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Exposure to Nontraditional Pets: It’s a Jungle Out There

Exotic animals are not good pets!

Ownership of exotic nontraditional pets is on the rise in the U.S. Although families might not consult pediatricians before getting such pets, we have an opportunity to teach parents about potential risks. In conjunction with the AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases, these authors examined original research and review publications to identify and summarize illnesses and injuries associated with exposure to nontraditional pets at home and to animals in public settings. The article is packed with information, but the most important medical points are as follows:

• Reptiles, amphibians, rodents, and baby poultry can be sources of Salmonella.
  
• Rodents (e.g., hamsters, hedgehogs) can carry lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Yersinia pestis, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, and Mycobacterium marinum and can cause many skin infections.
  
• Animals at petting zoos and other public locations (malls, schools, fairs) can be sources of infection, particularly gastrointestinal infections (e.g., from Escherichia coli 0157, Campylobacter, Giardia).
  
• Aggressive animal behavior can lead to bites, scratches, falls, and crush injuries, exposing children to infectious organisms ranging from Pasteurella and Capnocytophaga to fatal infections such as herpes B virus.
  
• The degree to which nontraditional animals cause allergies is unclear, but allergy can be caused by sensitization to dander, scales, fur, feathers, excrement, and saliva as well as by flea bites.
  

Comment: The information in this article makes a compelling case for discussing animal exposure during healthcare evaluations. The authors provide informative Web-based resources for families and references for guidelines for prevention of disease transmission from exposure to animals, including hand hygiene, adult supervision, teaching children about safety near animals, and extra precautions for young children, immunosuppressed people, elders, and pregnant women.

— Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD

Published in Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine October 29, 2008

Citation(s):

Pickering LK et al. Exposure to nontraditional pets at home and to animals in public settings: Risks to children. Pediatrics 2008 Oct; 122:876.

• Original article (Subscription may be required)
• Medline abstract (Free)