Can't shake toxoplasmosis fears

[Ak627]

I am 24 weeks pregnant and have major toxoplasmosis fears, due to having a young cat who has just started hunting.

I have had 2 private tests, both of which have come back to say I have not been infected with toxo before and am not immune. The most recent test was just last week.

I’m back to panicking again now because yesterday the cat came in with muddy paws, which I had to clean up - I then washed my hands and afterwards ate a sandwich - I feel worried about whether I washed my hands thoroughly enough before eating, as I did it on autopilot.

This morning my OH opened the cat flap - which I’ve realised now has some mud on it due to the cat coming in and out of the house in the rain yesterday. He only rinsed his hands with water - no soap - and then made me some toast (although he’s adamant there was no mud on the bit of the cat flap he touched).

I just can’t shake my anxiety on this, it’s making me so stressed and nervous.

Midwife says unless I have eaten cat poo I have nothing to worry about, I just worry about what’s in the mud I’m touching from the cat.

Can anyone provide some perspective on this? I’d like to relax about it - it’s taking over my mind!! Thank you.

No advice I’m afraid OP, but as I have exactly the same fears as you.

I have a cat who’s a real hunter and sometimes gets poo caught in the hair around his bum as he’s long-haired.

I’m terrified that he could have licked his bum and then his fur... then I’ve stroked his fur and inadvertently put my hand in my mouth

Are you in London by any chance and if so, where did you get the private tests done? I’m going to ask my midwife but am so worried I’ll just be dismissed. I don’t really know where else to turn.

I really think there should be routine testing for toxoplasmosis in the UK as there is in some other countries, as I know the risk is very low but if you do have it, the effects sound so serious.

I'm outside of London, but went to a Nuffield hospital. It costs around £80 per test.

The NHS Midwives/Drs seem completely unconcerned about it (which is somewhat reassuring) but it's the feeling of not knowing that I hate.

There seems to be 2 arguments:

1 - that it is really rare so the chances of getting it are low.
2 - if you've had a cat you've probably already had it (which is not true in my case)

I feel the two contradict each other, which only increases my anxiety. I wish we could opt in to monthly testing for it like they do in Europe, it would put my mind at ease knowing it is being monitored.

I know what you mean. I’m going to ask my midwife about it at my 16 week appointment but expect to be given short shrift

I had this fear, I actually asked the midwife to test me so it was added to my booking bloods, and then I was tested again at about 16 weeks and a few times after that when I was having blood taken anyway. She said I could have it done until the end of the pregnancy but as time went on my anxiety settled and I didn't bother for say the last 10 weeks. You really are nearly past the worse time to get it and you would be unlucky to get it if you aren't actively touching the poop.

@ruralcat Is it best to phone and ask in advance of the 16 week midwife appointment or should I just ask her when I get there?

Hiya, I understand your worries. I had a panic in the first trimester because I'd been doing quite a lot of gardening (in garden which cats often come in) and hadn't always worn gloves or washed my hands meticulously. I looked into it a bit and decided to be careful but not to worry about it (any more than anything else when pregnant!).

This is an NHS document were they discuss whether there should be a screening programme or not - file:///C:/Users/Samuel/Downloads/UKNSCExternalReviewofToxoplasmosisScreeninginPregnancy.pdf

They report 327 known cases in UK in 2012. I don't want to sound flippant, but as a comparison, 1800 people died in the same year in car accidents. So you could argue you are nearly 5 times more likely to get killed on the road than for your baby to get toxoplasmosis. I put in this comparison because I think most of us are still happy to leave the house when pregnant and I am certainly not panicking every time I cross the street - and that is much more risky.

The report also says " it is estimated that 30 to 60% of Toxoplasma infections are from under cooked meat and there are no figures on the proportion of infections from direct contact with cats (with less than 1% of cats actively shedding oocysts)." The oocyst is the bit of toxoplasmosis that infects you. So if you are not eating undercooked meat you have already reduced the chances of getting infection, and there is a 99% chance your cat doesn't shed toxoplasmosis anyway.

As I understand it, the harm it causes reduces the further along on pregnancy if you do get it. For example, stillbirths/miscarriages tend to be when you get it in the first trimester. Perhaps you could have another private test when the baby is born just to reassure yourself you haven't picked it up along the way and then the baby could potentially have treatment/be tested if you had picked it up.

The two arguments you mention don't contradict each other - they are separate things. When you look at the general population, there is an estimate that " 7% and 34% of the UK" have already had toxo (these estimates are very vague though and that is an old estimate from before 2001). So most people have not already had it, so even though you have a cat - it's not that unusual. And it doesn't change the fact it is extremely rare.

I don't know if this reassures you or not. I found looking at the risk and thinking about all the other things that have risks in life, but which I don't worry about, made me feel better. It is extremely rare and you are already taking lots of precautions.

Good luck for everything in your pregnancy.

