Pets : Rabies, Rodent-borne, Flea and Tick-borne Diseases, Mycobacteria

by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

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Rabies

Rabies, a deadly viral disease that infects the brain and spinal cord in animals and people, is transmitted through the saliva of a rabid animal, usually by a bite. Vaccines to help prevent rabies are available for dogs, cats, horses, ferrets, and some farm animals. Pet owners should keep their pets' vaccinations, including rabies vaccinations, up to date. Vaccines for animals are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and vaccines for people are approved by the FDA.

The number of rabies cases in domestic animals has steadily declined since animal control and vaccination programs began in the 1940s. Today, domestic animals account for less than 10 percent of the reported animal rabies cases. The number of cases in wild animals, however, has increased. Rabies is frequently found in raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.

People and pets should avoid contact with wild or unfamiliar animals. If you are bitten, immediately wash the wound with soap and water, clean the bite by allowing the wound to bleed, and get medical help at once. If a pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance immediately.

After a person has been exposed to rabies, rabies immune globulin (proteins that function as antibodies) and the first of five doses of vaccine must be given promptly. The remaining four vaccine doses are given over a 28-day period. This regimen works by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies that neutralize the rabies virus before it causes the actual disease. By the time symptoms appear, it is too late for this treatment, and the disease is almost always fatal.

According to the CDC, no one in the United States has developed rabies after being exposed to it when the vaccine was given promptly. Unlike the older rabies vaccines, which were painful injections in the abdomen, today's rabies vaccines are relatively painless and can be given in the arm.

Rodent-borne Diseases

Two diseases of emerging concern, especially in young children, may be spread by rodents, including pet hamsters, mice and rats. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) is a viral disease that people can get from inhaling infectious airborne particles of rodent urine, feces, or saliva, or by ingesting food contaminated with the virus. Rat-bite fever is a bacterial illness that can be transmitted through the bite or scratch of a rodent or by ingesting food or water contaminated with rodent feces.

Because both diseases may cause flu-like symptoms initially, such as fever, headache, and muscle aches, they can be misdiagnosed or underestimated, says Victoria Hampshire, V.M.D., of CVM's Office of Surveillance and Compliance. LCM can escalate to muscle weakness and paralysis, and rat-bite fever can also cause severe complications. There are no specific drugs to treat LCM, and severe cases may require hospitalization. Rat-bite fever is usually cured with antibiotic drugs.

Owners of pet rodents should avoid exposure to their droppings and should periodically disinfect rodent habitats while wearing gloves and washing hands afterward. Traps should be used to rid the house and property of wild mice and rats. Make sure to tell your doctor if you or your child has flu-like symptoms and has had recent contact with rodents.

Flea- and Tick-borne Diseases

Fleas and ticks are responsible for a number of diseases in pets and people. Some types of ticks, for example, can transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease to animals and humans. Fleas can harbor tapeworm larvae, which grow into adult tapeworms in the intestines of pets or people who may swallow the infected fleas.

Although pets cannot give flea- and tick-borne diseases directly to people, they can transport these pests into their homes, exposing family members to potential infection.

Many products are available to help control fleas and ticks on pets and in their environment. Check with your veterinarian for appropriate treatments. (See "Taking the Bite Out of Fleas and Ticks," July-August 2001 FDA Consumer.)

he USDA has licensed a vaccine for use in dogs for Lyme disease prevention. If you live in a tick-infested region, ask your veterinarian about this vaccine for your dog.

Mycobacteria

Fish and the water they live in can harbor bacteria that may cause illness in people. Mycobacterium is one of the main infectious germ families associated with fish and aquarium water. A common route of this infection in humans is through cuts or scrapes on hands or feet.

People, especially those with compromised immune systems, should wear rubber gloves when cleaning the fish tank and wash their hands well afterwards, says Renate Reimschuessel, V.M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA's aquatic research program. "Since these and other bacteria can be present in fish tanks, it's a good idea to keep kids from putting their hands in the tank, or, in the case of toddlers, drinking tank water," she adds. "The same advice goes for pets — keep your cats and dogs from drinking potentially contaminated water — either from a fish tank or a toilet. Basically, follow good hygiene procedures when handling aquatic animals or materials from their habitat."

About the Author

www.fda.gov
FDA is A United States government body that oversees medical devices, including contact lenses, intraocular lenses, excimer lasers and eyedrops. In the US, these products must be approved by the FDA before they can be marketed.