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© CAB International 2003 Animal Health Research Reviews 4(2); 157–168

ISSN 1466-2523 DOI: 10.1079/AHRR200355

Zoonotic skin diseases of dogs and cats


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

Received 12 April 2003; Accepted 8 September 2003

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 interme-
diate 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.

Keywords: zoonotic diseases, skin diseases, dogs, cats

Introduction increase in pet ownership, particularly of pets that live


in and share their owner’s home. A larger number of
The definition of a zoonotic disease is one that is shared people are in direct daily contact with animals that
by people and animals. The reservoirs of zoonotic dis- could transmit a zoonotic disease. Secondly, medical
eases are not always animals; many zoonotic agents are advances have resulted in an increasing population of
maintained in nature in the soil, water or vegetation immunocompromised people, many of whom live with,
(Greene, 1998a). Transmission of zoonotic infections or are exposed to, dogs or cats. People awaiting or who
occurs via bites, scratches or touch; exposure to saliva, have had organ transplants, cancer patients and those
urine or feces; inhalation of particles or infectious undergoing chemotherapy, and those living with human
aerosols; contact with a transport or intermediate host immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodefi-
(e.g. ticks, fleas); or exposure to contaminated water, ciency syndrome (AIDS) are clearly in this risk
soil or vegetation. The number of zoonotic organisms population. The pool of immunocompromised pet own-
has been estimated to be about 250 (Greene, 1998a). ers can include neonates, infants, and children with
Dogs and cats are the most commonly owned com- underdeveloped immune systems; the elderly, especially
panion animal pets world-wide. In the USA alone, it is those with illnesses or living in nursing homes; people
estimated that 60–70% of households have at least one with illnesses or medical conditions putting them at risk
companion animal pet (Greene, 1998a; Tan, 1998). of infection (e.g. pregnancy, burn patients); and people
There are approximately 30–40 zoonotic diseases associ- living with devices that breach natural defense mecha-
ated with companion animals. In recent years, there has nisms (indwelling catheters, implanted medical devices)
been renewed interest in pet-associated zoonoses. There (Greene, 1998a).
are many possible reasons for this, but two inter-related The most intimate contact people have with their pet
reasons stand out as the most important. First, changing is through touch, including casual contact, petting,
social–economic trends have resulted in an overall grooming and/or sleeping with the pet. The purpose of
this article is to review the most common dermatological
diseases of dogs and cats that can directly or indirectly
E-mail: moriellk@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu represent a zoonotic hazard to pet owners.
158 Karen A. Moriello

Parasitic diseases of these stimuli are associated with the presence of a


potential host. Fleas can cause intensely pruritic lesions
Fleas in people. Children are often bitten because they spend
significantly more time on the floor, where pupae and
Fleas are small wingless insects and are the most com- newly emerged adults are found. The second major rea-
mon cause of parasitic disease in dogs and cats. son why fleas are of zoonotic concern is that they can
Although there are over 2000 species of fleas world- be vectors of infectious disease and can facilitate the
wide, only a few infest dogs and cats: Ctenocephalides transmission of microbial organisms (see below).
felis, C. canis, Pulex spp. and Echnidnophaga galli-
nacea. Female fleas lay their eggs on the host and these
eggs usually fall into the environment, most commonly Ticks
where the pet sleeps. The eggs develop through three
larval stages and one pupal stage. In most households, Ticks, like mites and spiders, are arachnids. They are
fleas complete their life cycle within 3–4 weeks. divided into two major groups, the argasid (soft) and
However, the life cycle can take up to 6 months in some ixodid (hard) ticks, and are found world-wide. Argasid
situations. Fleas cause a number of skin diseases in dogs ticks are more primitive and less parasitic, and tend to
and cats. Most commonly they cause pruritic irritation infest the lairs of their hosts. The adult ticks do not feed,
from their bites. This results in self-trauma with second- but a host may be infested with large numbers of larvae
ary hair loss and secondary bacterial infections. In some and nymphs. Ixodid ticks are more specialized, highly
cases, fleas can cause such intense pruritus as to cause parasitic, and will travel in open areas to infest hosts.
the host to create severe areas of focal self-mutilation. The life cycle of ticks is complex. Eggs hatch within 2–7
Intense infestations can lead to fleabite anemia; 72 weeks. The diagnosis of a tick infestation is made by
female fleas can consume 1 ml of blood a day. finding ticks on the animal; ticks may be free-moving or,
Some animals develop allergic reactions to fleabites more likely, attached to the host and feeding. In some
and suffer intense pruritus from minimal flea infesta- hosts, a hypersensitivity reaction occurs at the site of the
tions. The immunology of flea allergy dermatitis has bite, and is characterized by a focal area of ulceration
been studied most intensely in dogs, and the condition that often progresses to a dermal nodule that lasts for
is due to a combination of immediate hypersensitivity weeks to months. It has been suggested that these reac-
(type 1), delayed hypersensitivity (type 4), late-phase tions involve cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity and
IgE reactions and cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity type 3 and type 4 hypersensitivity reactions.
reactions (Halliwell, 1984; Halliwell and Longino, 1985; Ticks are important zoonotic parasites because they
Halliwell and Schemmer, 1987). Fleas are the intermedi- are not host-specific and will feed on any warm-blooded
ate host of tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum). They can host of opportunity. Bites of ticks can cause irritation,
also be vectors of a variety of infectious diseases. pain, nodular reactions and hypersensitivity reactions in
Fleas have a world-wide distribution and are espe- both people and animals. More importantly, ticks serve
cially problematic in warm, moist geographical regions as vectors of countless infectious diseases.
as this favors their reproductive cycle. The diagnosis of
a flea infestation is made by finding evidence of the
presence of fleas and/or flea excreta. In cats and/or ani- Infectious agents and diseases transmitted by ticks
mals with flea allergy dermatitis the diagnosis can be and/or fleas
more difficult. Cats are fastidious groomers and will
mechanically remove fleas and flea excreta from their People are exposed to ticks and their bites in a variety
hair coat, making it difficult to find clinical evidence. In of ways. Ticks may be brought into the home by the
animals with flea allergy dermatitis, intense pruritus pet; owners and pets may travel through tick-infested
occurs that is disproportionate to the number of fleas areas when exercising, hunting or working; and people
observed on the animal as symptoms can be triggered may live in or visit a tick-infested structure. The most
by a small number of parasites. Fleas are often not common source of tick-borne illnesses in people is natu-
found on these animals as they tend to be removed, ral exposure to ticks in their normal environment.
when possible, by grooming. The diagnosis of flea However, there is a risk of contracting tick-borne illness
allergy dermatitis in dogs and cats is made by a combi- from dogs and cats, primarily in two ways. First, unat-
nation of intradermal skin testing with flea antigen tached ticks traveling on dogs and cats can transfer to
and/or by the response to treatment. people. Secondly, people can come into contact with
Fleas are of zoonotic importance for two reasons. tick hemolymph during tick removal; infection can occur
First, although they prefer their natural hosts, unfed via small abrasions in the skin or through conjunctiva
newly emerged fleas will feed upon any warm-blooded (Senneville et al., 1991; Greene, 1998b). Exposure to
host. Fleas in the pupal stage are stimulated to emerge secretions from the skin or nose of infected dogs or cats
by vibrations, heat, and increases in carbon dioxide; all is not believed to be a source of infection.
Zoonotic skin diseases of dogs and cats 159