This is an extreme level of anxiety. You don’t need monthly testing. You need to address the anxiety.

Meant kindly, but you are being ridiculous. This level of anxiety not normal and I’d look for help with this instead.

I have a 8 week old baby, throughout my pregnancy I looked after my 3 cats, flock of hens and horse. I was routinely covered in mud and animal poo. I washed my hands and wore gloves and we were all absolutely fine.

If it helps I regularly kiss my cat (on fur around her head) and forget about TTC and toxoplasmosis...if you think about it they bury their crap so it's in their paws, fur and then they walk all over your house you can't avoid it. But..there are a million other things that could go wrong that are far more likely and you'll give yourself a nervous breakdown worrying about them all!!!

@wondering7777 we had already agreed at my booking appointment at 10 weeks that I would be tested at 16 weeks. My 16 week appointment was with my consultant in the hospital so he just gave me the forms and sent me to have it done in the AAU. I'd contact the midwife in advance if I was you to make sure she has the necessary equipment.
To reassure you I tested negative at every test despite living with an elderly cat who was very very unclean.
I'm not sure whether you suffer anxiety when you're not pregnant but for me it's very much a pregnancy thing and I think to a certain extent it's very normal.

I'm inclined to agree with PP's; in the kindest way this is over the top. It is a very, very low risk and without catastrophising, worse things could happen in terms of odds to you than this.

This is very OTT, you need to speak to a professional about the anxiety!

When you look at the general population, there is an estimate that " 7% and 34% of the UK" have already had toxo

I still don’t understand this - if up to 34% of the population have already had toxo, then how can there also be a 1 in 10,000 chance of getting it? Surely 34% is more like 1 in 3 chance!

The oocyst thing is reassuring though.

No advice for you, just wanted to offer you some sympathy. I also had the same fear of toxo during pregnancy, what helped me was to let DH clean the littertray and wash his hands thoroughly after and not allowing the cat in the kitchen so she would have no chance to contaminate any spaces that come in touch with food.

I think anxiety is part of pregnancy and if you can afford it and it gives you peace of mind, why not check your blood each month?

34% may have already had it at some point in their lives, not currently have it. It's only dangerous if you catch it during a small window in your pregnancy. There is not a 34% chance of that. Also, being in a house with pets reduces the risk of your baby having allergies, so there's that :-)

Sorry, my last post was probably not clear (and very long!). As @brightbird says, it's 34% that people have had it at some point and are "immune" to it further. But that's getting it in the whole of their lives. Chances of getting it for the first time during pregnancy and also transmittng it to baby seem to be tiny. Also remember that when it has happened over half of cases might be due to undercooked meats, not cats. I know it's hard not to worry though, look after yourself!

Hi,

The cat thing is a misnomer. The majority of toxoplasmosis in Europe and the US is caused by meat-eating, followed by unwashed greens, with cats and mud/gardening much lower on the list, just above the probability fo getting it from lambing (yes, lambing).
The exact proportions vary country to country, with Italy leading on salami, and most other countries leading on meat that is served cooked, but remained infected because it was slightly undercooked in one spot. Lamb is a key culprit.

So OP, yes, 2/3 of people have already had it, but NOT FROM CATS AND MUD, which is why those two statements don't necessarily make sense to you.

If you're genuinely worried about this risk

• stop eating meat for the duration of your pregnancy (or cook the hell out of it to ensure no possibility of a slightly undercooked section), and wash your greens thoroughly
• wear nylon gloves when touching mud/cat faeces, invert and throw away afterwards

As others have said, I think this is an anxiety issue and you have simply fixated on one risk. Seek prenatal mental health support - anxiety is not uncommon and is definitely something worth medical time and support. I hope you're able to calm these concerns.

I think you have an anxiety problem and really need to get it sorted before you drive yourself to distraction, you poor thing.

My husband is partially sighted due to toxoplasmosis (undercooked meat eaten by his mother whilst pregnant), we have two cats and I'm nowhere near as anxious as you. I would go back to the doctors and rather than focus solely on the toxoplasmosis thing, let them know you're having anxious/obsessive thoughts and see if you can get somehelp. Alternatively I'd really consider self funding some CBT with a good practitioner.

Best of luck!

Yeah, I would treat your anxiety not wish about your cat.

I have 3 and over of them loves giving and receiving kisses. He wipes his slobbery mouth all over me and of course I'll be touching his fur.

Baby and myself is fine. Just avoid doing the litter tray of you have one, which so far has been the best bloody thing about pregnancy, not doing that thing.

It's fine to be cautious I've some things. Like not French kissing your cat. (Mine has tried). But getting to this point where you are in this state is just silly. I mean that nicely. I know what anxiety is like as I've had it about other things. And it really is silly the states you get your/mtself in over certain things.

Here's some more information: blog.thingswedontknow.com/2019/11/toxoplasmosis-things-we-dont-know-about.html