Cat Scratch Fever Bartonellosis

What is cat scratch fever How does cat scratch fever Who should I contact, if I and what causes it? affect my animal? suspect cat scratch fever? Cat scratch fever is a mild to severe Cats infected with Bartonella In Animals – disease that can affect humans. It is henselae do not typically show any Cats do not show signs of disease. most often caused by bacteria called signs of illness. In Humans – Bartonella henselae (BAR-tow-NELL- Contact your physician. uh hen-sell-A). The bacteria may infect Can I get cat scratch fever? How can I protect my animal cats and be spread to humans by bites Yes. People can become infected or scratches. Cats rarely show signs with Bartonella henselae. Symptoms from cat scratch fever? of illness but humans can develop usually occur 3 to 10 days after being The best way to prevent infection skin lesions, fever or in severe cases, bitten, or scratched (direct contact) and spread of the disease in cats is flea systemic (whole body) infection. by an infected cat. control and keeping your cat indoors Initially a rash, blister, or ulcer will to avoid other cats. What animals get cat develop at the wound site. There How can I protect myself scratch fever? may be swelling of the lymph nodes. from cat scratch fever? Cats, domestic and wild, are Usually the disease is self-limiting thought to be the only animals (heals on its own) in 4 to 8 weeks. Avoid “rough play” with cats, especially kittens, as this could lead naturally infected with Bartonella For people with a weak or henselae. Cats that have the bacteria, to cat scratches and bites. Wash cat compromised immune system, cat bites and scratches immediately and show no signs of disease and rarely scratch fever is a greater risk. In these get ill. Cats are simply carriers of the thoroughly with running water and cases, severe disease can develop soap. Do not allow cats to lick open bacteria to humans. It is estimated into a blood infection and fever. The that approximately 40% of cats have wounds that you may have. Flea bacteria can infect the eye, nervous control may also help with prevention Bartonella bacteria at some point in system or develop into nodular skin their lives. as this may be the source of infection lesions. Complications, like heart in cats. Cat scratch fever is not Rare cases have been reported in damage or liver infection, have transmitted from person-to-person. dogs, horses, cattle, feral pigs, seals, been reported in 5-16% of patients. whales and porpoises. For More Information

How can my animal get cat CFSPH Technical Fact Sheets. Cat Scratch scratch fever? Disease and Other Zoonotic Bartonella Infections at http://www.cfsph.iastate. The bacteria are spread from cat- edu/DiseaseInfo/ to-cat by fleas vector( ). Cats do not CDC website. Cat Scratch Fever at http:// spread the bacteria directly to each www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/ other by bites or scratches, as they catscratch.htm can to humans. They can acquire fleas from each other, which spreads the disease further. Feral cats are more Cat Scratch Fever likely to be infected than pet cats. is a bacterial disease spread between cats by fleas. It can be spread to humans by cat bites or scratches.

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