COMPANION ANIMAL ZOONOTIC DISEASES
The agreeable nature of many domestic animals has seen them become indispensable companions to many around the world. In Australia, 60% of households are reported to have a pet, with an estimated 5.1 million pet dogs and 3.7 million pet cats. 1 The reasons for pet ownership, like the pets themselves, are many and varied. In addition to companionship, pet ownership has a range of positive emotional, physical, and psychological benefits including improved mental wellbeing, increased independence, and increased physical activity. 2,3 Dogs and cats, both healthy and sick, may carry a range of different zoonotic organisms. Given the close relationship between pets and people and their shared living environment, it is not surprising that interspecies transfer may occur occasionally, either directly or indirectly. Whilst transmission of zoonotic pathogens has always been a risk, increasing anthropomorphism of companion animals and the associated high-intensity human-animal interactions make such infections more likely as opportunities for transmission increase. Coupled with this is an increase in the population of those at greatest risk for severe consequences of these infections, including people with compromised immune systems (e.g. HIV, organ transplants, cancer), pregnant women, the very young and the elderly. “Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms” Mary Ann Evans (aka George Eliot)
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4 Companion Animal Zoonoses Guidelines
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