Cat Scratch Disease

What is Cat Scratch Disease?

Cat scratch disease is a bacterial disease caused by Bartonella henselae.  Fleas transmit the infection to cats.  Approximately 40% of cats carry Bartonella henselae with kittens being the most common.  Cats infected with B. henselae do not show any signs of illness.  It is transmitted to humans from cat bites and scratches. About 90% of cases involve children and adolescents.   

Clinical signs in people

It is usually a mild disease in healthy people with an infection at the point of injury, swelling of lymph nodes around the head and neck and occasionally a low grade fever.  The signs generally resolve on their own without treatment.  However in rare cases people with compromised immune systems can develop more serious symptoms such as neurological signs.  

Please call you family doctor if you notice 

• A cat scratch or bite that is not healing
• An area of redness around a cat scratch/bite that continues to get bigger
• Fever that lasts for several days after a cat scratch/bite
• Painful and swollen lymph nodes
• Bone or joint pain

Is my cat infected?

There are tests available to detect Bartonella heselae.

Prevention

• Don’t give up your cat!  This is a relatively rare condition and there are common sense methods to prevent the disease
• Cat owners should 
• Avoid rough play with cats - most cat scratches/bites come from cats that are provoked
• Do not allow cat to lick any open wounds
• Wash hands after association with cat
• Flea control is very important since transmission among cats occurs by flea bites

Typhoid Fever

If you read my article on Salmonella yesterday, you might be asking yourself well what about Typhoid fever.  I didn’t mention Typhoid fever because Salmonella Typhi causes it, which is not zoonotic.  However, I feel like I jipped you so I will briefly talk about it. 


Typhoid fever is a life threatening illness, which is not common in the US but still very common in developing countries.  In the US there are about 400 cases each year with the majority acquired while traveling outside of the US. 


It is an infection that can be prevented by vaccine, good hygiene and treated with antibiotics.  If you're planning on traveling outside of the US notify your physician to find out what steps you need to take to protect yourself.


Asymptomatic Carriers


The interesting and perhaps scary thing about Salmonella Typhi is that there are people who can recover from an infection but remain asymptomatic carriers of the bacteria and continue to shed.  Ever heard of Typhoid Mary? She was a cook and the first person in the US to be identified as an asymptomatic carrier and is believed to have infected about 53 people, 3 of whom died.  She was quarantined twice by public health officials.


How do you get it?


Typically if you consume food or beverages that have been handled by infected people or if sewage contaminated water is used for preparing food or drinking


What are the symptoms?

• High fever - 103F - 104F
• Abdominal pain
• Weakness
• Anorexia
• Some develop a rash

How to avoid typhoid fever?

• Get vaccinated if you are traveling to a country where typhoid is common
• Avoid questionable food and drinks
• Avoid drinks with ice
• Eat food that has been properly cooked
• Avoid raw fruits and vegetables that can’t be peeled
• Avoid street vendors

What do you do if you think you have typhoid fever?

See a doctor immediately.  If you’re traveling call the US consulate for a list of recommended doctors.

Daily Digital

I adopted my cats Manny and Aurora during my first year of vet school.  Neither of them is very social with people other than myself.  Aurora will make an appearance from time to time but Manny has become almost a mythical creature to my friends and family.  I assure you he does exist.

In vet school his favorite hiding place when anyone came over was one of my desk drawers.  It had a hole in the back, which made for an easy and stealth entrance/exit.

There's no drawer for him where I live now.  So this is his current hiding spot, which is the very very very top shelf of my closet.

I love you Manny.  Sorry I just gave away your hiding spot!