Cat or dog ownership and seroprevalence of ehrlichiosis, Q fever, and cat-scratch disease

Abstract

Concerns have been raised about the role of domestic cats or dogs in the acquisition of zoonoses, in particular in pregnant women or immune-suppressed persons. We report that cat or dog ownership is not associated with an increased seroprevalence of antibodies to Anaplasma phagozytophilum, Coxiella bumetii, and Bartonella henselae in symptom-free persons in Styria, Austria.