Toxoplasmosis in Pregnancy: Questions and Answers
During pregnancy, it's important to take certain preventative measures against parasites that can harm the fetus. One of these is toxoplasmosis, and Dr. Isabel Rodríguez Piñero , a gynecologist at the Women's Unit of the Ruber International Hospital , has addressed some of the most common questions about it.
What is toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease , a zoonotic infection, primarily acquired by consuming raw or undercooked meat . However, this is not the only way to contract the parasite ; it can also be transmitted through contaminated water, soil, and vegetables. Despite popular belief, having a cat at home is considered a low-risk factor.
Why is screening carried out in some autonomous communities and not in others?
In reality, the issue of toxoplasmosis screening is highly controversial, even globally. For example, the American Toxoplasma Society does not recommend it, and at the European level, and specifically within Spain, there are significant regional differences.
In 2020, a study was conducted in more than 100 Spanish hospitals to determine whether or not such screening was performed, and many differences were found between autonomous communities.
Therefore, we could say that the screening process depends a lot on the hospital, the autonomous community, and the specific doctor who is monitoring your pregnancy.
What causes toxoplasmosis in the fetus?
Toxoplasmosis infection during pregnancy can cause neurological and ocular abnormalities in the fetus . However, the severity will depend largely on the trimester in which the transmission occurs.
If it occurs in the first trimester, the probability of fetal transmission of congenital toxoplasmosis is very low, around 10%. However, if it does occur, the likelihood of fetal harm is very high, with around 60% experiencing severe neurological disorders.
However, during the third trimester, fetal transmission is much more common, but neurological damage is less severe, and damage usually occurs only in the eye.
Is there treatment?
Yes , if it is confirmed that a woman has been infected during pregnancy, treatment would begin . If amniocentesis confirms congenital transmission of toxoplasmosis to the fetus, treatment would continue.
If this is not confirmed, depending on the likelihood of a true seroconversion, the fetus being infected, or something being seen on an ultrasound, the decision to continue treatment or not would be made.
How to prevent toxoplasmosis
One of the most important prevention measures is to always consume fruits and vegetables that are well washed (for more than 30 seconds with plenty of water, or using water and vinegar).
It is also vital to avoid eating raw or undercooked meat . While the parasite's cysts do not survive freezing, listeria cysts do, so caution is advised.
Furthermore, if you are working in the garden in contact with the soil, you should always wear gloves , as we have already mentioned that this parasite can also be found in the soil.
It is also important to clarify that toxoplasmosis cannot be transmitted through raw or undercooked fish . In the case of these products, the risk comes from anisakis, which does not cause fetal abnormalities, and listeria, which also does not cause fetal abnormalities on its own, but can cause intra-amniotic infection, which would necessitate terminating the pregnancy and, in cases of prematurity, the risk of associated morbidity.
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If you found this article interesting and would like to be seen by a specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Women's Unit at Ruber International Hospital has a specialized department in this area. You can request more information by calling 91 387 51 72/73/74 or schedule an in-person appointment with top specialists.