Question

Ivy's obstetrician asks her if she has a cat at home. When she says that she does, her doctor tells her that it is important that she find someone else to clean the cat's litter box while she is pregnant. Her doctor explains that pregnant women can catch toxoplasmosis from handling dirty cat litter, and this could cause eye problems with their unborn baby. In this case, what is toxoplasmosis an example of?
(1 point)
O plasticity
• teratogen
O cytotoxin
• carcinogen

Answer 1

In this case, toxoplasmosis is an example of a **teratogen**. Teratogens are substances or factors that can cause malformation or developmental issues in an embryo or fetus. Toxoplasmosis, which can be transmitted through handling cat litter contaminated with the parasite, poses risks to fetal development and can lead to complications such as eye problems in the unborn baby.