Prevention and control of all of these infections is decreased platelet half-life, and the development of
based on two approaches. First, people should wear platelet migration-inhibition factor. The cutaneous
protective clothing when traveling in tick-infested areas lesions associated with naturally occurring Ehrlichia
and should use an appropriate tick repellent (e.g. per- infections in dogs are rare, but include facial crusting,
methrins). Secondly, a flea and tick control program pustular and pruritic lesions and vasculitis. Diagnosis is
should be used routinely for dogs and cats. made by serological testing; indirect fluorescent anti-
body testing is the most commonly used diagnostic test
Rickettsia rickettsia in clinical laboratories. Western immunoblotting and
Rickettsia rickettsia, the causative agent of Rocky polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing can be used to
Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), is found in the USA, distinguish between various organisms (Egenvall et al.,
western Canada, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, 1996; Hegarty et al., 1997). These organisms are suscep-
Nicaragua, Colombia and Brazil. In the USA, RMSF is tible to doxycycline. The clinical signs of Ehrlichia
most common in April to September, which coincides infection in people are similar to those of RMSF with no
with the most active tick season. This organism is trans- rash.
mitted by the wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) or the
dog tick (D. variabilis) in the USA. In Mexico and South Coxiella burnetii
America, Rhipicephalus spp. and Amblyomma spp. have Query fever (Q fever) is caused by the bacterium
been implicated in the transmission of disease. Coxiella burnetii. It is a world-wide zoonotic disease
Transmission from tick bites only occurs after several except in Sweden, Norway, Iceland and New Zealand.
hours of attachment of the ticks. After infection, the There are no less than 40 species of ticks and other
organisms are disseminated throughout the bloodstream arthropods that act as intermediate hosts for sylvan
and invade and replicate in the endothelial cells of the reservoirs. The disease in animals and people is most
small blood vessels. Endothelial cell damage results in often contracted via inhalation, although there have
vasculitis, increased vascular permeability, petechial been a few cases of transmission to people from dogs
hemorrhages and organ damage. and cats after contact with contaminated environments
Clinical signs in dogs include fever, anorexia, lethargy or postparturient cats (Pinsky et al., 1991; Tan, 1998).
and peripheral lymphadenopathy. In about 20% of dogs, After inhalation, the lungs are the main target organ
erythema, petechiation, edema and necrosis of the skin for the disease. The bacterium tends to replicate in the
and mucous membranes can occur. Limb edema is often vascular endothelium of the respiratory, renal tubular
one of the earliest signs. and serosal epithelia, causing widespread vasculitis and
Laboratory diagnosis is made through serological test- necrotizing disease. Diagnosis is made by serological
ing. The most commonly used tests in dogs are an testing and/or by isolation of the organism. Serological
immunofluorescent antibody assay, an enzyme-linked testing involves measurement of either phase I antigens
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a latex agglutination (i.e. antigens from organisms isolated from the animal)
test (Greene et al., 1993). The immunofluorescent anti- or phase II antigens (i.e. organisms isolated from eggs
body assay is the most commonly used diagnostic test. inoculated with suspect material). Immunofluorescence
The organism is susceptible to tetracycline, doxycycline or ELISA tests are used for measurement of specific
and chloramphenicol. The clinical signs in people immunoglobulin (IG) M to phase II antigens or of IgA to
include, but are not limited to, fever, chills, headache, phase I antigens (Soliman et al., 1993). PCR testing can
muscle pain, meningism, photophobia and a red, mor- also be used (Stein and Raoult, 1992). Isolation of the
billiform rash. organism requires inoculation of tissue samples into
rodents and then examining lymphoid or serum samples
Ehrlichia spp. for the organism. This organism is sensitive to the same
Ehrlichosis is a tick-borne disease that has world-wide drugs that are used to treat RMSF. The clinical signs in
distribution. There are no less than 13 species of people include headache, fever, chills, myalgia, nausea,
Ehrlichia that are transmitted by ticks. Several of these arthralgia, and possibly erythematous macules. Although
(E. chaffeensis, the agent of Venezuelan human ehrli- the disease is usually contracted via inhalation, respira-
chiosis; E. equi, the agent of human granulocytic tory symptoms may not be seen.
ehrlichiosis; and E. phagocytophila, the agent of tick-
borne fever) have been reported to infect both dogs and Borrelia burgdorferi
people. Currently, the role of dogs as reservoirs of infec- Borrelia burgdorferi is the cause of the most common
tion is unknown (Neer, 1998; Tan, 1998). The organism vector-borne disease in people—Lyme disease. It is
is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects mononu- found in the USA, Europe and Asia. This organism does
clear cells, leading to leukopenia, anemia and not survive in the environment and resides in reservoir
thrombocytopenia. The immunological and inflamma- hosts and blood-sucking hosts. The organism has been
tory mechanisms that have been proposed for platelet found in many blood-sucking vectors, including ticks
destruction include increased platelet consumption, (Ixodes dammini, Dermacentor, Rhipicephalus,
160 Karen A. Moriello

