Zoonoses: diseases of cats that can be infected

On July 6th we celebrate World Zoonosis Day. Some of them can be transmitted by our pets - dogs and cats. Thus, hygiene, vaccinations and veterinary checkups are important steps for responsible pet owners to protect themselves and their pets from dangerous zoonotic diseases. What diseases do cats carry? To figure out!

What is a zoonosis?

A zoonosis is an infectious disease that can be caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites or prions and is transmitted from animals to humans. Some zoonoses can be very dangerous. for example, leishmaniasis, leptospirosis or rabies.

These are zoonotic diseases an often underestimated threat around the world. Currently, more than 150 diseases with zoonotic potential are known. Some are recent, others have been known for many years, but they are becoming more common due to geographic expansion and greater human intervention in animal territories (such as deforestation) and contact with wild animals with which we did not have such contact before . . What can you get infected from a cat?

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Diseases that can be contracted from a cat

Heyletielosis

This is a parasitic disease caused by mites of the genus Cheyletiella, which live on the hair and in the stratum corneum of the skin. Symptoms accompanying this condition include itching, pustules and dandruff. In humans, the main symptoms are small, pruritic, erythematous papules that usually occur in large groups.

Echinococcosis

This is a disease caused by a tapeworm. Cats become infected by eating rodents containing tapeworm larvae. The adult parasite lives in the cat's intestines, and segments of the tapeworm filled with eggs are excreted in feces, which can persist in the external environment for up to a year. A person can become infected by eating unwashed forest fruits, eating vegetables and fruits from crops contaminated with arctic fox feces, and also by drinking contaminated water.

Giambliasis

Giardia or Giardia is a flagellated protozoan that can lead to the development of a disease known as giardiasis. Its main symptom is diarrhea. The hosts of the parasite can be people and animals, including dogs and cats. Infestations have also been reported in monkeys, ruminants, pigs and rodents. Infection occurs mainly through the digestive tract as a result of the introduction of invasive protozoan cysts into the oral cavity. The main source of infection is contaminated water, soil or raw, unwashed vegetables. In addition, the infection can be transmitted through direct contact between animals.

Scaridiasis

In other words, toxocariasis is a dangerous zoonotic disease caused by the infestation of dogs or cats by roundworm larvae (Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati). The source of toxocariasis infection is contaminated soil, contaminated food, contact with infected animals and their feces. Environmental contamination by roundworm eggs from dogs and cats is widespread throughout the world.

The most vulnerable are children who become infected when playing with infected animals and in sandboxes where there are eggs of invasive roundworms. Lack of hand washing habit also contributes to infection. In the human body (in the duodenum), larvae about 0.4 mm long hatch from swallowed infective eggs. They pass through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. Together with the blood, they migrate to various organs of the body and settle in them (liver, eyes, brain). Remaining in the tissues, they cause inflammation and destruction of infected tissues.

Scabies

In cats it is caused by the arachnid Notoedres cati. Symptoms of the disease are minor, itchy bumps covered with scabs.

toxoplasmosis

It is caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, the definitive host of which is the cat. this is toxoplasmosis It is very difficult to get infected from a cat. People become infected primarily by eating contaminated raw or undercooked meat, unwashed fruits and vegetables, or drinking contaminated water. A healthy, well-groomed cat does not pose a risk of infecting humans with toxoplasmosis! It also poses no threat to a pregnant woman!

Cats most often become infected by eating hunted rodents and birds, relatively raw meat and animal organs containing tissue forms of T. gondii - tachyzoites and bradyzoites. Oocyst shedding is young cats newly infected with the intestinal form of toxoplasmosis, i.e. The parasite multiplies in the epithelium of the small intestine and produces oocysts. As the disease progresses Young cats have breathing and nervous disorders, The damage to the liver and the involvement of the eyeball are common.

What to do so that cats do not pose a threat to humans? Do not give them raw meat, limit the possibility of cats to hunt rodents and birds, empty the cat tray daily.

Rabies

This is one of the most dangerous zones, transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. It can be prevented in people by appropriate vaccination, begun immediately after a bite of a rabid animal. In the absence of timely vaccination, the disease in humans ends death. Rabies has one of the highest mortality rates among all diseases. According to WHO, more than 99% of all cases of rabies in people are caused by dog ​​bites.

Although there are proven methods for eliminating the threat of this disease from cats, annually from rabies, which is transmitted from dogs and cats, about 60,000 people die all over the world. Although the main threat lies outside Europe, according to statistics, Wild and pets are still in danger in Europe. That is why dogs and cats around the world must be regularly vaccinated in order to protect us and our pets.

Bartonellosis

The disease of the cat scratches, also known as the disease of the cat scratches, is caused by the bacterium Bartonella Henselae. The main tank of bacteria is a domestic cat, and the main carrier is a cat flea. Bacteria, tanks and carriers are common around the world. Bartonellosis manifests itself mainly in people with weakened immunity. It is manifested by fever, an increase in lymph nodes, inflammation of the eyes, gums and hearts. It can be fatal.

Dermatophytia

The disease caused by multicellular mushrooms. Microsporum Canis is most often in cats. Symptoms of dermatophytosis of cats hair loss, thinning of hair, dandruff. Dermatophytia can easily spread to a person, especially to people with weakened immunity, children and the elderly. Zonozoic mycosis, localized on the skin, is characterized by the presence of usually round or oval inflammatory foci, wellly delimited from healthy skin.

Within the fungal focus, peeling of the skin or local hair loss can be observed if the affected area is within the hairy skin. Skin changes may be accompanied by or not accompanied by itching or light burning. Zonozoic mycosis in humans can sometimes resemble other skin diseases, such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis or erythema of various etiologies. Zonozoic mycosis in children is sometimes confused with skin allergies.

Cat diseases - basic prevention

As you can see, there are many diseases that can be infected with a cat. If you have a pet in care, Remember the elementary prevention - Regular deworming, vaccination, protection against external parasites. Also remember the basic rules of hygiene - washing hands after cleaning the tray or after playing with our cat.

We are all interconnected, and our well -being is closely related to the health of our pets and our general environment. The solution of many modern health problems requires an approach called “Unified Health”. The concept of “unified health” refers to the protection of human health in interaction with the protection of animal health and taking into account the impact of the environment on people and animals. Petamian care, We are responsible not only for his health, but also for the health of our family.

Diseases transmitted from cats to humans. Summary

Zonoses, or zones, are also cat diseases, are a group of infectious diseases that can spread between animals and people. Unfortunately, many people still suffer annually from zoone diseases. They account for up to 60% of diseases around the world. They are responsible for at least 2.4 billion cases of people's disease and 2.2 million deaths annually. That's why it is so important Corresponding prevention, since the fight against zones is the common interest of both people and animals.