Biocontrol
Science,
2006,
Vol.11,
No.1,
1-9
Original
Pathogenic
Bacteria
Their
RYOKO
BUMA1,
Carried
Susceptibility
TAKUYA
MAEDA2,
by Companion
Animals
to Antibacterial
MASAHARU
KAMEI1,
and
Agents
AND HIROKI
KOURAI2*
1 Earth Biochemical Co., Ltd., Kagasuno 923, Tokushima 771-0130, and
2Department of Biological Science and Technology
, Faculty of Engineering,
The University of Tokushima, Minamijosanjima-cho, Tokushima 770-8506, Japan
Received 6 July 2005/Accepted
6 September
2005
Results of the investigation showed that there was a difference in the bacteria isolated from
dogs, cats and their living environment. The number and species isolated from the hair and
front paw samples from dogs kept outdoors and from cats were greater and more varied than
those from the samples from dogs kept indoors. Staphylococcus,
Micrococcus and Bacillus
were frequently detected from skin surfaces. On the other hand, Escherichia, Pseudomonas,
Proteus and others were detected on each sampling area on dogs kept outdoors and on cats.
About 60% of the bacteria commonly causes infectious diseases and carries a risk of food
poisoning. Moreover, Pasteurella multocida, which causes pasteurellasis,
a kind of zoonosis,
was isolated from dogs and cats. These pathogenic bacteria were transmitted from animals to
humans by direct contact. This result suggests that direct contact with dogs and cats and contact with aerosols can possibly transmit infectious diseases. Most of the isolates (75.9%,
60/79) were resistant to antibacterial agents. We then investigated the effect of household
detergents and pet care deodorant sprays containing antibacterial agents on isolates from
dogs and cats. They were effective in preventing the transmission of pathogens from dogs
and cats to humans.
Key words : Companion animals/Dog/Cat/Pathogenic
INTRODUCTION
According to an investigation by the Pet Food
Manufacturers Association, Japan (2004), approximately 12,457,000 dogs and 11,636,000 cats are
kept in households in Japan. Animal domestication
has spread from long ago, the number of households
keeping animals has increased, and the relationship
between humans and animals has become closer under the life environment in contemporary society
where technology has developed. Domesticated animals kept for pleasure rather than utility have been
called pets. Recently, pets have been renamed companion animals (Mish, 1993), because changes have
refined the relationship between humans and pets.
*Corresponding
88-656-9148.
author
. Tel:
+81-88-656-7408,
Fax:
+81-
bacteria/Zoonoses/Antibiotic
susceptibility.
This connotes that the relationship between companion animals and humans is a special and helpful one.
Animals have been used in many therapeutic situations since 1987, and scientific studies have proved
that dogs have a number of positive effects on human
health and well-being. Companion animals are systematically used in animal-assisted therapy. Many
studies have shown that systolic blood pressure was
reduced in dog owners compared to non-owners, and
concentrations of plasma triglycerides and cholesterol were also lowered. The survival rates following
myocardial infarction in dog owners were higher than
in non-owners (Larsen and Lingas, 1997). Studies
have also shown that children with pervasive development disorders have exhibited greater playfulness
through animal-assisted therapy and have been made
more aware of their environments when in the presence of a therapy dog (Martin and Farnum, 2002).
However, some companion
animals
possess
2
R. BUMA
ET AL.
pathogens and play a role as a vector for disease.
Therefore, it is more likely that the animal's owner will
encounter infectious diseases (zoonoses) transmitted by an animal.
As examples of zoonoses (Guay, 2001), there are
brucellosis caused by Brucella abortus, cat-scratch
disease by Bartonell henselae, pasuturellosis by
Pasteurella multocida, salmonellosis by Salmonella
cholerasuis, Japanese encephalitis by the Japanese
encephalitis virus, rabies by the rabies virus, psittacosis by Chlamydia psittaci, Q fever by Coxiella burnetii,
echinococcosis by Echinococcus multilocularis, and
toxocariasis by Toxoplasma gondii. Especially, catscratch disease (Chomel et al., 1996; Maruyama, et
al., 2004), pasuturellosis (Aoshima et al., 1992;
Goldstein and Green, 1999) and toxocariasis
(Maruyama, et al., 2003; Matsumura et al., 1997;
Matsuo et al., 2004) are the most common types of
zoonoses associated with dogs and cats.
