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Eugene

(61,595 posts)
Wed Sep 13, 2017, 12:24 AM Sep 2017

Multistate Outbreak of Human Campylobacter Infections Linked to Pet Store Puppies

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Multistate Outbreak of Human Campylobacter Infections Linked to Pet Store Puppies

Posted September 11, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Read Advice to Pet Owners and Advice to Pet Store Workers.
• The Ohio Department of Health, several other states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) are investigating a multistate outbreak of human Campylobacter infections linked to puppies sold through Petland, a national pet store chain.
• The outbreak includes 39 people with laboratory-confirmed Campylobacter infections or symptoms consistent with Campylobacter infection who live in 7 states (Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin) and were exposed to puppies sold through Petland stores.
• 12 are Petland employees from 4 states.
• 27 either recently purchased a puppy at Petland, visited a Petland, or visited or live in a home with a puppy sold through Petland before illness began.

• Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicates that puppies sold through Petland stores are a likely source of this outbreak. Petland is cooperating with public health and animal health officials to address this outbreak.
• Campylobacter can spread through contact with dog poop (feces). It usually does not spread from one person to another.
• This investigation is ongoing. CDC will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Initial Announcement

September 11, 2017

The Ohio Department of Health, several other states, CDC, and USDA-APHIS are investigating a multistate outbreak of human Campylobacter infections linked to puppies sold through Petland stores. Investigators are looking for the source of infections in people and puppies so they can recommend how to stop the outbreak and prevent more illnesses in order to protect human and animal health.

As of September 11, 2017, the outbreak includes 39 cases in 7 states (Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin). A list of the number of cases by state can be found on the Case Count Map page.

Illnesses began on dates ranging from September 15, 2016 through August 12, 2017. The most recent illness was reported on September 1, 2017.

Ill people range in age from <1 year to 64 years, with a median age of 22 years; 28 (72%) are female; and 9 (23%) report being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Epidemiologic and laboratory findings have linked the outbreak to contact with puppies sold through Petland stores. Among the 39 ill people, 12 are Petland employees from 4 states and 27 either recently purchased a puppy at Petland, visited a Petland, or visited or live in a home with a puppy sold through Petland before illness began.

Whole genome sequencing showed samples of Campylobacter isolated from the stool of puppies sold through Petland in Florida were closely related to Campylobacter isolated from the stool of an ill person in Ohio. Additional laboratory results from people and dogs are pending.

Regardless of where they are from, any puppies and dogs may carry Campylobacter germs. Read Advice to Pet Owners and Advice to Pet Store Workers for illness prevention tips.


https://www.cdc.gov/campylobacter/outbreaks/puppies-9-17/index.html
12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Multistate Outbreak of Human Campylobacter Infections Linked to Pet Store Puppies (Original Post) Eugene Sep 2017 OP
and of course ... CountAllVotes Sep 2017 #1
Not just pet stores. The Amish have plenty of puppy mills, too. CozyMystery Sep 2017 #4
They live in the states mentioned CountAllVotes Sep 2017 #8
Take heed. Laffy Kat Sep 2017 #2
+1,000 !! CountAllVotes Sep 2017 #3
Beware - Any human or animal can get infected! KY_EnviroGuy Sep 2017 #5
That runs contrary to my understanding of the etiology... Rollo Sep 2017 #6
Thanks, with questions. KY_EnviroGuy Sep 2017 #7
The whole idea of canning is that it removes all bacterial and fungal pathogens... Rollo Sep 2017 #9
Rollo - Thanks. KY_EnviroGuy Sep 2017 #10
Let me guess... female dogs? Rollo Sep 2017 #11
Yes, one of the two. KY_EnviroGuy Sep 2017 #12

CountAllVotes

(20,854 posts)
1. and of course ...
Wed Sep 13, 2017, 02:46 AM
Sep 2017

Those puppies come from puppy mills which are likely loaded down with this infection. It will not go away any time soon, it will only spread and sicken other animals and people further until something is done about this problem.

The states listed are all puppy mill states so to speak, Ohio one of the worst offenders out there! What a horrible situation and damn the puppy mills! Damn them all!

My advice is to avoid PURCHASING a dog/cat/whatever from a Petland type of (puppy mill) store. Nothing good will come of it in the long run. Try adopting from your local shelter. There are plenty of homeless cats and dogs out there waiting for homes and not the gas chamber!


& recommend.

CozyMystery

(652 posts)
4. Not just pet stores. The Amish have plenty of puppy mills, too.
Wed Sep 13, 2017, 06:29 AM
Sep 2017

And to top it off, some backyard breeders go into business with puppy millers.

And some folks who pass themselves off as reputable breeders are fronts for puppy mills. That's where their dogs come from.

Puppy mills are licensed by the USDA.

https://www.aspca.org/animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/closer-look-puppy-mills

CountAllVotes

(20,854 posts)
8. They live in the states mentioned
Wed Sep 13, 2017, 10:58 AM
Sep 2017

Places like Lancaster, PA is one of them where there are lots of Amish puppy mills. The other states, same story. SAD!!!





Laffy Kat

(16,356 posts)
2. Take heed.
Wed Sep 13, 2017, 03:00 AM
Sep 2017

Campylobacter jejuni infections can lead to Gullian-Barre syndrome and can be fatal. My 26-year-old BIL. who was never sick, contracted CJ we think on a camping trip, and as soon as the GI symptoms improved he was hospitalized with GBS and died six weeks later.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
5. Beware - Any human or animal can get infected!
Wed Sep 13, 2017, 07:08 AM
Sep 2017

According to the CDC, Campylobacter organisms can be carried by a number of animal species, but it is most common in chickens:
----------------
Quote (CDC):
How do people get infected with this germ?

