Exotic Pets and Zoonoses
Introduction
The exotic pet trade poses an emerging public health concern due to its potential role in the transmission of zoonotic diseases—infectious diseases that are transmitted between animals and humans. Exotic pets, including reptiles, amphibians, birds, and non-human primates, can harbor a range of pathogens that may infect humans. While pet ownership offers emotional and recreational benefits, the close contact between humans and wild or non-domesticated animals increases the risk of zoonotic spillover, particularly in households, pet markets, and informal breeding environments.[1][2]
Background
The exotic pet trade encompasses both legal and illegal markets and involves the global movement of non-traditional animals for private ownership. Animals may be bred in captivity or captured from the wild and transported across international borders with varying degrees of veterinary oversight. Due to their biological differences from domesticated animals, exotic pets may carry unfamiliar or difficult-to-detect pathogens that can affect human health. In many jurisdictions, exotic pets are not subject to the same health screening protocols required for domesticated species, increasing the risk of introducing novel pathogens into new environments.[3]
Human exposure to these animals can occur through direct contact, bites, scratches, or exposure to feces, saliva, and urine. Inadequate hygiene practices and lack of awareness further compound the risks, especially among children and immunocompromised individuals.[4]
Epidemiology
Numerous zoonotic outbreaks have been linked to exotic pet ownership and trade. One of the most well-documented examples is the spread of Salmonella from reptiles and amphibians. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reptiles and amphibians account for an estimated 6% of all Salmonella infections in the United States, affecting thousands of people annually.[5]
Other notable zoonotic pathogens associated with exotic pets include:
- Chlamydia psittaci: Found in parrots and other birds; can cause psittacosis, a severe respiratory illness in humans.[6]
- Mycobacterium marinum: Associated with aquarium fish and causes skin infections ("fish tank granuloma").[7]
- Herpes B virus (Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1): Endemic in macaques, can cause fatal encephalitis in humans.[8]
- Capnocytophaga canimorsus: Found in the oral flora of exotic carnivores such as ferrets; can cause sepsis in humans.[9]
The global wildlife trade has also been implicated in broader zoonotic emergence events, such as the suspected role of live animal markets in the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]
Prevention and Public Health Strategies
Efforts to mitigate zoonotic disease risk from exotic pets involve a combination of regulatory, veterinary, and educational strategies:
- Regulatory oversight: Many countries have implemented import controls, species bans, and licensing requirements for exotic pet ownership. However, enforcement varies, and illegal trade persists.[11]
- Veterinary screening and quarantine: Mandating health checks and quarantine for imported animals can reduce the introduction of zoonotic pathogens.
- Public education: Informing pet owners, especially parents of young children, about the risks associated with exotic pets and appropriate hygiene practices is essential. The CDC and other agencies recommend that children under five and immunocompromised individuals avoid contact with reptiles and amphibians.[12]
- Wildlife surveillance: Monitoring exotic pet populations and trade networks for disease emergence helps support early detection and containment efforts.
Statistics and Scope
- An estimated 750,000 households in the United Kingdom and over 13 million households in the United States own exotic pets, including reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals.[13][14]
- The legal global wildlife trade is valued at approximately USD 20 billion annually, with the illegal trade estimated to be worth even more, making it one of the largest black markets in the world.[15]
- Between 2011 and 2020, the CDC linked over 150 multistate outbreaks of Salmonella in the United States to reptiles, small turtles, and feeder rodents used for reptile food.[16]
See also
References
- ^ Karesh WB, Cook RA, Bennett EL, Newcomb J. Wildlife trade and global disease emergence. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2005;11(7):1000–1002.
- ^ Chomel BB, Belotto A, Meslin FX. Wildlife, exotic pets, and emerging zoonoses. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2007;13(1):6.
- ^ World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Risk analysis in animal health. 2018.
- ^ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy Pets, Healthy People – Reptiles and Amphibians. 2023.
- ^ Mermin J, Hoar B, Angulo FJ. Reptiles, amphibians, and human salmonella infection: a population-based, case-control study. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2004;38(Suppl_3):S253–S261.
- ^ Beeckman DS, Vanrompay DC. Zoonotic Chlamydophila psittaci infections from pet birds. Veterinary Microbiology. 2009;135(1–2):91–97.
- ^ Wu TS, Chiu CH, Yang CH, et al. Fish tank granuloma caused by Mycobacterium marinum. PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e41296.
- ^ Huff JL, Barry PA. B-virus (Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1) infection in humans and macaques. CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2003;9(2):246–250.
- ^ Butler T. Capnocytophaga canimorsus: an emerging cause of sepsis, meningitis, and post-splenectomy infection. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. 2015;34(5):893–900.
- ^ World Health Organization. Origin of SARS-CoV-2. 2020.
- ^ CITES. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – Annual Reports. 2023.
- ^ CDC. Pets and Children. 2023.
- ^ Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA). UK Pet Population Report. 2022.
- ^ American Pet Products Association (APPA). National Pet Owners Survey. 2022.
- ^ TRAFFIC International. Wildlife Trade: A Threat to Biodiversity and Public Health. 2021.
- ^ CDC. Outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to reptiles and amphibians. 2023.