Can you get toxoplasmosis from touching a cat

Precautions include:. Cats are only infectious for a few weeks after ingesting the parasites and kittens are more likely to pass on the infection than older cats.

Suggestions on reducing the risk of infection in your cat include:. Treatment of toxoplasmosis is often unnecessary. The infection is diagnosed with a simple blood test that checks for the presence of specific antibodies.

A healthy person who is not pregnant and becomes infected does not require treatment. Symptoms, if any, are usually mild and disappear after a few weeks. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Anthrax is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial disease that occasionally infects humans.

The Western obsession with cleanliness may be partly responsible for the increase in allergic asthma and conditions such as rhinitis. Careful prescribing of antibiotics will minimise the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.

Aspergillus is a fungus that commonly grows on rotting vegetation. It can cause asthma symptoms. The simplest form of prevention for lyssavirus is to avoid close contact with bats.

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Skip to main content. Birth defects. Home Birth defects. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Symptoms of toxoplasmosis Duration of infection with T. Symptoms of toxoplasmosis In most cases of animal and human infection, toxoplasmosis does not cause any symptoms.

Symptoms, if they do occur, include: Swollen lymph glands, especially around the neck Muscle aches and pains Headache Fever Generally feeling unwell Inflammation of the lungs Inflammation of the heart muscle Inflammation of the eye, for example, the retina at the back of the eye. Duration of infection with T. Effects of toxoplasmosis on unborn babies If newborn babies are infected, at worst, they will only suffer from mild illness.

Home Diseases and Conditions Toxoplasmosis. Table of Contents. What is toxoplasmosis? Symptoms of toxoplasmosis Most people do not show signs of toxoplasmosis. You may have flu-like symptoms, such as: Fatigue Headache Body aches Fever Swollen lymph nodes glands in your neck People who have a weak immune system may have worse symptoms.

These can include: Confusion Blurry vision Trouble with balance and coordination Seizures Lung problems You may have a weak immune system if you: Have human immunodeficiency virus HIV , which can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS Have cancer Have had an organ transplant Are receiving chemotherapy agents or other medicines that suppress your immune system.

What causes toxoplasmosis? You can get it through food if you: Eat raw or undercooked meat, especially pork, lamb, or wild game Touch something, such as a cutting board or dish, that has been in contact with raw or undercooked meat and then touch your mouth, eyes, or face Eat unwashed raw fruits and vegetables Drink water with the parasite in it Cats can carry the parasite, especially if they hunt animals or eat raw meat.

How is toxoplasmosis diagnosed? Can toxoplasmosis be prevented or avoided? There are many things you can do to protect yourself and prevent toxoplasmosis. Wear gloves when you work outside.

Cats often use gardens and sandboxes as litter boxes. Wash your hands after being outside, especially before you eat or prepare food. Wash your hands after touching cats, soil, or raw meat. Wash or peel all fruits and vegetables before eating them. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or face when preparing food. Use hot soapy water to clean items that have been in contact with raw meat.

Clean the counter after preparing food. Cook meat and poultry until it is no longer pink in the center or until the juices run clear. Avoid eating undercooked meat and unwashed fruits and vegetables. Avoid drinking untreated water. This is more common in underdeveloped countries. Control flies and cockroaches as much as possible.

They can spread contaminated soil or cat feces onto food. If you are at risk, you should take extra precautions. Keep your cat indoors so that it does not pick up the parasite. Feed your cat only dry or canned cat food. Like humans, cats can become infected by eating raw or undercooked meat. Avoid touching outdoor or stray cats. If you have to change the cat litter yourself, wear gloves while you do it. The following recommendations will help cat owners expecting a child to reduce their risk of contracting toxoplasmosis.

Sensible precautions will protect you from toxoplasmosis during your pregnancy, and getting rid of your cat would be an unnecessary cruelty to both of you.

If you are concerned about your well-being, it's far better for you to enjoy your cat's love and companionship throughout your pregnancy and following the birth of a child. Pregnancy and toxoplasmosis. It's safe to keep your cats. The CDC says your cat isn't the greatest threat It's unlikely that your cat will give you toxoplasmosis.

Other animals can transmit toxoplasmosis Cats get toxoplasmosis from eating contaminated raw meat, birds, mice, or soil. Understanding the disease can make you feel safer An understanding of the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii T. How humans get toxoplasmosis Humans most commonly contract the disease from the consumption of undercooked meat, which contains T.

The likelihood of contracting toxoplasmosis Because it's difficult for cats to transmit toxoplasmosis directly to their caregivers, a pregnant woman is generally unlikely to contract the disease from her pet cat.

Several factors keep the chance of such transmission low. Only cats who ingest tissue cysts get infected. Within the feline population, this would be limited to outdoor cats who hunt and eat rodents, as well as cats who are fed raw meat by their owners.

Typically a cat only excretes oocystsis when she is first exposed to T. An outdoor hunting cat is often exposed to the disease as a kitten and is, therefore, less likely to transmit the infection as she ages.