Amblyomma), mosquitoes, fleas and biting flies. typhi), which has a world-wide distribution. The disease
However, it is not known if organisms other than ticks is transmitted to people by the mechanical spreading of
are important vectors of transmission in nature. Tick infective flea feces into pruritic wounds. Fleas can also
bites, particularly those of Ixodes spp., are considered to transmit the disease by direct bites (Greene, 1998b).
be the most common route of infection. The spirochete Finally, the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, has been
requires 48 h of tick attachment before it is able to infect found to be a vector of R. felis, which is serologically
the host through tick saliva (DeSilva et al., 1997). The indistinguishable from R. typhi and R. prowazekii. C.
organism is believed to proliferate locally at the site of felis is commonly found on cats and opossums;
attachment and then spread systemically. The organism indoor–outdoor cats can easily transmit infected fleas
can exist extracellularly, thus evading detection and into homes (Sorvillo et al., 1993; Azad et al., 1997). As
immune clearance. the disease is not recognized to be clinically significant
Clinical signs of borreliosis in dogs and cats are usu- in dogs and cats, information on diagnostic testing is not
ally associated with systemic illness (fever, lameness, available.
anorexia and malaise), arthritis and possibly renal dis-
ease. It is the host’s inflammatory response that is Cat-scratch disease
believed to be the cause of the symptoms. Unlike in Cat-scratch disease was first described by Debre in 1950
people, in dogs and cats cutaneous lesions have not but the causative agent was not identified as Bartonella
been identified conclusively, although they are sus- henselae until 1992 (Regnery et al., 1992). Since its
pected to occur. Anecdotally, erythematous target identification, numerous species of Bartonella have
lesions at the site of tick bites are reported to be com- been identified and associated with several clinical dis-
mon in dogs and cats. The plethora of skin diseases in eases in both cats and people. Serological testing of cats
dogs and cats that cause similar lesions, particularly has shown that this organism is present in North
skin diseases requiring antibiotic therapy, coupled America, Europe, Japan, Scandinavia and Australia; it
with a high incidence of positive titers in endemic probably has a world-wide distribution. These bacteria
areas, makes definitive confirmation of this observa- are fastidious arthropod-transmitted organisms, and cats
tion difficult. appear to be the reservoir of infection. The disease can
Lyme disease in people is a potentially severe multi- be transmitted to people via cat bites, cat saliva, or bites
system disease; the classic early lesion in people is an from fleas or ticks feeding on infected cats. In one sur-
annular rash known as erythema chronicum migrans at vey in the USA, the prevalence of antibodies to this
the site of the tick bite. The diagnosis is made by detect- organism ranged from 4 to 60% with a mean of 28%
ing rising antibody titers and, in veterinary medicine, (Jameson et al., 1995); summaries of serological testing
often by the response to therapy. Diagnosis in dogs and in other countries show a similar pattern (Breitschwerdt
cats is complicated by the high prevalence of seroposi- et al., 1998). The organism is an intraerythrocytic bac-
tive animals in endemic areas and the fact that many terium and the exact pathogenesis of disease in cats is
tests cross-react with other antigens, such as those of unknown (Kordick et al., 1995).
Leptospira (Shin et al., 1993). ELISA and indirect fluores- In cats, this disease is considered to be a self-limiting
cent antibody tests are considered screening tests; true febrile illness of 48–72 h. Some animals will develop
infection is associated with high antibody titers. The neurological symptoms, anorexia and peripheral lymph-
organism is sensitive to tetracycline, penicillin, amoxi- adenopathy. Most infections in cats, however, are
cillin, ceftriaxone and imipenem. subclinical. Diagnosis can identify seropositive cats but
is not useful in identifying clinically infected cats. The
Typhus latter is done by isolation of the organism from blood
Typhus is caused by a Rickettsia. Several species of and/or infected tissue. The indirect antibody test is most
Rickettsia cause the disease, which in people is charac- commonly used to screen cats for this organism. There
terized by fever with severe headache, rigors, seems to be a poor correlation between serological test-
generalized malaise, cough and a rash. One of the forms ing and culture; some cats are seropositive and
of typhus caused by Rickettsia prowazekii is transmitted culture-negative while in others the reverse is true.
by the human louse through its feces; people are Serological testing is most useful for epidemiological
infected when they are irritated by louse bites and con- studies and not clinical diagnosis. Antibiotic therapy in
taminate sites with louse feces. Lice are not the only cats is difficult and there is no consistently effective ther-
reservoirs of infection. In the southern USA, flying squir- apeutic protocol.
rels are reservoirs of R. prowazekii infection. Dogs can The disease in people is associated with a variety of
be experimentally infected with the organism syndromes but is highly dependent upon the immune
(Breitschwerdt and Greene, 1995), although it is not status of the individual. In most immunocompetent indi-
known if they can act as a reservoir of infection. viduals, the disease is self-limiting. Approximately 1
Of greater concern to public health is the fact that week after exposure, a small papule develops at the site
rodent fleas transmit murine or endemic typhus (R. of inoculation that is followed by the development of a
Zoonotic skin diseases of dogs and cats 161

