Petting Zoos - Antech News

December • 2007

PETTING ZOOS

Contact with animals in public venues such as fairs and petting zoos has important benefits including education concerning animals and animal husbandry, encouraging compassion for animals, and entertainment. However, contact can also lead to transmission of zoonotic disease. During 1991–2005, 55 outbreaks associated with animals in public settings were reported. Despite national recommendations aimed at preventing disease associated with animals in public settings, outbreaks continue to occur.

A certain percentage of healthy cattle harbor human pathogenic E. coli 0157:H7. [The widely publicized Jack-in-the-Box incident of people becoming ill from eating undercooked hamburger meat contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7 revealed that cattle can harbor this human pathogen.] Consequently, public health officials now recommend culturing every animal visiting county fairs and engaged in other animal activities for E. coli 0157:H7.

Pathogenic Properties of E. coli O157:H7

Some strains of Escherichia coli, such as E. coli O157:H7, belong to serotypes which can produce potent cytotoxins called Shiga toxins (Stx). The natural hosts of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are farm and wildlife ruminants, i.e. cows, sheep, and goats.

The most prominent symptom of infection with E. coli O157:H7-producing Shiga toxins is hemorrhagic colitis. Symptoms include painful, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In some patients, HC can progress into one of the two syndromes, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). HUS and TTP are serious illnesses which in many cases can be fatal. Thus E. coli O157:H7 has been considered as a causative agent for producing serious health threats, especially for children.

PREVENTING FAIR AND PETTING ZOO OUTBREAKS

The following are prudent public health measures to promote the safety of fair or petting zoo visitors and prevent outbreaks:

Source control: Animals actively shedding human pathogens should not be exhibited in fairs and petting zoos.
Effective manure management: A single cow produces about 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of manure per day. Sanitary removal of animal manure, followed by sanitation of bins and traffic areas, is an essential part of an environmental control program.
Dust control: If manure is not removed on a timely basis, it will be dried by air, and subsequent air movement can result in airborne spread of dust, which could spread infectious agents onto surfaces.
Clean up and sanitize: All contact surfaces must be kept clean and sanitized.
Environmental sanitation: Prevent cross contamination of areas adjacent to animal holding areas, particularly food courts and drinking fountains. Farm animal contact areas should be separated from the food service area.
Hand washing and sanitation facilities: At each entrance and exit to animal holding areas and petting zoos, warn visitors of the potential risks and require visitors to wash and sanitize upon entry and exit to the areas. Hand washing stations should be available in both the animal-free area and the interaction area.
Protocol for petting zoo and animal contact areas. Hand-mouth activities should be prohibited: eating, drinking, smoking, carrying toys and pacifiers, or any hand to mouth activities should be strictly prohibited in the interaction area.
Information should be provided about the risk associated with the transmission of pathogens wherever situations arise where there is public access to farm animals.
Heightened precautions should be applied to high risk groups, including children under age 5, immunocompromised people, and pregnant women.

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