Diseases associated with cats.. and kittens

Fig 1: Ollie is an innocent kitten-however it may harbor pathogens despite being vaccinated and clean

Cat mouth and claws are colonized by flora that may enter scratches and open wounds often inflicted by the animal-these may cause illness in the normal host.

Certain organisms may infect the particularly vulnerable-those with anatomic asplenia that is after surgical splenectomy for cancer or after motor vehicle accidents accidents or from splenic infarcts or splenomegaly secondary to myelodysplasia or cirrhosis and alcoholism.

Cat Claws (Scratches) and Cat Teeth (Bites)

Cat Scratch disease (CSD) caused by Bartonella henselae is usually a self limited lymphadenopathy in the immune competent but may cause bacillary angiomatosis or peliosis hepatis in AIDS.

Pasteurella multocida bacteremia is not uncommon in cat bites or scratches and occasionally Capnocytophaga canimorsis bacteremia may occur in the asplenic.

Some usual pathogens like Erysipilothrix rhusiopathiae; streptococci and S aureus may also get inoculated into wounds causing cellulitis-Cat inflicted wounds run deep and may cause osteomyelitis especially in small bones of the hand.

Spontaneous bacteremia may also occur with the animal licking small unnoticed open wounds or scratches. Rabies is less likely with immunization but is a concern in stray animals

Exposure to Kitty Litter

Cat urine and feces, rarely placenta may expose a cat owner to inhaled pathogens such as C burnetii (Q fever), pathogens causing diarrheal illness like Campylobacter jejuni; Helicobacter species, Salmonella species, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and parasites likel Cryptosporidium parvum. Other organisms like Toxoplasmosis gondii may cause a flu like illness but in pregnancy may result in spontaneous abortion or congenital abnormalities in the unborn. Occasionally endo parasites Toxocara cati (Helminth) may cause illness in humans.

Other Cat associated pathogens

Cats may have respiratory pathogens which may have consequent severe illness like severe broncho-pneumonia in patients with cystic fibrosis or post transplant patients. Bordetella bronchiseptica may cause a whooping cough like bronchitis in the immune competent

Beware Hitchhikers

Cat ectoparasites like fleas may carry Yersinia pestis, Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia felis (flea-borne spotted fever) and people who let out door cats indoors should be aware of hitchhiking ticks in endemic areas these may carry Ehrlichia chaffeensis, E. ewingii and Anapasma phagocytophila

SUMMARY LIST (not comprehensive)

Cat Claws (Scratches):

Bartonella henselae, (Cat scratch disease: lymphadenopathy, and bacillary angiomatosis in HIV)

Bartonella Quintana (endocarditis);

Pasteurella multocida

Capnocytophaga canimorsis

Also some usual pathogens: Erysipilothrix rhusiopathiae; Streptococci and S aureus

Cat Teeth (Bites)

Rabies (less likely with immunization)

Pasteurella multocida

Kitty Litter (Cat urine and feces):

C burnetii (Q fever) ,

Diarrheal illness: Campylobacter jejuni; Helicobacter species, Salmonella species

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Cryptosporidium parvum

Parasites:Toxoplasmosis gondii (congenital abnormalities in fetus), Toxocara cati (Helminth parasite)

Placenta (newborn kittens): Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)

Cat lungs (inhalation)

Bordetella bronchiseptica (whooping cough like bronchitis); Pneumonia in CF patients/HIV

Carried by arthopod vectors: ectoparasites

Cat fleas: Yersinia pestis, Coxiella Burnetii, Rickettsia felis (flea-borne spotted fever)

Hitchhiking Ticks: Ehrlichia chaffeensis, E. ewingii, Anapasma phagocytophila