toxoplasmosis

Uffin wrote:

I think you did the right thing for you. I don't understand why so many
people are attacking you. My cat is an outdoor kitty who came with the house
when we bought it. He is perfectly fine outdoors and he will never be an
indoor cat because both my DH and I are allergic even though he is as sweet
as he can be. I don't understand why people are making such a big deal about
it anyway.. cats are cats not people and if you feel your baby was in danger
then you did the right thing. I think the baby is just a *little* more
important than the kitty.

But it's a red herring to cast this as a choice
between the cat and the baby. There's no need to make a
choice. There is no danger to the baby in having the cat
around under normal circumstances. The issue is about
getting accurate information before putting the cat at
risk, not about whether cats or babies are more important.

Best wishes,
Ericka

Good point.. it also depends where you live. I live in a warm climate with a
good amount of land. So my kitty won't become an ice popsicle and the one
time that it reached -18C we put him in the garage.

-Meagan



"Tori M." wrote in message
...
I think it is differant if a cat has ALWAYS lived outside. The cat we
have
was headed for a life as a barn cat but I found out that only 2 kittens a
year on average live the entire winter in my neighbors barn. They keep it
planty warm but the kittens just die off. I decided that I was taking in
the little guy so he did not become an ice popcicle. Now the dumb thing
is
20 zillion times more annoying then any other cat on the planet so I only
threaten to send it over to the barn.. At this point I think it would be
cruel to throw him outside for good.

Tori

--
Bonnie 3/20/02
Anna or Xavier due 10/17/04
"Uffin" wrote in message
om...

"libbymom04" wrote in message

lkaboutparenting.com...
In my opinion it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your
unborn children. I personally put my cat outside when I found out I
was
pregnant. The research I did when I was pregnant I found that any cat
could put you at risk even if it is a small percent.


I think you did the right thing for you. I don't understand why so many
people are attacking you. My cat is an outdoor kitty who came with the
house
when we bought it. He is perfectly fine outdoors and he will never be an
indoor cat because both my DH and I are allergic even though he is as
sweet
as he can be. I don't understand why people are making such a big deal
about
it anyway.. cats are cats not people and if you feel your baby was in
danger
then you did the right thing. I think the baby is just a *little* more
important than the kitty.

-Meagan

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/a.../pethealth.asp

"Since its discovery, toxoplasmosis has been found in virtually all
warm-blooded animals including most pets, livestock, and human beings."

read the article in full

Hillary Israeli wrote:
In oMJvc.40539$eY2.25666@attbi_s02,
zolw wrote:

*Most (if not all) pregnant women have a blood test at the beginning of
*their pregnancy to check for toxoplasmosis (cause it can cause defects).

Of course, a positive IgG is comforting in early pregnancy, whereas a
positive IgM is greatly concerning, and believe it or not, there are
obstetricians who do not understand that.

*What many women don't realize is that it is safer to test even before
*conception. Also, when I had my dog, I had him checked for toxoplasmosis
*at the vet. (it is somewhat expensive, but better safe than sorry)

Why on earth would you do that? Dogs do not shed toxoplasma oocysts.
Unless you were planning on EATING your dog (and eating him undercooked at
that), I do not understand how you would contract toxoplasma from your
dog. The cat is the definitive host for toxoplasma, and the parasite can
not form the oocyst stage outside of the definitive host. Can you
elaborate on why exactly you spent money on a toxo test for your dog? I
hope your vet didn't recommend you do this...

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/a.../pethealth.asp

"Since its discovery, toxoplasmosis has been found in virtually all
warm-blooded animals including most pets, livestock, and human beings."

read the article in full

Hillary Israeli wrote:

In oMJvc.40539$eY2.25666@attbi_s02,
zolw wrote:

*Most (if not all) pregnant women have a blood test at the beginning of
*their pregnancy to check for toxoplasmosis (cause it can cause defects).

Of course, a positive IgG is comforting in early pregnancy, whereas a
positive IgM is greatly concerning, and believe it or not, there are
obstetricians who do not understand that.

