Cat or dog ownership and seroprevalence of ehrlichiosis, Q fever, and cat-scratch disease

Emerg Infect Dis. 2003 Oct;9(10):1337-40. doi: 10.3201/eid0910.030206.

Abstract

Concerns have been raised about the role of domestic cats or dogs in the acquisition of zoonoses, in particular in pregnant women or immune-suppressed persons. We report that cat or dog ownership is not associated with an increased seroprevalence of antibodies to Anaplasma phagozytophilum, Coxiella burnetii, and Bartonella henselae in symptom-free persons in Styria, Austria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anaplasma phagocytophilum / immunology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic / microbiology*
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Austria / epidemiology
  • Bartonella henselae / immunology
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / epidemiology*
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / transmission
  • Cats
  • Coxiella burnetii / immunology
  • Dogs
  • Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology*
  • Ehrlichiosis / transmission
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pregnancy
  • Q Fever / epidemiology*
  • Q Fever / transmission
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Zoonoses / transmission

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial