Proper sharps management practices should be followed. Recapping needles or the improper disposal of scalpels presents a hazard to the user and other personnel in the facility. Mouth pipetting of hazardous materials should be replaced with manually operated devices. The animal vivarium can be a source of several zoonotic diseases that represent a threat to the pregnant employee. A pregnant employee or an employee planning to get pregnant should consult with the Employee Health Clinic prior to exposure to laboratory animals.
Several microorganisms present a risk to the pregnant employee.
Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a microscopic parasite called Toxoplasma gondii . Toxoplasmosis has been found in virtually all warm-blooded animals including most pets, livestock, and human beings. Nearly one-third of all adults in the U.S. and in Europe have antibodies to Toxoplasma , which means they have been exposed to this parasite. Ingestion of the oocyst from cat feces is the primary hazard to personnel working in laboratory animal facilites. Since it takes several days for the oocyst to become infective after fecal excretion daily routine cage sanitation greatly decreases the chance of transmission.