One cat bite is enough and you become a scientific study

The soft fur and the curious look soften many a heart. If you meet a cat on the street, you often have no choice but to pet the animal. As the case of a 48-year-old Briton shows, this is not always a good idea. Stray cats in particular can be carriers of serious diseases that can be transmitted to humans if they bite. In this case, the researchers even found a completely unknown bacterium.

Eight hours after the bites, the man’s arm and fingers became so swollen that he went to emergency services. There the wound was disinfected and he received a tetanus vaccination and antibiotics. However, the treatment did not seem to work and the arm and fingers continued to swell. The next day, he returned to the emergency department in severe pain.

Surgeons then removed the affected tissue and the patient was given three different antibiotics. He has finally recovered from the cat bites.

The infected tissue was further examined in the hospital because of the patient’s violent reaction and a study was published. The researchers found a bacteria that at least resembled some streptococci. However, it could not be determined exactly. So the genome was examined.

The results are astonishing: the gene sequence has not been found in any existing database. It is therefore a completely undocumented bacterium, which brings us quite close to the story from various superhero films. The difference: The patient had no superpowers, but developed symptoms of the disease.

Fortunately, at least one of the antibiotics administered worked. However, the researchers are concerned and write in the study: “This report highlights the role of cats as a reservoir for as yet undiscovered bacterial species that could be dangerous to humans.”

According to a Suva study, about 3,000 cat bites are reported each year in Switzerland. Experts recommend going to the doctor immediately after such a bite. (lion)