regional lymphadenopathy. The infection usually Cutaneous larva migrans


resolves within 2–6 months; as in cats there is no consis-
tent response to antibiotic therapy. More severe clinical Cutaneous larva migrans is also commonly known as
syndromes in people include bacillary angiomatosis, hookworm dermatitis or creeping eruption. This is a
bacillary peliosis and relapsing fever with bacteremia, parasitic zoonosis caused by the percutaneous migration
endocarditis, granulomatous hepatosplenic syndrome, of infective larvae of the intestinal parasites Ancylostoma
retinitis and swelling of the optic nerve, arthritis, oste- braziliense, A. caninum or Uncinaria stenocephala. It is
olytic lesions and pulmonary granulomas (Breitschwerdt most common in tropical and subtropical areas of the
et al., 1998). This disease represents a significant human world; however, it can occur in temperate climates dur-
health risk in immunocompromised people. Routine and ing the spring and summer. It is usually associated with
consistent flea and tick control for cats is an important poor hygiene in kennels or contact with grass, soil, play-
aspect of preventing this disease in humans. grounds, crawl spaces under houses, or beaches
contaminated with infected dog feces. It is a major
Yersinia pestis zoonotic disease in third-world countries (Heukelbach et
Yersinia pestis, the agent of plague, is a facultatively al., 2002). In the USA, it is increasingly being seen in
anaerobic Gram-negative coccobacillus. It is present dog-owners who exercise their dogs in fenced ‘dog
world-wide and the reservoirs of infection are rats; it is parks’, where animals run freely and large amounts of
endemic in the western USA. It is transmitted to dogs, feces accumulate. The parasite is contracted when infec-
cats, people and other animals via fleabites, contact with tive larvae come into contact with the bare skin, usually
infected rodents or ingestion of infected animals. There of the feet. People wearing sandals and walking through
are three forms of the disease in hosts: bubonic, sep- dew-moistened grass are also at risk.
ticemic and pneumonic. Cats become infected most The larvae attach to the skin and burrow into the epi-
commonly by ingesting an infected rodent and are a dermis and start creating red pruritic papules within a
common source of exposure for people, but dogs can few hours of contact. The larvae migrate a few millime-
also be infected (Orloski et al., 1995). The cutaneous tres per day and cause the classic lesions of ‘creeping
lesions that can occur in dogs and cats are associated eruptions’. The lesions are intensely pruritic and diagno-
with the bubonic form. Enlarged lymph nodes and sis is usually based upon the history and clinical signs.
abscesses are common clinical findings in both dogs and The larvae will eventually die, but most people request
cats. some type of treatment for the intense pruritus; this self-
Definitive diagnosis is made by isolation of the organ- limiting disease can last several weeks. Percutaneous
ism from tissue, fluid or blood. Fluorescent antibody entry and migration of the larvae are less of a problem
testing on fluid specimens can also be confirmatory. in the natural host. Dogs with hookworm dermatitis usu-
Paired serum samples collected at 10- to 14-day intervals ally have a pruritic papular on the ventrum and/or
can be submitted for determination of antibody titers intensely chew their paws.
and may also be useful. People are most likely to Fecal examination usually reveals hookworm eggs
acquire infection from cats by fleabites, contact with and the host usually has a history of poor housing and
abscesses, or by inhalation of infected particles from cats sanitation. Cleaning the environment and appropriate
with pneumonia. Prevention of infection is best anthelmintic treatments are curative. This disease is less
achieved through routine flea control in both dogs and common now that many of the routine heartworm pre-
cats. Furthermore, pet animals should not be allowed to ventatives are protective against this parasite or contain
roam freely in endemic regions. In the USA, there is an an anthelmintic agent. People with this disease most
increasing incidence of this disease. often have intensely pruritic feet.

Dipyliadiasis
Dipylidium caninum, the dog and cat tapeworm, is Mite infestations
found world-wide. Fleas and lice serve as intermediary
hosts for tapeworms and ingest the eggs. When the host The zoonotic mites of importance are microscopic
ingests fleas or lice, the infective cysticercoids in the arachnids, which are obligate parasites spending their
body of the flea or louse develop into adults and inhabit life cycle on the host. The most common mite infesta-
the small intestine. Although it is a rare occurrence, peo- tions of dogs and cats are Otodectes cynotis, Sarcoptes
ple can become infected with D. caninum; this most scabiei and Cheyletiella spp. These mites have a world-
commonly occurs in children that play with infected wide distribution. Demodex spp. mites live in the hair
dogs or cats (Turner, 1962). Infected people may follicles or on the skin of dogs and cats and are not con-
develop abdominal pain, anorexia, diarrhea and anal sidered zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic mite infestations can
pruritus. Diagnosis is made by finding the motile, develop in any host at any time in its life, but are most
cucumber seed-shaped proglottids in feces. Keeping common in puppies and kittens or newly acquired adult
pets free of fleas and lice easily prevents this disease. dogs from animal shelters.
162 Karen A. Moriello

