Cat Poo - How Do You Decontaminate Ground ?

[snohare]

A friend of mine is just beginning to grow vegetables, getting all excited, has a lovely brick built raised bed sitting unused at the end of her garden with good soil in it - lovely.
Except that for several years, probably ever since the last owner of the house sold it, this earth has been used as a toilet by the local cats. It doesn't seem to have been happening so much recently, since she started planting things there, but given the risk of toxicara plasmosis (or whatever that parasitic disease is that is associated with cats) how can she make it useable again ? Is there a quarantine period ? Do cold frosts make a difference ? (We've had plenty of them this winter !)
Any help gratefully accepted, I have tried to find out about this in the past by looking at many, many gardening books but there is absolutely nothing.

[gojiberry]

Trying to stop cats using freshly dug ground as a toilet is difficult. If I find a cat has used my allotment I just use a trowel and sling it in the hedge. If it hasn't been used recently then just digging it over should be fine. Remember that soil contains all sorts of harmful bacteria and that good hygiene should be observed with all veg before using.


Ian

[Snadger]

I think a weak solution of Armillatox watereed over the area should do the trick. Armillatox used to be sanctioned for loads of things but is now only sanctioned as a path/greenhouse cleaner. I'm sure I read somewhere that it will kill toxicana canis and toxicana felis.

It's a plant phenol so breaks down naturally in the soil, it even gives a fertilising effect as it does so.

[Maffie]

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan and the oocysts are what are left in the soil. As long as fruit and veg is throughly washed it will be fine. Also wearing gloves is recommended and washing hands well too.