Feral Kitten Found at Conway Human Development Center Tests Positive for Rabies

Here's how these ignorant, self-serving, and uneducated TNR-advocates are destroying your planet and all life on it.

The TNR CON-GAME

FACT: Trap & Kill failed because cats cannot be trapped faster than they exponentially breed out of control.

FACT: Trap, Neuter, & Release (TNR) is an even bigger abject failure because these man-made ecological disasters cannot be trapped faster than they exponentially breed out of control, and they also continue the cruelly annihilate all native wildlife (from the smallest of prey up to the top predators that are starved to death), and the cats continue to spread many deadly diseases that they carry today -- FOR WHICH THERE ARE NO VACCINES AGAINST THEM. Many of which are even listed as bioterrorism agents. (Such as Tularemia and The Plague -- Yes, people have already died from cat-transmitted plague in the USA. No fleas nor rats even required. The cats themselves carry and transmit the plague all on their own.)

FACT: THERE IS ABSOLUTELY _NOTHING_ HUMANE ABOUT TNR. Nearly every last TNR'ed cat dies an inhumane death by road-kill, from cat and animal attacks, environmental poisons, starvation, dehydration, freezing to death, infections, parasites, etc. And if very very lucky humanely shot to death or re-trapped and drowned (the two most common methods employed on all farms and ranches to protect their gestating livestock's offspring and valuable native wildlife dying from cats' Toxoplasmosis parasites). This doesn't begin to count the thousands of defenseless native animals that cats skin alive and disembowel alive for their daily and hourly play-toys. The only difference in destroying cats immediately and humanely instead of trapping, sterilizing, then releasing them to an inhumane death; is that money isn't going into an HSUS or SPCA board-member's pocket, veterinarian's pocket, cat-food company CEO's pocket, or a drug-company CEO's pocket. And that's the ONLY difference!

FACT: Cats are a man-made (through selective breeding) invasive species. And as such, are no less of a man-made environmental disaster than any other caused by man. Cats are even worse than an oil-spill of continent-sized proportions. They not only kill off rare and endangered marine-mammals along all coastlines from run-off carrying cats' Toxoplasma gondii parasites, they destroy the complete food-chain in every ecosystem where cats are found. From smallest of prey gutted and skinned alive for cats' tortured play-toys, up to the top predators that are starved to death from cats destroying their ONLY food sources. (Precisely what cats caused on my own land not long ago.)

FACT: Hunted To Extinction (or in this case, extirpation of all outdoor cats) is the ONLY method that is faster than a species like cats can exponentially out-breed and out-adapt to. Especially a man-made invasive species like these cats that can breed 2-4X's faster than any naturally occurring cat-species.

FACT: In _TWELVE_YEARS_ Alley Cat ALL-LIES of NYC have only reduced feral cats in their own city by 0.08% to 0.024% (as the months go on that percentage becomes more insignificant), allowing more than 99.92% to 99.976% to exponentially breed out of control. Here's how Alley-Cat-ALL-LIES' deceptive math works: If you TNR 4 cats and 3 get flattened by cars this translates to 75% fewer feral-cats everywhere. Alley Cat ALL-LIES can't even reduce cats in their own city, yet they promote it as a worldwide solution. Then even bigger fools fall for it and promote it.

FACT: When researching over 100 of the most "successful" TNR programs worldwide, JUST ONE trapped more than 0.4%. Oregon's 50,000 TNR'ed cats (the highest rate I found) is 4.9% of all ferals in their state. Yet, by applying population growth calculus on the unsterilized 95.1% they will have trapped only 0.35% of all cats in their state sometime this year. Less than 0.4% is a far cry from the required 80%-90% to be the least bit effective.

FACT: Their mythical "vacuum effect" is a 100% LIE. A study done by the Texas A&M University proved that any perceived "vacuum" is just the simple case that CATS ATTRACT CATS. Get rid of them all and there's no cats there to attract more. I proved this myself by shooting and burying hundreds of them on my own land. ZERO cats replaced them FOR 3 YEARS NOW. If you want more cats, keep even one of them around, more will find you. That university study also found that sterilized cats very poorly defend any territory. Non-sterilized cats, being more aggressive, take over the sterilized cats' resources (shelter & food if any). If there is any kind of "vacuum effect" at all, it is that sterilizing cats cause non-sterilized cats to restore the reproductive void.

FACT: During all this investigation I have discovered something that is unfaltering without fail. Something that you can bet your very life on and win every last time. That being -- IF A TNR CAT-HOARDER IS TALKING THEN THEY ARE LYING. 100% guaranteed!

