Toxoplasmosis worry - again.....?

Question

Hi, I'm 23 weeks pregnant, and just about the worst thing that could have happened, has happend. My partner and I went away for Christmas and he had left locked the cat flap by accident, and the cat was trapped in the utility room for three nights.... She had pooped and obviously you can imagine the room was a mess. I didn't clear it up myself, my partner wore gloves and disposed of the mess and then cleaned the floor with antibac floor cleaner and with Bleach.
I'm still worried about it. Could I have caught toxoplasmosis from this? I didn't go in the room myself, but I am still freaking out like mad about this. What are your views? The cat has now gone to be looked after by my mums as I was so worried about it all.

If the cat did have toxoplasmosis, could the oocysts stay in the environment and spread around the house???

Must add, that I have googled this subject extensively, I know you have to ingest it, but I guess I am just so scared that some how the oocysts are still in the room and could escape into the rest of the house, I mean, would the bleach have killed the toxoplasmosis?? If the cat was indeed infected

Answer 1

No you should be fine. unless you were locked in there for three days with the cat. It's a myth. You don't even need the cat out of the house!

Just when the baby is born keep the door closed so the cat can't get to the baby. The cats think babies are warm little heating pads and want to curl up with them, they could suffocate them on accident.

A lot of people think it's called "sucking the breath from the baby" but it's a myth too.

P.s. hun the can doesn't have toxoplasmosis, it's what you get from the feces!

Answer 2

CHECK the CDC page on toxo.

No, unless your cat was a carrier, he'd have had to be exposed less than 2 weeks ago because they ONLY can spread it for 14 days. After that they're immune.

Have you cut up raw meat for supper? THAT is the primary way humans get toxoplasmosis. You've been exposed already if you have (as 90% of us have been) so you're immune.

You can also get it from gardening, as the stuff lives in dirt. It's extremely rare for an indoor cat to have toxo at just exactly this point in time, only 2% of cats tested do have it. I'd say your window of opportunity is zero.

Besides, toxo is spread by you touching the poop then your face BUT it's neutralized if you wash your hands with soap and water. If you did the bleach thing, there's nothing left there to spread, even from standard bacteria germs from the poop itself.

Answer 3

You can get a blood test to see if you have antibodies to toxoplasmosis. Have you had this done yet? I think most OBs and midwives do this routinely for women who have cats. More likely than not, you've had prior exposure if you have a cat that goes outdoors. The easiest way to prevent it is not keep the cat inside. They get it from the soil outside.

The reality is, you're far more likely to get it from eating unwashed fruits or veggies than you are from cat poop.

If it makes you feel any better, I have FIVE cats and am on my second healthy pregnancy. The risk is insanely minute, unless you routinely play in the litter box. hehee

Answer 4

You are far more likely to get toxoplasmosis from handling raw meat (preparing a meal) or from gardening in the yard than from a litter box.

The bleach will have taken care of it, if there was ever a risk of toxoplasmosis. No need to worry.

Answer 5

Your probably just fine, but if your that freaked out about it talk with your vet and see about getting you cat tested. It's very unlikely the cat has Toxopasmosis. And when cleaning the litter yes use gloves and were a mask, it's best to let your man do it and you stay away just in case. But really talk with your vet the extra moneys on a test, will be worth it to you in the end.
Yes bleach will kill it.

Answer 6

does your cat go outside??

if so it has probably already had Toxioplasmosis and you have probably already been exposed to it long long ago...

they get it from mice who only shed it the first time they get it.. the cats only shed it the first time.. and thus you can only get sick for one time.. if your cat is an indoor only cat there is probably no risk..

the risk is actually only durring a certain stage of pregnancy.. I am not sure what that stage is ... cant remember...

anyhow doctors tend to over react to the concern and frighten people needlessly..
toxioplasmosis is NOT air born.. you are only at risk if you touch the poop then your mouth.. did you do that??

I wouldnt panic too much, I would supply the kitty with a litter box in the utility room though...

remember kids who grow up in homes with 2 or more pets are proven to have lower problems with asthma or allergies..

Answer 7

i know this sounds strange but how many times have you played in the garden and not washed your hands before touching your mouth. so you've prob got immunity if you've had tests at the doctor when you first got pregnant and he didn't say anything. so you stressing is prob doing more damage to your baby then the cat was if your worried that much you need to ring nhs direct an they'll talk you though or your health assistant. just get it over and done with

Answer 8

This is your first baby isn't it?
Relax, we will say it again, you have to come into DIRECT contact with cat poop to get toxoplasmosis. This means, don't eat cat poop, don't play with cat poop and don't put your feet in the litter box with cat poop.
Ok? Now go do something to help you calm down and relax. You don't need to be stressing out at this time in your pregnancy.

Answer 9

You must come into direct contact with the waste to get infected, plenty of pregnant women still do the litter with gloves, although not recommended. You didn't handle the stuff so you are not infected

Answer 10

There is virtually no chance of you getting this unless you touched the faeces. Your partner has done a thorough clean up job and has taken great care over that. Don't worry about it any more, the stress isn't good for you or the baby.