Is diphtheria caused by cats?

Is diphtheria caused by cats?

The latest edition of Emerging Infectious Diseases (Berger et al 2011) describes a case of Corynebacterium ulcerans infection in a women that was likely acquired from her cat. Corynebacterium ulcerans is a bacterium that’s related to C. diphtheriae, the cause of diphtheria.

Why do I have breathing problems with diphtheria?

Breathing problems. Diphtheria-causing bacteria may produce a toxin. This toxin damages tissue in the immediate area of infection — usually, the nose and throat. At that site, the infection produces a tough, gray-colored membrane composed of dead cells, bacteria and other substances.

What kind of bacteria is the cause of diphtheria?

A type of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes diphtheria. The condition is typically spread through person-to-person contact or through contact with objects that have the bacteria on them, such as a cup or used tissue.

What does it look like when you have diphtheria?

The classic case of diphtheria is an upper respiratory infection caused by bacteria. It produces a gray pseudomembrane, or a covering that looks like a membrane, over the lining of the nose and throat, around the area of the tonsils. This pseudomembrane may also be greenish or blueish, and even black if there has been bleeding.

How is diphtheria contagious in the United States?

In the US, improved living conditions and a vaccine mean that it is not prevalent. What is diphtheria? Diphtheria is a contagious infection caused by a bacterium called Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The bacterium releases a toxin that causes the accumulation of gray tissue in the throat, leading to problems with swallowing and breathing.

Where did diphtheria originate from?

Diphtheria takes its name from the Greek word dipthera meaning leather and was named in 1826 by French physician Pierre Bretonneau. This is because it refers to the leathery, sheath-like membrane that grows on the tonsils, throat and in the nose.

Is diphtheria contagious?

Diphtheria is a very contagious infection that makes it difficult to breathe. In severe cases, it can cause heart and nerve damage. Pertussis , or whooping cough, is an extremely contagious respiratory infection that can lead to severe breathing problems, especially in infants.

How is diphtheria transmitted?

The diphtheria bacterium can enter the body through the nose and mouth, causing respiratory diphtheria. It is transmitted from person to person by respiratory secretions or by breathing in droplets that contain diphtheria bacteria from an infected person when he or she is coughing or sneezing.