*What many women don't realize is that it is safer to test even before
*conception. Also, when I had my dog, I had him checked for toxoplasmosis
*at the vet. (it is somewhat expensive, but better safe than sorry)

Why on earth would you do that? Dogs do not shed toxoplasma oocysts.
Unless you were planning on EATING your dog (and eating him undercooked at
that), I do not understand how you would contract toxoplasma from your
dog. The cat is the definitive host for toxoplasma, and the parasite can
not form the oocyst stage outside of the definitive host. Can you
elaborate on why exactly you spent money on a toxo test for your dog? I
hope your vet didn't recommend you do this...

Ericka Kammerer wrote:
I just think that many people are given bad information
about the real risks involved, which is a shame.

You said it!!!! Also, a lot of people don't understand what the
statistical risk of getting some disease really means. It's very
unfortunate. Leads to way too much worry.

Hillary Israeli wrote:

Academics aside, my husband has been changing the cat litter for five
years in a row merely because he knows I HATE CHANGING CAT LITTER.
Sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

Mine has been changing it for years as well, but because he likes it. I
don't know why, but he just... does. I think it's because he always
wanted a pet as a kid and his parents never allowed it. Now that he
finally has pets, he basically monopolizes everything about them.


That being said, I'd like to point out that I've been working with cats
since I was in the sixth grade, including several years as a professional
veterinary technician and more as a student and then as a graduate
veterinarian. I have worked with many cats in intensive care settings with
documented, active cases of toxoplasmosis. My last toxo titers were drawn
when I got pregnant with my now-19 month old, and they were NEGATIVE for
exposure, recent or historical. I will be having titers drawn again next

That happened to me, too. I've had cats forever and I've done plenty of
gardening, yet I'm negative.

On Fri, 04 Jun 2004 13:43:09 -0400, "libbymom04"
wrote:

Wow! I feel like I am being attached. Someone said they wouldn't get rid of
their cat unless it intervened with their lifestyle, well I wasn't being
cruel to our cat it was just my life changed and that happens!

Your actions are being criticized because they were poorly informed, and
cruel to a cat who had been a part of the family. Pets are not supposed
to be conveniently disposable.

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite so it doesn't act in the same way
as worms or bacteria might. From my understanding, nearly any animal can
act as an intermediate host for the parasite, but only cats are the
definitive host, and therefore only cats shed oocysts. The parasite forms
bradyzoites and tachyzoites in the tissues, and oocysts are shed.
Bradyzoites remain in the tissues for the entire life of the cat, but they
are usually held in check by the animal's immune system, and remain
inactive. In the intermediate host there is brady/tachyzoite formation but
there is no oocyst production.

To be infected (as an intermediate host) you must either ingest an oocyst
(from the environment, eg. by not washing veg or hands) or ingest
bradyzoites or tachyzoites, (from eating meat from intermediate host that
isn't cooked thoroughly). In humans infection usually results in a flu-like
illness which resolves quickly and is only dangerous if the person is
immunocompromised, however bradyzoites remain in body tissues for the rest
of a person's life. Infection *during* pregnancy can result in tachyzoites
crossing the placenta resulting in congenital toxoplasmosis.

I wouldn't rely on a cat not carrying the disease because of it being a
house cat. It can be exposed to oocysts in the environment in the same way
a person can, and is less likely to wash its hands! Oocysts can be spread
by flies, carried in on shoes, food etc. Another possible route of
infection that is probably irrelevant to most people is transmission from
sheep during assisted lambings.

An important thing to remember is that it takes 24 hours for oocysts to
become sporolated, ie. to be activated and capable of causing an infection
if ingested, so ideally if you have to clean the litter tray, you should be
doing it thoroughly *at least* once a day.

Hope that helps clear things up a bit
Sorry its a bit long!

Amy


"zolw" wrote in message
news:mZawc.45380$3x.8731@attbi_s54...

