What is Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans and pets it causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. In rare cases death occurs. Many of these symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases. Leptospirosis is confirmed by laboratory testing of a blood or urine sample.

How do people get leptospirosis?

Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Many different kinds of animals carry the bacterium; they may become sick but sometimes have no symptoms. Leptospira organisms have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact, especially with mucosal surfaces, such as the eyes or nose, or with broken skin. The disease is not known to be spread from person to person.

How long is it between the time of exposure and when people become sick?

The time between a person’s exposure to a contaminated source and becoming sick is 2 days to 4 weeks. Illness usually begins abruptly with fever and other symptoms. Leptospirosis may occur in two phases; after the first phase, with fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea, the patient may recover for a time but become ill again. If a second phase occurs, it is more severe; the person may have kidney or liver failure or meningitis. This phase is also called Weil’s disease. The illness lasts from a few days to 3 weeks or longer. Without treatment, recovery may take several months.

Where is leptospirosis found?

Leptospirosis occurs worldwide but is most common in temperate or tropical climates. It is an occupational hazard for many people who work outdoors or with animals, for example, farmers, sewer workers, veterinarians, fish workers, dairy farmers, or military personnel. It is a recreational hazard for campers or those who participate in outdoor sports in contaminated areas and has been associated with swimming, wading, and whitewater rafting in contaminated lakes and rivers. The incidence is also increasing among urban children and pets.

How is leptospirosis treated?

Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics, such as doxycycline or penicillin, which should be given early in the course of the disease. Other drugs may be more effective in treating the carrier state. Intravenous antibiotics may be required for patients with more severe symptoms. Persons with symptoms suggestive of leptospirosis should contact a health care provider.

Can leptospirosis be prevented?

The risk of acquiring leptospirosis can be greatly reduced by not swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine. Protective clothing or footwear should be worn by those exposed to contaminated water or soil because of their job or recreational activities.

How can my pet be protected from Leptospirosis?

This disease was previously thought of as only a “farm dog” disease as it was most prevalent in rural pets that had close contact with livestock and feed storage areas that harbored rodents. Now more cases are seen in suburban pets than in rural pets! Homes are built in areas that raccoons and other wildlife exist. These animals frequently try to find a free meal left out for an outdoor dog or cat and wind up contaminating with Leptospira bacteria the environment by urinating in areas that pets will have contact. Dogs that are at risk for contact with such animals should be vaccinated with a “4-way” Leptospirosis vaccine. Using the older “2-way” lepto vaccine does not prevent the more common species of Leptospirosis disease currently seen in veterinary practise. There is currently no vaccine for cats. It is extremely uncommon for cats to develop disease, though it is unkown the percent of subclinically infected cats that exist. However, cats can be experimentally infected with Leptospirosis bacteria and have been shown to be chronic carriers of such infections. Keep pets away from wildlife such as raccoons, armadillos, opossums, voles, wolfes, foxes, deer, and skunks, as well as from rodents.

Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae Infection)

What is cat scratch disease?

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial disease in people caused by Bartonella henselae. (Remember Ted Nugent’s Cat Scratch Fever hit from the 70’s?) Most of the over 22,000 people infected each year with CSD have been bitten or scratched by a cat and developed a mild infection at the point of injury. Over 2,000 people/year are infected and require hospitalization. Lymph nodes, especially those around the head, neck, and upper limbs, become swollen. Additionally, a person with CSD may experience fever, headache, fatigue, and a poor appetite. Children may develop an infectious mononucleosis like syndrome. Rare complications of B. henselae infection are bacillary angiomatosis and Parinaud’s oculoglandular syndrome. Antibiotics can shorten the clinical course of the CSD, which usually lasts 6 to 8 weeks if untreated.

Can my cat transmit Bartonella henselae to me?

Sometimes, yes, cats can spread B. henselae to people. Most people get CSD from cat bites and scratches. Kittens are more likely to be infected and to pass the bacterium to people. About 40% of cats carry B. henselae at some time in their lives. Cats that carry B. henselae may not show any signs of illness; therefore, you cannot tell which cats can spread the disease to you. People with immunocompromised conditions, such as those undergoing immunosuppressive treatments for cancer, organ transplant patients, and people with HIV/AIDS, are more likely than others to have severe complications of CSD. However, more people with healthy immunes systems are infected with Bartonella sp. than immunosuppressed ones. Although B. henselae has been found in fleas and ticks, so far there is no evidence that a bite from an infected flea or tick can give you CSD.

How can I reduce my risk of getting cat scratch disease from my cat?