It is necessary to investigate the relationship between the infectious disease and hygienic conditions
in the households with companion animals, because
of the close contact between these companion animals and their owners. Although fecal contamination
in playground sandpits by dogs and cats (Fujisawa et
al., 1995) and distributions of microorganisms in
households (Ojima et al., 2002a; Ojima et al., 2002b)
has been dissussed, the matters above were not described in those reports.
The purpose of this report is to investigate the distribution of pathogens in the households with companion animals, their transmission from companion
animals, their antibiotic susceptibility and proper hygiene control. Then, we investigated the difference in
aerobic bacteria isolated from the hair or skin of dogs
and cats in each household environment. Moreover,
we performed antibiotic susceptibility tests and studied the bactericidal activity of household detergents
and pet care deodorant sprays.
MATERIALS
AND METHODS
the
tested
11
Isolation
of
Isolation
of
lumbar
a
area
was
cut
laboratory.
them
20
of
with
sterilized
ples
were
then
were
for
then
of
area
samples
lows.
Using
Ltd.,
with
a
of
a
min
on
an
Ltd.
Tokyo).
sterilized
nies
paw
9.5
ml
the
of
sterilized
test
the
sterilized
saline
from
The
test
tube
tubes
saline
sample
for
the
with
0.2%
shaken
for
luchi
48
with
blood
h at
the
1
Co.,
solutions
sheep
for
the
swabs
containing
was
incubation,
fol-
Chemical
area.
onto
anal
as
(HM-10H,
incubated
After
the
taken
tube
plated
were
25•Ž.
and
done
sterilized
To
diluted
were
of
anal
lab-mixer
and
biochemical
identification
agar
(Eiken
on
pects.
The
identified
of
was
based
agar,
37•Ž,
then
growing
colo-
done
the
genus
and
using
of
of
used
and
of
the
from
dogs
by
touching
contact
plate
hands
ous
report
(Komemushi
et
"Nissui"
(Nissui
Pharmaceuticals
agar
procedure.
soap,
for
Before
aerobic
al.,
The
bacterial
with
the
70%
samples
were
(ApiStaph,
hands
were
al.,
and
1997).
cats
Stamp
Tokyo),
used
were
and
taken
the
a previ-
Food
Ltd.,
to
for
to
was
ethanol
Lyon,
et
method
1996).
Co
bacteria,
sampling,
sprayed
as-
isolates
according
.,
standard
used
bioMerieux,
Empel
from
SIM
were
kits
van
agar
sheep
and
biochemical
Api20NE;
bacteria
bacteria
Tokyo)
1975;
humans
a direct
of
Ltd.,
from
agar
identification
and
al.,
TSI
species
rapid
et
Transmission
hands
follows.
microbiological
(Butler
sampling
as
isolated
Co.,
Api20E
France)
identification
bacteria
Chemical
by
blower.
h at
counted.
agar
a
48
colonies
(Eiken
ml
the
and
Several
at
blood
with
(Eiken
for
paw
was
in
automatic
plates
were
We
sam-
agar
was
swab
0.5
and
added
Microbiological
the
dilutions
growing
front
sample
placed
saline
The
blood
cats
cotton
a
front
was
the
by
contain-
the
incubated
the
containing
swab,
24h
and
and
sterilized
processing.
Tween80
and
the
Tween80.
performed,
The
from
dogs
individually
sample
bag
serial
25•Ž.
Tween80,
laboratory
for
bacteria
Tokyo)
surface
to
washed
0.2%
sheep
the
(18cm•~
were
with
and
at
from
0.2%
were
24h
bag
household
solution,
onto
Tokyo)
of
collected
counted.
Isolation
Co.,
saline
plated
samples
hair
scissors,
polyethylene
were
samples
skin
The
the
sample
Ltd.,
skin
and
0.5g
in a
saline
Co.,
follows.
samples
this
then
Chemical
as
from
5 min
of
hair
sterilized
sterilized
ml
and
the
polyethylene
hair
for
ml
0.5
37•Ž,
with
carried
The
Api50CH,
Tested dogs and cats
Four dogs (1 female and 3 males) have been kept
indoors from the puppy stage, 7 dogs (4 females and
3 males) have been kept outdoors since the puppy
stage and 7 cats (4 females and 3 males) have been
allowed to go indoors or outdoors freely. They were in
good health and without skin diseases. The tested
dogs kept indoors were periodically washed with
shampoo, the other dogs were washed irregularly ,
and whether the cats were washed or not was unknown. Hair and skin samples were taken from 3
sites (lumbar area, front paw and the anal area) of
was
hair
done
stomacher
and
Using
from
was
sterilized
cats.
from
cats
rubbing
7
bacteria
and
30cm)
ing
and
bacteria
of
dogs
in
dogs
a
for
the
washed
dried
from
with
the
PATHOGENS
hands
before
the
dog
bated
and
or
for
cat
after
for
48h
at
directly
2min.