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/a.../pethealth.asp

"Since its discovery, toxoplasmosis has been found in virtually all
warm-blooded animals including most pets, livestock, and human beings."

read the article in full

Hillary Israeli wrote:

In oMJvc.40539$eY2.25666@attbi_s02,
zolw wrote:

*Most (if not all) pregnant women have a blood test at the beginning of
*their pregnancy to check for toxoplasmosis (cause it can cause
defects).

Of course, a positive IgG is comforting in early pregnancy, whereas a
positive IgM is greatly concerning, and believe it or not, there are
obstetricians who do not understand that.

*What many women don't realize is that it is safer to test even before
*conception. Also, when I had my dog, I had him checked for
toxoplasmosis
*at the vet. (it is somewhat expensive, but better safe than sorry)

Why on earth would you do that? Dogs do not shed toxoplasma oocysts.
Unless you were planning on EATING your dog (and eating him undercooked
at
that), I do not understand how you would contract toxoplasma from your
dog. The cat is the definitive host for toxoplasma, and the parasite can
not form the oocyst stage outside of the definitive host. Can you
elaborate on why exactly you spent money on a toxo test for your dog? I
hope your vet didn't recommend you do this...

*"zolw" wrote in message
*news:mZawc.45380$3x.8731@attbi_s54...
*
*http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/a.../pethealth.asp
*
* "Since its discovery, toxoplasmosis has been found in virtually all
* warm-blooded animals including most pets, livestock, and human beings."

Yes, I know that. However, just because toxoplasma has been found in most
mammals, there is no reason to believe most mammals can PASS ON
toxoplasma. Did you read what I wrote?? Here, I will quote myself again:

* Hillary Israeli wrote:
*
* *What many women don't realize is that it is safer to test even before
* *conception. Also, when I had my dog, I had him checked for
*
* Why on earth would you do that? Dogs do not shed toxoplasma oocysts.
* Unless you were planning on EATING your dog (and eating him undercooked
*at
* that), I do not understand how you would contract toxoplasma from your
* dog. The cat is the definitive host for toxoplasma, and the parasite can
* not form the oocyst stage outside of the definitive host. Can you
* elaborate on why exactly you spent money on a toxo test for your dog? I
* hope your vet didn't recommend you do this...

ONLY CATS are the definitive host. ONLY CATS can shed the infectious part
of the life cycle. This is not in dispute by the AVMA. The article you
suggest I read confirms this when it says "Of all the infected animals
tested, only cats are the perfect hosts for the production of the
infectious and resistant Toxoplasma oocysts. The oocyst, released from the
intestine of cats in their feces, is very hardy and can survive sleet,
freezing, and even several months of extreme heat and dehydration."

Note there is nothing about the oocyst being released from anyone else's
intestine. ONLY CATS. What exactly was it you thought I would get from
this article that would support testing of a dog owned by a pregnant
woman?? Believe me, if I thought there were ANY chance a woman could get
toxo from her dog without eating the dog, I'd be telling my pregnant
clients about it.

So, why again did you waste your money testing your dog? Was it your OB or
your vet who suggested it? I would ask for my money back if it was one of
them. If it was you, well, live and learn and now you know

-h.
--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net
"uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."
not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large

"libbymom04" wrote in message
lkaboutparenting.com...
I am so offened. I will no londer be posting here because of this comment!
I am very ticked off! How dare you say that to me! You don't even know
me!! I am a great mother to my child and you have some nerve.

It was simply food for thought - I was simply juxtaposing two important jobs
that require patience and training, to show that perhaps putting the cats
outside was an inappropriate decision to make. Again, how many of us would
put our kids outside for drawing on the walls? I would suggest none of us
would. I am merely suggesting that a little bit of love and understanding -
and patience, will insure a happy co-existence with your kitty just as it
does our children. I love my kitties with all my heart, and I presumed it
was not a stretch to make an analogy with those others we love with all our
heart.

That said, I am really impressed with the amazing power I wield in
newsgroups! With just the flourish of my keyboard I can make posters decide
to self-banish! Why I'm a regular Harry Potter. If only this happened to me
in real life!

jacquel
-trying the Jedi Knight hand movement next