How did everyone have a good time during the Spring Festival holiday that just passed? As a shit-sweeper, the editor often receives "teachings" from the elders. While urging marriage and childbirth, he also reminds me, "Give away the cats you have at home if you can, or else in the future." What should I do if I'm pregnant? "Look, it's already 2024, and there are still many people who believe in the rumor that "you can't raise cats when you're pregnant." Today, Xixi is here to talk to you about raising cats during pregnancy!

Is it true that raising a cat will cause fetal malformations?

This statement is true. According to the evidence, the culprit is Toxoplasma gondii. If a pregnant woman is infected with Toxoplasma gondii, it may enter the fetus through the placenta. If the infection is early in pregnancy, it may lead to premature birth, miscarriage, fetal malformation, stillbirth, etc. Infection in late pregnancy may cause sequelae to the fetus several years after birth; As the only terminal host of Toxoplasma gondii, cats are also the only animals that excrete Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in their feces. When these feces contaminate food, drinking water, soil, etc., the parasite will be transmitted.

Therefore, the worries of the elders are also reasonable, but as a new generation of poop shovelers, we cannot compromise on this. We have to continue to fight and fight to get justice for our kittens. !

(Toxoplasma gondii under the microscope)

Will cats be infected with Toxoplasma gondii?

Of course not, because it takes a lot to become infected with Toxoplasma gondii through domestic cats. Conditions: First, the cat must happen to eat raw meat contaminated with Toxoplasma gondii cysts or oocysts, and the cat must have never been infected with Toxoplasma gondii before, then it will excrete oocysts through feces within 3 to 20 days; the oocysts must also happen to be It incubates in the environment for 1 to 5 days and turns into sporulated oocysts that are infectious; at this time, the scavenger happens to come into contact with feces containing oocysts, eats directly without washing hands, or the cat rubs the oocysts on it On food utensils, the oocysts may enter the human body and begin to multiply.

So you see, the following conditions must be met for Toxoplasma infection through domestic cats:

① Cats will come into contact with contaminated raw meat or other birds, mice, etc. that may carry eggs ;

②The cat has never been infected before;

③The poop scraper did not clean up the poop in time, giving the oocysts the opportunity to hatch;

④ The scavenger came into direct contact with the daddy and ate without washing his hands or the daddy contaminated the food.

For cats who have basically no chance to go out in cities, it is quite demanding to meet the above conditions at the same time, so being infected with Toxoplasma gondii through domestic cats is really not the main way!

What are the other ways of infection of Toxoplasma gondii?

As a pathogenic protozoa widely distributed around the world, Toxoplasma gondii can infect humans, cats, dogs, pigs, cattle, Sheep and other animals, and may exist as tissue cysts in animals for a long time. Therefore, the most common infection route is eating undercooked animal meat containing Toxoplasma gondii (including drinking contaminated raw water, Dairy products, etc.); In addition, if a dog that often goes out is accidentally contaminated with eggs in the wild, it may also infect the owner.

Therefore, due to reasons such as eating habits and keeping free-range pets, the infection rate in European and American countries is generally high, and the infection rate in some areas is even as high as 60%. In my country, where food is cooked at high temperatures and urban pets are mostly kept at home, the infection rate is relatively low. In the early years, statistical data inferred that the infection rate of Toxoplasma gondii in the Chinese population was about 8%.

How do you know if you are infected?

Some friends will definitely say, 8% The infection rate is not low. For women who are preparing for pregnancy, how can they check for infection?

In view of the wide range of infection routes and the insidious symptoms of Toxoplasma gondii, experts recommend that women who are planning to prepare for pregnancy should do a Toxoplasma serology antibody IgM test at least three months before preparing for pregnancy, regardless of whether they are women. /IgG quantitative detection.

○If the test results show that you have been infected before pregnancy and have recovered ("IgG+" "IgM-",), then you can safely prepare for pregnancy, because this means that you already have immunity. No need to be afraid of Toxoplasma gondii;

○If the test results show that you have been recently infected with Toxoplasma gondii ("IgG+" "IgM+"), you should pay attention. You can seek treatment advice from a professional doctor and wait for at least 6 You can prepare for pregnancy if you are more than 1 month old;

○If the test results show that you have not been infected ("IgG-" "IgM-"), you can prepare for pregnancy normally, but you must take precautions during pregnancy, and Carry out the above examinations regularly according to your doctor’s recommendations.

After reading this, do you feel more confident? For expectant mothers who have withstood the pressure and never given up on their cats, Xixi not only gives you likes, but also has some warm reminders to help you spend your pregnancy more safely and smoothly!

The "three dos and three don'ts" to prevent Toxoplasma gondii

○ Pets should be dewormed regularly (to reduce the impact of other parasites on cats and humans)

○Clean the cat litter box every day and clean and disinfect it regularly (if possible, families should try not to let pregnant women clean the cat litter box)

○Wash your hands frequently (before meals, after going to the toilet, after shoveling, and handling litter) After raw meat, after gardening activities... it’s right to wash your hands more often)

○Try not to keep free-range cats

○Pregnant mothers are not recommended to come into contact with stray animals

○Do not eat meat, dairy products, etc. that have not been quarantined and processed (the same for cats and people)

For families who are interested in adopting cats, if they have plans to prepare for pregnancy in the near future, Xixi also recommends that everyone Be cautious and be able to withstand all the pressures that raising a cat may bring before considering adoption. After all, you are responsible for a life!