What can you get from a cat? Common diseases of cats and humans: chlamydia, rabies, helminthiasis, lichen

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Many cat lovers are unaware that their pets are carriers of extremely dangerous diseases. It really is. Common diseases of cats and humans are, alas, not a myth, but a harsh reality. These animals occupy a special stage in our life. The cat sleeps with a person, is constantly in his arms, shares with the owner not only a common chair or sofa, but sometimes a sandwich. We kiss our pets, stroke them, and it would never occur to anyone to constantly wash their hands after talking with the home Barsik. But in vain!

So what can you get from a cat? The list of troubles is quite long, let's take a closer look at it.

What "surprises" can you get from a cat

All diseases of the "cat" family can be divided into several types:

• bacterial;
• infectious;
• viral;
• parasitic;
• fungal.

Please note: the most common source of infection is an animal that spends a long time outside the home andin contact with other representatives of the animal world.

So, what can you get from a cat? The list is actually not small:

• worms;
• rabies;
• chlamydia;
• toxoplasmosis;
• acute gastroenteritis (campylobacteriosis);
• tuberculosis;
• salmonella;
• tularemia and others.

Some of these diseases are treated quite quickly and do not cause much suffering to either the animal or the person. Others, on the contrary, are very dangerous and can even end in death for both. So let's talk more about what you can get from a cat.

Rabies

This is one of the most dangerous diseases. It is caused by a neurotropic virus and leads exclusively to death. Can you get rabies from a cat? Of course yes! Infection is possible through the saliva of a sick animal, with a bite, through abrasions or scratches on the skin or mucous membranes.

Sick animal shows strong aggression, he has spasms of the muscles of the pharynx, paralysis of the limbs, light and hydrophobia. Treatment is practically non-existent. If the animal is already sick, it will certainly die. A person's life can be saved. To do this, in the first 72 hours after the bite, a special anti-rabies serum should be introduced. If time is lost, and clinical signs of the disease appear, the treatment will most likely not give any result.

Ringworm

Is it possible to get lichen from a cat? The answer is unequivocal: yes. There are about 18types of pathogenic fungus that can cause dermatosis in an animal. The most common among them are microsporia and trichophytosis.

The disease manifests itself in the form of rounded bald patches on the animal's skin. Usually lesions are located on the ears or muzzle, but can also spread throughout the body. Most often, the sore spots have a reddish tint and peel off, the animal constantly itches. In case of infection with trichophytosis, abundant discharge and the formation of white-gray crusts at the wound site are additionally observed.

Only a doctor can correctly determine the type of disease. To do this, laboratory studies are carried out to “pluck out” the wool on the borders of he althy and affected skin. Such a disease is very quickly transmitted between individuals, as well as from a cat to a person. To protect your pet (and yourself) from such a scourge, it is best to vaccinate your cat.

Helminths

What about worms in cats? The symptoms and treatment of this disease are familiar to anyone who has ever de alt with yard representatives of the feline world. In the body of an animal (and even humans), helminths can be found anywhere. But most often they affect the stomach and intestines. The most common are round, flat and tapeworms.

So, cats have worms. Symptoms and treatment, as you understand, are interconnected. Most helminthiases are asymptomatic, so diagnosis and treatment can be very difficult. You can assume the presence of helminthic invasion in such cases:

• animal hasunstable stool, sometimes bloody;
• cat's belly is swollen, filled with gases;
• the cat has become inexplicably lethargic;
• animal lost weight for no apparent reason;
• cat's fur has become brittle and very dull.

Even if the cat has never left the house, you have no reason to rule out the presence of worms. The source of infection can be beetles, flies and other insects swallowed during the hunt, raw fish, meat, especially pork. Also, the owner could accidentally bring eggs of parasites on shoes without suspecting it.

Since a person can easily become infected with helminths from a pet, the prevention of helminthic invasion should not be neglected.

Toxoplasmosis

And what infectious diseases of cats transmitted to humans do you know? Surely you have heard at least once about such a terrible disease as toxoplasmosis. The causative agent is a parasite called Toxoplazma gondii, which accidentally enters the body of an animal or human. The manifestations of this serious illness are very diverse:

• disorders of the respiratory system;
• drastic weight loss;
• disorders of the stomach and intestines;
• temperature increase;
• spontaneous abortion;
• chorioretinitis - eye damage.

In animals, this disease most often does not manifest itself in any particular way, so it is almost impossible to notice it on your own. For diagnosis, the PCR method is used, a wash is performed from the rectum of the animal.

Attention! Pathogentoxoplasmosis is extremely dangerous for pregnant women, so if you have an animal in your house (even a he althy one at first glance), be sure to take it to the veterinarian. Better yet, minimize such communication.

