communicable disease avoidance avoid toxoplasmosis exposure 2021-02-10T21:19:55Z A recommendation to avoid infection with toxoplasmosis especially when pregnant due to serious risk of passing the infection on to the baby. Cats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis. They become infected by eating infected rodents, birds, or other small animals. The parasite is then passed in the cat’s feces. Kittens and cats can shed millions of parasites in their feces for as long as 3 weeks after infection. Mature cats are less likely to shed Toxoplasma if they have been previously infected. Cats and kittens prefer litter boxes, garden soils, and sandboxes for elimination, and you may be exposed unintentionally by touching your mouth after changing a litter box, or after gardening without gloves. Fruits and vegetables may have contact with contaminated soil or water also, and you can be infected by eating fruits and vegetables if they are not cooked, washed, or peeled. Risk is most profound by a pregnant mother passing toxoplasmosis to their infant. Infected infants do not have symptoms at birth but can develop serious symptoms later in life, such as blindness or mental disability.