Campylobacteriosis usually occurs in single, sporadic cases, but it can also occur in outbreaks, when two or more people become ill from the same source. Most cases of campylobacteriosis are associated with eating raw or undercooked poultry meat or from cross-contamination of other foods by these items. Outbreaks of Campylobacter have most often been associated with unpasteurized dairy products, contaminated water, poultry, and produce. Animals can also be infected, and some people get infected from contact with the stool of an ill dog or cat. The organism is not usually spread from one person to another, but this can happen if the infected person is producing a large volume of diarrhea.

It only takes a very few Campylobacter organisms (fewer than 500) to make a person sick. Even one drop of juice from raw chicken meat can have enough Campylobacter in it to infect a person! One way to become infected is to cut poultry meat on a cutting board, and then use the unwashed cutting board or utensil to prepare vegetables or other raw or lightly cooked foods. The Campylobacter organisms from the raw meat can get onto the other foods.
(end quote)
---------------

I have a friend that has two dogs for which she mixes canned chicken meat in with their dog food. Every so often, this lady gets a terrible digestive tract bug that takes days to run its course. I'm going to review this info with her. She could be catching Campylobacter or one of several other germs either from handling the chicken or from picking up the dog's poop. Alos, these little dogs are "lickers" and that can spread the infection per the CDC.

Rollo

(2,559 posts)
6. That runs contrary to my understanding of the etiology...
Wed Sep 13, 2017, 09:33 AM
Sep 2017

Basically Campylobacter is very susceptible to normal stomach acid. So for an individual who is not taking antacids, it would take more like 10,000 or more bacteria to cause infection. The bacteria is killed by freezing, doesn't last long at room temp, and only takes exposure to tepid temps (48C, where 100C is boiling) to die.

That said, the best way to guard against most infections is to cook food thoroughly, wash hands frequently with soap and hot water, and make sure proper food preservation rules are followed.

If one has a pet that goes outside, the handwashing routine probably needs to be intensified.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
7. Thanks, with questions.
Wed Sep 13, 2017, 10:10 AM
Sep 2017

Thanks for the clarifications. I'm sure the probability of an infection depends on many factors such as bacterial concentration in the food, amount consumed, etc.

Would be nice if consumers had easy-to-use test kits for such hazards. I've seen some on-line, but they're somewhat pricey and not all are easy to use.

Questions:
Do pets harboring this bacteria show any sign of carrying it?
Is this or similar bugs present in significant amounts in common pet foods?
If so, does one need to exercise caution with handling pet foods?

In the case of my friend, I assume if she just heats the canned chicken she uses to supplement the dry dog food, that would eliminate any bacterial risks.

Rollo

(2,559 posts)
9. The whole idea of canning is that it removes all bacterial and fungal pathogens...
Fri Sep 15, 2017, 01:49 AM
Sep 2017

So unless the canning was done improperly, or the can itself has been damaged and is leaking, or the can itself is beyond its shelf life, the contents need not be cooked to prevent bacterial risk.

The dog is far more likely to pick up bacteria on its daily walk, not that they necessarily would be pathogenic.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
10. Rollo - Thanks.
Fri Sep 15, 2017, 03:07 AM
Sep 2017

That then to me, may point to bacteria in their dry dog food. The two dogs don't walk outside of their own property and there's few if any roaming dogs there, though possibility that can't be completely discounted. The dog might also have contracted it from the groomer or even at the vet's office!

They got the dog's urine test results back and although I don't have the bacteria name, it's a bladder bug that is very difficult to treat. I'm helping find an on-line pharmacy to order the antibiotic (Zeniquin) now.

I did a job in a dog food plant years ago and it was the nastiest place I've ever seen that processed any type of food.

The digestive tract bug my friend (the dog's owner) gets periodically may well be something totally unrelated to the animals.

Rollo

(2,559 posts)
11. Let me guess... female dogs?
Fri Sep 15, 2017, 02:25 PM
Sep 2017

Dogs are indeed lickers and will lick anyone and anything that interests them, including parts of bodies that we would avoid.

It could be however that your friend is picking up some gastro bug from eating out, insufficiently cooked people food (do the dogs get people food treats?), or just not washing hands before eating.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
12. Yes, one of the two.
Sat Sep 16, 2017, 03:00 AM
Sep 2017

The dog that has an infection is a female and thankfully is being treated at this time. Both are Shih Tzu - the male is long hair, licks a lot and has even coughed-up hair balls (very rare in dogs). High-maintenance creatures to say the least, but they are my friend's companions.

My friend is like many elderly or disabled folks, with lots of struggles. She was always a meticulous housekeeper in her younger days, but with severe RA in her back, just doing simple cleaning chores is now very hard. I'm trying to help as I'm able and point out things she may be missing that could harbor bacteria in her kitchen, along with simplifying things where practical. It's taking a lot of little steps to get there (like avoiding standing water in the sinks), but things are slowly getting better.

It's amazing how we build very complex lives in our youth and those complexities come around to haunt us as we grow old. I think I'm the epitome of that problem and my friend is a close second.

I really appreciate your encouragement!

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