Because of the highly contagious nature of these diagnose for two reasons. First, the mite is easily dis-
mites, all in-contact animals need to be treated. The life lodged from the skin via scratching, and secondly the
cycle of mites is generally 3–4 weeks long and general mite causes a hypersensitivity reaction in the host, and
recommendations are to treat infested animals for at least only a few mites are needed to produce intense pruritus
4–6 weeks. Because of their highly contagious nature, (Arlian et al., 1996). Studies on the humoral immune
these mites are particularly problematic in catteries, dog response suggest that this is a type 1 hypersensitivity
kennels, animal shelters and research animal facilities. reaction (Bornstein and Zakrisson, 1993). When mites
Diagnosis is made by finding mites and/or by response are suspected but cannot be found, the diagnosis is con-
to treatment, as mites may be difficult to find. firmed by the response to treatment (e.g. topical lime
Mite infestations are transmitted from animals to peo- sulfur, ivermectin, selamectin).
ple by direct contact, such as petting, holding the pet or In people, canine scabies causes an intensely pruritic
sleeping with the pet. Pet owners who have contracted papular eruption, most commonly on the hands, arms
a mite infestation usually have done so because they did and abdomen. The eruption can become generalized if
not know the pet was infested, or they have contracted the infested dog sleeps with the owner and/or if the
it while treating their pet for a known or suspected infestation in the pet goes undiagnosed. Canine scabies
infestation. In people the most common lesions are pru- mites have been shown to live on humans for up to 6
ritic papules on the arms, legs and/or abdomen. days and to produce ova during that time. The author
has seen several cases where the owner and pet have
Ear mites suffered from severe pruritus of several years’ duration
Otodectes cynotis, the ear mite of dogs and cats, lives on that resolved after the dog was treated for suspected
the surface of the ear canal but can also migrate any- scabies.
where on the body of the pet. As the mite feeds, it
causes irritation and pruritus in the ear canal, which Cheyletiellosis
eventually fills with cerumen, blood and mite debris. Cheyletiella spp. is also known as the walking dandruff
Cats and kittens tend to develop large amounts of debris mite. It is a highly contagious mite that can infest dogs,
in their ears. Diagnosis is made by visually observing cats, rabbits and other small mammals. It is particularly
mites with an otoscope and/or by cytological examina- problematic because it can infest a host and cause no
tion of ear mite debris. These mites are not host-specific clinical signs, yet be a source of infestation for other
and can cause a temporary papular eruption in people pets and people. The most common clinical signs of
or even a true otic parasitic infestation (Harwick, 1978; infestation are mild scaling and pruritus. Diagnosis can
Lopez, 1993). Ear mites are eradicated by treating all in- be made by finding the mites on skin scrapings, by
contact animals with an otic parasiticidal agent and a combing of the hair coat with a fine metal comb (flea
topical flea spray applied to the hair coat. Transmission comb), or by direct visual examination using magnifica-
from animals to people is almost always the result of tion. The mites obtained their nickname of ‘walking
poor hygiene after treatment of the pet’s ears. dandruff’ because they are large and can be observed
moving when placed on dark paper. These mites, like
Canine scabies scabies mites, can live for a short period (up to 10 days)
Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis is an intensely pruritic, off their host (Cohen, 1980).
highly contagious mite that affects dogs. Dogs become This infestation is easily eradicated with 4–6 weeks of
infested through direct contact with an infested dog. The miticidal treatment; therapies for fleas or scabies are
recent popularity of parks devoted to the exercise of very effective against Cheyletiella spp. The author
dogs and ‘dog day care facilities’ has resulted in a resur- prefers topical therapies because, unlike ear mites and
gence of this disease in the author’s practice area. scabies, this mite lays its eggs on hair shafts. In people,
Boarding kennels, grooming facilities and dog competi- Cheyletiella mite infestations cause erythematous mac-
tions are other common ways in which dogs contract ules on the arms, trunk and buttocks. The papules
this parasite. These mites are highly contagious, partly develop rapidly into yellow-crusted lesions that are
because they can live off of the host for up to 21 days moderate to intensely pruritic. Owners may develop
depending on the temperature and humidity (Arlian et lesions or symptoms of infestation within days to weeks
al., 1989). Scabies mites have host preferences but can after contact with an infested host.
also cause disease in coyotes, foxes, cats and people.
The mite lives and burrows in the epidermis and
lesions are usually noted first in thinly haired areas (ear Lice: blame not the pet!
margins, elbows, ventrum). The pruritus is intense and
infested dogs will scratch incessantly. In addition to Dogs and cats are commonly blamed as the source of
severe pruritus, the disease causes a diffuse papular louse infestations in children. It is important to note that
eruption and, with time, hair loss, thickening and hyper- lice are species-specific and the family pet is not the
pigmentation of the skin. The infestation is difficult to source of a human louse infestation.
Zoonotic skin diseases of dogs and cats 163

Fungal diseases those that are mechanical carriers of infective material.


Treatment of dermatophytosis involves many steps.
Dermatophytosis First, aggressive decontamination of the environment is
necessary (Moriello and DeBoer, 1998). This needs to be
Dermatophytosis (ringworm) is a superficial fungal skin continued until the infection is eradicated. Secondly, all
disease of both animals and man that involves the hair in-contact animals need to be screened and prophylactic
and skin. It is also one of the most common and impor- topical treatment with lime sulfur or enilconazole
tant zoonotic skin diseases and is present world-wide, sponge-on rinses needs to be given serious considera-
but is most common in warm, humid climates. At least tion. This is strongly suggested when many animals are
20 species of dermatophytes have been isolated from involved or the infection is present in a multiple-animal
dogs and cats, including species that are primarily facility, especially since the final results from screening
human pathogens; however, the most commonly iso- cultures can take up to 3 weeks to arrive. Finally,
lated species are Microsporum canis, M. gypseum and infected animals need to be treated until they are cul-
Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Of these three organisms, ture-negative at least three times at weekly intervals.
M. canis is probably the most important pathogen. This usually involves clipping some or all of the hair
Infection occurs via direct transmission of infective coat, topical antifungal sponge-on dips (miconazole,
spores to a susceptible host. Disease prevalence is lime sulfur, enilconazole) and systemic antifungal ther-
unknown as this is not a reportable disease in most apy. To date, research studies on the use of fungal
countries in the world. It has been estimated that der- vaccines and chitin inhibitors (i.e. lufenuron) have not
matophytosis accounts for approximately 2% of all skin shown them to be efficacious (DeBoer and Moriello,
infections; however, prevalence of the disease tends to 1994, 1995; DeBoer et al., 2002, 2003).
be more common in warm tropical and subtropical cli-
mates and/or where there are large numbers of feral
animals. Reservoirs of infection for both people and ani- Malassezia dermatitis
mals include contaminated environments and objects,
animals with subclinical or clinical infections, and ani- Malassezia spp. is a lipophilic, common, non-mycelial
mals that are mechanical carriers of the spores on their yeast that is found on normal and abnormal skin of
hair coat (Moriello et al., 1995). dogs, cats, man and other species and is present world-
The clinical signs of this disease in dogs and cats are wide. Inflammation of the skin and overgrowth of this
highly variable, but most commonly include combina- organism are required for clinical symptoms to develop.
tions of pruritus, hair loss, scaling and crusting. Any The organism is part of the normal fungal flora of dogs
animal can contract this disease; however, animals at the and cats and clinical disease is believed to be associated
extremes of age, particularly individuals with concurrent with overgrowth of the organism and release of yet
illnesses, are at greatest risk. In the author’s experience, unidentified inflammatory mediators (Bond, 2002).
newly acquired pets of any age, especially those from Malassezia dermatitis can cause a wide range of symp-
multiple animal facilities (shelters, catteries, kennels, toms but the most common complaint is pruritus. The
strays), are usually the source of a dermatophyte infec- disease is most commonly diagnosed in small animals
tion. Children are often the first to develop lesions when by cytological examination of skin and/or ear swabs.
the family gets a new pet. This is probably because they This disease can be treated successfully with topical
are the ones who engage in more aggressive physical and/or systemic antifungal agents (e.g. ketoconazole,
contact with the new pet (i.e. hugging, carrying them itraconazole).
around, playing with them). Early lesions in people This disease has recently been recognized as a
present as areas of circular pruritic dermatitis but can zoonosis. It was reported to be the cause of an out-
spread if left untreated. break of exfoliative dermatitis in a neonatal intensive
Dermatophytosis in animals is most commonly diag- care unit (Chang et al., 1998). The organism was cul-
nosed through fungal culture (Moriello, 2001). It can be tured from an intravenous lipid emulsion being used in
confirmed by finding infected hairs via direct examina- the facility. The infection was reportedly traced back to
tion of hairs and scales; however, this is not a very a health-care worker’s pet dogs. Exposure to ‘normal’
reliable technique and results in large numbers of both colonies on the skin of dogs and cats is not considered
false positives and false negatives. Newly acquired pets, a human health risk. In addition, there is probably little
animals at risk or suspected of being exposed, and ani- risk to healthy people treating symptomatic animals if
mals undergoing treatment are most easily screened for owners wash their hands after treating animals with
fungal growth by a technique called ‘toothbrush cultur- Malassezia otitis and/or generalized dermatitis. The
ing’. In this technique, a newly purchased toothbrush is author prefers to use a combination of topical and sys-
aggressively combed over the hair coat and embedded temic therapy in patients with severe Malassezia otitis
in fungal culture medium. This technique is particularly and/or dermatitis because of the recently recognized
useful because it can identify both infected animals and zoonotic risk.
164 Karen A. Moriello

