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The CCZ (Center for Zoonosis Control) in Manaus, capital of Amazonas, investigates more than 20 suspected cases of contamination by animal sporotrichosis. The disease is transmitted by fungi of the genus Sporothrix and can affect both humans and animals, especially cats.
The first confirmed case was registered last Saturday (12), in the Glória neighborhood. So far, four cases have been confirmed and another 22 animals are under investigation. For now, the records are concentrated in the neighborhoods of Glória and São Raimundo, in the west of the capital, and Aparecida, in the south.
This species of fungus lives on plants. For this reason, the main places of contagion of animals are gardens and abandoned land.
The infected animal transmits the disease to other cats and people through scratches, bites, or direct contact with injured skin.
After inoculation on the skin, there is an incubation period, which can vary from a few days to three months (average of three weeks), and can reach six months.
Symptoms
In cats, the symptoms are wounds and nodules that do not heal, especially on the face and muzzle of the animal, which can cause respiratory and skin problems. In more severe cases, the disease can lead to death. Other clinical signs that can be seen include weight loss, listlessness, and a runny nose.
In humans, the disease causes single or multiple skin lesions, which start out as lumps and then break open to form ulcers. Although painful, if diagnosed early, the injuries are treated and healed.
The director of the CCZ, the veterinarian Patrícia de Paula Roberto, explains that, once the lesions have been identified, it is important that the animal’s guardian seeks medical assistance as soon as possible to perform skin tests to confirm whether it is sporotrichosis or not.
According to the professional, it is not a skin lesion that says that the animal has the disease. “It is a zoonosis, that is, it passes from the animal to the human being. But it is a treatable zoonosis. You have to treat, take the antifungal correctly. There is no reason to abandon the animals, just take care,” he explains to the Twitter.
Treatment in cats and humans is with the use of antifungal medication and isolation of the sick animal, for a period that can last from three to six months.
The focus is on avoiding abandonment
Also according to the veterinarian, the efforts of the Zoonosis Center are currently focused on preventing panic and abandonment of animals, both healthy and sick.
Explain that with proper care, animals and humans can prevent zoonosis from spreading further.
Healthy animals, for example, need to be neutered to avoid going as far as possible. “This is where they end up getting contaminated,” he justifies.
Sick animals, on the other hand, should be isolated and keepers should take precautions like donning gloves when handling animals. In addition, they must be treated by professional veterinarians.
“The important thing is to keep the animal at home. If there was abandonment, the disease will be even more widespread. The guardian is responsible for the animal. He has to care for and treat the animal. And remember that abandoning animals is a crime,” he points out.
Patrícia also requests the collaboration of the capital’s veterinary clinics to help in the follow-up of suspected and confirmed cases of the disease.
Clinics and the public can help
“Private clinics that receive sick animals must notify the CCZ, whether in suspected or confirmed cases. We need to know in which neighborhoods the disease registries are occurring,” he asks.
In addition, it reports that the city of Manaus has provided a telephone number to formalize the complaints. “Anyone who identifies an animal with symptoms can call 0800-280-8280.”
In this number, reports of suspected cases will be received, which will be sent to the Zoonosis Center ”, he concludes.
