F E AT U R E
Dr Dominik Surek graduated from
the University
of veterinary
medicine, Zagreb,
Croatia in 1997. He
continued with his
PhD in Veterinary
Reproduction in
Warsaw, Poland
while practicing
in a small animals
veterinary clinic.
He moved to the UAE
in 2001 where he spent seven years working
with domestic and exotic animals in a local
veterinary clinic.
In 2008, Dr Dominik founded VETCARE
Veterinary Medical Centre in Dubai where he
continues to treat the furry little pet friends.
What is Toxoplasmosis and how is it
caused?
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused
by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.
What are the risks of Toxoplasmosis
for pregnant women?
The main risk of pregnant women being
infected with Toxoplasma gondii is the fact
that he parasite can infect the newborn
baby trough the placenta.
How severe are the effects of the
parasitic disease for mother and
baby?
The consequences for the baby can range
from mild to severe, and the infection may
result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or death
shortly after birth. The mother with healthy,
not compromised immune system may
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experience mild, flu like illness or no illness.
What precautions and measures
should pregnant women take?
Pregnant women my get infected by eating
raw, salt cured or smoked meat especially
lamb and venison or by drinking or eating
unpasteurized milk or milk products made by
unpasteurized milk.
So the precautions include necessity of
cooking the meat well before consumption,
freezing the meat when stored, avoiding
raw, salt cured or smoked meat products,
avoiding consumption of unpasteurized
milk or products made from unpasteurized
milk, like some cheese and yogurt, avoiding
consumption raw eggs. Also its best to avoid
handling cats stools and litter trays.
How is it treated in pregnant women?
The disease is treated with antibiotic to
minimize the spread of the parasite to the
unborn baby.
What is your advice to our readers
regarding Toxoplasmosis?
The studies and statistics are showing
that only about 15 percent of women
of childbearing age are immune to
toxoplasmosis, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Fortunately, the number of women who
contract the infection during pregnancy
is still relatively small, and not all of them
transmit it to their babies. Knowing the
fact that cats are hosts of the Toxoplasma
gondii where it multiplies in the intestines our
recommendation as veterinarians is that
pregnant women should avoid cleaning the
animals litter tray or if doing so should wear
disposable gloves to avoid any contact with
the cat’s feces.