Anna recently learned that she is pregnant and is visiting her doctor for her first prenatal visit. Among the many pieces of advice offered to ensure a safe pregnancy, the doctor specifically told Anna to avoid eating any rare meats, including steaks and roast beef, and to avoid changing her cat's litter box. These words of caution were primarily directed at avoiding contact with

Question

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The advice to avoid rare meats and changing a cat's litter box is primarily directed at avoiding contact with Toxoplasma gondii, a parasitic protozoan that can cause severe birth defects in unborn children if the mother becomes infected during pregnancy. E.coli O157:H7 is a bacterial pathogen associated with undercooked beef and other food products. Taenia saginata is a tapeworm that can be contracted by eating undercooked beef, but it does not pose a significant risk to pregnant women. Cryptosporidium is a waterborne parasite that can cause diarrheal illness, but it is not typically associated with food consumption.

Anna Recently Learned That She Is Pregnant and Is Visiting