7^th February 2005
Of interest to pet owners, farmers, veterinary practitioners, animal handlers and anyone who handles food...... 

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a tiny parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite is harmless to most healthy adults and children, but can cause illness in people with underdeveloped or weakened immune systems.  If a woman becomes infected during pregnancy, there is a substantial risk that the baby will become infected. Infection of the unborn child can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, brain and eye defects.  The symptoms are vague, and include fatigue, headache, sore throat, aching muscles and sometimes fever.

Kittens and young cats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis. They pass out the parasite in the faeces.  Mature cats are less likely to shed the parasite.  Sheep are frequently infected and Toxoplasma is one of the main causes of abortion in sheep. Handling lambing ewes, the afterbirth or newborn lambs can all lead to human infection. 

Less often, animals such as sheep, pigs, goats and deer become infected by eating feed contaminated with cat faeces. People can be infected by eating undercooked meat or even handling raw meat and not washing hands afterwards.  Toxoplasma can also be found in unpasteurised goats’ milk, on unwashed raw fruit and vegetables and in soil contaminated with cat faeces.  

If you are pregnant or your immune system is not healthy, you should take the following precautions to prevent infection:

Avoid handling cat litter if at all possible.  If this task cannot be avoided, wear rubber gloves and wash hands afterwards.  Cat litter boxes should be changed daily as the parasite does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it is shed in the faeces,

Cover children’s outdoor sandboxes to prevent cats from using them as litter boxes,

Always wear gloves when gardening and wash hands afterwards,

Avoid contact with sheep at lambing time,

Avoid handling dirty clothing used by those handling lambing ewes and newborn lambs,

Wash fruit and vegetables before eating,

Ensure that meat is thoroughly cooked with no trace of pinkness,

Wash hands, cooking utensils and work surfaces in warm soapy water after handling raw meat,

Avoid unpasteurised milk and unpasteurised milk products.  

If you think you may be infected with Toxoplasma, you should see your general practitioner.