Toxoplasmosis

[Jackie117]

Well I got tested for toxoplasmosis twice and both came back a little high one being border line and the other a little higher. They did another blood test for it, and sent it to a special lab in California because they said that sometimes the test could be wrong and this lab specializes in this test.  Now I have 2 kitten but I never change the littler box. My husband changes it. Even when I wasnt pregnant I barely changed it. I'm scared bvecause if I do have it it can cause m/c or birth defects. Now I'm 15 weeks and so far everything seems ok. Hopefully the test comes back negative. I am really scared. Does anyone have any information on this they can share or have gone through a similar situation and let me know how it turned out. Anything would help!

[Jackie117]

I'm sorry about your m/c. I'm glad that my cats don't jump on my counters. ANd  their little box is in the basement. I will keep everyone informed about what happends.

[KellyA74]

I think that in order to contract it thru cats you have to actually ingest feces (sounds gross I know).....But when I was preggo I was always worried that the cat got on the counter while we weren't home and transferred a little poo from his litter box to the countertop and then I would touch even a small piece of food on it....ugh....anyway, I just Clorox the heck out of my counter tops now (not preggo anymore due to M/C), but am paranoid about cat poop!  LOL!  The gardening issue is that outdoor cats use gardens as a litter box.....
And by the way, can I borrow your husband for a week?  LOL!  
Lots of luck with your testing...it sounds as though you are pretty careful and shouldn't have anything to worry about!

[Jackie117]

I hope everythinh will be ok. I'm glad to hear that someone else has had it and their baby turned out to be ok.....  (kjbutcher) Reffering to your husband! Thanks everybody.

[lidalbit]

Wow I didn't even know toxoplasmosis existed. I just had to google it....I had no idea what it meant......I'm glad I got a lil educated on it.....Goodluck with your pregnancy I'm sure everything will be just fine.

[kjbutcher]

well the good news is is if you do have it, you most likely wont get it again.  If it turns out you do have it, a series of tests will be done to see if baby has it.  you will get extra u/s and tests to make sure baby is ok.  studies have not shown an increase of miscarriage rate.  my mother in law had it with my husband and he turned out to be a genius!  (not from the toxoplasmosis, obviously)

[Jackie117]

Has anyone have this happen and everything be ok?

[Jackie117]

I hope they do too... I will let you know. I know they take a while to come back though.   :(

[Heather5]

Yeah, I've heard that too. Raw meat, unpasturized milk, even gardening puts you at risk. Hopefully, the results will come back A-OK from California!

[Jackie117]

My kittens are indoor. I adopted them from a rescue. I belive they were born outside and then rescued. I also heard that you can get it from raw meat but I like my meat well done so I dont think it was from that. My fist test said the level was 1.1 and the second said .9. Im hoping the next one comes back negative. Then another paper they gave me it said <6.5 which I dont know what that means. So I'm hoping the special lab in Cali says the test was messed up.

[Heather5]

...and one more thing... I've also heard that if your husband cleans the litter box every day, the chances of getting toxoplasmosis is very low, as it takes a certain amount of time before it becomes infectious (can't remember how long...but it's more than one day).

[Heather5]

You know, I've read before that if you've already been exposed to toxoplasmosis, you build up immunity to it. So when you have the test done, if it's positive, you need another test a while later to determine if it's an old strain (immunity) or an active strain (which means you have it now).

Are your kittens outdoors? There's much less of a chance of catching toxoplasmosis from indoor cats, as the cats get it from eating infected rodents and birds. Oh and I don't think you get it from the dust, only through the feces.

[Jackie117]

Thanks for your response. i forgot to mention my little box is in my basement and i dont go down there. My washer and dryer is down there but my husband washes the clothes. And he always washes his hands hes a clean freak.

[BTS1022]

Well im not scientist or doc, but I think toxoplasmosis can also be trasfered to your system via dirty litter dust. Im not 100% sure on that though. I know once you get it your pretty much immune to it. A lot of people who have owned cats their whole lives are sometimes immune aswell. I have had cats since I was a newborn, and I cureently have 4. I may be immune to it, but I still dont take the chances of handling the litter box. When hubby changes it I wear a mask when in the area so the dirty litter dust doesnt get into my system.

Also, make sure your hubby washes and disinfects his hands and arms very good, because if he handled a piece of cat poop with his hands, and then you had some kind of contact with his hands you can be affected as well.

I hope the best for you, and I will keep you in my prayers.