Immunocompromised Children and Young Patients Living with Pets: Gaps in Knowledge to Avoid Zoonosis

  1. Garcia-Sanchez, P. 23
  2. Aguilar-Valero, E. 5
  3. Sainz, T. 678
  4. Calvo, C. 678
  5. Iglesias, I. 15
  6. Bueno, D. 910
  7. Frauca, E. 13
  8. Ramos-Boluda, E. 12
  9. Alcolea-Sanchez, A. 1
  10. García-Guereta, L. 4
  11. Alonso-Melgar, A. 11
  12. Esperón, F. 14
  13. Mendez-Echevarria, A. 678
  1. 1 Intestinal Rehabilitation Unit, Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
  2. 2 Pediatric Emergency Department, La Paz University Hospital Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  3. 3 Institute for Health Research IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain
  4. 4 Pediatric Cardiology Department, ERN TransplantChild, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
  5. 5 Pediatric Department, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  6. 6 Pediatric Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, La Paz University Hospital and Translational Research Network in Pediatric Infectious Diseases (RITIP), Institute for Health Research IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain
  7. 7 CIBERINFEC, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
  8. 8 Pediatric Department, ERN TransplantChild, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  9. 9 Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
  10. 10 Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy, Hospital La Paz Health Research Institute (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain
  11. 11 Pediatric Nephrology Department, ERN TransplantChild, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
  12. 12 Intestinal Rehabilitation Unit, Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, ERN TransplantChild, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
  13. 13 Pediatric Hepatology Department, Healthcare Working Group, ERN TransplantChild, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
  14. 14 Veterinary Faculty, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  15. 15 Center for Animal Health Research (CISA), INIA, Madrid, Spain
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Revista:
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

ISSN: 1865-1682,  1865-1674

Año de publicación: 2023

Volumen: 2023

Páginas: 1-10

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.1155/2023/2151761 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso abierto editor

Otras publicaciones en: Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

Repositorio institucional: lock_openAcceso abierto Postprint

Resumen

Background and Objectives. Although pets are known to be beneficial for children, they could also imply risks for immunocompromised ones. We report the prevalence of children and young patients living with pets in a cohort of immunosuppressed pediatric patients and describe risk behaviors for acquiring zoonosis and compliance with veterinary recommendations. Methods. A cross-sectional, observational study was performed in a large tertiary hospital in Madrid, including immunosuppressed patients from different regions of Spain. The participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire. Results. Two hundred and eighty-four responses were received: 62.3% solid organ transplantation (177/284), 22.8% hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (65/284), and 14.8% inborn errors of immunity (42/284). The median age was 11 years (interquartile range 5.9–15.4), and 55% were boys (156/284). Up to 45% (130/284) of the respondents lived with 201 pets (74% of them dogs and cats). Half of the patients owning dogs or cats did not comply with at least one of the recommendations regarding vaccination, deworming, feeding, and/or veterinarian recommended controls. The poorest findings were related to deworming regimens. Only 42.8% (117/273) of the participants received specific recommendations from their healthcare professionals about companion animals. However, up to 97% of the families considering acquiring a pet did so when the professional did not contraindicate it (31/32), while 72% of the families having pets got rid of their pets when they were advised against animals (8/11). Conclusions. Pet ownership is frequent among immunocompromised children. They presented risky exposures for acquiring zoonoses, and basic veterinary recommendations were not frequently followed. The opinion of professionals significantly influenced the decision to acquire pets, but less than half of the families received recommendations in this regard.

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