Increased risk of Lyme disease for cat owners
Curran, K.L.; Fish, D.
New England Journal of Medicine 320(3): 183
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-4793 PMID: 2911299 Document Number: 369322
Two cats from an area where Lyme disease is endemic were examined on 4 consecutive evenings when they returned to their owner's home to eat and sleep. One adult and eight nymphal ticks (Ixodes dammini) were recovered. These nymphal ticks, which are frequently infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, can easily go unnoticed on cats and be transferred to people handling them. One of the authors of this report acquired B. burgdorferi from a tick from these cats. Cats allowed outside in areas in which Lyme disease is endemic can pose a serious health threat.