Although dogs and cats are our pets and are important in our lives, they can cause certain diseases, especially infectious diseases, such as the transmission of bacteria, which can be dangerous for humans. As is the case with the bacterium Capnocytophaga canimorsus that has already caused deaths.
Study reveals danger of Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteria
Indeed, as a study reveals, the bacteria Capnocytophaga canimorsus, transmissible by the saliva of dogs and cats, can be the source of serious and / or fatal infections in humans.
This study, conducted by the University of Brest and published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Disease, reveals that the licks of dogs and cats even if they are healthy, can be very dangerous for humans. because of a bacterium named Capnocytophaga canimorsus present in their saliva.
The seed Capnocytophaga canimorsus is hosted by the dog's normal oral flora. It is sometimes responsible for very serious human infections especially when the immune system is failing. In September 2017, a 48-year-old man died at the University Hospital of Caen following a generalized infection with the bacteria, two days after being bitten by his dog. In February 2018, another 47-year-old man died of the same generalized infection in Saint-Raphaël.
The same year, the bacterium also killed a 54-year-old man in Royan hospital (Charente-Maritime). He lived with a dog, but showed no sign of bite or licking on a skin lesion as reported in an article published in The Journal of Internal Medicine. Moreover, bacteriologists and emergency physicians from the health cooperation group of Saintonge and the inter-hospital laboratory of medical biology in Charente-Maritime reported this case.
Indeed, the bacterium Capnocytophaga canimorsus is sometimes responsible for serious human infections, even fatal when the immune system is failing; this is the case of people weakened by HIV, diabetes or alcoholism. Pregnant women, young children and the elderly are also at risk of contracting this bacteria.
An infection with Capnocytophaga canimorsus is affiliated with a dog bite in 60% of cases, licking on a pre-existing skin lesion in about 30% of cases.
In other words, this case highlights the extreme potential severity of the rare septicemia caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus and supports the fact that this is possible without immunosuppression and without inoculation.
Another case of the same type identified in the United States
Another similar case reported by the Washington Post, reports the hospitalization of a 48-year-old American after fever, nausea and hallucinations. Doctors diagnose the presence of the bacterium Capnocytophaga canimorsus possibly peddled by the dog of the victim and despite antibiotic treatment, the patient's state of health suddenly worsened. Blood clots formed in his veins and blocked the blood flow to the extremities of his body, resulting in the death of his cells, his tissues and the amputation of his arms and legs.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the bacterium Capnocytophaga canimorsus is 75% in dog saliva and 57% in cats; enough to worry the many homes with one of these two pets.
Symptoms and Treatment Capnocytophaga infection canimorsus
Researchers at the University of Brest have identified cases of infection with the bacterium Capnocytophaga canimorsus, strongly advise in case of appearance of symptoms of infection after a bite (fever, diarrhea, vomiting, redness or swelling around the wound) which appears between 1 to 8 days after exposure to Capnocytophaga canimorsus and usually present on the second day, to go to the emergency department to establish an accurate diagnosis and consider antibiotic therapy as soon as possible.
This is not a reason to abandon your animals but precautionary measures are to be taken; just do not let your animals lick your wounds or your faces.
