YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - Diseases humans can pick up from their dog.

pstinard · 05-12-2015, 11:20 AM

I came across a medical article about diseases that humans can pick up from their dogs. It features a fictional Yorkie named Pseudoterranova. The take home lesson is wash your hands after potty breaks and before eating food, and be a little cautious of letting your dog slip you the tongue. Here is an excerpt from the article:

Still Man?s Best Friend? : Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice

Let's take an afternoon stroll on a sunny day around a typical neighborhood. Outfitted with khaki shorts, cotton T-shirt, and sandals, the protagonist leads his Yorkshire terrier, named Pseudoterranova, out into the neighborhood, both marching to the tempo of a chorus of cicadas. Pseudoterranova promptly marks trees, sign posts, a fire hydrant, and everything else standing erect. Upon finding his favorite spot for the day, Pseudoterranova squats, defecates, kicks up grass, and turns to the protagonist with a look of accomplishment. The protagonist goes down on one knee, pulls out a plastic bag saved from grocery shopping, and picks up after his “best friend.” To his dismay, not only has his finger slipped through a hole in the bag to become covered with feces, but he is kneeling on feces, likely from another dog. The protagonist wipes his hands and knee with a napkin and continues on his walk. Shortly, Pseudoterranova and the owner see a stray St Bernard, very much resembling Stephen King's Cujo, intruding upon their territory. Without instigation, the stray dog, appearing mangy, unkempt, and arthropod infected, darts toward the protagonist, but Pseudoterranova sacrificially intercepts, and the 2 engage in a horrid fracas. The protagonist reaches to separate the dogs but is bitten in the process. Fortunately, in that brief moment of distraction, Pseudoterranova bites the stray dog in the neck and sends him running. Pseudoterranova licks his wounds. The protagonist pets him with a sense of pride and decides that a treat from the local donut shop is required. As the protagonist shares his favorite crème-filled donut with his companion, Pseudoterranova lathers him with wet affectionate licks to his mouth and face. Such is an afternoon of sun, donut, and kisses from man's best friend…priceless?

In the following few days, the protagonist experiences fevers, malaise, lack of energy, itchiness, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. He tells his doctor that nothing has been out of the ordinary except for an “exciting” walk with his dog and a small bite by a stray. His doctor reveals the common and less common infectiousdiseases that can be associated with a dog no matter how innocent he may appear. Dog feces can contain many pathogenic bacteria and parasites including Campylobacter, Salmonella, Clostridium difficile, Toxocara, Echinococcus, Ancylostoma, Cryptosporidium, and Dipylidium caninum. These pathogens can infect humans after fecal-oral transmission such as eating a donut handled by unwashed fingers soiled with dog feces or, in some cases, by direct contact with the skin, such as kneeling in dog feces. Not surprisingly, a dog's mouth can be home to many pathogenic bacteria (including staphylococci especially Staphylococcus intermedius, streptococci such as Streptococcus canis [which is a group G β-hemolytic Streptococcus, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, Pasteurella multocida, and Bordetella bronchiseptica] and viruses (especially rabies). Licking one’s face, mouth, or an open wound or a single bite can readily transmit these organisms to the victim. Dogs can also pick up bacteria, including Leptospira from the urine of other dogs, and worms by licking contaminated water from grass and drinking from puddles during a casual walk. Transmission from pet to human by arthropod vectors is a concern. For example, Ehrlichia, Borrelia, and Rickettsia species can be transmitted by tick. Finally, the presence of the dermatophytic fungus Microsporum canis on dogs adds another bothersome zoonosis to the list.

A simple walk around the neighborhood turns into an infectious nightmare! The clinician is now faced with the question, “What is it?” Vindenes et al. shares their case of canine cough acquired from a puppy. Prompt diagnosis of cefepime-resistant B. bronchiseptica followed by effective therapy led to clinical cure in a failing patient. How does one go about ensuring a diagnosis? Selecting and collecting appropriate diagnostic specimens, followed by ordering bacterial and fungal cultures, or parasite examinations may be necessary (Table 1). The laboratory may use usual culture methods, microscopic examination, serology testing for diagnostic antibodies, or nucleic acid testing by molecular methods (eg, polymerase chain reaction [PCR]). Rapid microorganism identification using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (protein analysis of disrupted bacteria) is rapid and accurate but has led to many novel bacterial names previously unknown even to seasoned microbiologists. Antimicrobial testing may or may not be needed, or possible to perform. Consultation with an infectious diseases physician or pharmacist will clarify treatment choices. Diagnostic and therapeutic options are impressive but confusing. The best pathway toward diagnosis requires a close relationship with the pathology department. Man’s best friend can still be his dog, if his clinician’s best friend is in the laboratory.

