I was wondering if there is a way to comment or edit a post that has been archived (not accepting new replies) for the purposes of accuracy.

In the following post (link below), one user provides false information to another user who is asking about the relationship between sugar gliders and toxoplasmosis (the reason pregnant women shouldn't scoop cat litter).

As a pregnant woman with a sugar glider, I have done a lot of research and was subsequently tested for toxoplasmosis when I realized I was at risk.

A quick Google search will reveal that sugar gliders can, in fact, carry and transmit toxoplasmosis to humans.

That being said, I have some reassuring news for the pregnant: My doctor informed me that a simple blood test can show any history of being infected, and like a flu, your body will rid itself of the infection naturally.

The fetus is only at risk when the pregnant mother has an acute (current) infection, and those symptoms will likely be hard to ignore. Fever, nausea, and other flu-like or food-poisoning-like symptoms will be an indication.

Of those who become infected, there is only a 15% chance that you will pass it on to the baby if you are in the first trimester. In the second trimester the risk is 30%, increasing to 60% in the third. However, the earlier in pregnancy you are, the more dangerous the affect can be on the fetus. If you are lucky, you will be one of the 15% of women who is immune to it altogether.

Furthermore, an estimated half of toxoplasmosis infections come from eating raw or undercooked meat or from infected water. (We don't want to incriminate cats and suggies alone!)

The parasites that cause toxoplasmosis (called "oocysts") can live in the intestines of an infected animal for up to three weeks, so even if your animal was infected at one time does not mean they still are.

I think any woman who is concerned for the welfare of her unborn child would find that initial post reply irresponsible, and hopefully the user asking the question did further research before assuring her pregnant photographer friend that sugar gliders can not transmit toxoplasmosis.

Incorrect thread: http://www.glidercentral.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/342542/Toxoplasmosis_and_pregnancy

Sources: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=sugar+glider+toxoplasmosis and my dad, who knows everything.


- Thanks for reading. I hope this helps someone looking for answers like I was... -

>^.*.^<
StarCat and MonkeyPox

Wow

First I want to say Welcome to the forum

Then, THANKS for that great info!

What a way to make an entrance to GC! LOL! Great information and very good to have! Thank you so much for sharing your research!

Welcome to GC!!!

Good research, thank you for correcting that info!!

StarCat, Im going to move your post into the Health and Hygeine forum so that it will stay around

From PubMed.com:

This leads me to believe that they are NOT carriers.
From my understanding, being susceptible and being a carrier are two different things.
(IE Any human is susceptible to, say, Hep. B. But, not all of us are carriers.)

From the Merck Veterinary Manual:

As we all know, salmonella, giardia, leptospirosis, and other conditions do not remain in the system. It does flush out with proper treatment. From my understanding from the artical quoted above, toxoplasmosis is no exception. Known to occur.

To those worried that should their glider/s contract toxoplasmosis:


First: Should your glider get toxoplasmosis, s/he would show symptoms (unlike cats, among other animals) and it can be treated accordingly, thus they wouldn't merely be a carrier forevermore.
Second, I would imagine that should you practice proper hygiene, cook the meats you feed your gliders THOROUGHLY... AND keep your gliders separated from other animals, namely cats, the risk is so low it's almost non existent.

I think this is the specific post you are talking about. Suz' comment was not meant to say that sugar gliders cannot transfer Toxoplasmosis to a human, but that when they get it, they get (usually) sick and show symptoms.

When talking about a carrier, I always think of an animal, person, whatever that has the bacteria/parasite but does not actively show symptoms, but can pass on the infection.
As with ANY parasite infection, though, it can stay in the system (of the animal and of a human) without always showing symptoms, or without showing symptoms very often.

I should also mention that though most normal healthy people can fight off these kinds of infections, people and animals that are sick or have depressed immune systems for any reason can become carriers (though you do often see some symptoms of the continued active infection).

OK, so Gretchen (or anyone else who knows the answer), I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, an autoimmune disease. I therefore already have a funky immune system. I am also on medications that supress my immune system in order to control the disease.

Now I know this means I get sick way more easily than someone with a healthy immune system, and it is also harder for me to get RID of an illness. HOWEVER, does this mean I can pass it on more easily too? I'm always cautious about washing my hands with soap and hot water before I handle my gliders, but is there still more of a chance I could get my gliders sick??

Jess having an autoimmune disorder does not mean that you can pass on any infection that you may get any more easily than anyone else without an autoimmune disorder. You as you correctly stated are just more suseptable to contracting an illness because of your decreased immunity.

Ok thank you for the clarification!