We are in the thick of flea season in Vermont. Over the past 10 years, the dangers of fleas to our pets have been greatly reduced, thanks to products such as Frontline, Revolution, and Advantix, according to Dr. Gary Solow of Ark Veterinary Hospital of Shelburne. He still sees cases of flea "infiltrations", though not as commonly as in the past.

According to Solow, animals present with either a direct infestation of fleas, or secondarily with a flea allergy dermatitis. There are also cases of house infestations, whereby fleas attack not only pets, but also all members of the household. These situations have lessened over recent years. But there is continued need for ongoing vigilance, based on findings surrounding research on "Cat Scratch Fever" (CSF) which has been determined to be a bacterial disease caused by Bartonella henselae. Most people with CSF have been bitten or scratched by a cat and developed a mild infection at the point of injury. Lymph nodes, especially those around the head, neck, and upper limbs, become swollen.

In 1992, Bartonella henselae was identified as the organism responsible for causing CSF, as well as uveitis, an inflammation of the eye in humans. Further research has shown that there are many different types of Bartonella living in different animals. These "host" animals rarely show signs of disease, but when the organism is transmitted to humans, sickness can ensue.
The Bartonella organism lives in the blood cells of cats and therefore does not routinely spread to other animals. Here is where the flea enters the picture.

Fleas get their nutrition from biting and sucking the blood of their host, whether animal or human.

When the flea feeds from an infected cat, the flea's feces will contain the Bartonella organism. When the cat grooms itself, the fleas' feces lodges in the skin tissue around the cat's nails and when the cat then scratches someone, the organism can be transferred from the cat's claw to the scratch wound.

Bartonella is not an everyday disease for humans and it is difficult to differentiate an active vs resolved infection in a cat that is not ill. However, as it is better understood through research on people and on cats, there is concern that additional diseases in people will be attributed to this organism. Currently, precautionary recommendations for feline fans is to adopt healthy, flea free cats, regularly trim their nails, and promptly clean any scratches.

Ark Veterinary Hospital recommendations for flea control include the use of a quality flea product from May through December, although most pets get their first dose in March because ticks are already out by mid to late March. According to Solow, Ark's product recommendations for flea control are based on a product's safety and track record. "The products we recommend have a history of success."

According to Solow, "although it's important to practice good flea control to prevent nuisances like itching, shredding, tape worm infestation, and flea bites in ourselves and our children, the prevention of infectious disease is one more major reason."

Research will likely uncover other potential diseases that can spread from animal to animal, and flea to human. "Bartonella could very well end up following the Lyme disease model: it was a relative unknown, undiagnosed entity 10 years ago, and now there are three thousand cases of Lyme disease in the state."