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Cat Feces Essay

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Cat feces is categorized as a teratogen because it is directly linked to an infection called Toxoplasma gondii, or toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite that replicates in the host’s intestines and then shed into the feces. Felines, including domesticated cats, are hosts for toxoplasmosis (Many & Koren, 2006). While most mammals and birds are also hosts for toxoplasma gondii, felines are the only animals that pass the infection through their feces (Elmore et al., 2010). Thus, while humans can become infected with toxoplasmosis in numerous ways, one potential method is through the ingestion of cat feces. Regarding pregnancy, this infection can have devastating effects on a fetus, particularly in the early stages of pregnancy (Dunn et al., 1999).
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Per the CDC, a pregnant woman does not have to get rid of her cat to prevent infection (Toxoplasmosis Frequently Asked Questions FAQs, 2013). However, it is necessary to take precautions to minimize the risk of exposure and potential infection. Safety precautions include keeping a clean litter box by changing it daily. More importantly, if pregnant, it is best to avoid cleaning the litter box at all. If no one else is available to do so, the CDC recommends wearing disposable gloves and proper hand washing immediately after. Another important step is to prevent cats from becoming infected by keeping them indoors; avoiding stray cats, kittens, and new cats; and not feeding pet cats raw or undercooked meat. Additionally, if a cat is infected with toxoplasmosis, it can only spread the infection for a few weeks after being infected by the parasite, after which the shedding into the feces will subside on its own. Therefore, it is not necessary to have a cat tested or treated for toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasmosis Frequently Asked Questions FAQs,

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