Tenencia y estado de salud de mascotas de niños inmunocomprometidos, con énfasis en enfermedades zoonóticas

Abstract

Objetive: To characterize pet ownership and pet health status in families of immunocompromised (IS) children, with emphasis in zoonotic diseases. Population and Methods: Families of IS children from two hospitals in Santiago, Chile, were interviewed and their pets were evaluated by veterinary examination, coproparasitologic and skin dermatophytes test. In specifi c cases, other laboratory tests were performed in IS children or their relatives. Results: 47 out of 70 contacted families had pets, 42 participated in the study. Several risk factors for IS children were observed, as having a turtle as a pet and to clean cat or turtle faeces. Lack of adequate veterinary control, immunizations and deparasitation of pets were observed. Some animals showed zoonotic diseases or agents, as Brucella canis, Cryptosporidium sp, Giardia intestinalis, Toxocara canis and scabies. 44% of dogs had ticks and 37% had fl eas, both potential vectors of infections. Conclusions: Our results suggest that policies to provide safer pet contact in IS children are needed.Key words: Pets, immunosupressed patients, zoonoses, pet related infections. Palabras clave: Mascotas, inmunodeprimidos, zoonosis, infecciones transmitidas por mascotas. Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileHospital Clínico, Departamento de Pediatría (KAV, JCLG). Hospital Veterinario PuenteAlto, Santiago, Chile (JLDP).Hospital Sótero del Río, Santiago, ChileServicio de Pediatría (APD). IntroducciónS on bien conocidos los benefi cios que reportan a los niños en general, y a los enfermos crónicos en particular, la compañía de una mascota 1 . Sin embargo, ellas exponen al ser humano a algunos riesgos para su salud, como infecciones, accidentes (principalmente mordeduras) y ciertas alergias 2,3 . Durante los últimos años se ha observado un aumento en el reconocimiento de infecciones transmitidas por mascotas, en parte debido a la incorporación de animales exóticos al ambiente domiciliario, así como al creciente número de pacientes inmunocomprometidos (IC), población con mayor riesgo de adquirir y desarrollar formas graves de estas zoonosis 4-11 .Esta población de sujetos IC exige del equipo de salud un conocimiento de distintas situaciones de potencial riesgo sanitario, incluyendo aquellas relacionadas a la tenencia de mascotas y hace altamente deseable la existencia de recomendaciones médicas al respecto. A pesar de existir en Chile numerosos estudios en el área de zoonosis relacionadas a mascotas, no se han publicado guías específi cas respecto a su prevención, con la excepción de una relacionada al manejo de mordeduras por animales 12 . Un estudio concluyó, luego de una exhaustiva búsqueda en la literatura médica, que a nivel internacional existen escasas guías que den recomendaciones a pacientes IC en relación al cuidado de las mascotas 10 , siendo las dos guías más completas las elaboradas por el CDC de Atlanta, E.U.A., para pacientes sometidos a trasplante de precursores hematopoyéticos 13 y para pacientes infectados con VIH 14 . Este estudio documenta asimismo la escas...

Pet husbandry and infection control practices related to zoonotic disease risks in Ontario, Canada

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