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Feline zoonotic diseases
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Fort Collins.
The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Veterinary personnel face risks from feline zoonoses like bacterial and fungal infections, and parasitic diseases. Routine cat handling can expose staff to significant, emerging illnesses in the United States.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Feline zoonoses are transmissible from cats to humans.
- Veterinary personnel have increased exposure risk due to direct contact with cats and their tissues/fluids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the spectrum of feline-associated zoonotic diseases relevant to veterinary personnel in the United States.
- To highlight the importance of recognizing and managing these risks in veterinary settings.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on feline zoonoses.
- Identification of specific pathogens (bacteria, fungi, parasites) transmissible from cats to humans.
- Assessment of transmission routes and associated human health risks.
Main Results:
- Common bacterial zoonoses include Afipia felis, Yersinia pestis, and Francisella tularensis.
- Sporothrix schenckii is a notable fungal agent transmissible through direct cat contact.
- Parasitic and protozoan infections, including Toxoplasma gondii, pose significant risks.
Conclusions:
- Routine handling of cats presents a risk of exposure to various important and emerging zoonotic illnesses for veterinary staff.
- Awareness and appropriate safety measures are crucial in veterinary facilities to prevent human infections.