Pets : Psittacosis, BARF and Bacteria

by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

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Psittacosis

The bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci is the cause of a common bird disease, psittacosis. The disease is also called parrot fever because of its frequent occurrence in parrot-type birds — especially cockatiels and parakeets. Some birds may get sick from it, while others show no signs of illness. Bacteria from infected birds are found in their droppings and nasal discharges, and people can become infected by inhaling the dried droppings and secretions.

People exposed to birds with psittacosis should see a health care provider if they develop flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, or dry cough. Left untreated, psittacosis can develop into pneumonia and other health problems. Antibacterial drugs are used to treat the disease in birds and people.

To help prevent transmission of psittacosis, Victoria Hollifield, D.V.M., of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Derwood, Md., recommends that people not allow birds to peck them around the mouth area, or to fly around the house, particularly in eating or food preparation areas. Hand washing after contact with birds and wearing a dust mask and gloves when cleaning the cage are also good precautions. "The inhalation of particles is what's so potentially dangerous to us," says Hollifield, "and when you are scrubbing out the cage you tend to push a lot of those particles into the air."

Getting regular veterinary checkups for all pets is important, but it's especially critical for birds, says Hollifield. Being flock animals, birds will hide their signs of illness. "If they show that they're weak, the other birds will push them out," says Hollifield. "By the time you see a bird acting or looking like it's sick, it's probably been sick a long time and it's probably very sick at that point."

Hollifield advises pet owners to get birds and other pets from a reputable source who can produce documentation to show that the animal has been tested for certain diseases. This is particularly important for exotic pets, says Hollifield, who sees hedgehogs, chinchillas, and even tarantulas in her veterinary practice. She advises people to think carefully before getting an exotic pet, and never take in an exotic animal caught in the wild. They are more likely to carry parasites and become sick in captivity.

"I think pets are a wonderful part of our lives, and especially beneficial to children," says Hollifield. "But we know more about domesticated animals and are better equipped with vaccines and knowledge to make these safe pets. It is a safer choice to select a domesticated animal for a pet."

Petting Zoos

Children are enchanted by face-to-face encounters with animals in public settings. But their fascination can fade quickly if the animal gives them a disease.

"In the past few years, we've seen numerous outbreaks of disease among persons visiting petting zoos, farms and county fairs," says John Dunn, D.V.M., Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Infections in people, particularly children, have been linked to venues where they had hands-on contact with animals. One of the largest outbreaks occurred in 2000 among school groups and families that visited a dairy farm in Worcester, Pa. Fifty-one people reported symptoms that included bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting within 10 days of their visit. While none of the infected people died, 16 needed to be hospitalized, including one child who required a kidney transplant.

The illnesses, caused by a strain of the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), arose from nail-biting, eating food, or other manners of touching the mouth with hands after petting the animals, according to the CDC. This and similar incidents prompted the CDC to publish federal safety guidelines for operators of events and facilities that offer public contact with farm animals. The guidelines recommend providing hand-washing facilities with soap and disposable towels, posting information about diseases that can be contracted from animals, and prohibiting human food in the interaction area.

"We're not advocating that people don't interact with animals," says Dunn. "We want to emphasize hygiene and education; people should be informed that there is some risk when handling animals, especially when eating afterwards without washing their hands."

BARF and Bacteria

There is a growing trend on the part of pet owners to feed pets a diet that includes raw meat and bones, typical of what animals in the wild would eat. For dogs and cats, these diets are often referred to as BARF-bones and raw food, or biologically appropriate raw food.

"The FDA believes that feeding raw meat diets to pets is not consistent with its goal of protecting the public from significant health risks," says William Burkholder, D.V.M., Ph.D., the Food and Drug Administration's pet food specialist. In addition, he says, raw meat and bones do not have all the required nutrients that a pet, for example, a dog, needs on a daily basis.

But in recognition of owner preferences and the popularity of these diets, the FDA has published draft guidelines to manufacturers of pet foods that contain raw meat or other raw animal tissues for dogs, cats, and other pets as well as captive animals that are not pets (such as zoo animals). The guidelines give recommendations on manufacturing practices and labeling to protect pet owners and pets from risks involving food safety and nutritional deficiency.

Pet owners who feed raw meat and bones should handle these products very carefully to avoid bacterial contamination, says Burkholder. Just as when preparing raw foods for humans, use hot water and soap to wash hands, utensils, containers, and surfaces that come into contact with the food. Don't put your hands near your mouth until you've washed them, and don't allow your pet to lick your face right after it has eaten raw meat.

Pets may also contract an infection from raw meat. "Vomit and diarrhea are potential sources of infection for humans," says Burkholder. "If your animal gets sick, wash your hands after cleaning up."

If owners choose to feed bones to their pets, they should supervise their pet when it is chewing on bones, he adds. "If the pet consumes a big chunk of bone that won't pass through the digestive system, it could perforate the gastrointestinal tract, which is life-threatening for the pet. Owners would need to seek immediate veterinary care."

About the Author

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FDA is A United States government body that oversees medical devices, including contact lenses, intraocular lenses, excimer lasers and eyedrops. In the US, these products must be approved by the FDA before they can be marketed.