37•Ž
touching
the
Inoculated
and
the
body
agar
growing
was
colonies
of
CARRIED
Tested
incu-
strains
were
4),
counted.
bacteria
of
3
Isolation
of
bacteria
from
homes
with
dogs
strains
cats,
the
samples
Food
Stamp
bic
bacteria,
coil
and
from
"Nissui",
a
coliforms
and
were
and
for
48
h
counted
on.
at
37•Ž,
and
(Ojima
et
5
cushion,
so
An
and
salt
sites
were
the
agar
kept:
floor,
resi-
the
toilet,
were
a
entry-
a
were
diluted
deodorant
mixture
solution
for
antibiotic
activity
of
detergents
Antibiotic
examined
"Eiken"
al,
1999)
a
. S.
were
aureus
to
of
the
recommended
Clinical
Laboratory
The
antimicrobial
ing
thonium
E.
Isolation
IF
and
agents
were
used
and
liquid
that
the
per
the
the
for
per
hand
soaps
or
used
were
E.
ATCC
coil
I FO
TABLE
aMean+SD
25923,
12713
1. Total
isopropylme-
or
normal
Bacillus
were
g
for
sterilized
solution
was
5
min
for
min
for
the
ml aliquots
Ltd.,
of the
on
SCDLP
Tokyo).
After
growing
colonies
dilution
rate
than
a
were
0.5
plated
the
more
of
mixtures
for
Co.,
IFO
as
was
99%
of
tions
in
benze-
number
paw
of bacteria
by the
15305
isolated
determination
hair,
de-
tested
of four
dogs
from
of
bacteria
dogs
of
to seven
per
As
comparatively
would
be
and
their
isolated
bacteria
for
than
due
dogs
those
kept
from
per
to
various
environments
from
the
outdoors
hair
and
samples
3.5
average •~
g
of
cfu
standard
living
the
and
the
3.1•~105
large
2.0
cfu
paw,
cats,
and
and
outdoors, •~
1.8•~106
cfu
paw,
cfu
paw,
kept
front
for
9.6•~105
front
cats
front
was
cfu
area.
dogs
number
5.9•~104
dogs
bacteria
was
1
or
per
from
average
was
From
of
per
Table
dogs
greater
and
cfu
area.
anal
The
isolated
1. The
indoors
2.9•~105
per
samples,
kept
anal
cfu
hair,
per
deviakinds
of
The
and
for
from
front
cats,
dogs
indoors.
Identification
from
bacteria
bacteria
1.7•~104
cfu
area.
tested
standards.
of
kept
number
of
anal
sprays
germicides
cereus
used
number
obtained
Tokyo)
for
and
24h,
in Table
dogs
per
average
was
aureus
nutrient
in
0.1
out
of
shown
hair,
cfu
3.8•~104
contain-
deodorant
as
of
number
isolates
sanitation.
S.
g
105
measurement
digluconate
are
Then
effective
numbers
from
104
the
care
chlorhexidine
chloride
and
identification
are
bacteria
suscepto
total
cats
of
which
Committee
for
in
pet
Ltd.,
The
35•}1•Ž
which
wa-
in
cats
The
gen-
according
National
triclocarban
two
at
sterilized
killed.
and
and
(1997).
two
that
with
de-
RESULTS
et
coil
antibiotic
judged
the
agents
as
was
the
or
concentration
at
for
and
of
disk
(Buma
and
The
Standards
and
containing
KB
hydrochloride,
was
detergents;
triclosan
Tokyo)
Tested
concentration
thyphenol
for
Ltd.,
animals.
by
bactericidal
household
and
sick
37•Ž
soap
diluted
solution
taken
was
a
erythromycin,
bacteria
method
bacteria
with
25923
vancomycin
treat
the
Pharmaceuticals
counted
bacteria
sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim,
and
used
of
.,
standards.
Iincomycin,
tetracycline,
tibility
isolated
method
chloramphenicol,
tamicin,
are
the
ATCC
as
bactericidal
bath
soap
hand
suspended
desired
solution.
at
CU-B5),
2 strains
cultured
cfu/ml).
water
and
4
DTB-
deodorants
of
disk
diffusion
Chemical
Co
used
ampicillin,
and
and
susceptibility
by
(Eiken
12713
susceptibility
liquid
of
the
were
(Nissui
termined
Test
a
liquid
were
and
and
Co.,
portion
in
diluted
were
BL-1
was
(1•~105
incubation
2002b).
a
and
of
cats
DT-8
stepwise
harvested
suspension
agar
report
of
strain
0.5ml
3
CJ-3).
diluted
0.5ml
incubated
window
previous
with
the
incubated
colonies
to
A
mixed
and
DP-20)
Pharmaceuticals
37•Ž,
water.
cell
carpet/rug
pet's
growing
for
and
and
was
(Nissui
at
dogs
(DP-18,
(IC-16
bacterial
ANIMALS
DK26,
cereus
solution
spray
18h
bacterial
B.
(Dar-4
Each
broth
from
(Dho-19,
E. coil
aqueous
ter.
aero-
in the
media
according
for
The
wood
culture
identified
al.,
cats
and
Escherichia
mannitol
tatami,
These
agar
various
room
dogs
for
used.
from
living
sofa,
ledge
yolk
and
floor,
surfaces,
standard
were
4dogs
wood
with
agar
egg
collected
where
way
a
aureus
samples
homes
desoxycholate
Staphylococcus
dence
the
of
of
odorant
For
aureus
multocida
and
cats
isolated
S.
2 strains
P.
BY COMPANION
results
cats.
samples
.
for
bacteria
isolated
from
the
4
R. BU MA
ET AL.
(A)
(A)
(B)
(B)
(C)
(C)
FIG.
2.
and
cats.
doors;
Identification
(A),
(C),
cats.
9,999-1,000;•¡,
tection
FIG.
cats.
(C),
1.
Identification
(A),
cats.
dogs
Bacteria
1,000;•¡,
999-100;• ,
centages
of
bacteria
of
kept
isolates
from
indoors;
level
in
(B),
hair
dogs
of
kept
dogs
Bar
the
household.
labels
detection
per-
hair of the dogs and cats are shown in Fig. 1. The detected
bacteria
from the dogs
kept indoors
were
Micrococcus
sp.,
S.
aureus,
Staphylococcus
epidermidis,
other
Staphylococcus
sp., B. cereus,
other Bacillus
sp., Sphingomonas
paucimobilis,
and
others which were gram-positive
and negative
rods.
Micrococcus
sedentarius,
Micrococcus
varians,
other Micrococcus
sp., S. aureus,
Staphylococcus
cohnii,
other Staphylococcus
sp., B. cereus,
other
Bacillus
sp., P. multocida,
Pseudomonas
sp., S.
paucimobilis,
and other gram-positive
and negative
rods were detected
from the dogs kept outdoors.
The species
of detected
bacteria
from cats were
Micrococcus
sp., S. cohnii, other Staphylococcus
sp.,
B.
cereus,
other
Bacillus
sp.,
Flavobacterium
oryzihabitans,
Pasteurella
haemolytica,
P. multocida,
Pseudomonas
sp.,
S. paucimobilis,
Sphingobacterium
Moraxella
multivorum,
Xanthomonas
phenylpyruvica,
yeast
and
Bacteria
level
999-100; • ,<100.
of
from
indoors;
bacteria
front
(B),
paw
dogs
of
kept
dogs
out-
(cfu/paw):•¡,>100,000;
•¡
in
Bar
the
labels
are
de-
household.
and
9,999are
isolates
kept
outdoors;
(cfu/g):•¡>100,000;•¡,
<100.
percentages
of
dogs
maltophilia,
other
gram-
positive
There
and negative
rods.
were more species
of bacteria
from
cat ori-
gins
than
from
dog
origins.
