But animal-to-human transmission of this bacteria is rare, researcher says
WebMD News from HealthDay
By Alan Mozes
HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Dec. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In the world of infectious diseases, one worrisome phenomenon is when an illness that originated in animals jumps over into people.
The process -- known as zoonosis -- is not uncommon and keeps researchers on their toes as they look for signs that an animal-borne disease might make inroads into the human population.
A new report focuses on just such a development -- and the culprits in this case were guinea pigs. More specifically, they were guinea pigs infected with a bacteria known as Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus.
"Animal to human transmission of this bacteria is pretty rare," stressed study author Karen Gruszynski, a veterinary epidemiologist at the Virginia Department of Health in Richmond.
"There is nothing in our findings to be really alarmed about," she said. "But what we are trying to do is highlight the fact that a disease that we already knew people can get from exposure to horses or cattle can also be gotten from guinea pigs."
In animals, "Sez," as the disease is called, often provides little indication of illness other than swollen lymph nodes in the throat and neck region, Gruszynski said.
Prior human cases primarily have been linked to consumption of unpasteurized milk from infected cows or contact with infected horses. However, infected monkeys, cats and dogs have also been tied to human Sez infections, Gruszynski said.
Firm indications that guinea pigs may be tied to such infections stem from two recent cases reported by Gruszynski and colleagues in the January issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Two related Virginia residents were hospitalized with worsening flu-like symptoms combined with muscle pain, nausea, fatigue, chills and respiratory issues.
One of them, a man, developed acute kidney failure, pneumonia and respiratory failure. The other, an elderly male, developed respiratory failure, pneumonia and multiple organ failure.
Both men ultimately recovered, following many weeks of hospitalization and subsequent rehabilitation.
A follow-up investigation revealed both had been exposed to guinea pigs before falling ill.
In the first instance, the younger man had recently purchased four guinea pigs, one of which soon died. The older patient had cleaned the guinea pigs enclosure a couple of days before becoming sick.
source : Guinea Pigs Can Be Source of Serious Strep Infection
