With the growing popularity of exotic pets in the United States, the incidence of zoonotic diseases attributed to these pets should be expected to rise. Veterinarians play an important role in educating the public and should have an understanding of the epidemiology of these potentially devastating diseases. The purpose of this presentation is to introduce veterinarians to the most common zoonotic diseases encountered in non-traditional species and review diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Salmonella spp. are Gram-negative facultative anaerobes that are ubiquitous in the environment. These bacteria have been isolated from all of the different classes of animals. There are over 2,400 different Salmonella serotypes, and they should all be considered pathogenic. Most animals appear to be asymptomatic reservoirs for this microbe. Salmonella sp. is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route or from contaminated fomites. Humans that contract salmonellosis from non-traditional species may experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, enteritis, or septicemia. The incubation of Salmonella in humans is approximately 6-48 hours. Because of the inherent zoonotic risks associated with non-traditional species (e.g., reptiles), ownership should be limited to cases that have adult supervision. Strict hygiene, including hand washing with soap, should be practiced to reduce the risk of exposure.

Chlamydophila psittaci is a bacterial pathogen in psittacines. Affected birds may be asymptomatic or develop intense systemic disease, including pneumonia, splenitis, and hepatitis. This pathogen is generally spread via aerosolization. Affected humans may also be asymptomatic or develop severe clinical disease as described in the birds. Birds being introduced into an aviary should be tested for the disease and quarantined.

Mycobacterium spp. have a cosmopolitan distribution. Mycobacterium spp. have been isolated from all of the major classes of animals. Many of the Mycobacterium spp. that can infect animals, can also infect humans. Mycobacterium spp. can be transmitted to humans from non-traditional species through aerosolization of contaminated respiratory secretions or direct skin contact. Pet owners should always practice strict disinfection protocols when handling their pets and limit contact when they have open wound on their hands.

Rat-bite fever (RBF) is a rare, but serious, zoonosis caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis and Spirillum minus. These bacteria are generally considered to be indigenous flora in rats. Domestic rats are considered the primary reservoir for RBF and primarily transmit the bacteria through a bite. The incubation for streptobacillary RBF in humans is approximately 3-10 days, while spirillary RBF is 1-6 days. The clinical signs attributed to RBF are generally observed at approximately the same time the bite wound is healing, and include relapsing fever, chills, vomiting, myalgia, and regional lymphadenopathy. Individuals infected with S. moniliformis frequently develop a maculopapular rash on their extremities. The maculopapular rash does not occur with spirillary RBF. Rat-bite wounds should be immediately disinfected to reduce the likelihood of transmitting these bacterial pathogens.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a Gram-negative coccobacilli that is routinely isolated from clinically normal rodents and lagomorphs. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis has been associated with epizootics in rodent and lagomorph colonies worldwide. Affected animals generally experience diarrhea and progressive weight loss. Significant mortalities have been attributed to this bacteria. Although captive rodents have not been identified as an important source of infection for humans, they certainly could serve as competent reservoir of the bacteria in the human environment.