Chlamydia

Few people know, but getting chlamydia from a cat to a person is easier than a lung. After all, this disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. Chlamydia is a highly contagious disease, especially for pregnant women. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms in your pet:

• refusing food or a sharp decrease in appetite;
• discharge from the nose or eyes, conjunctivitis;
• fever;
• weakness;
• shortness of breath.

If you stop the development of the disease at the very beginning, everything will end well. In the event that the doctor's help is late, even the death of the animal is not ruled out.

Campylobacteriosis

Kittens and young cats are most often affected by this disease. Acute gastroenteritis is easily transmitted to a person at the time of caring for a sick pet. There is diarrhea, vomiting, sometimes with blood, fever, weakness and acute pain in the abdomen. It is noteworthy that these symptoms are common to both the animal and the owner.

Most often, the disease does not require special treatment and resolves on its own after a few days. However, in especially severe cases, the intervention of a specialist is required.

Aueszky's disease

Thisthe disease is also called feline herpes and is accompanied by paralysis or paresis, as well as skin reactions and swelling. In animals, coordination of movements may be disturbed, aggressive behavior can be observed. Cats experience severe itching, so they constantly rub their neck and muzzle with their paws, lick their limbs. The disease does not last long, the death of the animal occurs very soon.

A person can become infected through mucosal defects or scratches if saliva, urine, milk, or discharge from the eyes or nose of a sick animal gets there. True, this happens extremely rarely. The cats themselves become infected by eating a sick mouse or rat, which are carriers of this virus.

Tuberculosis

This is a very dangerous infectious disease that affects many animal species. It is difficult to say who infects whom, since both humans and cats are susceptible to the same pathogen.

If your pet has become inexplicably lethargic, shows inconsistency in appetite, loses weight, constantly coughs and sneezes - there is a reason to see a doctor. One of the characteristic signs of tuberculosis is the formation of specific nodules in the neck and head of the animal.

To be fair, TB is very rare in cats.

Salmonellosis

Most often, both the cat and the owner are infected with this disease at the same time. This happens at the time of eating contaminated foods. For example, the owner himself drank contaminated milk and treated the cat to it. But sometimes a person can get infected from an animal, especially whennon-observance of hygiene rules.

In cats, the disease can proceed as follows:

• gastroenteritis;
• abdominal pain;
• high temperature;
• conjunctivitis;
• pneumonia, shortness of breath.

Salmonellosis is very dangerous for humans. In the initial stage, the disease manifests itself with the same symptoms that are characteristic of cats. In the second phase, symptoms of severe intoxication join them. The third phase is septic. She is the heaviest. The patient has a frequent and abrupt change in temperature, fever, chills, profuse sweating. Meningitis, osteomyelitis, cholecystocholangitis, arthritis, endocarditis and many other diseases can develop. If treatment is not started on time, the consequences can be dire.

Tularemia

And this is another disease common to cats and their owners. The infection is bacterial in nature. Even the clinical picture is the same in representatives of the animal world and humans.

Infection is possible through the stomach or intestines, mucous membranes of the respiratory tract or eyes. After infection, the bacteria enter the lymphatic system and cause the development of primary and then secondary lymphadenitis. Diagnosis of the disease can only be done in the laboratory. So both the owner and the pet will have to take tests.

Listeriosis

Another disease that is very dangerous for pregnant women. Its main peddler can be a variety of rodents and birds with which your pet actively “communicates” on the street. Listeriosis can affect canaries and parrots, and the pathogen(Listeria monocytogenes) can be found in poorly processed fish and seafood.

Listeria enters the body mainly through the mouth along with contaminated food (mouse or bird). Possible infection through water or air, through mucous membranes or wounds (when scratched).

The main external sign can be considered a CNS lesion, impaired coordination. There may be an increase in temperature, swelling of the lymph nodes, damage to the lymphatic vessels. Symptoms in animals and humans are very similar. Diagnosis is carried out in the laboratory.

Simple rules for those who have a cat

To avoid various kinds of diseases, you just need to follow a few simple rules:

• always remember about hygiene, wash your hands after each contact with an animal, especially outdoors;
• never forget to wash your hands with soap and water after handling a cat litter box or bowl;
• as soon as you have an animal in your house, take the time to visit the vet and do not spare the money for a comprehensive examination;
• Get your pet's regular vaccinations;
• do not forget to take preventive measures against worms (for yourself, the animal and other family members);
• try to wean the cat from hunting rodents;
• feed your pet only quality products;
• if you or the animal are not feeling well, seek medical attention immediately.

Now you know what you can get from a cat and how to avoid suchtrouble. He alth to you and your pets!