Toxoplasmosis: a disease that exists due to cats
When to worry about toxoplasma?
If you have been infected with toxoplasma in the past, then you have antibodies that protect your baby from infection. It is recommended, however, to wait six months from the infection to become pregnant. If you had toxoplasmosis just before or during pregnancy, then the infection can pass to the fetus. You are likely not to experience any symptoms during the infection or you may have flu-like symptoms. The newborn may have problems, usually from the eyes or the brain at birth or may not show symptoms at all birth, but could suffer from blindness or mental retardation, later in life.
How is toxoplasma transmitted to humans?
The parasite infects cats when they eat rodents, birds and other small animals. The parasite is then excreted by millions in the cat’s stools. So soil, fruit and vegetables are contaminated. In the body of animals, contaminated from soil and food, the toxoplasma multiplies and installs in the muscles, brain, liver and elsewhere. These animals may be carriers for many years without symptomatology. Consuming poorly cooked pork, lamb, veal or poultry can carry the parasite to humans.
How can I protect myself from toxoplasma?
- If you have a cat, ask someone else to change the soil and if it is not possible to do so, wear plastic gloves and wash your hands with warm water and soap.
- Change your cat’s soil daily, because the parasite becomes contagious 1-5 days after its excretion in the cat’s stools.
- Feed your cat with packaged food.
- Keep your cat in the house.
- Wear gloves during gardening or any contact with soil and wash your hands with hot water and soap.
- Eat the meat well cooked. If you use a thermometer you could follow these guidelines: the meat should be at least 63° C at its thickest point and leave it to rest at least 3 minutes after cooking. Minced meat must be at least 71 ° C and poultry 74 ° C and leave it to rest for 3 minutes after cooking.
- If you freeze meat at a temperature below zero, the chance of being contaminated is reduced.
- Fruits should be washed and if possible eaten peeled.
- Wash the cutting surfaces, knives and hands thoroughly if you have come into contact with raw fruits and vegetables and raw meat.
- Avoid drinking water from the river and springs because it may be contaminated.