Again, misinformation spread by ill informed individuals. There is no doubt that there are diseases and infections which are zoonotic in nature. Most of those that you specify in your cat hating rant, are either uncommon in cats, more common in dogs, do not occur in either or are so uncommon in humans there is barely sufficient information to quantify source and transmission methods. Bacteria, viruses, parasites exist in this world, with or without your knowledge. Most of the diseases/ infections/ parasites that you mention are caused by you, the human, eating either feces, fleas or poorly prepared food. Some of them exist in the water supply and most of those commonly affect undeveloped countries. You may take some comfort in knowing that your pet cat, dog, rat can also make you sick as well as your child, co-worker or local fast food restaurant. You will find I have referenced the CDC virtually throughout each response. You might also want to research exactly how a disease might become a bio-toxin, as in a human would have to modify, create and dissipate the thing. Take solace in the fact that you are quite ignorant about shelter practices with regard to any animal they take in and adopt. Maybe you should stop reading the internet or at least be able to form an objective opinion rather than some rambling rant about something you know nothing about. You should also appreciate and understand, as the CDC quite clearly advocates, the spay and neuter of all cats and dogs is inherently important. Instead of defaming "these cat lovers" you should quite simply appreciate that the purpose of catching and fixing feral cats is the appropriate method of population control. Most of those feral cats you might be shooting at, were either once somebody's unwanted or abandoned, unaltered, pet or the progeny thereof. Why don't you take the time to understand the nature of the problem before spreading more panic, alarm and misinformation? http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/usa/index.html Over the last 100 years, rabies in the United States has changed dramatically. More than 90% of all animal cases reported annually to CDC now occur in wildlife; before 1960 the majority were in domestic animals. The principal rabies hosts today are wild carnivores and bats. The number of rabies-related human deaths in the United States has declined from more than 100 annually at the turn of the century to one or two per year in the 1990's. Modern day prophylaxis has proven nearly 100% successful. In the United States, human fatalities associated with rabies occur in people who fail to seek medical assistance, usually because they were unaware of their exposure. Rabies in humans is 100% preventable through prompt appropriate medical care. Yet, more than 55,000 people, mostly in Africa and Asia, die from rabies every year - a rate of one person every ten minutes. ***The most important global source of rabies in humans is from uncontrolled rabies in dogs****. Children are often at greatest risk from rabies. They are more likely to be bitten by dogs, and are also more likely to be severely exposed through multiple bites in high-risk sites on the body. Severe exposures make it more difficult to prevent rabies unless access to good medical care is immediately available. This major source of rabies in humans can be eliminated through ensuring adequate animal vaccination and control, educating those at risk, and enhancing access of those bitten to appropriate medical care. In 2006, a group of researchers and professionals formed a global Alliance for Rabies Control. They created and began inviting partners to join the World Rabies Day initiative. The goal of this outreach is to mobilize awareness and resources in support of human rabies prevention and animal rabies control. With the initial goal of engaging 55,000 people to take action, one for each person who dies each year from rabies, the inaugural campaign on September 8, 2007 saw participation of nearly 400,000 individuals from at least 74 countries! This overwhelming response was an important step forward for rabies prevention and control and further illustrates the widespread recognition of the need for action to control this easily preventable disease. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs255/en/index.html Campylobacter Key facts %u2022 Campylobacter is a bacterium that causes intestinal infections. %u2022 Campylobacter infections are generally mild, but can be fatal among very young children, elderly and immunosuppressed individuals. %u2022 The bacteria normally inhabit the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals such as poultry and cattle, and are frequently detected in foods derived from these animals. %u2022 Campylobacter species can be killed by heat and thoroughly cooking food. %u2022 To prevent Campylobacter infections, make sure to follow basic food hygiene practices when preparing food. Sources and transmission Campylobacter species are widely distributed in most warm-blooded animals. They are prevalent in food animals such as poultry, cattle, pigs, sheep, ostriches and shellfish; and in pets, including cats and dogs. The main route of transmission is generally believed to be foodborne, via undercooked meat and meat products, as well as raw or contaminated milk. Contaminated water or ice is also a source of infection. A proportion of cases occur following contact with contaminated water during recreational activities. Campylobacteriosis is a zoonosis, a disease transmitted to humans from animals or animal products. Most often, carcasses