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Published on: 1/1/2009
Last Visited: 6/23/2009
Most pet owners have heard that pregnant women should not change cat litter because of a parasitic disease called toxoplasmosis, but many do not know how easy it is to eliminate the possibility of infection, said Dr. Anne Chauvet, a veterinary neurologist who founded Veterinary Neuro Services.
Simply cleaning the litter box every day virtually eliminates the chance that anyone in the household, including other cats, could become infected, said Chauvet, who has dealt with toxoplasmosis infections in her veterinary neurology practice when the parasite attacks the brain, spinal cord or muscles.
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"That is why it is important to clean the litter daily, before the eggs have a chance to become infective," Chauvet said.
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All of this makes toxoplasmosis difficult to diagnose, Chauvet said.
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The polymerase chain reaction test, a type of DNA testing, is the most accurate diagnostic test, particularly when the eyes are affected, Chauvet said.
Treatment depends on the part of the body that is affected.
In cats, trimethoprim-sulfonamide drugs may be prescribed, but they must be used carefully and for a limited time because they can cause bone marrow suppression resulting in a compromised immune system, she said.
Clindamycin and Pyrimethamine are other effective and commonly used drugs, but the later should be supplemented with folic acid as it can cause a deficiency she added.
About Veterinary Neuro Services:
Dr. Anne Chauvet, one of about 150 veterinary neurologists and neurosurgeons in North America, is the founder of Veterinary Neuro Services in Sarasota, Fla. Veterinary Neuro Services treats brain, spinal cord and neuromuscular conditions in animals and is the only strictly neurology and neurosurgery practice on Florida's Gulf Coast.
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