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How can toxoplasmosis be prevented?
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Prevention of toxoplasmosis
To prevent toxoplasmosis, it is important to improve natural foci, treat domestic animals, limit contact with cats, observe personal hygiene rules, and heat-treat food products, especially meat. It is important to prevent contamination of soil in children's playgrounds and sandboxes with cat excrement. Domestic cats should not be fed raw meat. It is recommended to examine them for toxoplasmosis and treat them if they become ill.
To prevent congenital toxoplasmosis, all pregnant women who first come to the antenatal clinic must be examined using PCR and ELISA. Pregnant women with positive immunological reactions, i.e. immune, do not need further observation, much less etiotropic treatment. Pregnant women with negative immunological reactions (non-immune) are considered a risk group, as they can become infected with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. They are subject to repeated immunological examination in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The persistence of negative immunological tests indicates the absence of infection. Women whose negative immunological reactions turn positive during pregnancy are closely monitored. If clinical signs of acute toxoplasmosis appear, they are given special treatment according to guidelines.
Attempts are being made to develop a vaccine against toxoplasmosis.
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