New aspects of the Cat's role in epidemiology of Parasitosis & Vector-borne diseases
Introduction
Looking at their increasing number throughout the world, domestic cats are becoming the most preferred pets. By comparison, the dog population is slightly decreasing for several years. For the majority of people, cats are less often sick than dogs and don't carry any human pathogens, except Toxoplasma gondii. The objective of this symposium was to come back on those ideas, especially with up to date conferences regarding bartonellosis, rickettsiosis, and other bacteria. The experts were not only from the veterinary sides but half of them where researchers or physicians from human hospitals. Another important aspect was to have a worldwide participation and the speakers were originated from different countries (USA, Israel, France, Germany, UK, Italy, and Romania).
Finally, cats are enjoyable animals, but they may be at the origin of various human pathogens and it is necessary to take care of them in a preventative way in order to avoid any transmission.
