In case you do not have immunity, some things you can do to avoid toxoplasmosis infection during pregnancy include:
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Not cleaning cat litter trays. If this is not possible, you should wear gloves when cleaning the litter tray. |
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Litter should be disposed of daily, as it becomes infectious after 24 hours and the trays should be disinfected by washing with boiling water. |
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To decrease the chances of your cat being infected, feed them dry, canned or boiled foods and do not let them out for hunting and scavenging. |
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Meat should be cooked thoroughly (well done). Wash your hands and kitchen utensils (knives) thoroughly with soap and warm, running water after handling raw meat, or after coming in contact with soil or sandpits. |
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Children's sandpits should be covered when not in use. |
Information sources
Dunn D, Wallon M, Peyron F, Petersen E, Peckham CS, Gilbert RE. Mother to child transmission of toxoplasmosis: risk estimates for clinical counselling. Lancet 1999;353:1829-33.
Enkin M, Keirse MJNC, Neilson J, Crowther C, Duley L, Hodnett E, Hofmeyr J. A guide to effective care in pregnancy and childbirth. 3rd Ed. 2000, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Hohlfeld P, Daffos F, Thulliez P, Aufrant C, Couvreur J, Mac Aleese J et al. Fetal toxoplasmosis: outcome of pregnancy and infant follow-up after in utero treatment. Journal of Pediatrics 1989;115:765-9.
Peyron F, Wallon M, Liou C, Garner P. Treatments for toxoplasmosis in pregnancy (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2003. Oxford: Update Software.