Although
many
Staphylococcus
sp., Micrococcus
sp. and Bacillus sp.
were detected
from the dogs and cats, gram-negative
rods such as Pasteurella
sp. and Pseudomonas
sp.
were mainly detected
from the cats. The species
of
isolates
differed according
to the kind of animals
and
their living environment.
Identification
of the bacteria
isolated
from the front
paws of the dogs and cats is shown
in Fig. 2. S.
aureus,
other Staphylococcus
sp., B. cereus,
other
Bacillus sp., Ochrobactrum
anthropi,
P. multocida,
S.
paucimobilis,
and other gram-positive
and negative
rods were detected
from the front paw samples
from
the dogs kept indoors.
The species
of bacteria
isolated
from the dogs kept
outdoors
were M. varians,
other Micrococcus
sp.,
Staphylococcus
sp., Bacillus sp., Aeromonas
sp., O.
anthropi,
P.
gram-negative
The species
Micrococcus
multocida,
other
gram-positive
cocci and rods and yeast.
of bacteria
isolated
from cats
sp.,
Staphylococcus
caprae,
rods,
were
other
PATHOGENS
CARRIED
BY COMPANION
ANIMALS
5
paucimobilis
and other gram-positive
and negative
rods.
The detection percentage
of Staphylococcus
sp.
on the anal area of tested animals was more than
90%. The detection level of Staphylococcus
sp. was
about 102 to 106 cfu per dog and about 104 to 105
cfu per cat.
(A)
(B)
Bacterial transmission
from dogs and cats to humans
The number of bacteria transmitted from the bodies
of dogs and cats to humans by touching is shown in
Table 2. The numbers of bacteria transmitted to humans were 102 cfu/10cm2 from the body surfaces of
dogs and cats.
Hygienic
(C)
conditions
in households
TABLE 2. Bacterial transmission from dogs and cats to human hands by touching animals.
FIG.
3.
and
cats.
doors;
Identification
(A),
(C),
cats.
, 9,999-1,000;•¡,
tection
percentages
Staphylococcus
S. paucimobilis,
of
dogs
isolates
kept
Bacteria
from
level
bacteria
anal
(B),
area
dogs
of
kept
dogs
out-
(A)
(cfu/area): •¡>100,000;•¡
999-100;• ,
of
the
indoors;
<100.
in
the
Bar
labels
are
de-
household.
sp., Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas
sp.,
X. maltophilia, yeast and other gram-
positive and negative rods. In the case of front paws,
the species of detected
bacteria and the detection
level had no relation with the kind of animals and their
living environment.
Identification of bacteria detected
from the anal
area of dogs and cats is shown in Fig. 3. The species
of bacteria isolated from the dogs kept indoors were
S. aureus, S. epidermidis, other Staphylococcus
sp.,
Bacillus sp., E. coli, P. mirabilis, other gram-positive
rods and negative rods. From the anal area of the
dogs kept outdoors, the isolates were M. varians,
other Micrococcus
sp., S. aureus,
other Staphylococcus
sp., Bacillus sp., E. coli, P. mirabilis, P.
vulgarius, S. paucimobilis,
X. maltophilia and other
gram-positive and negative rods.
The species of bacteria detected from cats were
Staphylococcus
auricnlaris, S. caprae, S. cohnii, S.
epidermidis,
Staphylococcus
hyicus, other Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp., E. coli, Pseudomonas
sp.,
F. oryzihabitans, Flavobacterium meningosepticun,
S.
(B)
(C)
FIG.
4.
Detection
dogs
and
cats.
E.
coli
and
100;•¡,
are
bels
hold.
level
(A),
coliform.
99-10;•¡,
the
are
total
number
detection
of
aerobic
Bacteria
in
(B),
level
9-1;• ,
0.
of
samples
percentages
bacteria
bacteria;
households
S.
with
aureus;
(C),
(cfu/10cm2):•¡,
The
numbers
in
of
the
bacteria
999-
in
parentheses
household.
in
Bar
the
house-
la-
6
R. BUMA
TABLE
3. Antibiotic
aampicillin
ET AL.
resistance
, bchloramphenicol, c
patterns
erythromycin,
of isolated
bacteria
d lincomycin,
from
dogs
and
cats
by disk
esulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, f
tetracycline.
The percentage
of households
in which aerobic
bacteria were detected is shown in Fig. 4. The detection level of bacteria from the sample with which dogs
and cats are frequently
in contact
was 10-999
cfu/10cm2,
and the most contaminated
location by
aerobic bacteria was the living room in the house.
Especially, the detection level of bacteria from carpet/rug surfaces, sofas and cushions was higher than
from tatami and wood floors in the living room. E. coil
and coliforms were predominantly
detected on the
pet's toilet at the level of 10-999 cfu/10cm2, but other
areas showed a much lower detection level of <10
cfu/10cm2. As for S. aureus, the main area of detection was the living room, the detection percentages
from the house were 26.7%, and the detection level
was 1-99 cfu/ 10cm2.
Test for antibiotic
susceptibility
and bactericidal
activity with detergents
and deodorants
The antibiotic resistance
patterns of the isolated
bacteria from the dogs and cats are shown in Table 3.
diffusion
method
vancomycin
.
hydrochloride,
g
75.9% (60/79) of the isolates was resistant to the
agents. Especially, the isolates had resistance to
lincomycin, vancomycin hydrochloride, ampicillin,
sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim
and
tetracycline.
Staphylococcus sp., detected from the hair and skin
surfaces of dogs and cats at a high frequency, were
mainly resistant to one to two agents. Isolates detected at a low frequency, E coil, Proteus sp. and
Pseudomonas sp., were mainly resistant to three to
six agents.
As for the susceptibility of isolates and standard
strains to household detergents and pet care deodorants containing antibacterial agents, Table 4summarizes the effective dilution rates for the tested
samples. Detergents such as liquid hand soaps were
usually used to wash hands in the household, and pet
care deodorant sprays were used to clean up areas in
the home and remove bad smells in the room. As a
result, the effective dilution rates of tested samples
varied because they contained various kinds of antibacterial agents, and the tested isolates showed a
PATHOGENS
TABLE
4. Susceptibility
of isolates
and
standard
strains
to household
CARRIED
detergents
BY COMPANION
and
deodorants
ANIMALS
containing
7
antibacterial
agents.
a Liquid
hand
soap-1
containing
triclosan
Liquid
hand
soap-2
containing
isopropylmethyphenol.
b
and
triclocarban.
Deodorant-1
containing
benzethonium
c
chloride.
Deodorant-2
containing
chlorhexidine
digluconate.
d
tendency
to
require
higher
rate
than
the
standard
strains.
Liquid
hand
triclocarban
range
soap-1
was
of
dilution
containing
containing
effective
of
triclosan
against
16
all
to •†256.
Liquid
isopropylmethyphenol
tion
of
16
and
P.
the
range
to
128
was
multocida,
but
of •…2.
number
of
against
If the
bacteria
on
S.
contact
is
likely
to
of
dilu-
E
coli
cereus,
aureus
the
soap-2
range
B.
time
in
hand
in the
effective
and
bacteria
it was
low
in
is lengthened,
decrease
the
by
99•“
or
more.
The
growth
dilution
of
the
tested
of •…32
benzethonium
64
chloride
by
isolates
by
and
From
these
household
sprays
were
inhibited
at
a
containing
these
it
and
in
a
dilution
of
chlorhexidine
results,
detergents
effective
at
containing
inhibited
deodorant-2
digluconate.
was
deodorant-1
is
pet
care
cleaning
•…
clarified
up
that
deodorant
areas
in
the
household.
DISCUSSION
Based
on
cies
of
and
the
the
isolates
living
results
to
go
kinds
of
pathogenic
dogs,
the
indoors
number
the
were
greater
hair
kept
indoors.
this
to
Cats,
or
bacteria
and
front
paws
more
varied
than
the
kind
than
of
twenty-five
dogs
than
spe-
animal
been
carried
did
of
of
have
freely,
species
and
the
which
outdoors
and
More
investigation,
according
environment.
lowed
from
of
differ
almore
dogs.
As
bacteria
for
isolated
kept
outdoors
those
from
kinds
of
dogs
bacteria
were isolated from the body of dogs and cats.
Usually, the microflora on the skin of the dogs and
cats are grouped as resident and transient flora
(Harvey et al., 1994). Staphylococcus sp., Micrococcus sp. and Bacillus sp. isolated from the hair and
skin surface of the anus were resident flora on the
skin of dogs and cats, because these species were
frequently detected on the skin surface and were not
influenced by the environment in the home. On the
other hand, E. coli, Proteus sp. and other bacteria
were detected on each sampling area on the dogs
kept outdoors as well as on cats. The detection of
these aerobic bacteria was low, and they were the
transient flora on dogs and cats in a previous report
(Krogh and Kristensen, 1976).
