Pets can transmit infections to people: study

Household pets can transmit multidrug resistant bacteria, including C diff, Salmonella and other infections to people, scientists say.
Young children, pregnant women, seniors, and anyone with a weakened immune system should be especially careful when around pets, researchers said.
"Surveys suggest that the general public and people at high risk for pet-associated disease are not aware of the risks associated with high-risk pet practices or recommendations to reduce them; for example, 77 per cent of households that obtained a new pet following a cancer diagnosis acquired a high-risk pet," said Dr Jason Stull, assistant professor, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Ohio State University.

An article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) explains the types of infections, how infections are transmitted from pets, prevention and the role of health care providers.
"Studies suggest physicians do not regularly ask about pet contact, nor do they discuss the risks of zoonotic diseases with patients, regardless of the patient's immune status," wrote Stull, with coauthors Dr Jason Brophy, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and Dr JS Weese, Ontario Veterinary College.
All pets can transmit diseases to people. Dogs, cats, rodents, reptiles and amphibians can transmit Salmonella, multidrug resistant bacteria (including Clostridium difficile), Campylobacter jejuni and other diseases.

Parasites such as hookworm, roundworm and Toxoplasma can also be transmitted. Infection can be contracted from bites, scratches, saliva and contact with feces.

"Reptiles and amphibians are estimated to be responsible for 11 per cent of all sporadic Salmonella infections among patients less than 21 years of age, and direct contact with such animals is not required for zoonotic transmission," the authors said.
"In one study, 31 per cent of reptile-associated salmonellosis cases occurred in children less than 5 years of age and 17 per cent occurred in children aged 1 year or younger; these findings highlight the heightened risk in children and the potential for reptile-associated Salmonella to be transmitted without direct contact with the animal or its enclosure," they said.

For healthy people, the risk of pet-associated disease is low, but vulnerable people are at risk, including newborns, children with leukemia and adults with cancer.
The authors also provide recommendations for reducing transmission of infection which include wearing protective gloves to clean aquariums and cages and remove feces; proper handwashing after pet contact; discouraging pets from face licking; covering playground boxes when not in use; avoiding contact with exotic animals and regular cleaning and disinfection of animal cages, feeding areas and bedding.
Locating litter boxes away from areas where eating and food preparation occur can also reduce disease threats and veterinary visits should be regularly scheduled for all pets.