A client presents a young adult, neutered male domestic shorthair cat for vaccinations, FELV/FIV testing, fecal flotation, deworming, and an overall health check.
History. The owner found the cat a few days previously in her suburban neighborhood in southern California. She saw the cat foraging for food in her garbage cans after opossums had knocked them over. The cat seemed friendly, so the owner elected to make him a pet; there are no other pets in the household. The cat has been eating well; the only problem the owner has noticed is the presence of fleas. She asks if she could “catch something” from the fleas.
Physical Examination. Findings were within normal limits except for “flea dirt” and several Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) ectoparasites.
Laboratory Results. Complete blood count, serum biochemical profile, and urinalysis results were within normal limits. Findings from fecal flotation and FELV/FIV testing were negative.
ASK YOURSELF….
Ctenocephalides felis is a vector for which of the following bacterial pathogens that infect humans?
A. Rickettsia felis
B. Rickettsia typhi
C. Bartonella species
D. All of the above
Correct Answer:
D. All of the above
Ctenocephalides felis is a common ectoparasite that feeds on many mammals, including dogs, cats, opossums, and humans. Cat fleas are important vectors for murine typhus and bartonellosis in people.
Rickettsia typhi. Murine typhus is caused by Rickettsia typhi, a member of the typhus group Rickettsia. Fever, headache, rash, and arthralgia most commonly characterize the disease in humans.1,2 A cycle involving opossums and cat fleas maintains the organism in suburban areas,1,2 and disease risk is associated with proximity to seropositive opossums.3 Most cases of murine typhus in the continental United States are documented in California and Texas, where reporting is mandatory.
Rickettsia felis. Rickettsia felis is a recently discovered organism that shares some phenotypic characteristics with typhus group Rickettsia. However, genotypic studies show that it is more closely related to spotted-fever-group Rickettsia.1,4 Clinical signs of infection in humans mimic those of murine typhus.
Of note, routine serologic tests do not distinguish between R felis and R typhi, and, in endemic areas, R felis infects cat fleas more commonly than R typhi.1,5,6 Accordingly, some cases of murine typhus originally attributed to R typhi were actually caused by R felis.1
Opossums in murine typhus–endemic areas are seropositive, and R felis has been detected in opossum tissues.6 Whether opossums are reservoirs for R felis is not yet known. Because R felis can be transstadially and transovarially transmitted in the cat flea, the organism may be maintained in nature without a mammalian reservoir.1,5
Cats are seropositive for R typhi and R felis in many states, suggesting that exposure is common.7,8 Furthermore, R felis DNA has been amplified from fleas collected from cats in several states, Canada, and other countries.7,9,10
Experimental infection in cats with R felis and R typhi results in seroconversion but no clinical signs. R felis can be demonstrated in blood transiently after experimental infection.2,11 Natural infection has not been verified despite efforts to amplify DNA from cats infested with infected fleas.7 This may occur due to low numbers of circulating organisms or because the rickettsiemia is transient or intermittent.7
Fever was not associated with natural exposure of cats to R felis in 1 study.12 Another study suggested that lymphadenopathy and polycythemia may be associated with infection.8 Although the role of R typhi and R felis as disease-causing agents in cats is unclear, transfer of infected cat fleas from opossums to cats is thought to increase the risk for infection in humans.1,5
Bartonella. The cat flea is also a vector for Bartonella henselae and is considered a likely vector for B koehlerae and B clarridgeiae.13 In contrast to R felis and R typhi, cats are well-established reservoir hosts for B henselae. The spectrum of disease associated with B henselae, B koehlarae, and B clarridgeiae in humans and cats has recently been reviewed.13–15 The extent to which members of the genus Bartonella are pathogenic for cats remains unclear.
Other Organisms. Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus M haemominutum, and Candidatus M turicensis also commonly infect cats.16 Cat fleas can be infected with Mycoplasma species, and they are thought to play a role as vectors.17 Disease caused by these organisms in cats has been reviewed.16,18 Although M haemofelis is not usually considered a human pathogen, coinfection with B henselae and an M haemofelis–like agent was recently reported in an immunocompromised cat owner.19
Plan. Discuss the importance of instituting a flea control program and instruct the owner to tighten garbage can lids and clear brush to limit exposure to opossums.
Take-Home Messages
• Ctenocephalides felis (cat fleas) are vectors for the human pathogens Rickettsia felis, R typhi, and Bartonella species.
• Conscientious flea control is recommended to help prevent infection with these and other agents in cats and their human companions.
For more information, read the following articles:
Flea Management: An Integrated Approach
Feline Bartonella Prevention
Getting a Grip on Flea Control
