Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Toxoplasmosis and Pregnancy-How To Keep Your Cat, You and Your Baby Safe from Infection

Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy is one of the leading
reasons why people get rid of their cat. Working
for an animal shelter one of the most frustrating
times is when an expectant mother or father drop
of their family cat because they are expecting a
newborn baby. They fear that having a cat exposes
the unborn baby to toxoplasmosis.

What is Toxoplasmosis?

This is a fairly common disease that can be
shared between humans and animals. Roughly 30-40
of adult humans and cats have antibodies
indicating that they were exposed to the organism
that causes toxoplasmosis. The disease,
Toxoplasma gondii(T. gondii) is a parasite the
can only reproduce in one host - cats.

The most common way your cat can become infected
with T. gondii is by eating a bird or rodent that
has the cysts in it's body tissue. Once you cat
eats an infected critter they begin to reproduce
in the lining of your cat's intestines or
stomach. The cells produce two reactions in you
cat.

The immune system fires up and blocks off some of
the cysts in your cat's muscles and nerve tissue.
Eventually this helps your cat develop and
immunity to the disease. The other reaction is
that non-infections oocysts are eliminated in
your cat's feces.

While your cat is building up his immunity those
oocysts are piling up in the litter box, garden
or you kid's sand box. In about 5 days those
oocysts sporulate and become infectious. These
oocysts can survive in the environment for months
or even years.

How You Become Infected

Scientists believe the way cats and humans get
this disease when they eat the tissue cysts
embedded in undercooked meat. You cat may eat a
chipmunk or bird, but you may get it eating
undercooked pork or lamb. T. gondii can infect
any warm-blooded animal.

There is another way you can become infected. A
person can come in contact with old feces.
Remember, it takes 5 days for the oocysts to
sporulate and become infectious. Where do you
find old cat poop?

You can find it in your litter box if you don't
clean it daily. You can also find it in your
garden and kids sandbox. You or your kids go
digging around in this and you may unknowingly
touch your mouth becoming infected. The only way
you, your fetus, or your family can become
infected is to ingest a Toxoplasma gondii
sporulated oocysts.

Tips to a Healthy Pregnancy and Keep Your Cat Too

1. Wear gloves when you handle raw meat.
Thoroughly was your hands and the surfaces the
raw meat touched. 2. Wear gloves when gardening
and wash your hands afterwards 3. Seriously
consider getting rid of the backyard sandbox 4.
Wash fresh produce 5. Don't drink raw goat's milk
6. Clean you litter box daily 7. If your are in
charge of cleaning the litter box, wear gloves
and wash you hands afterward

Now you know that you don't have to get rid of
the cat if you become pregnant! Just use good
common sense and wash your hands frequently. It's
not rocket science but it helps you and your
family avoid all kinds of infections, not just to
be pregnant and prevent toxoplasmosis.

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Kate Rieger is partnered with the Kentucky
S.N.I.P clinic to provide affordable homeopathic
alternatives for pet owners. Visit her site
http://www.Better-Pet-Health.com to find out more
about a natural supplements to boost immunity in
your pets.

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