Milford Mobile Vet Tip of the Day-Donald H. DeForge, VMD-Babies, Kids, and Kittens-THE HIDDEN DANGER!

Donald H. DeForge, VMD
Milford Mobile Vet
Your Housecall Compassionate Care Practice
Call 203-877-3221
E-Mail for an appointment DoctorDeForge@yahoo.com
Milford Veterinary Hospital-on-site General Practice
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Silver Sands Veterinary Urgent Care-on-site-with Milford Veterinary Hospital
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Babies, Kids, and Kittens

The Hidden Danger
Bartonella a Zoonosis

Babies-Kids and Kittens-Cats--- A Hidden Danger

Parents are always concerned about injury to their baby or toddler.  Even as toddlers develop into small children parents protect and monitor every move that the young person makes.  The first step; the first "real" food; the first ice cream cone;  the first activity at gymnastics; the first swim; and even the first swing of a baseball bat-----parents are there watching; helping; and protecting!

In a past blog, I discussed the Zoonosis of Toxocariasis-an intestinal parasite of puppies, kittens, and adult companion animals that can parasitize children and adults.

The AVMA-The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that veterinarians  take a proactive role in the prevention of zoonotic diseases.  Today, this blog will review the most up to date information from Dr. William Hardy at the National Veterinary Lab concerning the zoonosis of  Bartonella infection. Adults and children can be infected by cats or kittens that carry Bartonella.  

From the National Veterinary Lab:

Bartonella are Gram-negative, fastidious bacteria (approximately 20 species known to date) that are widespread in nature infecting many animal species from wild rodents, ruminants, pet animals, to humans. They are transmitted by arthropod vectors including fleas, ticks, biting flies, and lice from animal-to animal (intraspecies) and species to species (interspecies). Direct animal-to-animal transmission, without vectors, probably occurs rarely and is exemplified by the transmission from cats to humans via scratches, bites, and fur contact. 

Kids are very active and at times uncontrollable.  Kittens are the same.  You place a kitten and a youngster together and the chance of a cat scratch during play is very high. Energetic kids and kittens/cats can lead to reckless injury and potential transmission of the Bartonella bacterial disease from cat-kitten to child-adult.

From the National Veterinary Lab Newsletter-Evelyn E. Zuckerman, Editon: 

"It is still perplexing that veterinarians routinely test for feline retroviruses, FeLV and FIV, with an incidence of only 3.1% combined, where there is no therapy for either virus, and no zoonotic potential, but do not routinely test for Bartonella. Few veterinarians recommend routine testing for Bartonella, where the occurrence is about 35%, they cause far more disease, there is an excellent sterilizing response to antibiotic therapy, and where there is a significant zoonotic threat.

NEWSLETTER Let’s Get Serious About Bartonella! © Evelyn E. Zuckerman, Editor Spring 2013 Vol. 12, Number 2 In This Issue: 

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that Bartonella is endemic in cats and the zoonosis is being recognized as a “silent epidemic” in humans. In addition, the concern in the veterinary profession is lacking and the knowledge of the Bartonella diseases in the medical community could be better. 

Veterinarians: Responsibility: Cats are the major reservoir host for at least 6 Bartonella species and feline Bartonella cause inflammatory diseases in experimentally inoculated and in pet cats.Despite the ample published evidence for the past 20 years supporting these facts, there are web sites, chat rooms, and on line blogs that still present misleading and incorrect information. 

Fleas transmit Bartonella among cats and spring brings increased flea exposure. Thus veterinarians must become familiar with the published facts and “get serious about Bartonella” for their patient’s and for their client’s health. 

It is still perplexing that veterinarians routinely test for feline retroviruses, FeLV and FIV, with an incidence of only 3.1% combined, where there is no therapy for either virus, and no zoonotic potential, but do not routinely test for Bartonella.

National Veterinary Lab Recommendation concerning Bartonella Infection: 

1. Discuss the public health aspects of Bartonella infected cats with your clients. 

2. Recommend testing all cats in the household. 

3. Treat only those cats that are test positive. 

4. Recommend therapy evaluation tests 6 months after the end of therapy. 

5. If the owner refuses to test all cats in the household, note that refusal and date in your records. 

6. Implement stringent flea control for the household. 

Policy of Silver Sands Veterinary Center-DH DeForge, VMD: Bartonella a Serious Zoononsis-Public Health Protocol--

Any client, family member, or friend scratched or bitten by a Bartonella infected cat/kitten should be cautioned to call their physician/pediatrician immediately. Refer the Pediatrician-Physician to the National Veterinary Laboratory Website.  Give a copy of the Positive Feline Bartonella Test to your physician-pediatrician.  The Bartonella infected cat is treated according to National Veterinary Lab Guidelines with Azithromycin.  All cats in the household of the infected cat must be tested for Bartonella disease.

Special Tribute to William Hardy, Jr. VMD 

Dr. Hardy is to be congratulated for his development of the Feline Bartonella Western Blot Test and his investigation into the pathology that Bartonella causes in cats and people. 

Dr. Hardy's work is protecting cats from harm and enabling a serious zoonosis potential to be eliminated.  There is great need for the veterinarian to work with the physician for the continued control of this very serious zoonosis.  Thank you Dr. Hardy for persevering through great negativity and being steadfast in bringing valuable information to the veterinary profession and the human physician.