Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Infectious Hazards from Pets and Domestic Animals

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Hot Topics in Infection and Immunity in Children VII

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 697))

Abstract

Most pet owners consider their pets to be family members. Approximately 63% of US households own at least one pet [1], and statistical analysis done in the United States in 2006 showed that there are more than 72 million pet dogs and nearly 82 million pet cats, with an average veterinary expenditure per household for all pets of around $366/year [2]. According to a survey conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association (2002), 94% of pet owners consider their pet to have human personality traits, 93% say that they would risk their own life for their pet, and half said that they would choose their dog as their sole companion if stranded on a Desert Island [4]. As a consequence, people tend to treat the health of their pets as they would with their own children and spend more money at the veterinary clinic. This also involves purchasing treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Reaser JK, Clark EE Jr, Meyers NM. All creatures great and minute: a public policy primer for companion animal zoonoses. Zoonoses Public Health. 2008;55(8–10):385–401.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Source book (2007 Edition). http.//http://www.avma.org/reference/marketstats/sourcebook.asp

  3. Case L. Perspectives on domestication: the history of our relationship with man’s best friend. J Anim Sci. 2008;86(11):3245–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Anderson WP, Reid CM, Jennings GL. Pet ownership and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Med J Aust. 1992;157(5):298–301.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Trevejo RT, Barr MC, Robinson RA. Important emerging bacterial zoonotic infections affecting the immunocompromised. Vet Res. 2005;36(3):493–506.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kotton CN. Zoonoses from cats. In: Sexton DJ (ed). UpToDate. Waltham, MA, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Morse SS. Factors in the emergence of infectious diseases. Emerg Infect Dis. 1995;1(1):7–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Daszak P, Cunningham AA, Hyatt AD. Emerging infectious diseases of wildlife threats to biodiversity and human health. Science. 2000;287(5452):443–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Jones KE, Patel NG, Levy MA, Storeygard A, Balk D, Gittleman JL, Daszak P. Global trends in emerging infectious diseases. Nature. 2008;451(7181):990–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Woolhouse MEJ, Gowtage-Sequeria S, Range H. Emerging and reemerging pathogens. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005;11(12):1842–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Taylor LH, Latham SM, Woolhouse ME. Risk factors for human disease emergence. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2001;356(1411):983–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. World Health Organization, WHO. Use of antimicrobials outside human medicine and resultant antimicrobial resistance in humans [cited 2010 Sep 7]. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs268/en/.

  13. Guardabassi L, Schwarz S, Lloyd DH. Pet animals as reservoirs of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2004;54(2):321–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lloyd DH. Reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance in pet animals. Clin Infect Dis. 2007;45(Suppl 2):S148–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Livermore DM. Bacterial resistance: origins, epidemiology, and impact. Clin Infect Dis. 2003;36(Suppl 1):S11–S23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Davies D. Understanding biofilm resistance to antibacterial agents. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2003;2(2):114–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Bywater R, Deluyker H, Deroover E, de Jong A, Marion H, McConville M, Rowan T, Shryock T, Shuster D, Thomas V, Vallé M, Walters JA. European survey of antimicrobial susceptibility among zoonotic and commensal bacteria isolated from food-producing animals. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2004;54(4):744–54.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Teale CJ. Antimicrobial resistance and the food chain. J Appl Microbiol. 2002;92(Suppl 1):S85–S89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Walsh C, Fanning S. Antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens–a cause for concern?. Curr Drug Targets. 2008;9(9):808–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. McEwen SA, Fedorka PJ. Antimicrobial use and resistance in animals. Clin Infect Dis. 2002;34(Suppl 3):S93–S106.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Chaslus-Dancla E, Glupcznski Y, Gerbaud G, Lagorce M, Lafont JP, Courvalin P. Detection of apramycin resistant enterobacteriaceae in hospital isolates. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1989;52(3):261–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Aarestrup FM, Seyfarth AM, Emborg HD, Pedersen K, Hendriksen RS, Bager F. Effect of abolishment of the use of antimicrobial agents for growth promotion on occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in fecal enterococci from food animals in denmark. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2001;45(7):2054–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Patel A, Lloyd DH, Lamport AI. Antimicrobial resistance of feline staphylococci in south-eastern England. Vet Dermatol. 2002;10(3):257–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Holm BR, Petersson U, Mörner A, Bergström K, Franklin A, Greko C. Antimicrobial resistance in staphylococci from canine pyoderma: a prospective study of first time and recurrent cases in Sweden. Vet Rec. 2002;151(20):600–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Girard C, Higgins R. Staphylococcus intermedius cellulitis and toxic shock in a dog. Can Vet J. 1999;40(7):501–502.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Mahoudeau I, Delabranche X, Prevost G, Monteil H, Piemont Y. Frequency of isolation of staphylococcus intermedius from humans. J Clin Microbiol. 1997;35(8):2153–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lee J. Staphylococcus intermedius isolated from dog-bite wounds. J Infect. 1994;29(1):105–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Goodacre R, Harvey R, Howell SA, Greenham LW, Noble WC. An epidemiological study of Staphylococcus intermedius strains isolated from dogs, their owners and veterinary surgeons. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis. 1997;44(1):49–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Guardabassi L, Loeber ME, Jacobson A. Transmission of multiple antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus intermedius between dogs affected by deep pyoderma and their owners. Vet Microbiol. 2004;98(1):23–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Pellerin JL, Bourdeau P, Sebbag H, Person JM. Epidemiosurveillance of antimicrobial compound resistance of Staphylococcus intermedius clinical isolates from canine pyodermas. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 1998;21(2):115–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Wissing A, Nicolet J, Boerlin P. Antimicrobial resistance situation in Swiss veterinary medicine. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. 2001;143(10):503–10.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Loeffler A, Linek M, Moodley A, Guardabassi L, Sung JM, Winkler M, Weiss R, Lloyd DH. First report of multiresistant, mecA-positive Staphylococcus intermedius in Europe: 12 cases from a veterinary dermatology referral clinic in Germany. Vet Dermatol. 2007;18(6):412–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. van Duijkeren E, Houwers DJ, Schoormans A, Broekhuizen-Stins MJ, Ikawaty R, Fluit AC, Wagenaar JA. Transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus intermedius between humans and animals. Vet Microbiol. 2008;128(1–2):213–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Schwarz S, Roberts MC, Werckenthin C, Pang Y, Lange C. Tetracycline resistance in Staphylococcus spp. from domestic animals. Vet Microbiol. 1998;63(2–4):217–27.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Hartmann FA, Trostle SS, Klohnen AA. Isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from a postoperative wound infection in a horse. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1997;211(5):590–2.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Tomlin J, Pead MJ, Lloyd DH, Howell S, Hartmann F, Jackson HA, Muir P. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in 11 dogs. Vet Rec. 1999;144(3):60–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Bender JB, Torres SMF, Gilbert SM, Olsen KE, LeDell KH. Isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from a non-healing abscess in a cat. Vet Rec. 2005;157(13):388–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Lee JH. Methicillin (oxacillin)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from major food animals and their potential transmission to humans. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2003;69(11):6489–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Juhász-Kaszanyitzky E, Jánosi S, Somogyi P, Dán A, van der Graaf-van Bloois L, van Duijkeren E, Wagenaar JA. MRSA Transmission between cows and humans. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007;13(4):630–2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Huijsdens XW, van Dijke BJ, Spalburg E, van Santen-Verheuvel MG, Heck ME, Pluister GN, Voss A, Wannet WJ, de Neeling AJ. Community-acquired MRSA and pig-farming. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2006;5:26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Loeffler A, Boag AK, Sung J, Lindsay JA, Guardabassi L, Dalsgaard A, Smith H, Stevens KB, Lloyd DH. Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among staff and pets in a small animal referral hospital in the UK. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2005;56(4):692–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Manian FA. Asymptomatic nasal carriage of mupirocin-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a pet dog Associated with MRSA infection in household contacts. Clin Infect Dis. 2003;36(2):e26–e28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Weese JS, Caldwell F, Willey BM, Kreiswirth BN, McGeer A, Rousseau J, Low DE. An outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infections resulting from horse to human transmission in a veterinary hospital. Vet Microbiol. 2006;114(1–2):160–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Voss A, Loeffen F, Bakker J, Klaassen C, Wulf M. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pig farming. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005;11(12):1965–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. van Loo I, Huijsdens X, Tiemersma E, de Neeling A, van de Sande-Bruinsma N, Beaujean D, Voss A, Kluytmans J. Emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus of animal origin in humans. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007;13(12):1834–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Baptiste KE, Williams K, Willams NJ, Wattret A, Clegg PD, Dawson S, Corkill JE, O’Neill T, Hart CA. Methicillin resistant Staphylococci in companion animals. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005;11(12):1942–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cipars-picra/index-eng.php.

  48. DANMAP – the Danish Integrated Antimicrobial resistance Monitoring and Research. Programme http://www.danmap.org/

  49. FDA, National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS). http.//http://www.fda.gov/cvm/narms_pg.html

  50. Antimicrobial Resistance. CVM Updates/FDA Press Releases. http.//http://www.fda.gov/cvm/antimicrobial.html

  51. Canadian Animal Health Institute. 2001–2003 Kilograms of Active Antimicrobials. Distribution Report.http.//http://www.cahi-icsa.ca/inforum/Inforum_April_2005_Bilingual.pdf

  52. Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Recommendations from CDC, the National Institutes of Health, and the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, MMWR April 2009/Vol. 58/No. RR-4.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious and Immunological Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada

    Mona Al-Dabbagh & Simon Dobson

Authors
  1. Mona Al-Dabbagh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Simon Dobson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Simon Dobson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Children's Hospital, Dept. Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Flemington Road, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia

    Nigel Curtis

  2. Institute of Child Life and Health, UBHT Education Centre, University of Bristol, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8AE, United Kingdom

    Adam Finn

  3. University of Oxford, Level 4,John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom

    Andrew J. Pollard

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Al-Dabbagh, M., Dobson, S. (2011). Infectious Hazards from Pets and Domestic Animals. In: Curtis, N., Finn, A., Pollard, A. (eds) Hot Topics in Infection and Immunity in Children VII. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 697. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7185-2_18

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation