Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-21T12:15:31.228Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Zoonotic skin diseases of dogs and cats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

Karen A. Moriello*
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015 Linden Drive West, Madison, WI 53707, USA

Abstract

Although there are over 250 zoonotic diseases, only 30–40 of them involve dogs and cats. Transmission of zoonotic infections occurs via bites, scratches or touch; exposure to saliva, urine or feces; inhalation of particles or infectious aerosols; contact with a transport or intermediate host (e.g. ticks, fleas); or exposure to contaminated water, soil or vegetation. This paper summarizes the most important common zoonotic dermatological diseases of dogs and cats. The most common dermatological zoonoses are flea and tick infestations and the diseases they transmit; dermatophytosis; and mite infestations (Sarcoptes and Cheyletiella). Prevention of zoonotic infestations or infections can be accomplished easily by the use of routine flea and tick control, screening of new pets for dermatophytosis, and routine hand-washing.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © CAB International 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arlian, LG, Vyszenski-Moher, DL and Pole, MJ (1989). Survival of adults and developmental stages of Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis when off the host. Experimental and Applied Acarology 6: 181187.Google Scholar
Arlian, LG, Morgan, MS, Rapp, CM and Vyszenski-Moher, DL (1996). The development of protective immunity in canine scabies. Veterinary Parasitology 62: 133142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
August, JR (1988). Zoonosis update: dog and cat bites. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 193: 13941398.Google Scholar
Azad, AF, Radulovic, S, Higgins, JA, Noden, BH and Troyer, JM (1997). Flea-borne rickettsioses: ecologic considerations. Emerging Infectious Diseases 3: 319327.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baxby, D and Bennett, M (1994) Cowpox virus. In: Webster, RG and Granoff, A (editors). Encyclopedia of Virology. London: Academic Press, pp. 261267Google Scholar
Baxby, D, Bennett, M and Getty, B (1994). Human cowpox: a review based upon 54 cases: 1969–93. British Journal of Dermatology 131: 598607.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bennett, M, Gaskell, RM and Baxby, D (1998) Feline cowpox virus infection. In: Greene, CE (editor). Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 2nd edn. Philadelphia (PA): W. B. Saunders, pp. 110111Google Scholar
Bond, R (2002) Pathogenesis of Malassezia dermatitis. In: Thoday, KL, Foil, CS and Bond, R (editors). Advances in Veterinary Dermatology. Proceedings of the Fourth World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology. Osney Mead: Blackwell Science, pp. 6975Google Scholar
Bornstein, S and Zakrisson, G (1993). Humoral antibody response to experimental Sarcoptes scabiei var. vulpus infection in the dog. Veterinary Dermatology 4: 107110.Google Scholar
Breitschwerdt, EB and Greene, CE (1998) Bartonellosis. In: Greene, CE (editor). Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 2nd edn. Philadelphia (PA): W. B. Saunders, pp. 337343Google Scholar
Breitschwerdt, EB, Levy, MG, Davidson, MG and Szabadoas, NS (1995). Evaluation of the pathogenic potential of Rickettsia canada and Rickettsia prowazekii organisms in dogs. Journal of the American Medical Association 207: 5863.Google ScholarPubMed
Carro, T, Pederson, NC, Beaman, BL and Munn, R (1989). Subcutaneous abscesses and arthritis caused by a probable bacterial L-form in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 194: 15831588.Google Scholar
Chang, HJ, Miller, HL, Watkins, N, Arduino, MJ, Ashford, DA, Midgley, G, Aguero, SM, Pinto-Powell, R, von Reyn, CV, Edwards, W, McNeil, MM and Jarvis, WR (1998). An epidemic of Malassezia pachydermatitis in an intensive care nursery associated with colonization of health care workers' pet dogs. New England Journal of Medicine 338: 706711.Google Scholar
Cohen, SR (1980). Cheyletiella dermatitis (in rabbit, cat, dog, man). Archives of Dermatology 116: 435437.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Côté, E, Barr, SC and Allen, C (1997). Possible transmission of Blastomyces dermatitis via culture specimens. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 210: 479480.Google Scholar
Czerny, CP, Eis-Hubinger, AM, Mayr, A, Schneweiss, KE and Pfeiff, B (1991). Animal poxviruses transmitted from cat to man: current event with lethal end. Journal of Veterinary Medical Biology 38: 421431.Google Scholar
DeBoer, DJ and Moriello, KA (1994). The immune response to Microsporum canis induced by a fungal cell wall vaccine. Veterinary Dermatology 5: 4755.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DeBoer, DJ and Moriello, KA (1995). Investigations of a killed dermatophyte cell-wall vaccine against Microsporum canis infection with Microsporum canis in cats. Research in Veterinary Science 59: 110–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
DeBoer, DJ, Moriello, KA, Blum, J, Volk, L and Bredahl, LK (2002). Safety and efficacy and immunologic effects after inoculation of inactivated and combined live-inactivated dermatophytosis vaccines in cats. American Journal of Veterinary Research 63: 15321537.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DeBoer, DJ, Moriello, KA, Blum, J and Volk, LM (2003). Effects of lufenuron treatment in cats on the establishment and course of Microsporum canis infection following exposure to infected cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 222: 12161220.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
de Silva, AM, Fish, D, Burkot, TR, Zhang, Y and Fikrig, E (1996). OspA antibodies inhibit the acquisition of Borrelia burdorderia by Ixodes ticks. Infection and Immunity 65: 31463150.Google Scholar
Egenvall, EO, Petterson, B and Persson, M (1996). A 16S rRNA-based PCR assay for detection and identification of granulocytic Ehrlichia species in dogs, horses, and cattle. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 34: 21702174.Google Scholar
Greene, CE (1998a) Immunocompromised people and pets. In: Greene, CE (editor). Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 2nd edn. Philadelphia (PA): W. B. Saunders, pp. 710717Google Scholar
Greene, CE (1998b) Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever, and typhus. In: Greene, CE (editor). Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 2nd edn. Philadelphia (PA): W. B. Saunders, pp. 155165.Google Scholar
Greene, CE (1998c) Mycoplasmal, ureaplasmal, and L-form infections. In: Greene, CE (editor). Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 2nd edn. Philadelphia (PA): W. B. Saunders, pp. 174177.Google Scholar
Greene, CE, Marks, MA and Lappin, MR (1993). Comparison of latex agglutination, indirect immunofluorescent antibody, and enzyme linked immunoassay methods for serological diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research 54: 2028.Google Scholar
Greene, CE, Goldstein, EJC and Wright, JC (1998) Bite wound infections. In: Greene, CE (editor). Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 2nd edn. Philadelphia (PA): W. B. Saunders, pp. 330337Google Scholar
Halliwell, REW (1984). Factors in the development of flea-bite allergy. Veterinary Medicine 79: 12731286.Google Scholar
Halliwell, REW and Longino, SJ (1985). IgE and IgG antibodies to flea antigen in differing dog populations. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 8: 215223.Google Scholar
Halliwell, REW and Schemmer, KR (1987). The role of basophils in the immunopathogenesis of hypersensitivity to fleas in dogs. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 15: 203213.Google Scholar
Hamblet, CN (1993). Parapoxvirus in a cat. Veterinary Record 132: 144.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harwick, RP (1978). Lesions caused by canine ear mites. Archives of Dermatology 114: 120131.Google Scholar
Heukelbach, J, Meneke, N and Feldmeir, H (2002). Editorial: cutaneous larval migrans and tungiasis: the challenge to control zoonotic ectoparasites associated with poverty. Tropical Medicine and International Health 11: 907910.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hegarty, BC, Levy, MG and Gager, RF (1997). Immunoblot analysis of the immunoglobulin G response to Ehrlichia canis in dogs: an international survey. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 9: 3238.Google Scholar
Jameson, P, Greene, C, Regnery, RL, Dryden, M, Marks, A, Brown, J, Cooper, J, Glaus, B and Greene, R. (1995). Prevalence of Bartonella henselae antibodies in pet cats throughout regions of North America. Journal of Infectious Diseases 172: 11451149.Google Scholar
Kordick, DL and Breitschwerdt, EB (1995). Intraerythrocytic presence of Bartonella henselae. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 33: 16551656.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lopez, RA (1993). Of mites of man. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 203: 606607.Google Scholar
Moriello, KA (2001). Diagnostic techniques for dermatophytosis. Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice 16: 219224.Google Scholar
Moriello, KA and DeBoer, DJ (1995). Feline dermatophytosis: recent advances and recommendations for therapy. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice 25: 901921.Google Scholar
Moriello, K and DeBoer, DJ (1998) Environmental decontamination of Microsporum canis: in vitro studies using isolated infected cat hair. In: Kwochka, KW, Willemse, T and von Tscharner, C. Advances in Veterinary Dermatology, Vol. 3. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann, pp. 309318Google Scholar
Morrisson, G (2001). Zoonotic infections from pets: understanding the risks and treatment. Post Graduate Medicine 110: 2448.Google Scholar
Neer, TM (1998) Canine monocyctic and granulocytic ehrlichiosis. In: Greene, CE (editor). Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 2nd edn. Philadelphia (PA): W. B.Saunders, pp. 139147Google Scholar
Orloski, KA and Eidon, M (1995). Yersinia pestis infection in three dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 207: 316318.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pinsky, RL, Fishbein, DB, Greene, CR and Gensheimer, KF (1991). An outbreak of cat-associated Q fever in the United States. Journal of Infectious Diseases 164: 202204.Google Scholar
Ramsey, DT (1994). Blastomycosis in a veterinarian. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 205: 968.Google Scholar
Regnery, RL, Anderson, BE, Clarridge, JEet al. (1992). Characterization of a novel Rochalimaea species, R. henselae sp. nov., isolated from blood of a febrile human immunodeficiency virus-positive patient. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 30: 265274.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rosser, E and Dunstan, RW (1998) Sporotrichosis. In: Greene, CE (editor). Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 2nd edn. Philadelphia (PA): W. B. Saunders, pp. 399402.Google Scholar
Saridomichelakis, MM, Billinis, C, Mylonakis, M, Koutinas, A, Spirou, V, Diakou, N, Argyriadis, D and Leontides, L (2000). Comparison of polymerase chain reaction parasitology and serology in the diagnosis of canine leishmaniosis. Veterinary Dermatology 11: 23.Google Scholar
Schubach, TMP, Schubach, AD, dos Reis, RS, Cuzzia-Maya, T, Blanco, TCM, Monterio, DF, Barros, MBD, Brustein, R, Zancope-Oliveira, RM, Monteiro, PCF and Wanke, B (2002). Sporothrix schenckii isolated from domestic cats with and without sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mycopathologia 153, 8386.Google Scholar
Sellon, RC (1998) Feline immunodeficiency virus infection. In: Greene, CE (editor). Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 2nd edn. Philadelphia (PA): W. B. Saunders, pp. 8496Google Scholar
Senneville, E, Ajana, F, Lecocq, P, Chidiac, C and Mouton, Y (1991). Rickettsia conorii isolated from ticks introduced to northern France by a dog. Lancet 337: 679.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shin, SJ, Chang, YF, Jacobson, RH, Shaw, E, Lauderdale, TL, Appel, MJ and Lein, DH (1993). Cross reactivity between B. burgdorferi and other spirochetes affects specificity of serotests for detection of antibodies to Lyme disease agent in dogs. Veterinary Microbiology 36: 161174.Google Scholar
Slappendel, RJ and Ferrer, L (1998) Leishmaniasis. In: Greene, CE (editor). Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 2nd edn. Philadelphia (PA): W. B. Saunders, pp. 451458.Google Scholar
Solano-Gallego, L, Morell, P, Arboix Alberola, J and Ferrer, L (2000). Prevalence of Leishmania infection in dogs living in endemic regions. Veterinary Dermatology 11: 22.Google Scholar
Soliman, AK, Botros, BAM and Watts, DM (1993). Evaluation of a competitive enzyme linked immunoassay for detection of Coxiella burnetii antibody in animal sera. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 30: 15951597.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sorvillo, FJ, Gondo, B, Emmons, R, Ryan, P, Waterman, SH, Tilzer, A, Andersen, EM, Murray, RA and Barr, R (1993). A suburban focus of endemic typhus in Los Angeles County: association with seropositive cats and opossums. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 48: 269273.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stein, A and Raoult, D (1992). Detection of Coxiella burnetii by DNA amplification using polymerase chain reaction. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 30: 24622466.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Steinborn, A, Essbauer, S and Marsch, WC (2003). Human cowpox/cat pox infection. A potentially unrecognized disease. Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 128: 607610.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tan, JS (1998). Human zoonotic infections transmitted by dogs and cats. Archives of Internal Medicine 157: 19331943.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tanner, MA, Everett, CL and Youvan, DC (2000). Molecular phylogenetic evidence for noninvasive zoonotic transmission of Staphylococcus intermedius from a canine pet to a human. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 38: 16281631.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Torfason, EG and Gunadottir, S (2002). Polymerase chain reaction for laboratory diagnosis of orf virus infections. Journal of Clinical Virology 24: 7984.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Turner, JA (1962). Human dipylidiasis (dog tapeworm infection) in the United States. Journal of Pediatrics 61: 763768.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilkinson, GT (1970). Possible ‘orf’ (contagious pustular dermatitis, contagious ecthyma of sheep) infection in the dog. Veterinary Record 87: 766.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zhang, X and Andrews, JH (1993). Evidence for the growth of Sporothrix schenckii on dead but not on living sphagnum moss. Mycopathologia 123: 8794.Google Scholar