Toxoplasmosis? Watch out when you are pregnant!

This involves measuring Toxoplasmosis antibodies IgG and IgM in your blood (serum) to see if you have this parasite, which can be dangerous to your baby.
Complaints such as fever, rash, feeling lethargic, or feeling constantly tired? Beware when pregnant.

How many days after the suspected parasite infection could I do this test? the following applies:

• IgM test: At least 1 to 2 weeks after suspected infection.
• IgG test: At least 2 to 4 weeks after suspected infection.

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite. This parasite cannot be seen with the naked eye. You don't get really sick from toxoplasmosis. However, you may develop symptoms such as fever, a feeling of lethargy and swollen glands. Once you have had toxoplasmosis, you cannot get it again. The body has then formed antibodies against the parasite. Many people have experienced toxoplasmosis without noticing it themselves. Yet it turns out that about 45 percent of pregnant women have no antibodies against toxoplasmosis.

The effects on the unborn baby

Symptoms of disease range from asymptomatic to mild with lymphadenopathy (cervical), fever, general malaise, rash and eye complaints. Immune-compromised individuals (especially HIV/AIDS, transplantation) are at increased risk for a severe course. A pregnant person who experiences a primary infection is at risk of having a child with congenital Toxoplasmosis. Especially with an infection in the first trimester, the risk of serious pathology is high.
When the mother has toxoplasmosis just before or during pregnancy, the baby can also get the infection through the placenta. Unlike the pregnant woman, the baby is at risk. The baby can develop serious abnormalities, for example, of the nervous system (water head) and of the eyes (it can become blind). Often the problems do not show up until later. Should a pregnant woman have a serious toxoplasmosis infection, medication can help. It is important, however, that the infection be detected as soon as possible.

How to get toxoplasmosis
Catsand felines are the reservoir for this parasite and humans can become infected by eating contaminated raw or inadequately heated meat, contact with cat feces (litter box, gardening), in utero if the pregnant woman has a primary infection or through organ transplantation. The incubation period is 10-23 days.

What to do to prevent toxoplasmosis

As an expectant mother, it's best to be on the safe side and make sure you don't come into contact with cat feces. Using gloves is an option, but it is even better to have someone else change the litter box while you are pregnant. When the litter box is cleaned daily, you prevent the parasite from multiplying. Cats often do their needs in the garden, so it is important to put on gloves when working in the garden. Be careful with unwashed vegetables and do not eat raw meat (the toxoplasmosis parasite can occur in raw meat). Meat must be cooked through and through before it can be eaten. Sandwiches, such as tartar, filet American, raw roast beef or black pudding should also be avoided until after delivery. Furthermore, it is important that you pay attention to good hygiene in the kitchen.

The incubation period is approximately 2-4 weeks, which is the time between infection and the appearance of symptoms. The period in which the IgM toxoplasmosis antibodies can be demonstrated is approximately between 7 and 21 days.

You can therefore perform the test 7 days after the suspected infection. Note that the test must still be sent by mail and that you can only have blood drawn from Monday to Thursday. So if you want to do it, make sure you get the test in time, if you would like to perform it through us. If you want to know if you are immune, look at the IgG antibodies.

For more information see: http://www.rivm.nl/Onderwerpen/T/Toxoplasmose/Toxoplasmose_en_zwangerschap

literature:

Prevalence, incidence estimations, and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Germany: a representative, cross-sectional, serological study; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26936108/