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Doctors Dangerous toxoplasmosis apparently remains undetected in newborns
Infection with cat droppings and raw meat
Toxoplasmosis is a common infectious disease caused by the toxoplasma gondii pathogen. While cats are the main host to the parasite, all other mammals, including humans, act as intermediate hosts. These can be e.g. by the ingestion of eggs (oocysts) of the pathogen excreted by cats (for example by cat feces in the garden soil). But it is also possible a transmission through contaminated food such. unwashed fruit, in addition, raw or insufficiently heated meat products from infected slaughter animals (especially pig and sheep meat) are an important source of infection.
No raw meat in pregnancy. Picture: drubig-photo - fotolia Infection can cause severe neurological damage
In cats, the disease is usually asymptomatic, but for humans it can be very dangerous. This is especially true for pregnant women or for the unborn child if the mother has no immunity to the parasite. Depending on the stage of pregnancy at which the woman is infected, the pathogen in an emergency can lead to severe permanent neurological damage and impaired vision or miscarriage.
If a mother has already become infected before becoming pregnant and therefore has built up immunity to the pathogen, the unborn child is normally not at risk. In healthy people, the infection usually runs without symptoms, only in rare cases occur flu-like symptoms such. Slight fever, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes, which usually disappear by themselves. According to the Robert Koch Institute, it is estimated that about 30% of the world's population carry the toxoplasmosis pathogen.
Infection in the womb is notifiable
If a child in this country already infected with toxoplasma during pregnancy (congenital toxoplasmosis), this must actually be reported according to the information provided by the RKI. But according to the experts of the institute, there are indications that this is far from happening in all cases. Accordingly, the infection may be responsible for more neonatal damage than previously thought. A study had thus revealed that every year 345 newborns, e.g. with nerve damage or eye discomfort due to infection with the parasite in the womb. However, only 8 to 23 cases per year are reported, according to information from the RKI.
Slight symptoms would be well recognized after birth - but usually not associated with the pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, said the RKI infection epidemiologist Hendrik Wilking to the news agency "dpa".
Older infected significantly more often
As the RKI informs, blood samples from a total of 6,663 individuals were tested for antibodies in the current study. The samples were originally taken for the representative study on Adult Health in Germany (DEGS), which was last conducted from 2008 to 2011 and assesses the health status of adults aged 18-79 years. It was found that more than half (3,602) of the samples tested were seropositive, with the proportion being significantly higher in the elderly. Accordingly, the number of positive cases increased from 20% in the age group of young adults (18-29 years) to 76.8% among the elderly (70-79 years). These age-related increases were stronger in the eastern German states than in the west. As independent risk factors for seropositivity, the RKI experts were able to identify male sex, cat husbandry and a body mass index of (over) 30.
According to Wilking, the results of the new study could be particularly helpful in the area of prevention. Whether pregnant screening for T. gondii antibodies as described e.g. conducted in France, would make sense, but would have to discuss experts of various disciplines, the RKI infection epidemiologist told the news agency. As the "dpa" reports, a newborn study in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern revealed that the majority of pregnant women do not undergo a toxoplasmosis test for screening. This is considered controversial, since the woman without a reasonable suspicion, the cost between 14 and 16 euros itself must bear. In addition, a first test in pregnancy determines only whether there are already antibodies in the blood of the woman against toxoplasma. When exactly these have formed, whether before or during pregnancy, must be checked by further special investigations.
Pregnant women should be careful when handling cats
If these points to a fresh infection with the pathogen, the pregnant woman receives antibiotics, informs the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK). But whether this treatment could protect the child from the dreaded toxoplasmosis damage, the TK is not assured. As a precautionary measure, pregnant women should refrain from eating raw or insufficiently heated meat and unwashed vegetables. Also, during pregnancy, exercise caution when preparing food, when processing raw meat, and when gardening, as there may be infected remains of cat feces in the soil. In general, it should also always pay attention to a hygienic handling of cats, so the health insurance. (No)