Toxoplasmosis

[Mimimi1029]

Hi everyone,
I already posted in 'antenatal tests' but thought I would ask here as here us a bit more traffic!

I was wondering if anyone here ever had or currently has an akute Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy?!
Unfortunately in the UK the Test is not routinely offered (I am from Germany) so I had to chase up my midwife to get it. I am currently 16 weeks and just had the test yesterday! Waiting for results, with how slow everything is going at the moment I am assuming it will take ages for the results to come back!
I have a really bad feeling that I might have it and would be interested if anyone here has experience with it?

Any information would be helpful!

P.s. I know it is very rare, but it is also not unheard of and because it is not usually tested many women don't even know when they have it

What makes you think you have it, OP?

I got a kitten just a few weeks before I found out I was pregnant. Adult cats are not really infectious even with outdoor access as they don't shed the eggs anymore, but kittens with outdoor access are a high chance! I've always been the one cleaning the litter tray (before the pregnancy) and even after but with gloves and obviously washing hands BUT she had diarrhea (sorry TMI) a few times and I had to clean after her multiple times.

When I found out I was pregnant at first I didn't even thing of toxo, but then I remembered and freaked out! I am 16 weeks now and am experiencing mild headaches and a sore throat.

It could all be a coincidence and I could be really lucky and my cat hasn't ever catched a mouse (which I can't guarantee) but I have a really bad feeling and am really scared!
I already suffer from anxiety (with treatment) so this is not helpful!

I know a few women in germany who had it during pregnancy but because it is checked there very early on they can start treatment immediately within the first weeks of pregnancy which greatly reduces the risk of infecting the baby.
But I am now 16 weeks! And still waiting for results..

So just wanted to know if anyone had any experience with this!

Thank you

Apparently most cases in the UK come from food and soil, as even cats with toxoplasmosis shed a very small amount of oocytes (0-1%) even if they're infected. It was in the British Medical Journal that's it's very unlikely for humans to catch it from cats. If you washed your hands after and before eating or putting them in your mouth, I'm sure you'll be fine. And also if you changed the litter daily the risk is very very low. When do you get your results?

A very small amount of cats shed oozysts because it is predominantly young cats / kittens with outdoor access and they only shed it for 2 - 3 weeks after infection. And that's exactly my situation unfortunately 😣
I am still waiting for the results. The waiting part is the worst with all that uncertainty!
Is there no one here who has experience with this?!

My friend had a juvenile cat that was outdoors (and did actively hunt and bring mice) when pregnant. She looked into it and didn't get tested because they changed the litter daily. Apparently it takes 24 hours for the oocytes to become infectious. She's got a lovely toddler now and all was fine. Obviously that's anecdotal.

I hope your tests all come back alright and they come back quickly. It's exhausting worrying and feeling anxious

Thank you!
Yes I am trying to be patient 😞

Do you use the Badger app for maternity notes? I keep logging on to see any updates but everything is just blank.. even the scan I had doesn't show up on the notes and unfortunately my midwife is always a bit slow.. I was hoping to see the results on the app before we go on holiday (don't even feel like going on holiday anymore in case anything comes up).
Do you ring your midwife for results or the hospital directly?
Any advice?

Oh ha my Badger was never really updated. I'd call the numbers on your maternity notes and see if anyone that answers on those could help. Def follow up, I think sometimes the admin of uploading things on the apps can be slow

I’ve had cats pretty much my whole life and my antenatal blood test (it’s a standard test in the US) showed that I’ve never had toxo. Apparently it’s really quite rare and more likely to come from food or soil than a cat.

Firstly, I get the anxiety. I have cats and had chronic anxiety in my first pregnancy so I do understand it's easy to spiral.

A few things that should reassure you:

1. As a previous poster has said, any toxo nasties that your cat may have shed wouldn't be infectious for 24 hours. So if you cleared up the diarrhoea immediately then there is no risk.
2. You may be immune already, in which case there is no risk even if you caught it again.
3. Even if you did catch it in the first trimester (which is unlikely anyway), then it's actually highly unlikely it will transmit to the foetus. The graph attached shows that in the first trimester, the likelihood of transmission to the baby is less than 10%.
4. If your 12 week scan showed no abnormalities then you can take some comfort in this.

Hope that helps 💐

I was found to have caught it during the 3rd trimester when pregnant with my youngest.

The sign of having some sort of infection was a rapid increase in amniotic fluid between scans (I was scanned more often than usual for unrelated reasons). The hospital were able to compare my previous blood tests which indicated roughly when I'd caught it.

I was induced the day following diagnosis (at 37 weeks).

Baby was totally fine and is now a strapping 14 year old.

We don't know where or how I caught it - I never went near cats or their poo - although we did have 2 dogs at the time and one of them was a 'roller'!!

Wishing you well OP - hoping you don't have to wait too long for your results.

Hi @Mimimi1029 did you receive your blood test results and is everything okay ?

I have just text my midwife asking if I can have the blood test as I have developed a sore throat, headache and swollen glands and can be symptoms of toxoplasmosis. I have 2 indoor cats that have never hunted or had the chance to since living with us but I do have to clean them out (which I do as soon as they have used litter tray so multiple times a day).

I know it is rare but rather be safe and get treatment if I need too.

Hi, sorry for the very late response.

Yes they came back negative. I totally understand your concern, but these symptoms are very unspecific so probably just a common cold / virus. But yes better be safe. Also it sounds like your cats are indoor cats and litter gets changed daily / immediately so that is all good.
Xx

I have actually had toxo🙈 blood test showed I have antibodies but not off a recent infection which is good. Least I know I’m immune now and can clean the cat litters out without work x