D22369 0 #1 February 9, 2005 Updated: 08:03 AM EST Prenatal Screening for Parasite Urged By CARLA K. JOHNSON, AP CHICAGO (Feb. 9) - A group of doctors is urging routine screenings for infections that can cause blindness and brain damage in babies and can be caused when pregnant women clean a cat litter box, gardens or eat raw eggs or meat. Few pregnant women or infants are routinely tested for toxoplasmosis, caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect all animals and can be found in the ground. Cats spread the parasite in their feces. Janet Morel doesn't know whether it was the undercooked eggs she ate while she was pregnant or parasites from the pet cat that caused her daughter Dana's blindness and brain damage. Morel and her husband face a lifetime of caring for Dana, who is now 17. Doctors blame Dana's problems on toxoplasmosis, which is why Morel supports a call for routine testing of pregnant women and infants for the parasitic infection. "If you could see my daughter, you would understand why it is I feel so strongly about this," said Morel, of Scottsdale, Ariz. It is not clear how big a risk toxoplasmosis is. Some studies suggest about 1 out of 1,000 babies is born with it; but in Massachusetts, which has routinely tested newborns for it for almost 20 years, only about 1 in 15,000 has turned up with toxoplasmosis. New Hampshire is the only other state that tests all babies for the infection. "What it takes is a little push to get this going," said Dr. Kenneth Boyer, pediatrics chairman at Rush University Medical Center, who led a study on the infection's risk factors with Dr. Rima McLeod of University of Chicago's Toxoplasmosis Center. "I believe our paper ought to be a push in that direction." The research, published in the February issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that even if doctors ask all the right questions to find known risk factors, they miss about half the women who give birth to babies with toxoplasmosis. Some infected babies are born with no obvious symptoms and damage becomes apparent later. Others, like Dana Morel, have severe symptoms at birth. Daily treatment during an infected baby's first year of life can prevent some serious symptoms, Boyer said, but even that is not 100 percent effective. Another problem with universal screening is that the test isn't always accurate and can worry parents needlessly by turning up positive when there is no infection. Universal testing also adds to health care costs, said Roger B. Eaton, director of the New England Newborn Screening Program at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. But Eaton considers the testing cost-effective. In Massachusetts, it's one of several newborn screening tests that together cost $55. The study looked at 131 babies with toxoplasmosis who were referred to the Chicago Collaborative Treatment Trial, a project funded by the National Institutes of Health. Researchers interviewed the children's mothers, asking whether they owned cats, cleaned litter boxes, gardened or ate uncooked meat while pregnant. The researchers also asked the women if they had flu-like symptoms or swollen lymph nodes during pregnancy. Half the women recalled no symptoms or risk factors, the researchers found. Boyer said that shows that normal prenatal care, which involves such interview questions but no blood test, potentially misses about half the cases of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology does not recommend routine prenatal testing for toxoplasmosis. Standard advice for pregnant women includes a warning not to clean cat litter boxes. Pregnant women also should wear gloves while gardening and avoid eating raw or undercooked food. Shellfish and untreated water are new suspected culprits, according to the study. On the Net: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology: http://www.ajog.org National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center: http://www.genes-r-us.uthscsa.edu RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #2 February 9, 2005 oh please.... Toxoplasmosis has been known for years and there are many ways to avoid it, so don't go around telling everyone cats are bad, it's not their fault Education is the key... not getting rid of cats... JenArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #3 February 9, 2005 not getting rid of cats... *** Cats are EVIL..... spawn of the devil!!!..... every chance to eliminate these sociopathic menaces should be taken RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #4 February 9, 2005 Cats are arrogant, self-centered and creepy. I don't care for them. They leave me alone... I leave them alone. We have a lot of cats in our neighborhood and a low mouse population. I still, don't care for them. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aerohaga 0 #5 February 9, 2005 Sheesh-I had 3 cats while I was preggers-cleaned litter boxes quite often-and me and my now 26 yr old daughter are just fine. Maybe that weird craving for kitty litter should be ignored!For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, But the sight of the stars makes me dream. -Vincent Van Gogh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #6 February 9, 2005 Cat haters suck sweating donkey balls. They lack the confidence to own a cat. Takes a confident person to own a cat, they can be some of the most cantankerous creatures in the world. They can also be one of the most loving and affectionate. So take your cat hating somewhere else. "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #7 February 9, 2005 QuoteCat haters suck sweating donkey balls. They lack the confidence to own a cat. Takes a confident person to own a cat, they can be some of the most cantankerous creatures in the world. They can also be one of the most loving and affectionate. So take your cat hating somewhere else. Fuck cats. Cats are evil, stuck-up pricks. I hate cats and I hate cat-lovers. And I'll bring my cat-hating right freakin' HERE, Slappie!!! ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #8 February 9, 2005 QuoteQuoteCat haters suck sweating donkey balls. They lack the confidence to own a cat. Takes a confident person to own a cat, they can be some of the most cantankerous creatures in the world. They can also be one of the most loving and affectionate. So take your cat hating somewhere else. Fuck cats. Cats are evil, stuck-up pricks. I hate cats and I hate cat-lovers. And I'll bring my cat-hating right freakin' HERE, Slappie!!! Cat haters fucking suck! Take your cat hating somewhere else. I don't fucking think it's right. Bash a fucking stupid ass dog!! I hate dogs.. those drooling, barking, stupid ass scavangers. Dogs are good for one thing... shitting on your lawn... I swerve to hit them while driving because the fuktards are to stupid to stay away from the road. "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #9 February 9, 2005 Cats=worthy friends/companions. Can be respected Dogs=Pathetic kissasses who need to be bossed around. Always in need of something... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #10 February 9, 2005 QuoteCats=worthy friends/companions. Can be respected Dogs=Pathetic kissasses who need to be bossed around. Always in need of something... I like that comparison! Awesome job "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #11 February 9, 2005 QuoteCat haters fucking suck! Take your cat hating somewhere else. I don't fucking think it's right. Bash a fucking stupid ass dog!! I hate dogs.. those drooling, barking, stupid ass scavangers. Dogs are good for one thing... shitting on your lawn... I swerve to hit them while driving because the fuktards are to stupid to stay away from the road. step... ...away... ...from... ...the... ...keyboard... Don't waste your energy or emotion Slappie. Cats lovers are special - you can see it in their heart and their eyes... JenArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benforde 0 #12 February 9, 2005 I personally vote for cats... we, mammals all have some pretty fucked up onboard diseases and parasites. Dogs, cats, horses and fuck think about the stuff we eat, lovely sushi, and rare steak, nice milk and all the preservatives, the puss and hormones loaded in that stuff... love them, eat them, be afraid... die anyway. / Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IanHarrop 43 #13 February 9, 2005 You can see it in their eyes... When they are laying on your chest purring.... They're really just waiting for your chest to stop going up and down so they'll know you are dead!"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #14 February 9, 2005 QuoteDogs=Pathetic kissasses who need to be bossed around. Always in need of something... Kinda like a submissive..hmmm....~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #15 February 9, 2005 There's a new cat litter box out there called "Pop and Toss". Basically, it's a cardboard litter box that you set up, leave alone for two weeks, then collapse and throw out. Comes with litter and everything. No scooping necessary, and doesn't cost much more than the regular pine or silicone cat litter. That might be a good solution for pregnant women, because you never have to scoop the litter, just pick up the box and throw the whole thing out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #16 February 9, 2005 Cat haters suck sweating donkey balls. They lack the confidence to own a cat. Takes a confident person to own a cat, they can be some of the most cantankerous creatures in the world. They can also be one of the most loving and affectionate.*** Cat haters fucking suck! Take your cat hating somewhere else. I don't fucking think it's right. Bash a fucking stupid ass dog!! I hate dogs.. those drooling, barking, stupid ass scavangers. Dogs are good for one thing... shitting on your lawn... I swerve to hit them while driving because the fuktards are to stupid to stay away from the road. *** WOW, nice tirade!..... got a little bit of pent up hostility?? RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #17 February 9, 2005 QuoteWOW, nice tirade!..... got a little bit of pent up hostility?? Me hostility? Naw I just tell it like I see it. "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #18 February 9, 2005 Me hostility?*** naaaa, yer right, no harm-no foul, so go pet yer pussy and chill RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #19 February 9, 2005 QuoteMe hostility?*** naaaa, yer right, no harm-no foul, so go pet yer pussy and chill Roy My cat of 10+ years died last May of Feline Diabetes. Disease took him fast as soon as we found out. "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #20 February 9, 2005 I am sorry to hear about your cat.... its hard when we lose a friend. RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Randy_H 0 #21 February 9, 2005 Cat owners are funny people! They keep boxes full of shit inside their houses!010010010110010101100001011101000111000001110101011100110111001101111001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
