Enjoying the morning listening to some great #pediatric Infectious Disease talks at the #CoPedsID2020 conference! Starting things off with a talk about The Infectious Hazards of Exotic Pets by Dr. Juri Boguniewicz.
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Pet ownership is huge in the United States, 59-67% of households own a pet. There are lots of perks, including: decreased rates of hypertension and depression. However, pet ownership is not without risks, especially when it comes to exotic pets.

Side note: did you know it is illegal to own a monkey in Colorado?!

Exotic pets can be particularly risky for reasons like a) their behavior is unpredictable b) vaccines are often unapproved or unavailable and c) patients are often unaware of the risks. #Zoonoses can be spread through direct contact, indirect contact, aerosols, water, food.

Case study: A 6-year old girl presents with a rash, fevers, lymphadenopathy. She was at daycare where the daycare owner brought a prairie dog in and let the kids play with it. She was bitten, and subsequently developed this disease. What is the most likely cause?

Answer: Monkeypox (What?! I was thinking Tularemia or Plague).
-Orthopoxvirus, first identified in DRC in 1970.
-Spread through bites or scratches from infected animal.
-Incubation 7-17 days.
-Low person to person transmission.
-No proven treatment.

This was an actual case from a multi-state outbreak in 2003!
-47 cases in 6 states
-Most not seriously ill. 27% hospitalized, children more likely to be admitted to ICU
-Ultimately CDC and FDA banned importation of African rodents and sale/distribution of prairie dogs

Overview of diseases to think about in non-traditional pets:
1. Rodents: Salmonella, Tularemia, Rat-bite fever, Plague, Leptospirosis, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (hamsters, gerbils), Hantavirus (no known transmission from pets), Seoul virus, Ringworm, Teniasis

Salmonellosis Outbreaks:
-Foodborne illness most common cause of outbreaks
-1.35 million infections/yr, 26,000 hospitalizations/yr
-Pet reptiles associated with 6% of sporadic illnesses in U.S, 11% of sporadic illnesses in those <21 years old.
-Small turtles, too!

BIRDS:
-Salmonella
-Campylobacteriosis
-Psittacosis
-Mycobacterium avium infection
-Avian Influenza
-Cryptococcosis
-Histoplasmosis
-West Nile Virus (wild birds only documented)

Reptiles and Amphibians:
-Salmonellosis
-Yersinia enterocolitica
-Edwardsiella tarda
-Aeromonas
-Plesiomonas

Non-human primate infections:
-Hepatitis A
-Herpes B virus
-Rabies
-Ebola
-Marburg
-Monkeypox
-Salmonella
-Shigella
-Tuberculosis

Match the disease to the small (strange) mammal!
Flying squirrel --> Epidemic typhus
Ferret --> Influenza A (these are not recommended for small children!)

African pygmy hedgehog --> Mycobacteria marinum skin infection

Hedgehogs have become really popular. But think about:
-Salmonellosis
-Mycobacterium marinum
-Dermatophytosis
-Cryptosporidium
-Rabies (1 case)

Preventative measures for children:
-Proper pet selection
-Wash hands immediately after contact
-Avoid wild animals
-Always supervise children <5 y/o around animals
-Teach children to avoid unfamiliar animals
-DON'T KISS!
-Don't allow animals in areas where food is prepared/eaten

Preventative measures for pets:
-Routine veterinary care
-Ensure vaccines are up to date
-Keep animals clean and free of parasites
-Avoid raw foods
-Do not let pets scavenge or eat excrement

Children <5 years old, immunocompromised hosts: avoid contact with reptiles, rodents, ferrets, baby poultry,items that have been in contact with these animals.

-Immunocompromised pts: wait to acquire a new pet until on stable immunosuppression. Avoid young animals, exotic pets.

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