Cat lovers, Cat haters, this is a MUST READ

[*MAD DOG*]

Taken from http://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-nigh...6/toxo-terror/

15 October, 2012
Reporter: Alex Cullen
Producer: Stuart Goodman
Associate Producer: Lanneke Hargreaves

Toxoplasmosis: it’s a disease that affects more than 2 billion people worldwide. In some countries it is the leading cause of blindness. There is no accurate data, but about 8 million Australians have it, and yet most of us are unaware that we have it.

If you have Toxoplasmosis, then you have microscopic parasites living in your brain, in your muscles and even in your eyes. Once they have invaded, there is no way of ever getting rid of them.

The strange thing about these parasites is that they can only sexually reproduce in cats. Given there are 20 million cats in Australia, it is no surprise that about 30% of us have them living inside us.

The parasite passes through the cats, and the eggs hatch out in the cat poo and can then live in or on the soils for over a year. They can be splashed up onto vegetables, you can get them on your hands in the garden, and because they can live in any warm blooded creature, you can get them from eating undercooked or raw meat.

One scientist described this as, “the locust of parasites.” Whenever scientists have looked, they have found it in every warm blooded creature on earth.
The biggest threat is to women who have never had Toxoplasmosis, but who get it for the first time during pregnancy.

If that first contact is in the first trimester of pregnancy, they will lose the baby. In the second trimester, the baby may die or will be born with severe brain damage. If the mother gets first-time Toxoplasmosis in the third trimester the baby may have serious brain damage or minor eye damage.
If Toxo is acquired in the latter stages of pregnancy, and the mother is aware, then there is treatment, which is often successful.

Once infected, the body builds up anti-bodies, which prevent a re-infection.
Most of the time these parasites just lie dormant, but shocking new research has revealed that even as the Toxo parasites lie dormant, they could be responsible for far more than we ever expected. Studies in Europe and America have shown that there is a strong link between Toxo and schizophrenia.

There are a number of medical teams working on vaccines for humans and cats, but until that happens, there is nothing we can do but learn how to live with one of nature’s most successful parasites.

Simple rules for avoiding Toxoplasmosis

Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat. If you like a rare steak or undercooked lamb, freezing the meat first will kill the parasite. You can also get Toxo from chicken, pork, kangaroo, or any other uncooked meat product.

Wash hands before meals, and after handling raw meat.
Empty kitty litter every 24 hours. The parasite takes at least 24 hours to hatch out of the cat poo.

Vegetables eaten raw should be washed and scrubbed.
Garden in gloves. Remember even if you don’t have a cat, the neighbourhood cats may get into your garden.

Stay away from playground sand pits that have not been covered at night.
Women thinking of having a baby should be particularly careful. It might be wise to ask for a test.

If you test positive to the anti-bodies for toxoplasmosis before you get pregnant, then you cannot be infected during pregnancy.
For more information, visit Toxoplasmosis: Reducing the Risks and frequently asked questions about Toxoplasmosis.

SUNDAY NIGHT approached the Australian government Department of Health and Ageing and received this response from a spokeswoman:

''The Australian Department of Health and Ageing understands the concerns of pregnant women and parents about toxoplasmosis infection and supports recommendations by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that,public health action should focus on preventing toxoplasmosis through the use of good personal hygiene and good food handling practices.

Toxoplasma can be transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food including meat, fruit and vegetables and from soil. Rarely transmission from mother to baby can lead to infection and even more rarely serious disease in the new born baby.

Acknowledging these risks in Australia we are working closely with doctors on this issue and evidence-based guidelines for medical practitioners emphasise the importance of educating women about how to reduce the risk of becoming infected with toxoplasma.

For example, the RACGP Red Book - Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice - which are evidence based guidelines for use by general practitioners in Australia, recommends that to avoid infection with toxoplasama, pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant should avoid cat litter, garden soil, raw/uncooked meat, unpasteurised milk products, and wash all fruit and vegetables.

We are also ensuring that in the National Evidence-Based Antenatal Care Guidelines currently being developed by the Australian Government in collaboration with state and territory governments that there is a specific section on toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is not a nationally notifiable disease anywhere in Australia. Like the UK, Australia does not recommend routine screening for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy nor in the newborn. It is important for pregnant women to discuss the risks and benefits of testing and treatment with their doctor.
Studies have assessed the number of babies who are born with toxoplasmosis. In one study, the proportion of babies who were born with toxoplasmosis was 1.7 babies per 100,000 livebirths, while in another study 3 babies amongst 18,809 livebirths were born with antibodies to Toxoplasma, but they had no symptoms.

It is important for pregnant women to discuss prevention and screening strategies with their medical practitioner.''