title: Zoonotic disease risks for immunocompromised and other high-risk clients and staff: promoting safe pet ownership and contact.
abstract: Pets can be a source of disease (zoonoses) for humans. The disease risks associated with pet contact are highest among young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and immunocompromised hosts. These individuals and household members display limited knowledge of pet-associated disease, rarely recall receipt of pet-associated disease information, and report pet ownership practices that are often at odds with established disease prevention recommendations. Veterinary staff are in a key position to promote safe pet ownership and contact practices. Encouraging and safeguarding client disclosure of immunocompromising health conditions and promoting veterinarian-physician communications are critical for effectively providing this service.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1920 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: jason.stull@cvm.osu.edu.
authors.forename: Jason W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Stull
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, Colleges of Medicine and Public Health, The Ohio State University, 410 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Kurt B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Stevenson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D057805:Pets; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000592:standards; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Child; Elderly; Immunocompromised; One health; Pet; Pregnant; Zoonoses