Sporotrichosis suggesting that the cat form is particularly virulent and


can gain entry into the skin through microscopic breaks
Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous fungal infection caused in the skin. People handling cats with abscesses should
by a dimorphic fungus, Sporothrix schenckii. The organ- wear disposable gloves and thoroughly wash their
ism is found world-wide and grows as a saprophyte in hands and arms with chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine
the soil and in dead organic debris. However it may be scrubs. In most cases, this disease is very responsive to
more common in warm moist regions. Cats are increas- oral itraconazole.
ingly being recognized in some regions of the world as
major reservoirs of the organism (Schubach et al., 2002).
In addition to being isolated from suspect wounds, Deep fungal infections
Schubach and colleagues were able to isolate the organ-
ism from nail-beds and the oral cavity. The organism Blastomycosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, coccid-
was also isolated from the testis of a cat presented for iomycosis, rhinosporidiosis, aspergillosis, penicilliosis
castration. It can also be found in barberry and rose and protothecosis are the most important fungal organ-
bush thorns, sphagnum moss, tree bark and timber. isms in dogs and cats that can cause disseminated
Outbreaks of the disease have been associated with the disease (skin, lung, intestines, brain and eyes). Owners
sphagnum moss that is used in horticulture to pack with infected pets are always concerned about possible
seedlings, young trees and hanging decorative flower zoonotic transmission. To date, there is no public health
baskets. The organism does not grow on living moss, concern about transmission from animals to humans.
but rather on dead, decaying moss (Zhang and Concurrent infections in people and their pets occur
Andrews, 1993). The handling of stored bales of hay has from common sources of exposure, particularly in the
also been associated with disease (Rosser and Dunstan, case of blastomycosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis
1998). Sporotrichosis is also known as rose-grower’s dis- and coccidiomycosis. Infections in animals should be
ease. seen as sentinel signs of an environmental reservoir of
The disease is acquired by traumatic inoculation of infection. However, there are rare reports of accidental
infectious material into tissue. In dogs, the disease is local infections of Blastomyces organisms due to inocu-
associated with puncture wounds from thorns, and the lation from necropsy knives or needles used to do fine
author has treated one dog with generalized sporotri- needle aspirates (Ramsey, 1994; Côté et al., 1997).
chosis that was presumably due to an alligator bite. In
cats, the disease is most common in cats that are
allowed to roam outdoors where puncture wounds Bacterial diseases
and/or cat-bite wounds become infected from exposure
to the fungus. Dog and cat bites are not contagious zoonotic skin dis-
There are three forms of sporotrichosis: cutaneous eases, but will be briefly described because infections
(solitary draining nodules), cutaneous–lymphatic (multi- from their bites are due to the normal oral flora. They
ple nodules developing along lymphatics and lymph are problematic world-wide. The numbers of dog and cat
nodes) and disseminated (involving internal organs). In bites that occur each year are unknown but such bites
dogs and cats the most common clinical presentations have been conservatively estimated to account for at
are draining nodular lesions. The disease is particularly least 1% of all visits to emergency medical facilities in the
problematic in cats because it can resemble two com- USA (Tan, 1998). Infections due to dog bites are caused
mon skin diseases of cats: cat-bite abscesses and by a number of organisms, including Staphylococcus,
eosinophilic plaques (self-induced pruritic lesions, often Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, Pasteurella and various
from flea infestations). Cats, more than dogs, are consid- anaerobic species. Cat bites are much more likely to
ered to be the greatest public health concern because become infected than dog bites, probably because the
their lesions shed large numbers of organisms. wounds tend to be deep puncture wounds. Infections
The disease is diagnosed most commonly by demon- due to cat bites are due to the same bacteria as those in
stration of the organism by cytology and/or dogs, with the exception of Bartonella henselae. Animal
histopathology. The disease can also be diagnosed by bites are particularly dangerous in immunocompromised
direct fluorescent antibody testing. Less commonly it is people and, in all situations, medical attention should be
diagnosed by fungal culture. This disease is easily sought immediately. Immediate first-aid after an animal
treated with systemic antifungal drugs (i.e. itraconazole). bite should include thorough washing of the skin and
Cases of transmission from cats to people in the USA bite area with a povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine scrub.
have been primarily limited to veterinary health-care In the absence of one of these, bar soap will suffice; the
workers coming into contact with infected exudates; important thing is to wash the area and rinse the wound
however, this is not the case in other parts of the world copiously. This may help minimize the risk and/or sever-
(e.g. Brazil) (Schubach et al., 2002). In some instances, ity of infection. Detailed discussions of this zoonosis and
infection has occurred after non-traumatic exposure, strategies for prevention can be found in papers by
Zoonotic skin diseases of dogs and cats 165

