Small Animal Zoonoses and Immuncompromised Pet Owners

doi:10.1053/j.tcam.2009.07.002

Topics in Companion Animal Medicine

Volume 24, Issue 4, November 2009, Pages 164-174

https://doi.org/10.1053/j.tcam.2009.07.002 Get rights and content

This review is a general discussion of common zoonotic infections of companion animals in the United States. Microbes, routes of transmission, and risks to immunocompromised persons are discussed. The primary focus of this article is dogs and cats, although zoonoses of avian, rodent, and rabbit companion animals are discussed in brief. An awareness of zoonoses will allow veterinarians and physicians to collaboratively prevent transmission and treat clinical disease in both human and veterinary patients.

Section snippets

Campylobacteriosis

Campylobacter spp are microaerophilic, Gram-negative, curved motile rods. Campylobacter jejuni infection is the most common species implicated in canine, feline, and human infection.¹⁴ Fecal-oral transmission occurs from direct contact or ingestion of contaminated food, milk, and water.3, 14 Bacterial shedding and infection are more likely in young animals, in pets from high-volume shelters or kennels, and in animals in contact with other clinically ill animals. Diarrhea and gastroenteritis of

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV) is a rodent-borne arenavirus and a cause of meningitis and encephalitis in human beings. Wild and pet rodents are primary LCMV reservoirs; LCMV results in lifelong, usually asymptomatic, infection in rodents. Dogs and cats are not primary reservoirs for infection.⁷⁸ Transmission occurs because of contact with infected droppings, urine, and saliva; or by rodent bites. LCMV infection may be subclinical or may cause self-limiting meningitis, encephalitis, or

Intestinal Nematodes (Roundworms)

Helminthic roundworms (Ascarids) and hookworms are common zoonotic infections in companion animals. Dogs and cats are the definitive hosts of Toxacara canis and T. cati, respectively.⁹² Arrested development of the normal life cycle (hypobiosis) occurs because of halted parasitic development in the larval stage, in which adults shed eggs in the helminth gut, dogs and older pets ingest eggs and become infected, and larvae undergo arrested development and become dormant in tissues. Pregnancy

Cryptosporidiosis

The obligate intracellular coccidian Cryptosporidium spp infect the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of a variety of vertebrate hosts, including calves, lambs, kids, and piglets. Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis are the most important human species, and C. canis (dogs) and C. felis (cats) are less common strains implicated in infection.¹⁰⁰ All cryptosporidial strains identified in companion animals should be considered potentially zoonotic, particularly if pet owners are elderly,

Systemic Mycoses

Systemic mycotic infections are commonly due to exposure to a common environmental source. Although animals and humans are both susceptible to infection, direct transmission between animals and humans is extremely rare. However, symptoms of clinical illness in animals may mirror those in humans, and companion animals in endemic areas may serve as sentinels for infection and disease. Blastomyces dermatiditis causes clinical blastomycosis, and most animal and human infections occur because of

Conclusions

Precautionary measures are necessary to prevent zoonotic transmission of pathogens while keeping a pet. Routine and regular veterinary care of companion animal pets with appropriate preventative medicine is extremely important for prevention of transmission. Although some of the more detailed measures to prevent zoonotic transmission between animals and humans are beyond the scope of this review, a few general measures should be emphasized to prevent and treat infected or potentially infected

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Cited by (49)

Companion Animal Zoonoses in Immunocompromised and Other High-Risk Human Populations
2022, Greene's Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, Fifth Edition
- •
  Immunodeficiencies are common in people and may be congenital or acquired. It is estimated that up to 20% of the North American population and approximately 60% of North American households have some degree of immunosuppression.
- •
  Up to 60% of households own pets, most commonly dogs or cats. Pet ownership may predispose high-risk people to zoonotic diseases. In addition, high-risk people often experience more severe disease, a longer duration of symptoms, or more severe or unexpected complications when compared with others. In general, the mental and physical benefits of pet ownership outweigh the risks, so education of pet owners to reduce the risks is important.
- •
  Veterinarians play a key role in educating the public about ways to reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases, and should provide both written and verbal communications on this topic to pet owners. This should be documented in the medical record.
- •
  Over 250 organisms are known to cause zoonotic infections, with over 70 of these involving companion animals. The most common zoonotic pathogens, their mode of transmission, clinical signs in humans, and prevention methods are reviewed in this chapter.
Infections with the agent of ‘kennel cough’ in patients with cancer
2019, Journal of Infection
To investigate the clinical manifestations, microbiological data, and outcomes of Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb) infections in patients with cancer.
Review of electronic medical records of 24 patients with Bb infection, from 2000 to 2013. An infection was considered to be associated with Bb if both clinical manifestations plus microbial growth from infected sites were present.
Ten patients (42%) had a monomicrobial infection, whereas multiple pathogens in addition to Bb were isolated from the rest (14 patients, 58%). The most frequent sites of infection were the respiratory tract (18 patients, 75 %) and bloodstream (17%). The most frequently associated conditions were lymphopenia (71%), tobacco use (42%), and chemotherapeutic or immunosuppressive agents (33% each). Animal exposure was established in four patients. Overall, the response rate to treatment was 100% for monomicrobial and 79% for polymicrobial infections, respectively.
Bb is an uncommon pathogen even in immunosuppressed patients. Predominant sites of infection are the respiratory tract and bloodstream. Bb should be considered pathogenic in immunocompromised hosts, particularly with history of zoonotic exposure, even if accompanied by co-pathogens. Therefore, contact with potential animal sources should be minimized. The infection ranges from mild to severe and has no specific clinical or radiographic manifestations.
Risk for zoonotic Salmonella transmission from pet reptiles: A survey on knowledge, attitudes and practices of reptile-owners related to reptile husbandry
2017, Preventive Veterinary Medicine
Reptiles are becoming increasingly popular as pets. Those animals are reservoirs of a wide variety of Salmonella serotypes, that may be transmitted to warm-blooded animals, including humans. Accordingly, good hygiene practices related to husbandry are important for prevention of Reptile-associated salmonellosis (RAS). A cross–sectional study was conducted among reptile owners, by administration of a detailed questionnaire. In addition, the cloacal swabs of the sampled reptiles were screened for Salmonella spp. and the husbandry management practices were evaluated in order to assess any possible link between the presence of Salmonella spp. and the hygiene practices. The response rate to the questionnaire was 66.6% (100 out of 150 contacted owners). In 26 out of 100 families, members at risk of RAS (children and elderly) were present. One hundred animals were screened for the presence of Salmonella spp. The prevalence of Salmonella spp. carriers was 57% (Confidence interval 47–66%). Co-habitation of the animals with other reptiles in the same terrarium was associated with a 2-fold increase in the risk of infection by Salmonella spp.(Odds ratio = 2.3, CI 1.2;13, p = 0.02). Animals handled by owners that did not report washing their hands after the cleaning procedures or the handling were exposed to a 3-fold increase in the risk of infection (OR = 3.1, CI 1.1;16, p = 0.019). When drinking water was not replaced regularly, the animals were 7 times more exposed to infection (OR = 6.8, CI 1.8;25, p = 0.005). When the diet was constituted by rodents, 27 out of 48 reptiles (56.3%) were fed with live animals. In the present survey the typical reptile owner was a person, aware of ethological aspects of reptile husbandry but ignorant of some ethical recommendations and poorly informed about the health risks for himself and for the other family members. Prevention of RAS must rely mainly on information and education, with the veterinarian health bodies primarily involved in this difficult task.
Fungal isolation and identification from parrot excreta in northeast Iran: A threat to human health
2023, Veterinary Medicine and Science
Consensus Statement on Animals’ Relationship with Pediatric Oncohematological Patients, on Behalf of Infectious Diseases and Nurse Working Groups of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
2023, Journal of Clinical Medicine
Prevalence and infestation degree of yeast in canine otitis externa
2023, Veterinarska Stanica

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Topical reviewSmall Animal Zoonoses and Immuncompromised Pet Owners

Section snippets

Campylobacteriosis

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis

Intestinal Nematodes (Roundworms)

Cryptosporidiosis

Systemic Mycoses

Conclusions

J Hosp Infect

J Infect

Chest

J Feline Med Surg

Clin Microbiol Infect

Infect Dis Clin North Am

Lancet

Clin Microbiol Infect

Heart Lung

Lancet Infect Dis

Emerging zoonotic epidemics in the interconnected global community

Vet Rec

Importation of dogs into the United States: risks from rabies and other zoonotic diseases

Zoonoses Public Health

Pet-related infections

Am Fam Physician

Confronting zoonoses, linking human and veterinary medicine

Emerg Infect Dis

Preventing zoonotic diseases in immunocompromised persons: the role of physicians and veterinarians

Emerg Infect Dis

All creatures great and minute: a public policy primer for companion animal zoonoses

Zoonoses Public Health

Incidence of acquisition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile, and other health-care-associated pathogens by dogs that participate in animal-assisted interventions

J Am Vet Med Assoc

A review of published reports regarding zoonotic pathogen infection in veterinarians

J Am Vet Med Assoc

Preventing zoonotic diseases in immunocompromised persons: the role of physicians and veterinarians

Emerg Infect Dis

Companion animal issues and the physician

South Med J

Congenital and Acquired Immunodeficiences

Enteric bacterial infections

Campylobacter jejuni bacteremia and acute cholecystitis in two dogs

J Am Anim Hosp Assoc

Zoonoses in solid-organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

Clin Infect Dis

Animal-associated opportunistic infections among persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus

Clin Infect Dis

Enteric bacterial infections

Evaluation of the risks of shedding Salmonella and other potential pathogens by therapy dogs fed raw diets in Ontario and Alberta

Zoonoses Public Health

The occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonellae isolated from commercially available canine raw food diets in three Canadian cities

Zoonoses Public Health

The occurrence and anti-microbial susceptibility of Salmonellae isolated from commercially available pig ear pet treats

Zoonoses Public Health

Salmonella Michigan soft tissue infection in an immunocompromised child

J Clin Pathol

Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in patients with AIDS

Clin Infect Dis

Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in pediatric lung transplant recipients

Pediatr Transplant

Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in human immunodeficiency virus–infected patients

Clin Infect Dis

Immunocompromised people and shared human and animal infections

Exotic small mammals as potential reservoirs of zoonotic Bartonella spp

Emerg Infect Dis

Vector transmission of Bartonella species with emphasis on the potential for tick transmission

Med Vet Entomol

Bartonellosis

Bartonella spp. in pets and effect on human health

Emerg Infect Dis

Ocular bartonellosis

Int J Med Sci

Bacillary angiomatosis in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Infection

Visceral manifestation of cat scratch disease in children

A consequence of altered immunological state?

Seroprevalence of Bartonella spp. infection in HIV patients in Catalonia, Spain

BMC Infect Dis

Occurrence of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana among human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

Ann N Y Acad Sci

Diagnosing Capnocytophaga canimorsus infections

Topical review
Small Animal Zoonoses and Immuncompromised Pet Owners