Health Risks from Pet Wild Animals

Transcription

1 Health Risks from Pet Wild Animals Staci McLennan Policy Officer Wildlife Intergroup, 27 October 2011

2 Overview of report Literature review of documented health risks from wild animals Risks of zoonoses by species groups Primates, rodents, lagomorphs, carnivores, marsupials, bats and reptiles Zoonoses: Ebola, Herpes B, Rabies, Hendra & Nipah viruses, Salmonellosis, The Plague, Rat-bite fever Recommendations

3 Zoonotic diseases Diseases which can be transmitted between animals and humans 60% of Emerging Infectious Diseases are zoonotic 71.8% of these originate in wildlife SARS, HIV/AIDS, Ebola virus # of EID events from pathogens originating in wildlife has increased significantly over time zoonotic EIDs represent increasing and very significant threat to global health Jones et al Nature

4 Globalisation Species introduced at unprecedented rate Due to increased volume, speed and intensity of trade, transport & tourism Transport conditions can help spread disease Species are co-mingled, transported in stressed and confined conditions, immune systems may be compromised Transport duration can be shorter than incubation period Signs of disease may not be detected until after transport period = arrive at pet shop or in a home

5 Scale of trade Only a portion of wild animal trade is regulated CITES: 5000 animal species Trader data: 10,000+ animal species kept as pets in Europe = approximately species part of unregulated trade EU health requirements for import of live animals Emphasis on farm animals, few specific requirements for wildlife Restriction on wild-caught birds due to Avian flu Not every animal is checked, veterinary check of health certificate not always a clinical exam

6 Concerns of wild animals as pets Health risks: spread disease to other animals and humans Species conservation: deplete wild populations Biodiversity loss: introduce invasive species Welfare of animals: wild animals unsuitable to life as pet Veterinary care: expertise for exotic animals lacking Problem with re-homing: lack of specialised shelters for unwanted/abandoned animals, euthanasia only option

7 Zoonoses & primates Genetic similarity to humans = higher health risk Ebola virus, HIV/AIDS, Herpes B Rabies Barbary macaques illegally imported as pets have been given rabies vaccines meant for cats and dogs = cases of accidental contamination AAP requests to shelter 200 animals in last 5 years

8 Zoonoses & bats Ebola virus Rabies Egyptian fruit bat sold in French pet shop, 2 months later died of rabies 130 people had to be vaccinated ALL animals with potential contact were euthanised Nipah virus Fruit bats in Malaysia linked to outbreak of Nipah virus Intensive pig farms in habitat where fruit bats feed Mass cull of 1.1 million pigs 257 human encephalitis cases reported, 105 fatalities

9 Zoonoses & reptiles Q-fever, tuberculosis, pentastomosis Salmonellosis is main zoonoses transmitted 90% of captive reptiles are healthy carriers Children, pregnant women, elderly and immuno-compromised individuals are most susceptible 1975, U.S. ban on sale of small turtles to prevent young children playing with and putting in mouth

10 Zoonoses & amphibians Over 6 million amphibians traded/year for pets (OIE Amphibian diseases group) CDC, 2011 Outbreak from African dwarf frogs people infected in 42 States 69% of cases in children less than 10 years old 30% of cases hospitalised

11 Invasive animals & pathogens Wild animals can also bring pathogens that negatively impact local wildlife populations Grey squirrels introduced Squirrelpox to native red squirrels in UK Amphibian populations suffering declines and extinctions from Chytrid fungus and ranavirus due to unregulated trade Other examples: muskrat, coypu, raccoon dog, raccoon, Siberian chipmunk

12 Recommendations Overall goal: reduce trade in wild animals & establish measures to prevent health risks Consumer protection: Inform prospective pet owners of risks & special needs of wild animals Welfare protection: restrict the keeping of certain species Assess species in trade for health & ecological risks Establish sanitary measures: screening procedures and restrictions on trade

13 Regulatory options to address risks EU Animal Health Law (2012): import of wild animals screened against health risks & restrictions established 2 nd Animal Welfare Strategy: restrictions on imports to be coherent with AHL EU Invasive Alien Species Strategy: possible restrictions on imports and trade Member States Private keeping restrictions Pet shop & market regulations

14 Conclusions Growing trend in pet wild animals raises concerns for human and animal health, animal welfare and biodiversity A reduction in trade coupled with measures (sanitary & education) are needed to minimise and prevent serious health risks Funding support from the Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission.