Toxoplasma - Please help

Hi all,
I just came from the Dr and he advised the test showed I am positive to the Toxoplasma test. Meaning I have been exposed during the early stages of pregnancy (cat litter). I can remember the exact day too... Although I have no symptoms and feel well I do have my concerns. Has anyone else been in this situation? Did you have further testing to find out if you still carried the parasite? Being exposed is different to being infected right? I wont be able to get any more help/info until I see the OB in a couple of weeks.:pray:
I feel just sick with worry as signs can show up way-way after birth in the baby and not necessarily before.
Does anyone have experiences that they can share? Im feeling quite disturbed over this.
Thanks in advance
K

I don't know the answer I'm sorry :( But just wanted to ask when the test was done for this? I'm just looking at the blood test referral I got from the GP, and it doesn't look like it's listed to be tested for?

I hope you're right about exposure beinig different to infection. Can you ring your OB? I know I can always ring my OB with any concerns, and don't have to wait until my next visit.

*hugs* waiting to know things like this is hard. Good luck.

One thing with toxoplasmosis is that when you test, you test for a value or a titre which shows exposure or present infection. Did he say you were exposed recently? They can't really tell a date, but if you have a higher titre it would mean a recent infection or a medium titre meaning one in the past. I would definately get him to clarify this for you. Toxoplasmosis is dangerous to your baby, but not if you have been exposed in the past. So if you already have had exposure prior to pregnancy its okay now and nothing you can do can expose your baby to an infection now.

ETA: Have you had gastro recently? The symptoms of a toxoplasmosis infection are similar to gastro in an adult.

So I would definately ask him to clarify, in fact I would ring and leave a msg saying you are VERY concerned about the results and need some clarification. If you are in an infection at the moment, they would usually give you antibiotics to cover for your baby.

Liz - Toxoplasmosis isn't always tested anymore, but its one of the pre-pregnancy tests like rubella immunity that can be tested. I have had it tested both times because of being a vet nurse & having come in contact with toxo quite a bit in my line of work.
The signs of infection are similar to gastro.

Kaylene,
I feel i need to put my 2cents worth here on this issue. I am a vet and hear so many inaccuracies regarding toxoplasmosis, sadly mostly from GPs who don't seem to know the facts.
Firstly, Christy is very right that you need to clarify some things with your Dr. Having a positive toxo test only means that you have antibodies to this parasite. It is not a test to indicate current infection. You may have been exposed to it 5yrs ago or only a month ago. It does take several weeks to develop enough antibodies to get a positive test so is unlikely that you would have an "active" infection right now. If your Dr was worried, they would suggest a follow up test in a couple of weeks. If the titre (level of antibodies in your blood) rises dramatically over a few weeks, that is an indication your body is responding to a recent infection. If you were exposed yrs ago then you are actually immune and there would be no danger to your baby even if exposed again right now. The only danger is when exposure happens during the pregnancy to women with no prior immunity.
Did you have a negative test prior to pregnancy?
Secondly, don't be so quick to blame the kitty litter. Cats are given far to harsh blame for this disease. Yes, they are the major carriers of the parasite but most infections in humans actually occur through ingestion of poorly cooked meat . Cats aquire the parasite from eating affected rodents (rats/mice) and will then shed toxoplasma spores in their faeces. In a normal, healthy cat, however, this shedding will only go on for a limited time (weeks) before the cat develops immunity -he/she will then never shed toxoplasma again in their life unless they become ill/immune compromised (eg feline aids etc). Thus, a young cat who hunts is the greatest risk. Older, totally indoor cats are a unlikely to carry/shed toxoplasma.
So, how old is you cat? and does he/she have opportunity to hunt rats/mice?
Simply having cleaned a cat litter tray or even owning a cat does not equal source of infection.
I have handled hundreds of cats over the yrs and cleaned almost as many litter trays!!!
I also have two cats at home and cleaned their litter throughout my preganancy. I have been tested several times for toxoplasmosis and always negative as have been many other veterinary staff that I know.
I understand your worry regarding your test because it is a great risk to unborn babies.
You really should ring your GP or OB to discuss the result further. It may well be that you were exposed even prior to concieving this baby in which case he/she (and yourself) are perfectly safe.
HTH - please let us know how you go.

Just to add further. Someone correct me if I am wrong but I am pretty sure that you would need to be changing kitty litter that has poo in it thats more then 24 hours old.
I have also been tested for Toxo when I first fell pg with my first (I am also a Vet nurse) and at the time I hhad been working in the field for 6 years & had not been exposed.

Yeah thats right the poo has to be over 24 hours old.

Is toxoplasmosis able to be contracted from blood on blood contact or just in the poo? Does the strong worming tablets u get from the vet cover toxo? I have 3 indoor cats who eat household bugs and sometimes have raw meat but are wormed on time, are they low risk? Just wondering I been changing the kitty litter half and half with Dad2be depending on who's home when it stinks too much to be ignored..

Sorry to hijack the thread, didn't think i'd clutter the forums with another on a similar topic :)

ummmm, I could be wrong but I think it needs to be ingested.
Just out of curiosity(sp?) why are you concerned about blood on blood contact? Did your cat scratch you & you scratched it back? LOL

Honestly, as long as you are hygentic when handling the kitty litter & its changed regular you should be ok. Poo's need to be older then 24 hours & you'd need to touch it, then eat or put your hands near/in your mouth. So wash your hands well after cleaning it up & clean it regular.

Also be careful when working in the garden as kitty cats love to poop in there too so diggin around in what could be a cats open litter tray... ew! So garden gloves & wash your hands!

Kaylene: I hope the responses make you feel better. I have seen toxo in a newborn a few times and each case it was from the mother eating improperly cooked meat.
I have had cats all of my life. As a small child I slept with my cat until I was 15 - all outdoors cats that would regularly leave a rat on the doorstep for me! I request toxo screening with all of my pregnancies (because I am a nurse and just a bit anal! :cryinglaugh:). I have never come in contact with the parasite. It isn't easy to contract as the others said.
I hope you can contact your obs and get some answers. It's not okay for you to be left with all of these questions.

Please keep us posted with how you go... I will be thinking of you... :hug:

Celticmoon - No you cannot catch it from blood/blood transfer - has to be from ingestion of something a cat has pooed on/in or poorly cooked meat of an animal that has ingested something a cat has pooed in/on. As I have said before, cats themselves are not commonly the direct source of infection.
Worming tablets will NOT provide any protection against toxoplasma for cats. There is currently no vaccine/tablet etc to protect kitties . Not much of a market to even try and produce something as cats themselves rarely get sick with the parasite - they are just a host. Your cats being indoors does make them low risk (parasite is not carried by bugs)and as long as you take care with standard hygiene after cleaning the litter and handling them, then they pose no real risk to yourself or your bubba.

Hi everyone

Thankyou all so very much for your responses. Soon after I posted this my Dr called and he has requested further tests. Until they come back, I don’t know I suppose I feel quite ill and the tears... Well you can imagine. The cat in question was a stray I pulled from a drain. It was feral, probably 4 months old, covered in its own U know what and starving. I cleaned it up fed him and gave him to the local vet. I was 2-3 weeks pregnant and didnt know. This is the only time I could have been infected. I feel sooooo damn stoopid. I remember having a cold and my lumpy throat about a month later though now I have nothing. Thought it was the flu. I feel sooooo damn stoopid.
I feel like I waited so very very long and so patiently to have this baby and I go and possibly kill his brain by not wearing gloves. I feel so angry with myself and so sorry for my unborn baby who didnt have a say. Why didnt I call RSPCA instead.

Sorry I need to tell someone how I feel or I might vent somewhere I shouldnt.
I will post any updates when I get them.
Meanwhile :pray:
K

Best of luck. It does sound like there is good reason to do further testing. I hope you can get some rest & that every thing turns out A ok.
Don't beat yourself up, You helped a poor kitty. You did what you thought was best at the time.

kay - i came & seaeched BB to see if anyone had toxoplasmosis & i found your post - vent away all you like & you can contact me when ever you like - sending huuuuuuuuge hugs & a hug from my big girl to your big girl