Amphibians can make excellent pets; however, they should not be handled any more than is absolutely necessary due to their delicate skin. In addition, some amphibians release irritating toxins from their skin or special glands. Wearing disposable gloves that have been rinsed free of powder protects both you and your pet and is recommended when handling amphibians or cleaning their enclosure.
Amphibians come in a wide range of sizes and colorings. The largest amphibians, the Chinese and Japanese giant salamanders, can grow to 6 feet long (1.8 meters) and weigh up to 140 pounds (63 kilograms). The smallest include some species of poison dart frogs measuring less than 0.5 inches long (1.3 centimeters) and weighing only a few grams (less than an ounce). One thing that most amphibians do have in common is a moist skin, often coated with a slimy mucus. Adult amphibia
Tularemia is a bacterial disease that affects people and many species of wild and domestic animals. It is caused by toxins in the blood produced by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. The bacteria can survive for weeks or months in a moist environment. There are 3 types of organisms that differ based on the severity of the disease they produce. Type A is most likely to cause severe disease and is found most commonly in North America. Disease res
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium. The disease affects practically all species of vertebrates, and, before control measures were adopted, was a major disease of humans and domestic animals. Signs and lesions are generally similar in the various species. Tuberculosis is uncommon in cats in North America.
There are several species of bacteria that cause tuberculosis. Each type is
Trichinellosis is a parasitic disease that can be transmitted to people. It is caused by a type of worm known as a nematode. The name of the disease comes from the scientific name for the worm, Trichinella spiralis. Humans become infected when they eat undercooked infected meat, usually pork or bear, although other meats can also be responsible. Natural infections occur in wild meat-eating animals; most mammals are susceptible.
Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite that infects humans and other warm-blooded animals. It has been found worldwide. Wild and domestic felines (members of the cat family) are the only definitive hosts of the parasite. Infected cats can transmit the disease to humans and other animals.
There are 3 infectious stages of Toxoplasma gondii: tachyzoites (rapidly multipl
Tetanus toxemia is caused by a specific toxin, or poison, that blocks the transmission of inhibitory nerve signals, resulting in severe contractions of muscles and exaggerated muscle responses to stimuli. The toxin is produced by Clostridium tetani bacteria in dead tissue. Almost all mammals are susceptible to this disease, although cats seem much more resistant than other domestic animals.
Clostridium tetani
Q fever (coxiellosis) is an infection caused by Coxiella burnetii bacteria that rarely causes noticeable illness in animals. It can be passed from animals to people, however. Transmission to people usually occurs by direct or indirect contact with the bacteria that are shed in large numbers in the placenta and birth fluids of ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goats. Other wild and domestic animals, including cats, can also play a role in the sp
Plague is a sudden and sometimes fatal bacterial disease caused by Yersinia pestis. It is transmitted primarily by the fleas of rats and other rodents. This is the disease, often called the Black Death, that swept through Asia and then Europe in the 14th century. Over 25 million people (one third of the population) died of this disease in Europe between 1347 and 1352. Devastating outbreaks of this disease recurred with regularity throughout the ne