Two cases of people with Mycobacterium bovis, otherwise known as bovine TB, were reported in March, one in Berkshire and one in Hampshire. Both people, who contracted the disease early last year, were recovering. But of the nine cats found to be infected with the same strain, six had died, two were still undergoing treatment and one, The Mail Online reported, an 18-month-old tabby called Milhouse, had run away.
Public Health England (PHE) head of gastrointestinal, emerging and zoonotic diseases, Dr Dilys Morgan said it was the first documented cases of cat-to-human transmission in the UK.
Testing of nearby herds found a small number of infected cattle with the same strain as the cats but scientists believe it was unlikely the cats and the cattle had had direct contact. They believe local wildlife was probably the vector between the two.
The nine cats had bite marks, probably caused by fighting with other infected cats or with badgers. Foxes, hedgehogs, rats, mice and voles are also known to carry TB in the UK. The infected herds were placed on movement restrictions.
“Although PHE has assessed the risk of people catching this infection from infected cats as being very low, we are recommending that households and close contacts of cats with confirmed M. bovis infection should be assessed and receive public health advice,” Dr Morgan said.
AgResearch TB consultant, Geoff de Lisle, said wild and domestic cats in New Zealand were known to have had TB but it was very rare. The last reported incident was in 2009. He didn’t know of any cases of cat-to-human transmission.
“It is possible but it’s just as possible the human could give it to the cat,” de Lisle said.
He said symptoms in cats could include a change of breathing, a cough, weight loss or abscesses which did not heal.
“It is a chronic disease and sometimes the animal can appear quite healthy and still have it.”
Treatment for cats was successful but took between six and 12 months.
He could only speculate how cats in NZ became infected with TB.
“We do know there is no good evidence that cats are playing a role in spreading it to cattle.”
In 2012 there were less than 300 cases of TB reported in humans in this country, and only four of those were bovine TB.
Transmission of bovine TB from infected animals to humans can occur by breathing in or ingesting bacteria shed by the animal or through contamination of unprotected cuts in the skin while handling infected animals or their carcasses.
