Pregnant check in 12-27! (a day late!)
Dec 29, 2016 23:58:46 GMT -5
Post by DVMmomma on Dec 29, 2016 23:58:46 GMT -5
@wineandcupcakes DEEP BREATHS! If you or those babies get toxo, then the rest of us should probably go buy power ball tickets because we're all going to win.
It's estimated that in the US, a MAX of 1% of cats are ever shedding what could potentially be infectious oocytes in their poop. Take into account how many dang cats there are in the world (feral plus indoor) and do the math and you'll note this number is crazy low. Even if a cat is infected with toxo, s/he will only shed infectious oocytes for 1-3 weeks, not constantly. So this brings the number of potentially infected poop piles down even further.
Now, let's pretend your pup found the magical leprechaun pile of poop that DID in fact have infectious oocytes...
As far as her being a vector, no. Just no. Toxoplasma gondii is a coccidian (protozoan) organism so it's not an 'egg' in the sense we think of when we think of other intestinal parasites that are super opportunistic. Protozoa aren't terribly intelligent
Also, it is impossible for her to become infected herself, unless she finds the infected cat (or other infected mammal) and eats said animal alive. So, as gross as it is, all the poop eating in the world won't be an issue. (Side bar- have her dewormed regularly if she's going to keep up this habit as I do worry about other intestinal parasites that can potentially be an issue for your kids once born and once running around encountering the dog's poop).
And lastly, if it's of any comfort, toxoplasma doesn't want you. You're a dead end host and pointless to it's survival. It'd rather hang out in the poop and wait for another cat to come by. Or a rodent. It'd probably most like a rodent.
It's estimated that in the US, a MAX of 1% of cats are ever shedding what could potentially be infectious oocytes in their poop. Take into account how many dang cats there are in the world (feral plus indoor) and do the math and you'll note this number is crazy low. Even if a cat is infected with toxo, s/he will only shed infectious oocytes for 1-3 weeks, not constantly. So this brings the number of potentially infected poop piles down even further.
Now, let's pretend your pup found the magical leprechaun pile of poop that DID in fact have infectious oocytes...
As far as her being a vector, no. Just no. Toxoplasma gondii is a coccidian (protozoan) organism so it's not an 'egg' in the sense we think of when we think of other intestinal parasites that are super opportunistic. Protozoa aren't terribly intelligent
Also, it is impossible for her to become infected herself, unless she finds the infected cat (or other infected mammal) and eats said animal alive. So, as gross as it is, all the poop eating in the world won't be an issue. (Side bar- have her dewormed regularly if she's going to keep up this habit as I do worry about other intestinal parasites that can potentially be an issue for your kids once born and once running around encountering the dog's poop).
And lastly, if it's of any comfort, toxoplasma doesn't want you. You're a dead end host and pointless to it's survival. It'd rather hang out in the poop and wait for another cat to come by. Or a rodent. It'd probably most like a rodent.