally mild in adults, toxo can can occasionally
cause blindness, brain damage or death.  If blood tests show
that you've had it, have periodic follow-ups to make sure
it hasn't resurfaced.

5) If your child is born with toxoplasmosis, you have no choice
but become fully involved with his or her therapy.  Insist
that doctors explain their reasoning to you.  If doctors 
intimidate you get an ombudsman to accompany you.  Demand references.
Disregard any out-of-date therapy.  (Therapies more than a month
or two old are possibly out of date). 

Further References:

The most extensive review of current thinking about toxo is 
a 170 page article in the book "Infectious Diseases of the Fetus and 
Newborn Infant," W. B. Saunders Inc, Philadelphia.  The article
contains an extensive bibliography.

Shorter descriptions are available from the March of Dimes and 
from the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta.

Is the risk to pregnant cat-owners lessened if the cat is an indoor
cat and eats only canned catfoods?

RE: .1

I would say that in this case the risk is negligible, provided the cat
*never* goes outdoors, is known not to have toxoplasmosis itself, and does
not associate with other cats that do go outdoors.

--PSW

Our understanding was that immunity to toxoplasmosis can be acquired, and
that many adults are already immune (presumably through having had a mild
infection or exposure on an earlier occasion).  When Lynne was pregnant,
she had a lab test which indicated that she had toxoplasmosis antibodies,
and was thus presumably safe from future infection.  I believe (though I
am not sure) that it is also possible to vaccinate for toxoplasmosis; if
so, it is certainly necessary to do so well BEFORE the pregnancy occurs.

	-Neil