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Category: General Interest
Around Cats, Page 1 of 2
< Previous page | Next page > /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555815950/9781555814847_Chap06-1.gif /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555815950/9781555814847_Chap06-2.gifAbstract:
There are numerous diseases that may be transmitted from cats to humans or that cats and people acquire from common sources, some of which are described in this chapter. The diseases discussed are arranged by the general method of transmission from cat to person, although more than one route is possible for certain infections. Recent data suggest that bacillary angiomatosis and hepatosplenic disease respond more favorably (rapidly and consistently) than typical cat scratch disease (CSD) to antimicrobial therapy for unclear reasons. Diagnosis is made by serologic studies or by isolation or cytologic demonstration of the organism from blood or body fluids or by histologic demonstration of the trophozoite. The prevalence of infection in cats being exclusively fed commercial rations is very low; however, up to 18% of healthy and healthy-appearing cats may be infected or carriers when foodstuffs are not restricted. Cats may be asymptomatic carriers but may also exhibit clinical infection, with anorexia, vomiting, and severe diarrhea, which are most likely to occur in the winter and spring. In cats, anthrax is manifested by inflammation, edema, and necrosis of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Infection with cowpox virus (an orthopoxvirus) is the most common poxvirus infection in cats. Older cats may develop draining abscesses as well as fever and adenopathy. As for cats, human therapy usually consists of topical antifungals such as clotrimazole, miconazole, etc., or in severe cases oral agents such as fluconazole or itraconazole.
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