Tommy’s warns pregnant women of increased toxoplasmosis risk during lambing season as new gene link is found

Tommy’s, the baby charity, is warning mums-to-be to take extra care to avoid contracting the rare but serious infection, Toxoplasmosis, as lambing season gets underway this Winter/Spring.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is an infection that can occur in some ewes, and if contracted by a pregnant woman, can result in the miscarriage or stillbirth of her baby.  Toxoplasmosis can be contracted in humans by accidentally swallowing the parasite when handling a lamb ewe, newborn lamb or the afterbirth.  It is also possible to catch it from contaminated hair or clothes of another person involved in lambing or through cuts in chapped hands.

It is estimated that around 1 in 4 people are infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, yet infections rarely produce symptoms in healthy people.  The infection is only normally serious when contracted by those with a weakened immune system, although there are still rare cases of infection of people in good health.

Infection can cause serious damage to the eyes and central nervous system, whilst the effects of toxoplasmosis on an unborn foetus can be devastating.  Each year around 2000 women contract Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, which can cause congenital defects in the unborn child, as well as leading to miscarriage or stillbirth in serious cases.

Charlotte Davies, Director of Communications for Tommy’s said, “Whilst the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis is relatively small, because of the heightened risk it presents during pregnancy, we believe it is imperative that women are made aware of the increased danger of contracting the infection during this time of year.

To minimise the risk of becoming infected, women are strongly advised to avoid contact with: lambs or milking ewes; aborted or newborn lambs or with the afterbirth; clothing and boots which have come into contact with lambs or ewes.  Anyone who is concerned about an infection they may have contracted from a farming environment should seek medical help.”

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have recently made a huge breakthrough into understanding why symptoms are more extreme in a select number of cases.  The gene ROP18 was found in the toxoplasma gondii parasite in 90 percent of serious cases of Toxoplasmosis.  This paves the way to conduct further research into an effective treatment which can block ROP18 which may help further the understanding of the infection.

Tommy’s provides the UK ’s only toxoplasmosis information centre.  For free booklets on ‘Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy’ and ‘Toxoplasmosis and animals’, or for further information about Toxoplasmosis, please call Tommy’s Pregnancy Information Line on 0870 777 30 60 or log on to www.tommys.org

Tommy’s, the baby charity

Tommy's exists to save babies lives because right now in the UK 1 in 4 women loses a baby during pregnancy or birth. We fund research into and provide information on the causes and prevention of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. By 2030 we want to halve the number of babies who die during pregnancy or birth.

 (12/1/07)