Lecture 37 11/25/24 Flashcards
Which zoonotic diseases cause endocarditis?
-Bartonella spp.
-Q fever
-Brucella spp.
-Histoplasma spp.
-Lyme/Borrelia spp.
What are the characteristics of Bartonella spp.?
-continuously changing and increasing in species number
-gram neg.
-highly adaptive to one or more mammalian hosts
-survives intracellularly in RBCs and endothelial cells to promote persistent infections
Which Bartonella spp. are common in cats?
-B. henselae
-B. clarridgeiae
-B. koehlerae
-B. quintana
Which species act as reservoirs for Bartonella spp.?
-canids
-felids
-rodents and rabbits
-raccoons
-ruminants
-reptiles
-cetaceans
What are the characteristics of illness caused by Bartonella?
-reservoir hosts typically do not develop disease even though they have persistent bacteremia
-disease usually only occurs in non-natural hosts
How is Bartonella transmitted?
-cat scratch
-cat and dog bites
-arthropod vectors
**NOT through vertical transmission or during breeding
Which arthropod vectors have been implicated in Bartonella transmission?
-cat fleas
-biting flies
-lice
-sand flies
-ticks
What is the life cycle/transmission for Bartonella going cat to cat?
-flea ingests Bartonella with cat blood during feeding
-Bartonella amplifies in flea’s hindgut
-Bartonella is excreted in flea feces and lands on new cat
-flea bites cat or feces with Bartonella infect bite wounds
-cat becomes bacteremic
How do cats transmit Bartonella to humans?
-cat scratches human
-infected cat blood in claws contaminates person’s wound OR
-flea feces in claws contaminates wound and spreads Bartonella
What are the characteristics of human Bartonella incidence?
-relatively common disease among children and young adults
-not reportable
-higher case rates in southern US
What are the characteristics of feline Bartonella seroprevalence?
-approximately 40% of cats are seropositive
-most infected cats are younger than 2 years old
What are the risk factors for Bartonella in humans?
-cat scratches
-ownership of young cats
-tick exposure
What are the risk factors for Bartonella in cats?
-flea infestation
-warm climates with high precipitation
-going outdoors
-exposure to other cats
What is the seasonal distribution for Bartonella cases?
summer and January
What is the clinical overview of Bartonellosis in people?
-generally self-limiting and mild
-may have subclinical infections
-potential for serious systemic signs, especially in immunosuppressed patients
-co-infections with other tick-borne diseases is common
What are the clinical signs of cat scratch disease?
-cat scratch/bite that develops a papule followed by pustule
-fever
-malaise
-regional lymphadenopathy that may abscess
-self-limiting, does not respond to antibiotics
What are the atypical manifestations of cat scratch disease in people?
-splenomegaly
-weight loss
-myalgia/arthralgia/osteomyelitis
-hemolytic anemia
-endocarditis
-conjunctivitis/neuroretinitis
-encephalitis
-pneumonia
-glomerulonephritis
-sudden death
What are the clinical signs of cat scratch disease in immunocompromised people?
-prolonged fever
-relapsing bacteremia
-bacillary angiomatosis/proliferative vascular lesions on skin/organs
-peliosis hepatis/sinusoidal dilations in the liver
Which clinical signs may be seen in cats with Bartonellosis?
-fever
-anorexia
-lethargy
-neurologic signs
-peripheral lymphadenopathy
-splenic hyperplasia
What are the characteristics of bacteremia in cats with Bartonella?
-most are bacteremic for weeks to months
-some cats will remain bacteremic for over a year
-can be chronic or relapsing in some cases
How is Bartonellosis diagnosed in people?
-history of contact with a cat
-serology
-culture
-PCR
How is Bartonellosis diagnosed in cats?
-serology/IFA
-culture (gold standard)
-PCR
What are the criteria for diagnosing a cat for Bartonellosis?
-clinical signs matching bartonellosis
-exclusion of other causes
-positive culture and/or PCR
-response to appropriate antibiotics
-always a presumptive diagnosis, not definitive
-no way to prove a cat is not infected
Which antibiotics can be used in bartonellosis cases when needed?
-azithromycin
-doxycycline
-fluoroquinolones
What are the recommendations for preventing bartonellosis?
-flea and tick prevention/control
-keep cats inside
-maintain good hygiene around all pets
-prevent cat scratches and bites
-consult physician with any concerns
Which considerations should be made for immunosuppressed clients?
-recommend adult cats, not kittens
-emphasize hygiene and gentle play
-consider treating positive asymptomatic cats with azithromycin
What are the general characteristics of Yersinia pestis?
-gram neg. bacillus
-cat. A bioterrorism agent
-causes bubonic plague/black death
How is Yersinia pestis transmitted?
-flea bites
-contact with infected rodent tissues
-aerosols
What are the characteristics of plague in humans?
-approx. 10-15 cases a year
-typically occurs April to November
-mostly occurs in western and southwest US
What are the three disease forms of plague in humans?
-bubonic (most common)
-septicemic
-pneumonic
How is plague diagnosed in humans?
-culture
-FA
-ELISA
Which antibiotics are used to treat plague in people?
-streptomycin
-gentamycin
-doxycycline
What are the characteristics of plague in rodents?
-act as both reservoir for bacteria and host for fleas
-intermittent epizootics
-acutely die without showing clinical signs
What are the characteristics of plague in cats?
-often infected due to predatory behavior
-clinical signs depend on route of exposure
-can see abscessed lymph nodes, pneumonia, DIC, and sepsis
How is plague prevented?
-flea control
-keep cats indoors
-wear gloves and mask when treating/necropsying infected cats
-warn owners of risks
-vaccine for people at high risk
-dusting of prairie dog burros with pyrethrins
-oral vaccine for prairie dogs being developed
