Zoonoses
ZOONOSES - diseases spread from animals to humans

Pets can be a wonderful source of fun, companionship and comfort. Unfortunately, a lack of knowledge about zoonoses - diseases spread from animals to humans - has led some providers to suggest that people with HIV should not own pets. While it's true that people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible, there is a lot that can be done to lower the risk, allowing most HIV-positive people to safely keep and care for pets. Patrick Sullivan, a veterinarian who works at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recently gave a talk on this subject at Harborview Medical Center. He joked that his message could be summarized in three simple pieces of advice: "Wash your hands, cook your food, and don't play with feces." He also emphasized the importance of advocating with veterinarians for prompt and aggressive care of sick pets. While the risk of getting infections from pets is small, it is still important to take some common sense steps to reduce the chance of contracting diseases from them:

Choosing a pet:
Avoid reptiles. Reptiles have a high rate of salmonella infection. Look for older, calmer cats and dogs. Kittens and puppies are more likely to have infections, and to bite or scratch. Use caution when adopting pets from stressful or crowded environments. Consider having a friend with a strong immune system keep a new animal for a while before bringing it into your home. Look for healthy animals. Cats with FIV (feline immune deficiency virus) may be more susceptible to infections and be more contagious when infected.

Caring for healthy pets:
Wash hands after petting or playing with animals. Avoid all contact with pet feces. Have someone else empty litter boxes daily. Watch what your animals eat. No raw meat, no mice, no feces. Eliminate fleas. Some infections may be transmitted by fleas. Use caution and wear gloves when cleaning aquariums and fish bowls, or have someone with a strong immune system do it for you. Consider keeping pets indoors to limit their exposure to other animals or feces that may carry infections. Get regular veterinary check-ups and disease screenings for your pets, especially new animals.

What to do if a pet is ill:
Again, avoid contact with feces and wash your hands frequently. Set up a support network of friends, family, and kennels to care for pets with diarrhea. Pets with diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian, as soon as possible. It is important that veterinarians test a sick animal's feces to determine if there is an infection.

To conclude his talk, Dr. Sullivan presented encouraging data from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) on the benefits of pet ownership for people with HIV. The study found that owning a pet decreased the chance that someone with HIV or AIDS would experience depression, especially for people without a lot of human support. It is possible, and beneficial, for most people with HIV to safely own pets. Open and honest communication with your healthcare provider and veterinarian can help you live safely with your pets. For additional information about pet-ownership by people who are HIV-positive, check out the CDC's website at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/brochure/oi_pets.htm or call the AIDS Clearinghouse at (800) 458-5231.

This is a Non-Profit Organization You can follow this link to find out more on donations: