Can pregnant women keep cats? Pay attention to these issues and don't be afraid of "worms"

Author: Hou Jiayi, Deputy Chief Technician, Shanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Reviewer: Li Xinling, Chief Physician, Shanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Pet cats bring joy to many families, but the saying that "keeping cats is not good for the health of pregnant women and fetuses" has always troubled cat lovers. Among all the effects of keeping cats on pregnant women, people are most worried about toxoplasmosis infection. On the one hand, they are worried about the health of the baby in the belly, and on the other hand, they cannot abandon the cat that has accompanied them for many years and has a deep affection for them. Is it really impossible to have both keeping cats and being pregnant?

What is Toxoplasma gondii?

Toxoplasma gondii is very small and invisible to the naked eye. It parasitizes in the cells of humans and animals and flows through the blood to reach all parts of the body. Toxoplasma gondii has five different forms: trophozoites, cysts, schizonts, gametocytes, and oocysts. Trophozoites and cysts can exist in the human body, while the remaining forms can only exist in the final host - cats and felines. Cats mainly acquire Toxoplasma infection through infected cat feces and by preying on mice and birds. Generally speaking, cats will excrete oocysts within the first two weeks of infection after their first infection with Toxoplasma. The oocysts will develop in the outside world for 1 to 2 days or longer before becoming contagious.

Figure 1 Toxoplasma gondii parasites in the cells of humans and animals

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What harm does Toxoplasma gondii do to pregnant women?

Adults with normal immune function are mostly infected with Toxoplasma gondii as latent infection, and only 10% to 20% of patients have mild cold-like symptoms. When immunity is low, infection can cause fever, fatigue, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, etc. If a woman is infected with Toxoplasma gondii in early pregnancy, Toxoplasma gondii can pass through the placental barrier and infect the fetus, leading to miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, or anencephaly, hydrocephalus, microcephaly, microphthalmia, intellectual disability and other deformities.

How to prevent Toxoplasma infection if there is a pregnant woman at home?

1. Pay attention to food hygiene

Cats are not the only ones that can spread Toxoplasma gondii. Contaminated food and environment can also spread it. Toxoplasma gondii is mainly transmitted through the mouth, so in addition to cats, unwashed fruits and vegetables, raw or undercooked meat, and cooked food contaminated by raw meat can also spread it. Therefore, developing a good habit of washing hands before meals and after defecation can minimize the chance of "disease entering the body through the mouth".

2. Raise cats scientifically

Cats may be infected with Toxoplasma gondii after eating infected mice or birds. Therefore, cats should be kept at home, fed cooked food or ready-made cat food, and not allowed to go out to hunt. At the same time, attention should be paid to daily hygiene, and cats should be cleaned up in time or within 24 hours after defecation to avoid the development of Toxoplasma oocysts. During the first three months of pregnancy, pregnant women should strictly keep a distance from pets, especially avoid contact with cat feces. If contact is made, wash hands carefully after contact.

Figure 2 Pregnant women should avoid contact with cat feces

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3. Actively test for Toxoplasma gondii

The owner can take the cat for an animal toxoplasmosis test before conception. If the toxoplasmosis antibody is positive, it means that the cat has been infected with toxoplasmosis or has a certain degree of immunity; if the toxoplasmosis antibody is negative, the cat may not be infected, but it should also be prevented.

At the same time, women can go to the hospital for routine toxoplasmosis examinations during pregnancy preparation and early pregnancy to reduce the occurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis in the fetus. If both Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies are negative, it means that the pregnant woman has not been infected with Toxoplasma. At this time, prevention of infection should be done and regular check-ups should be conducted. If IgG antibodies are positive, it indicates that infection has occurred in the past; but if IgM antibodies are positive, it indicates that Toxoplasma has been infected recently.

In short, although Toxoplasma gondii may cause miscarriage or fetal malformations in pregnant women, the incidence of Toxoplasma gondii in my country is not high. Pregnant women can keep cats during pregnancy as long as they have a correct understanding of Toxoplasma gondii, raise cats scientifically and take effective precautions.