Race, Zoonoses and Animal Assisted Interventions in Pediatric Cancer

Cotoc, Crina; Notaro, Stephen John

doi:10.3390/ijerph19137772

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Although substantial benefits have been documented in the literature on the involvement of dogs in AAI, physical contact between humans and animals could cause the carrying of potential pathogens from animals to human beings. Sometimes, in AAI settings the dogs employed might also represent pathogen carriers causing a pathogen exchange from being contaminated by physical contact with infected/haunted subjects and then transferring microorganisms to other patients [2,52]. In particular, it is scientifically demonstrated that pediatric oncological patients have immunodeficiency cancer treatments mediated and therefore are retained to be more susceptible [2,47].…”

Section: Potential Zoonoses Associated With Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sometimes, in AAI settings the dogs employed might also represent pathogen carriers causing a pathogen exchange from being contaminated by physical contact with infected/haunted subjects and then transferring microorganisms to other patients [2,52]. In particular, it is scientifically demonstrated that pediatric oncological patients have immunodeficiency cancer treatments mediated and therefore are retained to be more susceptible [2,47]. The modes of pathogens transmission can include physical interaction, aerosol inhalation, infected saliva, urine, or feces, as well as contact with contaminated tools [53].…”

Section: Potential Zoonoses Associated With Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…transmission from homemade cooked food, especially meat, and is sometimes associated with incorrect food handling and/or cross-contamination from raw foods [55,57]. Dogs involved in AAIs should not be fed raw animal-origin foods within 90 days before service [58,59] Still, other pathogens that cause zoonoses and could be found in dogs are Pasterurellosis, Salmonellosis, Staphylococcal pyoderma, Tularemia cutaneus, Yersiniosis enterocolitica, fungal contamination, ringworms, parasites (Echinococcosis, Giardiasis, Mange), and visceral larva migrans [2,53,60,61].…”

Section: Potential Zoonoses Associated With Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The majority of zoonoses are commonly identified and treated. Preventive measures involve internal and external parasite treatments and vaccination protocols; taken together, they are environmental biomonitoring to safeguard both dogs' and human health [2,53]. An Italian study showed that the most common high-risk zoonotic agents of parasitic origin included Ancylostomatidae, Eucoleus aerophylus, Toxocara canis, Giardia duodenalis, Nannizzia gypsea, and Paraphyton mirabile [63].…”

Section: Potential Zoonoses Associated With Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…AAIs are characterized by a multidisciplinary staff of human beings and animals with the purpose of striving for therapeutic (animal-assisted therapy-AAT) or educational (animal-assisted education-AAE) outcomes. In addition, AAIs involve animal-assisted activities (AAA) and AAI resident animals (RA) [1,2], as well as nonformal interventions performed on a voluntary basis by the multidisciplinary team with motivational, educational, or recreational goals [1]. AATs contribute to improving the health and welfare of the patients [3] and can play an adjuvant role during emotional-affective, social, linguistic, and cognitive rehabilitation [4][5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Human-Animal Interaction in Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI)s: Zoonosis Risks, Benefits, and Future Directions—A One Health Approach

Liguori

Costagliola

Lombardi

et al. 2023

Animals

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Animal-assisted interventions (AAI)s represent the expression of integrated medicine, according to the One Health approach. Actually, animal-assisted therapies and animal-assisted activities are implemented in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, etc. The efficacy of AAIs is based on interspecific interactions and would be impacted by different factors, such as the characters of both the animal and the handler, a suitable selection of animal species, an appropriate animal educational protocol, the relationship between the handler and the animal, and mutual relationship among the animal, the patients, and members of the working team. AAIs produce many advantages for the patients but could expose them to zoonotic-pathogens transmission. Therefore, positive animal welfare, as preventative medicine to avoid incidents or transmission of zoonosis, is a relevant aspect with implications for human and animal health and wellbeing. This review aims to summarize the current published knowledge regarding the occurrence of pathogens in AAIs and to discuss their relevance in light of health and safety in AAIs participants. In addition, this review will contribute to defining the state of the art of AAIs through a careful benefits/challenges analysis and offers discussion points on the possible future developments according to the One Health approach.

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Section: Potential Zoonoses Associated With Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Potential Zoonoses Associated With Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Potential Zoonoses Associated With Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Potential Zoonoses Associated With Dogsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Human-Animal Interaction in Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI)s: Zoonosis Risks, Benefits, and Future Directions—A One Health Approach

Liguori

Costagliola

Lombardi

et al. 2023

Animals

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Feasibility, efficacy, and safety of animal-assisted activities with visiting dogs in inpatient pediatric oncology

Steff,

Grasemann,

Ostermann

et al. 2024

World J Pediatr

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Background Childhood cancer entails a heavy burden for patients and their families. Recent advances in overall survival rates have increasingly brought long-term quality of life into focus. Animal-assisted activities (AAAs) have long been hypothesized to alleviate the burden on pediatric patients and their peers in the hospital setting. However, their use in inpatient pediatric oncology has been a sensitive issue mainly due to the fear of infections, resulting in a lack of studies. This study presents data on the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of AAAs from a single German center. Methods Between 2018 and 2022, 60 patients (median age = 10.3 years) diagnosed with malignancy and undergoing treatment were visited by an intervention dog (total visits = 100). Patients were screened for infections as per hospital policy, with additional microbiological testing performed based on symptoms. The dog was screened for human pathogens and zoonoses. Microbial data and hospitalizations were analyzed from two months prior to the first visit until two months after the last visit. Acceptance of being in the hospital, both with and without planned animal-assisted interventions and pre- and post-intervention state stress, were measured using a validated visual analogue scale (0–10). Results Patients benefited from AAAs, showing increased acceptance of being in the hospital (median: 7.25 vs. 4.50, P < 0.001) and decreased median state stress ratings one hour after the visit compared to one hour before the visit (1.00 vs. 4.25, P < 0.001). The intervention did not result in an increased number of infections or unplanned hospitalizations, and no zoonoses were detected. All microbial screening tests of the dog were negative. Conclusions AAAs with visiting dogs in inpatient pediatric oncology are feasible and safe. Although they hold promise for enhancing patients’ well-being, further prospective studies are needed.

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