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Tainted Pet Food Linked to Rare Salmonella Infection

Immature Kids, in Particular, Are at Risk of Salmonella Infection From Direct or Indirect Contact With Pets

By Katrina Woznicki
WebMD Health News

Reviewed By Laura J. Martin, MD

Aug. 9, 2010 -- Pet food can be a source of salmonella infection, as well as millions of families, particularly immature kids, may be at risk of becoming sick incase pet food isn't properly handled as well as stored in the home, according to research conducted by the CDC as well as several state departments of health.

Human salmonella infections linked to moistureless pet food had not been reported prior to a three-year outbreak in 2006-2008. Overall, Salmonella enterica causes 1.4 million illnesses as well as 400 deaths every year nationwide. Although the most ordinary source of human infection is ingestion of contaminated water or food, infection can as well as occur through direct or indirect contact with pets.

One class of Salmonella enterica is called Salmonella Schwarzengrund, which isn't ordinary as well as accounts for only 0.4% of all human salmonella infections per year. Federal as well as state researchers examined a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Schwarzengrund that occurred from 2006 to 2008. They conducted one case-controlled study to evaluate household exposures to pet food as well as a subordinate study to examine the risk factors for transmitting salmonella among kids. In the United States, 37% of households possess dogs as well as 32% possess cats, as well as many pets are fed moistureless pet food, which includes animal ingredients such as liver, beef, or fish.

Researchers compared households where there was a case of infection to geographically matched households where there was no infection.Participants were interviewed as well as as well as filled out questionnaires about their contact with animals, take of pet food, brand of pet food used, as well as pet-feeding practices.

Salmonella in Pet Food

Among the researchers' findings:

• More than 23,000 tons of moistureless dog as well as cat pet foods from more than 100 dissimilar brands were recalled between 2006 as well as 2008.
• Seventy-nine patients infected with Salmonella Schwarzengrund in 21 states were identified during the study period; nearly half, 48%, were kids aged 2 or younger. Symptoms included bloody diarrhea as well as fever. Some patients were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.
• Illnesses among infants were significantly associated with feeding pets in the kitchen, but, interestingly, there was no association between salmonella contamination as well as kids putting pet food in their mouths.
• Illness in case households was strongly associated with contact with a dog.
• In 2007, scientists isolated the Salmonella Schwarzengrund strain from 38% of dog fecal samples as well as from 9% of moistureless dog foods tested from nine case households in Pennsylvania. Environmental samples used from the manufacturer later confirmed a match in the outbreak strain. The manufacturer closed its plant in October 2008.

The results were published in the September issue of Pediatrics as well as were released today online.

The researchers note that moistureless pet food has a extended shelf life as well as that Salmonella Schwarzengrund may possess remained in some households even after the pet foods were recalled. According to the report, since 2006 the FDA has announced at least 13 recalls of 135 pet food products due to salmonella contamination.

The authors recommend that pet owners as well as their families regularly wash their hands after interacting with pets as well as pet food products as well as routinely keep a pet's food as well as water bowls cleaned as well as disinfected. The bowls should not be cleaned in the alike kitchen sinks or bathtubs where kids are bathed, the researchers said, because of the risk of cross contamination.

SOURCES: News release, American Academy of Pediatrics.

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