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From: tvw@ihuxw.UUCP (t. williams)
Newsgroups: net.pets,net.garden
Subject: Re: Kitty poop in the compost heap?
Message-ID: <1142@ihuxw.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Sep-85 22:50:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxw.1142
Posted: Wed Sep 11 22:50:47 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Sep-85 11:25:37 EDT
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Extracted from "The Rodale Guide to Composting",
quoting Harold S. Perimutter, M.D., of Newtom, New Jersey:

"Cat dropping harbor two extremely dangerous organisms, both of which
are prominent causes of blindness, especially in children."
... 
"The most common cause of retinal inflammation in this country is due
to the one-celled parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, which is carried by the
cat and excreted in its droppings. ... It causes a flu-like illness in
pregnant women and can be transmitted to the unborn fetus, causing both
brain and eye disease.
The second organism is Toxocara cati, which is a nematode (round worm)
of extremely common occurence in cats. ... cause infection in many organs,
including the eyes."
...
"I, therefore, urge that cat droppings and litter material be handled
with extreme caution, if at all."