It is important in this investigation that many pathogenic bacteria were isolated from dogs and cats in
the household. Staphylococcus sp., E. coli, Proteus
sp. and Pseudomonas sp., commonly cause infectious diseases. S. aureus have caused medically important infectious diseases transmitted from pets.
The detection percentages of S. aureus was 100%
(4/4) for the dogs kept indoors, 43%(3/7)
for the
dogs kept outdoors and 0%(0/7) for cats. B. cereus,
a causative bacteria of food poisoning, was detected
at 50% (2/4) from the dogs kept indoors, 14.3%
(1/7) from the dog kept outdoors and cats. P.
multocida, which causes pasuturellosis, a kind of
zoonosis caused by the normal oral flora in dogs and
cats, was isolated at 50% to 60% from dogs and
50% to 90% from cats (Goldstein and Green, 1999).
8
R. BUMA
ET AL.
The detection percentage of P. multocida was
25%(1/4) for the dogs kept indoors, 28.6% (2/7) for
the dogs kept outdoors and 14.3%(1/7) for cats. We
found that the dogs kept indoors tend to possess
more pathogens than others possibly due to mild environmental conditions compared with the conditions
outdoors. Moreover, grooming, which is the habit of
dogs and cats, possibly helps pathogenic bacteria
spread all over the body. The hair of dogs and cats
prevents catching infectious diseases from the environment while it functions as a carrier of pathogenic
bacteria. We confirmed that many bacteria were
transmitted at 102cfu per 10cm2 by 2 min of hand
contact with a dog or cat. It is suggested that not only
bites and scratches of dogs and cats but also direct
contact with dogs and cats and contact with an aerosol possibly play a role in transmitting infectious diseases.
With respect to the hygienic conditions in households, Ojima (2002b) reported that aerobic bacteria
were counted at 100-999 cfu/10cm2 on the carpet/
rug surfaces (92.9%), 1-99cfu/10cm2 on tatami
mats (100%) and 100-999 cfu/ 10cm 2 on the floor
(91.5%). E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were
also detected on those items in the living room. The
detection percentages and level for S. aureus from
households were respectively less than 20% and
100-999 cfu/10cm2. As for the households having
dogs or cats, the detection of aerobic bacteria, S.
aureus, and E. coli and coliforms was almost at the
same level from the wood floor, carpet/rug surfaces,
sofas, cushions, or tatami in the living room. Because
the detected percentage of S. aureus from the household dogs and cats was higher than that from a
household not having such pets, it is thought that one
of the origins of S. aureus in the household is dogs
and cats.
Our investigation suggests that humans are always
exposed to pathogenic bacteria through contact in
the household via animal feces, saliva, blood, animal
bites, scratches, contact with infected animal products such as skin, hair, excreta and parasites (ticks
and fleas) and aerosol transmission over long distances. The degree to which dogs and cats are kept
indoors has been tending to increase (Pet Food
Manufacturers Association, Japan, 2004). Thus, it is
necessary to note the hygienic conditions in the
household. Children, elderly persons and patients,
who have less immunity to pets, may be susceptible
to contact with pet owners and need to be protected
against pathogenic bacteria. In this report, we confirmed the effect of antibacterial agents on isolates
from dogs and cats. Liquid hand soap, pet care deodorant sprays
and other sanitary products
containing antibacterial agents were effective for prevention for bacterial control.
Recently, the connection of humans and companion animals has been specifically defined as an attachment that is friendly and involves physical and
psychological effects (Baun et al., 1991). However,
companion animals are associated with a risk of
transmission of pathogenic bacteria to humans
(zoonoses) (Yamada, 2004). More than 200 infectious diseases of animals have been confirmed worldwide. For about 66% of the zoonoses, the risk factors
for human diseases were low (Taylor et al., 2001).
However, the import of animals from foreign countries
to Japan may possibly introduce new infectious diseases and the occurrence of zoonotic diseases may
possibly increase in the future. Owners of animals
should have correct knowledge about zoonoses for
their prevention and should use proper methods to reduce the risk of contact with pathogenic bacteria.
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