Bartonellosis is a disease in humans that is caused by frequent contact with young cats, or their bite or scratch. In cats, this disease is called feline bartonellosis and is caused by the bacteria bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae. Although all kinds of cats are prone to the disease, it is mostly found in the bloodstreams of 1 year old or younger kittens, cats plagued with fleas and undomesticated or stray cats. Cats can have this disease for months without showing any symptoms.
Fleas are a major source of transmitting this disease to other cats as well as to humans. But cats still remain main infestation of this bacterium. Cats that are bearing kittens and have bartonellosis do not transfer it to them. However, there have been instances of people getting the cat scratch disease without any contact with cats. Recent studies show that it is actually the flea feces that play an active role in transmitting this disease.
After a cat scratches, a person may get a blister after 3 to 30 days of the scratch. This blister can continue for 5 months before completely curing. Subsequently, the lymph nodes near the blister began to grow and cause pain, and can continue for 4 months. However, sometimes the disease shows its presence in a person in the form of tonsillitis, encephalitis and pneumonia but this is very rare.
Children when afflicted with this disease may show neurologic signs which start from a simple headache and can develop to delirium or even seizures. But it has a speedy recovery.
Symptoms in Cats
Like mentioned before, cats do not show many visible signs of illness when afflicted with bartonellosis. It is also not a very serious issue concerning cats. However, they may demonstrate laziness, high temperature, reduced craving for food (anorexia), reproductive difficulty, lymph node growth, vomiting and red eyes (uveitis).
Symptoms in Humans
In humans, the signs of this illness are pretty visible. These include raised skin rashes with a few to as much as more than 100 of them on the body. The rashes may be red to purple in color. In case the disease spreads inside the body, it will result in fever, puking and weight loss. The spleen and liver might also experience an unnatural growth.
Children and adults with immunodeficiency problems are extremely vulnerable to this disease.
Diagnosis of the Disease
In case of cats, the tests required to determine the presence of the bacteria are blood culture, serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), complete blood count, serum biochemical profile, urinalysis, feline leukemia virus testing (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus testing (FIV).
In humans, the presence of the bacteria causing this disease can be determined by a biopsy for microscopic examination and culture.
Treatment
The treatment of this disease in cats has been adopted from that in humans since there is not much research or data available on it. It is treated by using antibiotics that are used by humans in similar cases and supportive care in the form of intravenous fluids and medicines to contain vomiting. Cats that do not show medical signs, however, do not need treatment. There is no treatment that completely eliminates this ailment in cats.
This disease in humans is receptive to antibiotics such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin and doxycycline. These are taken for a period of 2 to 3 month and are sufficient until or unless the disease has not spread internally in the bloodstream or affected any inner-body organ. In relation to people with weak immune system, the period of recovery is longer and can even last for a lifetime.
Preventive Measures
To prevent yourself from such a disease, you must concentrate on good hygiene. Keep your body, especially your hands always clean after you have had contact with your cat. The cat scratches and bites must be carefully cleaned so as to leave no germ or bacterium unattended. If you have a wound, never let your cat lick it. Also, always make sure that all precautionary measures have been taken to control fleas and ticks.
For people who have immunity disorders must get their pet cats tested by performing blood culture and serology.
Cats affected with the bacteria must perform cultures to verify the success of the medicines every 2 to 4 weeks along with one after 3 weeks of discontinuation of the medicines.
The cat scratch disease is rare and people with normal functioning immune systems must not be worried about acquiring it and thus, need not follow any special preventive measures.
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