Hygiene measures

Hygiene measures are essential in avoiding infection with TG.

Early treatment is not associated with a reduction in the risk of fetal malformations. For this reason, the prevention of infection is crucial.

1. Food/Nutrition associated risk reduction

• Meat cooking at appropriate temperatures;
• Freezing of meat for a few days at temperatures below 0 ˚ C to reduce the risk of infection;
• The cleansing and persistent cleaning of fruit and vegetables;
• Cleaning of utensils with hot water and detergent after contact with raw meat or with unwashed fruit and vegetables;
• Persistent washing of hands before, during and after preparation of food and before meals;

2. Environmental risk reduction

• Avoiding the consumption of untreated/unfiltered water;
• Wearing of gloves at gardening and any contact with soil that can be contaminated with TG infected cat fecal;
• Careful washing of hands after contact with the cat;
• Educating children about the importance of hand washing in the prevention of infections;
• Feeding the cat only with dry food, special for cats or cooked food, not sufficiently heat-prepared;
• Changing the litter of the cat daily (the parasite becomes infected 1-5 days after the removal in the cat’s feces), but not by the pregnant woman;
• Avoiding stray cats;
• Do not adopt a new cat during pregnancy.

Women who have been diagnosed with acute infection are advised not to get pregnant less than 6 months after diagnosis, although there are no studies to establish a clear safety period.

Vaccination

There’s no vaccine.

Do I have to give up the cat if I’m pregnant?

No, but you must follow the following tips during pregnancy:

• Avoid cat litter cleaning as much as possible.
• If there is no one else who can perform this task, you must wear gloves and wash your hands rigorously with soap and water after cleaning the cat litter.
• You must make sure that the cat litter is changed daily. Toxoplasma does not become infectious until after 1-5 days after the oocysts has been eliminated through the cat’s feces.
• Feed the cat with dry or canned commercial food, not raw or insufficiently prepared meat.
• Hold the cat in the house.
• Avoid contact with stray kittens and do not purchase a new cat when you are pregnant.
• If you store out the cat litter, hold it closed.
• Wear gloves when you come into contact with soil or sand, because it can be contaminated with cat feces.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after activities such as gardening.

-->Dacă vă place acest articol, adăugați-l la Favorite (If you like this article, add it to your Favorites)