Greene et al. (1998), August (1988), Tan (1997), and animals via blood-sucking sandflies. The incubation
Morrison (2001). period in dogs and cats can vary from 3 months to 7
years. It has been estimated that 90% of infected animals
have cutaneous lesions. These consist of progressive
L-form bacteria alopecia; scaling; ulcerations on the ears, nose and face;
mucocutaneous ulcers; crusting of the footpads; long,
L-forms of bacteria are cell wall-deficient bacteria that brittle nails; and cutaneous ulcers. Systemic signs may
are very similar to Mycoplasma. The distribution of these include weight loss and muscle atrophy. Tissue damage
organisms is unknown at present but is probably world- is due to granulomatous inflammation and immune
wide. These organisms have been isolated from cats complex deposition.
with fever, persistent draining lesions, spreading celluli- Finding the organism cytologically in bone marrow
tis and synovitis, especially of the extremities (Carro et samples or other exudates and/or by histopathological
al., 1989). The diagnosis is difficult because the organ- examination of tissues establishes a definitive diagnosis.
isms are difficult to culture and detect on routine Serological testing is also available; although animals
histopathological examination of tissues. These infec- can have a positive titer in the absence of clinical signs,
tions are very responsive to tetracycline. The infections this finding is compatible with infection as animals do
are rare in people. There are anecdotal reports that not clear the disease spontaneously. The diagnostic tests
infection has been transmitted to veterinarians handling available include immunofluorescent antibody assay,
infected cats. In addition, there is also a report of L-form ELISA, dot ELISA and PCR, with PCR considered the
bacteria at the site of an indwelling catheter in a person; most accurate method of diagnosis (Saridomichelakis et
the same strain was isolated from the person’s dog al., 2000). The disease is difficult to treat in dogs and
(Greene, 1998c). cats and it is rarely completely eliminated. There are two
major forms of the disease in people: cutaneous and
mucocutaneous, and visceral. Depending upon the par-
Staphylococcal infections ticular species of Leishmania involved, dogs may or
may not be involved in the spread of the disease. Dogs
The primary staphylococcal pathogen of dogs is seem to be the major reservoir of infection of visceral
Staphylococcus intermedius. It is present world-wide leishmaniasis.
and is commonly isolated from normal dog skin.
Bacterial pyodermas in dogs occur secondarily to any
type of skin inflammation and/or hypersensitivity reac- Viral diseases
tions. It is characterized by any combination of papules,
pustules, scales, erythema, hair loss and/or pruritus. This Viral infections that primarily affect the skin of dogs and
is not considered of major zoonotic importance. S. inter- cats are rare. There are, however, a number of systemic
medius has been isolated from dog-bite wounds, viral infections of small animals that have concurrent
indwelling catheters and contaminated surgical sites. cutaneous manifestations; an example is hard pad or
Recently, this organism was isolated from the ear fluid hyperkeratosis of the footpads of dogs with canine dis-
of a patient with otitis externa, and molecular phyloge- temper virus infections. Because of the public’s
netic testing revealed that the isolate was the same as awareness of HIV and AIDS, it is important to note that
one recovered from the owner’s pet (Tanner et al., feline immunodeficiency virus is a feline pathogen.
2000). There is no evidence that it can infect people and it is
not considered to be of public health significance
(Sellon, 1998). Poxvirus infections, although rare in dogs
Protozoal diseases and cats, are the only two viral infections of zoonotic
importance. People contact these infections by contact
Leishmaniasis with lesions on cats or dogs, with infective material
(poxvirus particles are very stable in the environment),
Leishmaniasis is a protozoal infection caused by one of or with the reservoir hosts.
a variety of Leishmania species, and is one of the most
rapidly emerging world-wide zoonoses. The disease is
common in dogs and cats in areas of the world where it Feline cow poxvirus infection
is endemic. The prevalence of the disease has recently
been shown to be underestimated when PCR is used There are at least three poxvirus infections that have
instead of the usual serological testing to identify been reported in cats: Orthopoxvirus (cowpox), and
infected dogs (Solano-Gallego et al., 2000). Dogs may uncharacterized poxvirus infections found in cats in
be a major reservoir of infection for people (Slappendel India and North America (Czerny et al., 1991; Baxby and
and Ferrer, 1998). Disease is transmitted to humans and Bennett, 1994; Bennett et al., 1998). Feline poxvirus
166 Karen A. Moriello

infections are most commonly observed in Eurasia and can include generalized lymphadenopathy, lymphadeni-
they are rare in North America. Voles, wood mice, tis, secondary bacterial infections and, rarely, systemic
ground squirrels and gerbils are considered the reservoir disease. Lesions resolve spontaneously.
hosts of pox infections. The incidental hosts of these
poxvirus infections include cats, cattle, captive exotic
mammals, people and, rarely, dogs. Cats are presumed References
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Animal Health and
Welfare in Organic
NEW BOOK
Agriculture
INFORMATION
From
CABI PUBLISHING Edited by M Vaarst, Danish Institute of Agricultural
Sciences, Tjele, Denmark, S Roderick, Duchy College,
Cornwall, UK, V Lund, Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences, Skara, Sweden, and W Lockeretz, Tufts
University, Massachusetts, USA

ISBN 0 85199 668 X


December 2003 448 pages
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medicine and organic research.
Description
The rapid growth of organic farming has been amongst the most remarkable changes in global
agriculture in recent decades. Initially, more attention was paid to the crop side of organic sys-
tems, but that has now changed and there is greater recognition of the need to understand
animal health and welfare better.
This book will further the understanding of organic animal husbandry, demonstrating practical
solutions and innovative methods, and drawing mainly on research and practical experience
with organic farming in Europe.