05-12-2015, 11:20 AM	#1
pstinard YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Urbana, IL USA Posts: 3,648	Diseases humans can pick up from their dog. I came across a medical article about diseases that humans can pick up from their dogs. It features a fictional Yorkie named Pseudoterranova. The take home lesson is wash your hands after potty breaks and before eating food, and be a little cautious of letting your dog slip you the tongue. Here is an excerpt from the article: Still Man?s Best Friend? : Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice Let's take an afternoon stroll on a sunny day around a typical neighborhood. Outfitted with khaki shorts, cotton T-shirt, and sandals, the protagonist leads his Yorkshire terrier, named Pseudoterranova, out into the neighborhood, both marching to the tempo of a chorus of cicadas. Pseudoterranova promptly marks trees, sign posts, a fire hydrant, and everything else standing erect. Upon finding his favorite spot for the day, Pseudoterranova squats, defecates, kicks up grass, and turns to the protagonist with a look of accomplishment. The protagonist goes down on one knee, pulls out a plastic bag saved from grocery shopping, and picks up after his “best friend.” To his dismay, not only has his finger slipped through a hole in the bag to become covered with feces, but he is kneeling on feces, likely from another dog. The protagonist wipes his hands and knee with a napkin and continues on his walk. Shortly, Pseudoterranova and the owner see a stray St Bernard, very much resembling Stephen King's Cujo, intruding upon their territory. Without instigation, the stray dog, appearing mangy, unkempt, and arthropod infected, darts toward the protagonist, but Pseudoterranova sacrificially intercepts, and the 2 engage in a horrid fracas. The protagonist reaches to separate the dogs but is bitten in the process. Fortunately, in that brief moment of distraction, Pseudoterranova bites the stray dog in the neck and sends him running. Pseudoterranova licks his wounds. The protagonist pets him with a sense of pride and decides that a treat from the local donut shop is required. As the protagonist shares his favorite crème-filled donut with his companion, Pseudoterranova lathers him with wet affectionate licks to his mouth and face. Such is an afternoon of sun, donut, and kisses from man's best friend…priceless? In the following few days, the protagonist experiences fevers, malaise, lack of energy, itchiness, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. He tells his doctor that nothing has been out of the ordinary except for an “exciting” walk with his dog and a small bite by a stray. His doctor reveals the common and less common infectiousdiseases that can be associated with a dog no matter how innocent he may appear. Dog feces can contain many pathogenic bacteria and parasites including Campylobacter, Salmonella, Clostridium difficile, Toxocara, Echinococcus, Ancylostoma, Cryptosporidium, and Dipylidium caninum. These pathogens can infect humans after fecal-oral transmission such as eating a donut handled by unwashed fingers soiled with dog feces or, in some cases, by direct contact with the skin, such as kneeling in dog feces. Not surprisingly, a dog's mouth can be home to many pathogenic bacteria (including staphylococci especially Staphylococcus intermedius, streptococci such as Streptococcus canis [which is a group G β-hemolytic Streptococcus, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, Pasteurella multocida, and Bordetella bronchiseptica] and viruses (especially rabies). Licking one’s face, mouth, or an open wound or a single bite can readily transmit these organisms to the victim. Dogs can also pick up bacteria, including Leptospira from the urine of other dogs, and worms by licking contaminated water from grass and drinking from puddles during a casual walk. Transmission from pet to human by arthropod vectors is a concern. For example, Ehrlichia, Borrelia, and Rickettsia species can be transmitted by tick. Finally, the presence of the dermatophytic fungus Microsporum canis on dogs adds another bothersome zoonosis to the list. A simple walk around the neighborhood turns into an infectious nightmare! The clinician is now faced with the question, “What is it?” Vindenes et al. shares their case of canine cough acquired from a puppy. Prompt diagnosis of cefepime-resistant B. bronchiseptica followed by effective therapy led to clinical cure in a failing patient. How does one go about ensuring a diagnosis? Selecting and collecting appropriate diagnostic specimens, followed by ordering bacterial and fungal cultures, or parasite examinations may be necessary (Table 1). The laboratory may use usual culture methods, microscopic examination, serology testing for diagnostic antibodies, or nucleic acid testing by molecular methods (eg, polymerase chain reaction [PCR]). Rapid microorganism identification using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (protein analysis of disrupted bacteria) is rapid and accurate but has led to many novel bacterial names previously unknown even to seasoned microbiologists. Antimicrobial testing may or may not be needed, or possible to perform. Consultation with an infectious diseases physician or pharmacist will clarify treatment choices. Diagnostic and therapeutic options are impressive but confusing. The best pathway toward diagnosis requires a close relationship with the pathology department. Man’s best friend can still be his dog, if his clinician’s best friend is in the laboratory.