or meat are contaminated byCampylobacter from faeces during slaughtering. In animals, Campylobacter seldom causes disease. The relative contribution of each of the above sources to the overall burden of disease is unclear but consumption of undercooked contaminated poultry is believed to be a major contributor. Since common-source outbreaks account for a rather small proportion of cases, the vast majority of reports refer to sporadic cases, with no easily discernible pattern. Estimating the importance of all known sources is therefore extremely difficult. In addition, the wide occurrence ofCampylobacter also hinders the development of control strategies throughout the food chain. However, in countries where specific strategies have been put in place to reduce the prevalence of Campylobacter in live poultry, a similar reduction in human cases is observed. http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/catscratch.htm Domestic pets are susceptible to infection with various species of Bartonella and can play a role in human infection. Bartonella henselae bacteremia has been documented in up to 41% of healthy cats. Cats may also harbor Bartonella clarridgeiae and (rarely) other Bartonella species. Cats become infected with Bartonella henselae from the bites of infected fleas or contact with infected blood; cats involved in cat fights or who have received blood transfusions are more at risk for infection. Shelter and stray cats are significantly more likely to be seropositive than cats bred at home or by a breeder, but not more likely to be bacteremic. Bartonella henselae bacteremia is most common in younger cats, typically kittens older than 3 months. Dogs may carry Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, Bartonella henselae, and other Bartonellaspecies. Bartonella infection is more likely to cause clinical symptoms in dogs compared to cats. Low seroprevalence in worldwide dog populations suggests that dogs are probably not a natural reservoir for B. vinsonii berkhoffii. It is not yet known whether dogs can transmit infection to humans. In addition to dogs and cats, numerous domestic and wild animals, including bovine, canine, human, and rodent species can serve as reservoir hosts for various Bartonella species. Clinical Presentation Cats Naturally infected cats are primarily asymptomatic, subclinical carriers of Bartonella henselae. B. henselae infections in cats, also known as feline bartonellosis, may occasionally cause a self-limiting, transient, febrile illness that lasts for approximately 48-72 hours. Clinical symptoms of more serious infection, although rare, include fever, vomiting, lethargy, red eyes, swollen lymph nodes, and/or decreased appetite. Bacteremia can persist for months with clinical signs appearing when the cat is under stress (surgery or trauma) or concurrent with another disease. Dogs Dogs present with a wide range of clinical and pathologic abnormalities, including: fever, endocarditis and myocarditis, granulomatous lymphadenitis, cardiac arrhythmias, granulomatous rhinitis, and epistaxis. In both humans and dogs, Bartonella-associated endocarditis usually involves the aortic valve and is characterized by massive vegetative lesions. Prevention and control As fleas are involved in the transmission of B. henselae among cats, the use of pesticides to eliminate fleas from the environment is important. Additionally: %u2022 Dogs should be placed on an effective, monthly pesticide such as fipronil, methoprene, Imidocloprid, or permethrin to protect them from fleas and tick infestations. %u2022 Permethrin should not be used on cats, but fipronil and other spot-on products are safe on cats when used as directed. %u2022 An indoor lifestyle for cats is preferable in the prevention of Bartonella transmission, as this environment will reduce the risk of flea infestation and contact time with other stray cats. %u2022 Discourage immunocompromised individuals from playing with or owning young cats. %u2022 To prevent scratches, some advocate declawing cats. This is controversial, however, because cats need their claws for a number of activities. %u2022 There are currently no vaccines available for cats or dogs against Bartonella spp. http://www.cdc.gov/qfever/ Q fever is a worldwide disease with acute and chronic stages caused by the bacteriaCoxiella burnetii. Cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary reservoirs although a variety of species may be infected. Organisms are excreted in milk, urine, and feces of infected animals. During birthing the organisms are shed in high numbers within the amniotic fluids and the placenta. The organism is extremely hardy and resistant to heat, drying, and many common disinfectants which enable the bacteria to survive for long periods in the environment. Infection of humans usually occurs by inhalation of these organisms from air that contains airborne barnyard dust contaminated by dried placental material, birth fluids, and excreta of infected animals. Other modes of transmission to humans, including tick bites, ingestion of unpasteurized milk or dairy products, and human to human transmission, are rare. Humans are often very susceptible to the disease, and very few organisms may be required to cause infection. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/ Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis. Both the parasite and the disease are commonly known as "Crypto." There are many species of Cryptosporidium that infect humans and animals. The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it very tolerant to chlorine disinfection. While this parasite can be spread in several different ways, water (drinking water and recreational water) is the most common method of transmission. Cryptosporidium is one of the most frequent causes of waterborne disease among humans in the United States. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/dipylidium/ Dipylidium is tapeworm of cats and dogs. People become infected when they accidentally swallow a flea infected with tapeworm larvae; most reported cases involve children. Dipylidium infection is easily treated in humans and animals. What is hookworm infection? Hookworm infection is a disease caused by several species of parasites. The symptoms of animal hookworm infection in people depend on how people get the infection. Early stages of animal hookworms, the larvae, can infect people and travel through different parts of the human body. This is called larva migrans (LAR-va MIGH-granz). People can also get painful and itchy skin infections when animal hookworm larvae move through their skin. If a person accidentally eats animal hookworm eggs, then the larvae that hatch out of the eggs can reach the intestine and cause bleeding, inflammation (swelling), and abdominal pain. Can animals transmit hookworm infection to me? Yes, but not directly. Puppies and kittens are especially likely to have hookworm infections. Animals that are infected pass hookworm eggs in their stools. The eggs can hatch into larvae, and both eggs and larvae may be found in dirt where animals have been. Eggs or larvae can get into your body when you accidentally eat or have direct contact with contaminated dirt. For example, this can happen if a child is walking barefoot or playing in an area where dogs or cats have been (especially puppies or kittens). How do I reduce my risk of getting hookworm? %u2022 Do not walk barefoot or contact the soil with bare hands in areas where hookworm is common or there is likely to be feces (stool) in the soil or sand. %u2022 Dogs and cats should be dewormed by your veterinarian. Incidentally http://www.earthtym.net/ref-hookworms.htm There are many species of hookworms that infect mammals. The most important, at least from the human standpoint, are the human hookworms, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus, which infect an estimated 800,000,000 persons, as well as the dog and cat hookworms, A. caninum and A. braziliense, respectively. http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/infection/index.html Leptospirosis Infection The bacteria that cause leptospirosis are spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to months. Many different kinds of wild and domestic animals carry the bacterium. These can include, but are not limited to: %u2022 Cattle %u2022 Pigs %u2022 Horses %u2022 Dogs %u2022 Rodents %u2022 Wild animals When these animals are infected, they may have no symptoms of the disease. Infected animals may continue to excrete the bacteria into the environment continuously or every once in a while for a few months up to several years. Humans can become infected through: %u2022 contact with urine (or other body fluids, except saliva) from infected animals %u2022 contact with water, soil, or food contaminated with the urine of infected animals. The bacteria can enter the body through skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth), especially if the skin is broken from a cut or scratch. Drinking contaminated water can also cause infection. Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to contaminated water, such as floodwaters. Person to person transmission is rare. Incidentally http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/data/articlestandard//vetmed/192005/160331/article.pdf Although it is POSSIBLE for cats to become infected with lepto it commonly held that the cat has a natural immunity to the infection and it is therefore unlikely %u2013 not so much in dogs. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/epi.html Giardiasis is a diarrheal illness caused by the parasite Giardia intestinalis (also known as Giardia lamblia or Giardia duodenalis). A parasite is an organism that feeds off of another to survive. Giardiasis is a global disease. It infects nearly 2% of adults and 6% to 8% of children in developed countries worldwide. Nearly 33% of people in developing countries have had giardiasis. In the United States,Giardia infection is the most common intestinal parasitic disease affecting humans[1]. People become infected with Giardia by swallowingGiardia cysts (hard shells containing Giardia) found in contaminated food or water. Cysts are instantly infectious once they leave the host through feces (poop)[2]. An infected person might shed 1-10 billion cysts daily in their feces (poop) and this might last for several months[2,6,7]. However, swallowing as few as 10 cysts might cause someone to become ill[2,6].Giardia may be passed person-to-person or even animal-to-person[2,3]. Also, oral-[censored] contact during [censored] has been known to cause infection[4,5]. Symptoms of giardiasis normally begin 1 to 3 weeks after a person has been infected[6]. Giardia infection rates have been known to go up in late summer[8-10]. Between 2006-2008 in the United States, known cases of giardiasis were twice as high between June-October as they were between January-March[2]. Anyone may become infected with Giardia. However, those at greatest risk are[2,11-16]: %u2022 Travelers to countries where giardiasis is common %u2022 People in child care settings %u2022 Those who are in close contact with someone who has