Avoid “rough play” with cats, especially kittens. This includes any activity that may lead to cat scratches and bites. Wash cat bites and scratches immediately and thoroughly with running water and soap. Do not allow cats to lick open wounds that you may have.

Control fleas and ticks 100%, which means all in-contact pets are put on effective control products such as Revolution or Frontline Plus monthly treatment and preventatives. If the pet’s environment is visibly infested then applying insect growth regulators (IGR) with active ingredients such as Precor or Nylar will help the problem in a quicker fashion. Most of the IGR’s are available in combination with adult flea and tick killers. Be sure to read instructions carefully and keep your cats out of the area until all products have dried.

If you develop an infection with pus and pronounced swelling where you were scratched or bitten by a cat, or develop symptoms, including fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue, contact your physician.
How do I know if my cat is infected?

While many cats do not have outward signs of disease, clinical signs can include chronic gum disease (gingivitis), upper respiratory disease (rhinitis and sinusitis), eye infections (conjunctivitis), chronic vomiting and diarrhea, as well as enlarged lymph nodes and fevers of unknown origin. Your veterinarian can test your cat by sending a drop of blood to the National Veterinary Laboratory. A Western Blot (FeBart) test will determine if your cat has been exposed to Bartonella bacteria. If your cat is strongly positive your veterinarian may prescribe the antibiotic azithromycin for 3 weeks. How do I know if the therapy was successful? A comparative titration test should be run on you cats’ blood 6 months after the end of therapy to determine the antibodies have been significantly decreased, which signifies the elimination of the Bartonella organisms.

For more information on the web: www.natvetlab.com

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) and Pregnancy: Facts and Prevention

What is LCMV and how is it spread?

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is carried by wild mice. Laboratory rodents and pet rodents, such as hamsters and guinea pigs, can become infected with LCMV from contact with wild mice. This can happen in a breeding facility, in a laboratory facility, in a pet store, or in the home (e.g., if wild mice are present).
Humans can become infected with LCMV through contact with urine, blood, saliva, droppings, or nesting materials of infected rodents. This could occur, for example, through a break in the skin or a bite from an infected rodent. Infection can also be spread by inhaling dust or droplets containing LCMV, such as while sweeping infected rodent droppings. A pregnant woman who becomes infected with LCMV can pass the infection to her unborn baby. LCMV infection can also be spread to patients who receive an organ transplant from an infected donor. However, spread of LCMV infection from one person to another is not known to occur outside these situations (1).
About 5% of adults have a positive blood test that shows they were infected with LCMV at some time in their lives (2, 3). Some people with normal immune systems have no symptoms during LCMV infection. Others have a mild illness with symptoms such as headache, fever, chills, and muscle aches. Sometimes, meningitis (inflammation around the brain and spinal cord) will occur.
What are the risks of LCMV infection during pregnancy?

If you have an LCMV infection during your pregnancy, your unborn baby can also become infected. LCMV infection during pregnancy can result in loss of the pregnancy. Infants who are infected with LCMV before they are born can have severe birth defects. It is not known how often this happens because pregnant women with LCMV infection might have only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, and babies often are not tested for the infection (4, 5). Since LCMV infection was first identified, more than 50 babies have been reported with LCMV infection worldwide (6, 7).
How can I prevent becoming infected with LCMV?

In general, the risk of LCMV infection is low. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should avoid contact with rodents, including pets such as hamsters and guinea pigs, and rodent droppings whenever possible. Following these instructions can reduce the risk of LCMV infection:
If you suspect there are mice in your home, call a professional pest control company to control them or have another member of the household remove them. Avoid vacuuming or sweeping rodent urine, droppings, or nesting materials.
Ask a friend or family member who does not live with you to care for pet rodents in his or her home while you are pregnant. If this is not possible, keep the pet rodent in a separate part of the home and have another family member or friend care for the pet and clean its cage. Avoid being in the same room where the rodent is kept.
If you have contact with a wild rodent or its urine, droppings, or nesting materials, thoroughly wash your hands afterward.
Further guidance on preventing LCMV infection, including management and prevention of rodents in the home, is available at:www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/lcmv.htm and
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/lcmv/prevent.pdf

Is there treatment for LCMV infection during pregnancy?

Currently, there is no specific treatment available for LCMV infection. Pregnant women who have LCMV infection should talk with their doctors about how to manage their symptoms and how the infection might affect the outcome of their pregnancy.
If you are pregnant and have come in contact with a rodent, or have fever or other symptoms during your pregnancy, contact your doctor. A blood test is available to detect current or previous LCMV infection. Having had LCMV infection in the past is not a risk for current or future pregnancies.