A pox on your pooch? First canine case of monkeypox confirms it can happen

The theoretical risk of monkeypox passing from humans to animals turned to reality recently when an Italian greyhound in Paris got infected by one of the two men who owned him. Twelve days after both owners developed ulcerations and rashes following sex with other male partners, the four-year-old canine presented with mucocutaneous lesions, including abdomen pustules and a thin anal ulceration, according to a report published in the Lancet. The dog tested positive for monkeypox, with DNA sequencing showing 100% sequence similarity between the virus that infected the dog and the virus that infected one of its owners. According to the report, the samples for both contained virus of a lineage that’s been spreading in non-endemic countries since April 2022. In France, this particular lineage of monkeypox virus has infected more than 1,700 people mostly in Paris. Read: Montreal public health probing 'probable' monkeypox case involving child The owners said that after their symptoms started—but before their dog started exhibiting its own symptoms—they were careful to keep their pet away from other animals or humans. However, they did continue to co-sleep with their dog, who has since recovered from the disease. Until this confirmed case, the risk of monkeypox passing from human to animals has been strictly hypothetical. Primarily a rodent virus, the disease is zoonotic—originating in animals that then infected humans. Colin Parrish, a professor of veterinary virology at Cornell University in New York, said the greyhound getting monkeypox from its owner “was not unexpected” given how pet owners tend to be affectionate with their animal babies. The case has raised concerns among pet owners, including worries they themselves might be at risk of getting monkeypox from their pets. Read: People with COVID-19 can infect and sicken cats and dogs by cuddling them, says study The World Health Organization addressed the latter concern recently, when its executive director for health emergencies said in a news conference that “animals and pets are not a risk to people right now.” Whether or not infected dogs can pass the virus to other dogs or animals depends on how much virus they shed and how they shed, Jeff Doty, who leads the team for monkeypox response at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told National Geographic. Despite research that suggests some animals such as prairie dogs can spread monkeypox in nasal secretions and feces, “we just don’t know that for dogs,” said Doty. Hypothetically, said Parrish, a person rubbing against a dog with monkeypox-caused lesions could get infected with the virus. But the biggest risk, he added, is still human-to-human contact. Read: Polio fears rise in New York amid possible community spread For dog owners with confirmed or suspected monkeypox, the CDC has compiled a list of symptoms that may suggest their pet has caught the virus: lethargy, refusal eat, coughing, runny nose or eyes, and a blistery rash. In cases where one or more human members of the household are symptomatic but the pet has not been exposed, the CDC recommends that the animal be handed off to family members or other caretakers in a separate household, and be kept there until the owners have recovered. The home should be disinfected thoroughly before the pet is returned home, suggested the CDC. If sending a pet away temporarily is not possible, then the animal should be isolated and quarantined for 21 days. The agency cautioned against bathing pets in disinfectants, alcohol, hand sanitizer or other chemicals that could poison them. “Normal, sensible precautions are almost certainly sufficient,” said Parrish. These precautions include wearing clothes that cover the rash, hand-washing, using hand sanitizer, wearing masks and gloves around pets, and putting away contaminated bedsheets and towels. Read: Public Health Ontario reports first confirmed female case of monkeypox

A pox on your pooch? First canine case of monkeypox confirms it can happen

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics