What specific health risks can occur for an "immunocompromised" person that

missteree · 08-08-08, 23:55

has 9 cats? I have a very dear friend that has battled emphysema most of her life. Additionally, she had a cancerous tumor in her abdomen last year that was removed. She is very, very thin due to her constant labored breathing and ongoing health issues. So needless to say, her immune system is quite compromised. I know that there are many diseases, parasites, etc. that cats can carry and pass to humans. What things specifically should I be concerned about for my friend? (All 9 of the cats are indoor cats - one has leukemia). What about cat scratch fever? What types of serious illnesses can result from cat scratch fever in an immunocompromised person?
Believe me, my we have been encouraging her to find new homes for these pets, to eliminate the risk of having them altogether.

ens_imp · 09-08-08, 00:04

This depends on a number of factors. First, there are the parasites that colonize cats naturally, such as toxoplasmosis. Toxo is the reason why we advise pregnant women not to clean litter boxes while pregnant. People with compromised immune systems, like individuals on steroids or with HIV, are going to be at higher risk for that infection. Cat scratch fever is generally due to a bacteria named Bartonella. Cat scratches or bites (those little teeth are just like hypodermic needles injecting bacteria into the blood stream) can also transmit all kinds of other bacteria depending on what bacteria have colonized the cats mouth (strep, staph, etc), GI tract (E coli, etc) or cause secondary infection after the original injury. Although they are indoor cats, theres always the possibility the rare tick could have snuck in and colonized one of the cats, which would raise the risk for lyme disease.

I think I would be just as worried about the powder from the litter and dander from the cats. She may not be allergic to the cats, but all of that airborne "stuff" has the potential to get into the lungs and while it may not be infectious, it clogs things up. Sick lungs are less likely to clear the normal debris that you and I breathe in on a daily basis, raising the risk of other complications.

08-08-08, 23:55	#1
missteree Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2	What specific health risks can occur for an "immunocompromised" person that has 9 cats? I have a very dear friend that has battled emphysema most of her life. Additionally, she had a cancerous tumor in her abdomen last year that was removed. She is very, very thin due to her constant labored breathing and ongoing health issues. So needless to say, her immune system is quite compromised. I know that there are many diseases, parasites, etc. that cats can carry and pass to humans. What things specifically should I be concerned about for my friend? (All 9 of the cats are indoor cats - one has leukemia). What about cat scratch fever? What types of serious illnesses can result from cat scratch fever in an immunocompromised person? Believe me, my we have been encouraging her to find new homes for these pets, to eliminate the risk of having them altogether.

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09-08-08, 00:04	#2
ens_imp Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2	This depends on a number of factors. First, there are the parasites that colonize cats naturally, such as toxoplasmosis. Toxo is the reason why we advise pregnant women not to clean litter boxes while pregnant. People with compromised immune systems, like individuals on steroids or with HIV, are going to be at higher risk for that infection. Cat scratch fever is generally due to a bacteria named Bartonella. Cat scratches or bites (those little teeth are just like hypodermic needles injecting bacteria into the blood stream) can also transmit all kinds of other bacteria depending on what bacteria have colonized the cats mouth (strep, staph, etc), GI tract (E coli, etc) or cause secondary infection after the original injury. Although they are indoor cats, theres always the possibility the rare tick could have snuck in and colonized one of the cats, which would raise the risk for lyme disease. I think I would be just as worried about the powder from the litter and dander from the cats. She may not be allergic to the cats, but all of that airborne "stuff" has the potential to get into the lungs and while it may not be infectious, it clogs things up. Sick lungs are less likely to clear the normal debris that you and I breathe in on a daily basis, raising the risk of other complications.