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anything that causes abnormal fetal development due to exposure during pregnancy

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This shows the life cycle of this parasite 

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It is a protozoan parasite that can infect warm-blooded animals like humans and cats, and cause a disease called Toxoplasmosis.

It starts when an infected host, a cat, sheds Toxoplasma oocysts through feces and infects its environment. Any animal that consumes infected soil, water, or plant material becomes infected.

These eggs transform and relocate into the host's nervous and muscular tissue and form cysts.

Cats and other animals can become infected from consuming meat containing these cysts or oocysts in the environment.

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Always wash your hands well, make sure to clean under your fingernails

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fully cooking meat and checking internal temperature with a food thermometer (pork, lamb, venison)

wash hands after handling raw meat, fruits, and veggies

wash all fruits and veggies (peeling can help reduce risk)

do not drink unpasteurized milk or untreated water

do not touch cat feces without gloves and always wash hands immediately after cleaning

wear gloves when in contact with soil or sand when gardening and wash hands

do not pet stray cats and kittens (wash hands if you do)

blood transfusion or organ transplant

practicing safe sex as the infection can be passed to a partner during unprotected sex

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individuals with healthy immune systems may not experience any symptoms or just mild flu-like symptoms like fever, headache, muscle pain, lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes)

up to 1/3 of the world's population is infected with Toxoplasma gondii!

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This cat can become infected by eating an infected mouse 

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How to recognize symptoms of toxoplasmosis in your cat (and other info)

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How to recognize symptoms of toxoplasmosis in your cat (and other info)

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Most cats (and people) with healthy immune systems have mild symptoms. Those with weakened immune systems (FIV, FeLV, pregnancy, and very young or very old) can have more severe symptoms.

Symptoms depend on what organ the parasite infects.

neurological symptoms (pressing head on surfaces)

vision problems/changes in iris color

balance problems (walking in circles)

seizures

lethargy and weakness

diarrhea

loss of appetite, problems chewing food or weight loss

jaundice (yellowing of skin)

Get your cat tested

a blood test can check for antibodies that can 1) indicate a current infection or 2) indicate a past infection

stool samples aren't accurate because an infected cat isn't always shedding infectious Toxoplasma

Treatment - cysts can't always be cleared

an oral antibiotic clindamycin for 2 to 4 weeks

eye drops

appetite stimulants

Most take a few days to start working but infections in the brain can take longer

Prevention is key!

only feed them well-cooked food

don't let them eat wild rodents or other animals that could be infected

clean their litter box daily (Toxoplasma oocysts become infectious as early as 24 hours after being shed)

keep your cat indoors!

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Critical periods of Toxoplasmosis exposure for the fetus

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Critical periods of Toxoplasmosis exposure for the fetus

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1st-trimester (weeks 1-13) infection for the mother - the infection is not likely (less than 6%) but most severe for the fetus

3rd-trimester (weeks 28-birth) infection for the mother - greatest risk for transmission (60% - 81%)to the fetus

mostly asymptomatic but still needs to be treated

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Diagnosing the Fetus - PCR of Amniotic Fluid

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Diagnosing the Fetus - PCR of Amniotic Fluid

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PCR (polymerase chain reaction) copies a specific segment of DNA and makes millions of copies to make it easier to detect and study

only done if the mother has a current infection, if tests are inconclusive, or if an ultrasound shows features of congenital toxoplasmosis

this test should be done after 18 weeks gestation and at least 4 weeks after suspected infection to prevent a false-negative result

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National Human Genome Research Institute

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Diagnosing the Mother - Antibody Testing

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Diagnosing the Mother - Antibody Testing

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IgM and IgG antibody testing from blood can show current or previous infection in the mother but can be difficult to interpret

IgM antibodies can be detected from 5 days to their peak at 1 - 2 months declining rapidly after and can stay in the body for years at low levels

IgG antibodies can be detected from 1 - 2 weeks, peak within 12 weeks to 6 months (remain detectable throughout life)

no antibodies = no previous/current infection

only IgG = old infection

if both = it is recommended to retest within 2 - 3 weeks and if IgG antibodies increase 4x between tests that indicates a very recent infection

IgG avidity testing can more accurately tell us how recent the infection is by measuring how strongly the antibody binds to the Toxoplasma parasite

weak attachment (low avidity) = infected within 5 months

strong attachment (high avidity) = old infection

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Ultrasound is not as reliable at diagnosing toxoplasmosis in fetuses because up to 2/3 of cases of toxoplasmosis are undetected.

a positive ultrasound shows calcifications, microcephaly, hydrocephalus, hepatosplenomegaly, and severe growth restrictions

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Effects of Toxoplasmosis on Fetal Development

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Effects of Toxoplasmosis on Fetal Development

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most newborns have mild symptoms but develop learning disabilities later in life

stillbirth or premature birth

congenital toxoplasmosis (immediately after birth or during the first few weeks)

fever, malaise, vomiting and diarrhea, lymphadenopathy (abnormal size or consistency of lymph nodes), hepatosplenomegaly (swelling and enlargement of the liver and spleen), microphthalmia (small eyes), cataracts, microcephaly (head is smaller than expected), pneumonitis, bleeding diathesis (bleeds or bruises easily), and seizures

classic triad = chorioretinitis (inflammation in the eyes), hydrocephalus (abnormal fluid buildup within the brain), and intracranial calcifications (calcium deposits within the brain or its blood vessels)

up to 80% develop visual or learning disabilities later in life

skin rashes and lesions

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If the mother tests positive for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy medications can either help prevent the spread of the disease to the fetus or decrease the severity of the disease for the fetus.

spiramycin - an antibiotic that doesn't cross the placenta but stays in it to help prevent the spread of Toxoplasma

pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine - only in confirmed cases of fetal toxoplasmosis due to potential teratogenicity and bone marrow toxicity

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1. Toxoplasmosis CDC

2. Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart for Cooking

3. How to Use a Food Thermometer USDAFoodSafety Video

4. Proper hand washing: Step-by-step guide

5. Toxoplasmosis in Cats

6. Congenital Toxoplasmosis ScienceDirect

7. Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy PubMed

8. Toxoplasmosis NIH

9. The Important Role of Laboratories in the Diagnosis and Prevention of Toxoplasma Infection

10. Role of Toxoplasma gondii IgG Avidity Testing in Discriminating between Acute and Chronic Toxoplasmosis in Pregnancy

11. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

12. ULTRASOUND IN TOXOPLASMOSIS

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This should be advertised to anyone considering having a child, individuals at risk of becoming/getting someone pregnant, those who are already pregnant, or those who have intimate physical contact with someone pregnant.

This should be advertised where many people in this group will see it, like at colleges, pharmacies, any medical offices, and online on pages about pregnancy.

It's important to make this information accessible because of how common this teratogen is and how severe the effects can be.

Don't Risk the Tox, Stay Clean, Cook, and Box

Clean - washing hands often and well

Cook - cooking food to recommended temps

Box - cleaning the litter box daily to prevent infection