To view full contents or to order online please visit


www.cabi-publishing.org/bookshop

Postage & Packing: For pre-paid orders CABI Publishing, CABI Publishing North America
in the UK, please add £2.75 for the 1st CAB International 875 Massachusetts Avenue, 7th
book and 60p for each additional book Wallingford, Oxfordshire Floor Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
ordered (up to max. of 10). For pre-paid OX10 8DE, UK Tel: 001 61 7 395 4056
orders elsewhere, please add £4.00 for the Tel: +44 (0)1491 832111 Fax: 001 61 7 354 6875
1st book and £1.00 for each additional Fax: +44 (0)1491 829292 Email: cabi-nao@cabi.org
book. For orders not pre-paid, postage and Email: orders@cabi.org
packing will be charged according to the
weight of the book.
CABI Publishing
A division of CAB International
Poultry Feedstuffs:
Supply, Composition
NEW BOOK
INFORMATION
and Nutritive Value
From
J McNab, Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Midlothian, UK,
CABI PUBLISHING and N Boorman, University of Nottingham, UK
ISBN 0 85199 464 4
July 2002 448 pages
Hardback £75.00 (US$140.00)

Readership
Researchers in animal science and in the animal feed industry, especially those in poultry nutri-
tion.

Description
Presents the proceedings of the 26th Poultry Science Symposium, held in Peebles, Scotland.
Papers have been edited, revised and updated since the Symposium.

To view full contents or to order online please visit


www.cabi-publishing.org/bookshop

Postage & Packing: For pre-paid orders CABI Publishing, CABI Publishing North America
in the UK, please add £2.75 for the 1st Wallingford, 875 Massachusetts Avenue
book and 60p for each additional book Oxfordshire, OX10 8DE 7th Floor, Cambridge
ordered (up to max. of 10). For pre-paid UK MA 02138, USA
orders elsewhere, please add £4.00 for the Tel: +44 (0)1491 832111 Tel: +1 61 7 395 4056
1st book and £1.00 for each additional Fax: +44 (0)1491 829292 Fax: +1 61 7 354 6875
book. For orders not pre-paid, postage and Email: orders@cabi.org Email: cabi-nao@cabi.org
packing will be charged according to the
weight of the book.
CABI Publishing
A division of CAB International
Principles of Cattle
Production
NEW BOOK
INFORMATION
From
CABI PUBLISHING C J C Phillips, Department of Clinical Veterinary
Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK
ISBN 0 85199 438 5
December 2000 288 pages
Paperback £22.50 (US$40.00)

Readership
University and college students in agriculture, animal science and veterinary science.

Description
Cattle farming is under considerable public pressure for creating possible health risks (e.g.
BSE), for inadequate attention to animal welfare and for having adverse affects on the envi-
ronment. This book outlines the latest methods of farming with dairy and beef cattle,
particularly those that provide for optimum production combined with appropriate consider-
ation of the animal's welfare. Topics covered include housing requirements, cattle diseases,
reproduction, nutrition, milk quality and grazing systems. A separate section is devoted to the
impact of cattle farming on the environment. This book is a textbook for university and col-
lege students in agriculture, animal science and veterinary science, and anyone working in the
cattle farming industry.

To view full contents or to order online please visit


www.cabi-publishing.org/bookshop

Postage & Packing: For pre-paid orders CABI Publishing, CABI Publishing North America
in the UK, please add £2.75 for the 1st Wallingford, 875 Massachusetts Avenue
book and 60p for each additional book Oxfordshire, OX10 8DE 7th Floor, Cambridge
ordered (up to max. of 10). For pre-paid UK MA 02138, USA
orders elsewhere, please add £4.00 for the Tel: +44 (0)1491 832111 Tel: +1 61 7 395 4056
1st book and £1.00 for each additional Fax: +44 (0)1491 829292 Fax: +1 61 7 354 6875
book. For orders not pre-paid, postage and Email: orders@cabi.org Email: cabi-nao@cabi.org
packing will be charged according to the
weight of the book.
CABI Publishing
A division of CAB International
Sheep Nutrition
NEW BOOK
INFORMATION
Edited by M Freer and H Dove, CSIRO Plant Industry,
From Canberra, Australia
CABI PUBLISHING ISBN 0851995950
September 2003 400 pages
Hardback £75.00 (US$140.00)

Readership
Advanced undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers in animal nutrition and ani-
mal science.

Description
Written by the world's leading experts, from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, the USA
and the UK, this book provides a review of the current state of knowledge on all
aspects of sheep nutrition. The main emphasis is on sheep grazing in systems that
range from intensively utilized sown pastures to extensive rangelands but the book is
relevant to anyone working in this field.

Not available from CABI in Australia and New Zealand. Contact CSIRO Publishing, PO Box 1139, Collingwood,
Victoria 3066, Australia.

To view full contents or to order online please visit


www.cabi-publishing.org/bookshop

Postage & Packing: For pre-paid orders CABI Publishing, CABI Publishing North America
in the UK, please add £2.75 for the 1st Wallingford, 875 Massachusetts Avenue
book and 60p for each additional book Oxfordshire, OX10 8DE 7th Floor, Cambridge
ordered (up to max. of 10). For pre-paid UK MA 02138, USA
orders elsewhere, please add £4.00 for the Tel: +44 (0)1491 832111 Tel: +1 61 7 395 4056
1st book and £1.00 for each additional Fax: +44 (0)1491 829292 Fax: +1 61 7 354 6875
book. For orders not pre-paid, postage and Email: orders@cabi.org Email: cabi-nao@cabi.org
packing will be charged according to the
weight of the book.
CABI Publishing
A division of CAB International

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