In everything I have read cats are the ONLY animals which PASS
toxoplasmosis, though other species can get it.  It can also be
contracted from eating raw or rare meat and some other dietary routes.
The usual routine isn't even to get rid of the cats, though, but to have
someone else handle the little boxes.  When someone is pregnant it would
not hurt to have the hubby handle all animal waste.  Heck, given the
nausea early on...
 
These are some comments on the topic by ferret expert veterinary
pathologist, Dr. Bruce Williams:
 
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG10863
>The are some coccidia, though that do live in ferret tissues for a very
>long time, such as toxoplasmosis, but they never complete their life
>cycle in the ferret.  The are ingested, migrate through the tissues of
>the body, usually hole up in cysts in the brain, and remain there until
>the animal is eaten by another predator, at which time they can infect
>the predator.  However, it is only if that predator is a cat that these
>organisms will ever complete their life cycle and be passed in the feces
>as infective eggs.
 
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG1002
>But this is indeed true - ferrets, like any mammal, can contract
>Toxoplasmosis, but only cats can pass the infective eggs in the
>feces - cats are the definitive host. The only feces that you can
>catch toxo from is cat feces.
>
>Any mammal can pass infective organisma living within the cells of
>their body if they are eaten without being cooked well, however - this
>is why it is recommended that all pregnant women cook their meat
>(beef, pork) well.  If you eat a cat, or a ferret, or a kangaroo, you
>could theoretically ingest the organism that way, but I doubt there is
>any likelihood of that.
>
>The chance of contracting Toxo from your ferret is astronomical, but
>let's make sure your husband cleans up after those cats!
 
Here is some up to date human health info on this zoonotic disease:
http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm
>A Toxoplasma infection occurs by:
>
>Accidentally swallowing cat feces from a Toxoplasma-infected cat that
>is shedding the organism in its feces.  This might happen if you were to
>accidentally touch your hands to your mouth after gardening, cleaning a
>cat's litter box, or touching anything that has come into contact with
>cat feces.  Eating contaminated raw or partly cooked meat, especially
>pork, lamb, or venison; by touching your hands to your mouth after
>handling undercooked meat.
>
>Contaminating food with knives, utensils, cutting boards and other
>foods that have had contact with raw meat.
>
>Drinking water contaminated with Toxoplasma.
>Receiving an infected organ transplant or blood transfusion, though
>this is rare.
 
http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/common/toxoplasmosis.html
>To prevent toxoplasmosis, the March of Dimes (MOD 2001) suggests that
>pregnant woman take the following precautions:
>
>Don't empty the cat's litter box.  Have someone else do this.
>
>Don't feed the cat raw or undercooked meats.
>
>Keep the cat indoors to prevent it from hunting birds or rodents.
>
>Don't eat raw or undercooked meat, especially lamb or pork.  Meat
>should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160' F throughout.
>
>If you handle raw meat, wash your hands immediately with soap.
>
>Never touch your eyes, nose or mouth with potentially contaminated
>hands.
>
>Wash all raw fruits and vegetables before you eat them.
 
>Wear gloves when gardening, since outdoor soil may contain the parasite
>from cats.  Keep your hands away from your mouth and eyes, and wash your
>hands thoroughly when finished.  Keep gloves away from food products.
>
>Avoid children's sandboxes. Cats may use them as a litter box.
 
http://familydoctor.org/180.xml
>Here are some tips to help you avoid exposure to toxoplasma during
>your pregnancy:
>
>Do not allow your cat to go outside your home where it may come into
>contact with toxoplasma.  If possible, have someone else take care of
>your cat while you are pregnant.
>
>Have another family member change the cat litter box and then disinfect
>it with boiling water for 5 minutes.
>
>If you must handle the chore of changing the litter box, wear rubber
>gloves to avoid contact with the litter and wash your hands thoroughly
>afterwards.
>
>Use work gloves when gardening and wash your hands afterwards.
>
>Cover children's sandboxes when not in use (cats like to use them as
>litter boxes).
>
>Control flies and cockroaches as much as possible.  They can spread
>contaminated soil or cat feces onto food.
>
>Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat (or poultry) and unwashed
>fruits and vegetables.
>
>Wash your hands thoroughly before you eat and after handling raw
>meat, soil, sand or cats.
>
>Avoid rubbing your eyes or face when preparing food, and wipe the
>counter clean afterwards.
>
>Avoid eating raw eggs and drinking unpasteurized milk.
 
Also
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/
toxoplasmosis_brochure_8.2004.pdf
 
Right now on the West Coast there is a request for people to keep cats
and their waste (and litter) indoors because toxoplasmosis is a horrible
disease in otters and they die with great suffering from brain damage
from it.  It is reaching their food items in run-off and that is how
they are getting it.
[Posted in FML issue 5312]