the disease %u2022 People who swallow contaminated drinking water %u2022 Backpackers or campers who drink untreated water from lakes or rivers %u2022 People who have contact with animals who have the disease %u2022 Men who have [censored] with men The risk of humans acquiring Giardia infection from dogs or cats is small[17-19,13]. The exact type ofGiardia that infects humans is usually not the same type that infects dogs and cats[17,18,13]. http://www.cdc.gov/plague/transmission/index.html Ecology The bacteria that cause plague,Yersinia pestis, maintain their existence in a cycle involving rodents and their fleas. In urban areas or places with dense rat infestations, the plague bacteria can cycle between rats and their fleas. The last urban outbreak of rat-associated plague in the United States occurred in Los Angeles in 1924-1925. Since that time, plague has occurred in rural and semi-rural areas of the western United States, primarily in semi-arid upland forests and grasslands where many types of rodent species can be involved. Many types of animals, such as rock squirrels, wood rats, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks, mice, voles, and rabbits can be affected by plague. Wild carnivores can become infected by eating other infected animals. Scientists think that plague bacteria circulate at low rates within populations of certain rodents without causing excessive rodent die-off. These infected animals and their fleas serve as long-term reservoirs for the bacteria. This is called the enzootic cycle. Occasionally, other species become infected, causing an outbreak among animals, called an epizootic. Humans are usually more at risk during, or shortly after, a plague epizootic. Scientific studies have suggested that epizootics in the southwestern United States are more likely during cooler summers that follow wet winters. Epizootics are most likely in areas with multiple types of rodents living in high densities and in diverse habitats. Transmission The plague bacteria can be transmitted to humans in the following ways: Flea bites. Plague bacteria are most often transmitted by the bite of an infected flea. During plague epizootics, many rodents die, causing hungry fleas to seek other sources of blood. People and animals that visit places where rodents have recently died from plague are at risk of being infected from flea bites. Dogs and cats may also bring plague-infected fleas into the home. Flea bite exposure may result in primary bubonic plague or septicemic plague. Contact with contaminated fluid or tissue. Humans can become infected when handling tissue or body fluids of a plague-infected animal. For example, a hunter skinning a rabbit or other infected animal without using proper precautions could become infected with plague bacteria. This form of exposure most commonly results in bubonic plague or septicemic plague. Infectious droplets. When a person has plague pneumonia, they may cough droplets containing the plague bacteria into air. If these bacteria-containing droplets are breathed in by another person they can cause pneumonic plague. Typically this requires direct and close contact with the person with pneumonic plague. Transmission of these droplets is the only way that plague can spread between people. This type of spread has not been documented in the United States since 1924, but still occurs with some frequency in developing countries. Cats are particularly susceptible to plague, and can be infected by eating infected rodents. Sick cats pose a risk of transmitting infectious plague droplets to their owners or to veterinarians. Several cases of human plague have occurred in the United States in recent decades as a result of contact with infected cats. Toxocariasis (Roundworms to you) Toxocariasis is the parasitic disease caused by the larvae of two species of Toxocararoundworms: Toxocara canis from dogs and, less commonly, Toxocara cati from cats. Toxocariasis is considered one of the Neglected Parasitic Infections, a group of five parasitic diseases that have been targeted by CDC for public health action. Infected dogs and cats shed Toxocara eggs in their feces and contaminate the environment. Humans or other animals can be infected by accidentally ingesting Toxocara eggs. For example, humans can become infected if they work with dirt and accidentally ingest dirt containingToxocara eggs. Although rare, people can be infected by eating undercooked or raw meat from an infected animal such as raw lamb or calf%u2019s liver. Because dogs and cats are frequently found where people live, there may be large numbers of infected eggs in the environment. Once in the body, the Toxocara eggs hatch and roundworm larvae can travel in the bloodstream to several parts of the body, including the liver, heart, lungs, brain, muscles, and eyes. Most infected people do not have any symptoms. However, in heavy infections, the roundworm larvae can cause damage to these tissues and organs. The symptoms of toxocariasis, the disease caused by these migrating larvae, include fever, coughing, inflammation of the liver, and blindness. A U.S. study in 1996 showed that 30% of dogs younger than 6 months deposit Toxocara eggs in their feces; other studies have shown that almost all puppies are born already infected withToxocara canis. Research also suggests that 25% of all cats are infected with Toxocara cati. Infection rates are higher for dogs and cats that are left outside for more time and allowed to eat other animals. In humans, it has been found that almost 14% of the U.S. population has been infected with Toxocara. Globally, toxocariasis is found in many countries, and prevalence rates can reach as high as 40% or more in parts of the world. There are several factors that have been associated with higher rates of infection with Toxocara. People are more likely to be infected with Toxocara if they own a dog. Children and adolescents under the age of 20 are more likely to test positive for Toxocara infection. This may be because children are more likely to eat dirt and play in outdoor environments, such as sandboxes, where dog and cat feces can be found. This infection is more common in people living in poverty. Geographic location plays a role as well, because Toxocara is more prevalent in hot, humid regions where eggs are kept viable in the soil. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/epi.html Toxoplasmosis is considered to be a leading cause of death attributed to foodborne illness in the United States. More than 60 million men, women, and children in the U.S. carry the Toxoplasmaparasite, but very few have symptoms because the immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. Toxoplasmosis is considered one of the Neglected Parasitic Infections, a group of five parasitic diseases that have been targeted by CDC for public health action. However, women newly infected with Toxoplasma during pregnancy and anyone with a compromised immune system should be aware that toxoplasmosis can have severe consequences. Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In the United States it is estimated that 22.5% of the population 12 years and older have been infected withToxoplasma. In various places throughout the world, it has been shown that up to 95% of some populations have been infected with Toxoplasma. Infection is often highest in areas of the world that have hot, humid climates and lower altitudes. Toxoplasmosis is not passed from person-to-person, except in instances of mother-to-child (congenital) transmission and blood transfusion or organ transplantation. People typically become infected by three principal routes of transmission. %u2022 Foodborne %u2022 Animal-to-human (zoonotic) %u2022 Mother-to-child (congenital) %u2022 Rare instances Foodborne transmission The tissue form of the parasite (a microscopic cyst consisting of bradyzoites) can be transmitted to humans by food. People become infected by: %u2022 Eating undercooked, contaminated meat (especially pork, lamb, and venison) %u2022 Accidental ingestion of undercooked, contaminated meat after handling it and not washing hands thoroughly (Toxoplasma cannot be absorbed through intact skin) %u2022 Eating food that was contaminated by knives, utensils, cutting boards, or other foods that had contact with raw, contaminated meat Animal-to-human (zoonotic) transmission Cats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis. They become infected by eating infected rodents, birds, or other small animals. The parasite is then passed in the cat's feces in an oocyst form, which is microscopic. Kittens and cats can shed millions of oocysts in their feces for as long as 3 weeks after infection. Mature cats are less likely to shed Toxoplasma if they have been previously infected. A Toxoplasma-infected cat that is shedding the parasite in its feces contaminates the litter box. If the cat is allowed outside, it can contaminate the soil or water in the environment as well. People can accidentally swallow the oocyst form of the parasite. People can be infected by: %u2022 Accidental ingestion of oocysts after cleaning a cat's litter box when the cat has shedToxoplasma in its feces %u2022 Accidental ingestion of oocysts after touching or ingesting anything that has come into contact with a cat's feces that contain Toxoplasma %u2022 Accidental ingestion of oocysts in contaminated soil (e.g., not washing hands after gardening or eating unwashed fruits or vegetables from a garden) %u2022 Drinking water contaminated with the Toxoplasma parasite Mother-to-child (congenital) transmission A woman who is newly infected with Toxoplasma during pregnancy can pass the infection to her unborn child (congenital infection). The woman may not have symptoms, but there can be severe consequences for the unborn child, such as diseases of the nervous system and eyes. Rare instances of transmission Organ transplant recipients can become infected by receiving an organ from a Toxoplasma-positive donor. Rarely, people can also become infected by receiving infected blood via transfusion. Laboratory workers who handle infected blood can also acquire infection through accidental inoculation. Sarcosporidiosis %u2013 look even the CDC couldn%u2019t provide much information about this one, extending the search only indicates 136 different species of the genus, less than 100 human cases, primarily a swine/ cattle infection. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/14/4/071316_article.htm - the CDC doesn%u2019t recognize a disease called flea borne Typhus although it describes typhoid diseases in general, the one most commonly matching what you are inadequately trying to make an issue of is known as Murine Typhus and generally ascribed to the rat flea. To the Editor: Rickettsioses, or typhoid diseases, are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria of the order Rickettsiales. The ubiquitous murine typhus is caused by Rickettsia typhi. Although cat fleas and opposums have been suggested as vectors in some places in the United States, the main vector of murine typhus is the rat flea (Xenopspylla cheopis), which maintains R. typhi in rodent reservoirs (1). Most persons become infected when flea feces containing R. typhicontaminate broken skin or are inhaled, although infections may also result from flea bites (1). Murine typhus is often unrecognized in Africa; however, from northern Africa, 7 cases in Tunisia were documented in 2005 (2). We conducted a prospective studyin Algeria which included all patients who had clinical signs leading to suspicion of rickettsioses (high fever, skin rash, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, eschar, or reported contact with ticks, fleas, or lice) who visited the Oran Teaching Hospital in 2004%u20132005 for an infectious diseases consultation. Clinical and epidemiologic data as well as acute-phase (day of admission) and convalescent-phase (2%u20134 weeks later) serum samples were collected. Serum samples were sent to the World Health Organization Collaborative Center for Rickettsial Diseases in Marseille, France. They were tested by immunofluoresence assay (IFA), by using spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsial antigens (R. conorii conorii, R. conorii israelensis, R. sibirica mongolitimonae, R. aeschlimmanii, R. massiliae, R. helvetica, R. slovaca, and R. felis) and R. typhi and R. prowazekii as previously reported (3). When cross-reactions were noted between several rickettsial antigens, Western blot (WB) assays and cross-absorption studies were performed as previously described (4). A total of 277 patients were included. We report 2 confirmed cases of R. typhi infection in patients from Algeria. The first patient, a 42-year-old male pharmacist who reported contact with cats and dogs parasitized by ticks, consulted with our clinic for a 10-day history of high fever, sweating, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, cough, and a 6-kg weight loss. He had not received any antimicrobial drugs before admission. No rash, eschar, or specific signs were found. Standard laboratory findings were within normal limits. No acute-phase serum sample was sent for testing. However, IFAs on convalescent-phase serum were negative for SFG antigens (except R. felis: immunoglobulin [Ig] G 64, IgM 128), but they showed raised antibodies against R. typhiand R. prowazekii (IgG 2,048, IgM 1,024). The second patient, a 25-year-old farmer, was hospitalized for a 5-day history of fever, headache, diarrhea, and lack of response to treatment with amoxicillin and acetaminophen. He reported contact with cats and cattle. A discrete macular rash and pharyngitis were observed. Standard laboratory findings were within normal limits, except neutrophil count was elevated at 11.2/%u03BCL (normal levels 3%u20137/%u03BCL). Acute-phase serum was negative for rickettsial antigens. Convalescent-phase serum obtained 2 weeks later was positive for several SFG antigens (IgM only; the highest level was 256 for R. conorii), and higher levels of antibodies were obtained against R. typhi and R. prowazekii (IgG 256, IgM 256). WB and cross-absorption studies confirmed R. typhi infection (Figure). Both patients recovered after a 3-day oral doxycycline regimen and have remained well. (A single 200-mg dose of oral doxycycline usually leads to defervescence within 48%u201372 hours [1]). Murine typhus is a mild disease with nonspecific signs. Less than half of patients report exposure to fleas or flea hosts. Diagnosis may be missed because the rash, the hallmark for rickettsial diseases, is present in <50% of patients and is often transient or difficult to observe. Arthralgia, myalgia, or respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, as reported here, are frequent; neurologic signs may also occur (5). As a consequence, the clinical picture can mimic other diseases. A review has reported 22 different diagnoses that were proposed for 80 patients with murine typhus in the United States (6). Serologic tests are the most frequently used and widely available methods for diagnosis of rickettsioses (7). IFA is the reference method (7). However, R. typhi may cross-react with other rickettsial antigens, including SFG rickettsiae, but especially with the other typhus group rickettsia, R. prowazekii, the agent of epidemic typhus (8). Epidemic typhus is transmitted by body lice and occurs more frequently in cool areas, where clothes are infrequently changed, and particularly during human conflicts. It is still prevalent in Algeria (9). This cross-reactivity led to some difficulties in interpreting serologic results (10). However, WB and cross-adsorption studies can be used when cross-reactions occur between rickettsial antigens. They are useful for identifying the infecting rickettsia to the species level and for providing new data about the emergence or reemergence of rickettsioses, as reported here. These assays are, however, time-consuming and only available in specialized reference laboratories. Clinicians need to be aware of the presence murine typhus in Algeria, especially among patients with unspecific signs and fever of unknown origin. Tetracyclines remain the treatment of choice. Nadjet Mouffok*, Philippe Parola%u2020, and Didier Raoult%u2020 Author affiliations: *Service des Maladies Infectieuses CHU%u2019Oran, Oran, Algeria; %u2020World Health Organization Collaborative Centre for Rickettsial and Arthropod-borne Bacterial Diseases, Marseilles, France; References 1. Raoult D, Roux V. Rickettsioses as paradigms of new or emerging infectious diseases.Clin Microbiol Rev. 1997;10:694%u2013719.PubMed 2. Letaief AO, Kaabia N, Chakroun M, Khalifa M, Bouzouaia N, Jemni L. Clinical and laboratory features of murine typhus in central Tunisia: a report of seven cases. Int J Infect Dis. 2005;9:331%u20134. DOI PubMed 3. Mouffok N, Benabdellah A, Richet H, Rolain JM, Razik F, Belamadani D, Reemergence of rickettsiosis in Oran, Algeria. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006;1078:180%u20134. DOI PubMed 4. Parola P, Miller RS, McDaniel P, Telford SR III, Wongsrichanalai C, Raoult D. Emerging rickettsioses of the Thai-Myanmar border. Emerg Infect Dis. 2003;9:592%u20135.PubMed 5. Gikas A, Doukakis S, Pediaditis J, Kastanakis S, Psaroulaki A, Tselentis Y. Murine typhus in Greece: epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic data from 83 cases. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2002;96:250%u20133. DOI PubMed 6. Dumler JS, Taylor JP, Walker DH. Clinical and laboratory features of murine typhus in south Texas, 1980 through 1987. JAMA. 1991;266:1365%u201370. DOI PubMed 7. La Scola B, Raoult D. Laboratory diagnosis of rickettsioses: current approaches to diagnosis of old and new rickettsial diseases. J Clin Microbiol. 1997;35:2715%u201327.PubMed 8. La Scola B, Rydkina L, Ndihokubwayo JB, Vene S, Raoult D. Serological differentiation of murine typhus and epidemic typhus using cross-adsorption and Western blotting. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2000;7:612%u20136. DOI PubMed 9. Mokrani K, Fournier PE, Dalichaouche M, Tebbal S, Aouati A, Raoult D. Reemerging threat of epidemic typhus in Algeria. J Clin Microbiol. 2004;42:3898%u2013900. DOI PubMed 10. Parola P, Vogelaers D, Roure C, Janbon F, Raoult D. Murine typhus in travelers returning from Indonesia. Emerg Infect Dis. 1998;4:677%u201380.PubMed http://www.cdc.gov/tularemia/ Overview Tularemia is a disease of animals and humans caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Rabbits, hares, and rodents are especially susceptible and often die in large numbers during outbreaks. Humans can become infected through several routes, including: %u2022 Tick and deer fly bites %u2022 Skin contact with infected animals %u2022 Ingestion of contaminated water %u2022 Laboratory exposure %u2022 Inhalation of contaminated dusts or aerosols In addition, humans could be exposed as a result of bioterrorism. Symptoms vary depending upon the route of infection. Although tularemia can be life-threatening, most infections can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Steps to prevent tularemia include: %u2022 Use of insect repellent %u2022 Wearing gloves when handling sick or dead animals %u2022 Avoiding mowing over dead animals In the United States, naturally occurring infections have been reported from all states except Hawaii. http://www.cdc.gov/rat-bite-fever/transmission/ Rat-bite fever (RBF) is an infectious disease that can be caused by two different bacteria. Streptobacillary RBF is caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis in North America while spirillary RBF or sodoku is caused by Spirillum minus and occurs mostly in Asia. People usually get the disease from infected rodents or consumption of contaminated food or water. When the latter occurs, the disease is often known as Haverhill fever. If not treated, RBF can be a serious or even fatal disease. There are several ways people can get RBF. The most common include: %u2022 Bites or scratches from infected rodents (such as rats, mice, and gerbils) %u2022 Handling rodents with the disease (even without a bite or scratch) %u2022 Consuming food or drink contaminated with the bacteria RBF is not spread from one person to another.

This is exactly how BAD information becomes the TRUTH and the basis of ignorant falsities. While one cannot argue that responsible pet ownership is absolutely the right thing, the backwoods attitude of "feeding feral cats" being a bad practice is a complete misnomer. Many states, unlike this state and many of its southern neighbors, have found that the only appropriate way to deal with feral cats is to employ TNR - this means, Trap-Neuter-Release. What the opening statements of this report fail to address is that any feral cat taken to a local animal control facility will 100% of the time be euthanized and that those implied misguided souls who endeavour to feed them usually do so with the intent to have them spayed or neutered and in many cases, vaccinated. This is UNLIKE most pet owners who can't be bothered to embrace the simple good practice of spaying and neutering, let alone getting them vaccinated. Good job, your unbalanced reporting just opened a whole Pandora's box regarding the treatment of feral and/ or most likely any free roaming cat in the state and their caretakers. Now how many cats have actually tested positive for rabies in this state in the past few years? You have no idea on a grass roots level, how when one single animal tests positive for rabies (and I am in no way diminishing the threat that virus poses) you vilify that species and various unjust cruelties are enacted upon it by unenlightened individuals who embrace the panic and drama surrounding such reporting as this. I have seen raccoons shot to death in traps when supposed outbreaks of rabies and/ or distemper have been reported or misreported, multiple cats shot or beaten by idiots who have believed their neighbor making claims that feral cats carry this disease. I have overseen the beheading of feral AND tame cats when they have reportedly bitten someone - every last one of them negative. People killing possums because they think that species carries rabies. Thanks so much for undoing years of good work and public education. Sincerely, The Animal Rescue & Protection Community