"The claws of the cat disease" spreads from animals to humans with a simple caress... If there is no vaccine against this disease, it is nevertheless possible to limit the risk of contamination. The behavioral vet Laurence Dilliere-Lesseur gives his advice to protect themselves better.
In general, human beings develop the "disease of the claws of the cat" if it is scratched or bitten by a cat carrier, but not only...
Even a caress can be dangerous
As a very recent American study reveals, it
can contaminate touch, stroking her cat if he is infected with fleas, their
present feces on the hair of the animal could become potentially dangerous if
they penetrate the skin of humans at the level of an injury (wounds...).
More rarely, contamination can intervene
through the eye if the person rubs his eyes with her dirty hands. Finally, a
direct infection of humans by flea bite is also suspected.
In more rare cases, human contamination are
done through an object from the ground which was itself contaminated (thorns,
thorns, splinters, debris of wood...), because the bacteria of the disease from
the claws of the cat is also present in the soil.
Children 5 to 9 years are most affected
The U.S. study indicates that the majority
population is located among the young children of 5 to 9 years.
The disease in animals, making it most of
the time without symptoms. Feline contamination increases substantially with
the lifestyle of cats (the outdoor cats are more exposed), the owners of
outdoor cats are more prone to contamination. The risk of human infection could
thus be limited by controlling access outside cats and systematically dealing
with these fleas.
Study American also indicated that a
greater time spent with his cat, particularly during holidays for teenagers and
the workforce, could explain the occurrence of peaks of the disease observed
during these periods.
A dog can also host the bacteria
"The claws of the cat disease" is
an infectious disease called benign lymphoreticulose of inoculation. The
officer is a bacterium of the genus Bartonelle (Bartonella henselae).
The domestic cat is the main reservoir of
the bacterium, where its name. Indeed, the cat is involved up to 90% in
transmission to humans. However, he should know that the dog can also host the
bacterium.
In rance, these are cats of less than one
year who are carriers of the bacteria. The adoption of young cats is an
important factor.
The transmission of the disease between
cats is favoured through fleas when they are themselves contaminated.
Can all cats contaminate their masters?
Cats likely to contaminate their owners
are:
-Those whose blood test reveals the
presence of the bacteria.
A treatment with antibiotics for a few
weeks then allows to treat the animal. Predisposed individuals are mainly
children and adolescents as well as people who are immunocompromised, or people
needing to work with cats in the workplace (breeders, veterinarians,...). Treat
an infected cat is useless in a family where all members are in good health.
-Those carriers of fleas themselves
infected.
How not to get contaminated?
Firstly, it is essential to treat her cat
against fleas by regular and appropriate means of revention, particularly if one is oneself
weakened.
Then, any presence of cat in the habitat or
its immediate environment implies limiting risk of bite and scratch: avoid
playing with his cat directly using the hands and be careful to hold his animal
properly if we have to give treatment for example.
But, in any case, the possibility of this
disease justifies parting with his pet.
There is no vaccine against the disease
On the other hand, it is imperative to
respect strict hygiene measures: after having been in contact with an animal,
its excrement or waste, it is necessary to always wash your hands with SOAP and
water and do not rub the eyes. Hygiene of the hands must be repeated several
times in the day.
There is no vaccine against this disease.
When suspicion of human contamination, any
wound should be cleaned with SOAP and disinfected, especially when bite or
scratch. If a node appears in the following weeks, it is highly recommended to
consult a doctor.
This disease is a zoonosis, i.e. a disease
that reached the animal and may be transmissible to humans. As such, it must be
taken seriously and its prevention not neglected. This last through basic
hygiene measures and regular external antiparasitic treatment of his animal.
