Cavallo Steffany J, Daly Elizabeth R, Seiferth John, Nadeau Alisha M, Mahoney Jennifer, Finnigan Jayne, Wikoff Peter, Kiebler Craig A, Simmons Latoya
1 Division of Public Health Services, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services , Concord, New Hampshire.
Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2015 May;12(5):441-6. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2014.1889. Epub 2015 Mar 20.
Pet treats and pet food can be contaminated with Salmonella and other pathogens, though they are infrequently implicated as the source of human outbreaks. In 2013, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services investigated a cluster of Salmonella Typhimurium infections associated with contaminated locally made pet treats. Case-patients were interviewed with standardized questionnaires to assess food, animal, and social histories. Laboratory and environmental investigations were conducted, including testing of clinical specimens, implicated product, and environmental swabs. Between June and October 2013, a total of 43 ill persons were identified. Sixteen patients (37%) were hospitalized. Among 43 case-patients interviewed, the proportion exposed to dogs (95%) and pet treats (69%) in the 7 days prior to illness was statistically higher than among participants in a U.S. population-based telephone survey (61%, p<0.0001 and 16%, p<0.0001, respectively). On further interview, 38 (88%) reported exposure to Brand X Chicken Jerky, the maker of Brand X chicken jerky, or the facility in which it was made. Product testing isolated the outbreak strain from four of four Brand X Chicken Jerky samples, including an unopened package purchased at retail, opened packages collected from patient households, and unpackaged jerky obtained from the jerky maker. A site visit revealed inadequate processing of the chicken jerky, bare-hand contact with the finished product prior to packaging, and use of vacuum-sealed packaging, which may have enabled facultative anaerobic bacteria to proliferate. Seven (78%) of nine environmental swabs taken during the site visit also yielded the outbreak strain. Brand X Chicken Jerky was voluntarily recalled on September 9, 2013. Consumers should be made aware of the potential for locally made products to be exempt from regulation and for animals and animal food to carry pathogens that cause human illness, and be educated to perform hand hygiene after handling pet food or treats.
宠物零食和宠物食品可能会被沙门氏菌及其他病原体污染，尽管它们很少被认为是人类疾病爆发的源头。2013年，新罕布什尔州卫生和公共服务部调查了一系列与受污染的本地生产宠物零食有关的鼠伤寒沙门氏菌感染病例。通过标准化问卷对病例患者进行访谈，以评估其饮食、动物接触史和社会史。开展了实验室和环境调查，包括对临床标本、涉事产品和环境拭子进行检测。2013年6月至10月期间，共确认了43名患病者。16名患者（37%）住院治疗。在接受访谈的43名病例患者中，发病前7天接触狗（95%）和宠物零食（69%）的比例在统计学上高于美国基于人群的电话调查中的参与者（分别为61%，p<0.0001和16%，p<0.0001）。进一步访谈发现，38人（88%）报告接触过X品牌鸡肉干、X品牌鸡肉干的制造商或其生产场所。产品检测从四个X品牌鸡肉干样本中均分离出了疫情菌株，包括一份在零售店购买的未开封包装、从患者家庭收集的开封包装以及从鸡肉干制造商处获得的未包装鸡肉干。实地考察发现，鸡肉干加工不当，包装前存在徒手接触成品的情况，且使用了真空密封包装，这可能使兼性厌氧菌得以繁殖。实地考察期间采集的9份环境拭子中有7份（78%）也检测出了疫情菌株。X品牌鸡肉干于2013年9月9日被自愿召回。应让消费者意识到本地生产的产品可能不受监管，动物及动物食品可能携带可导致人类疾病的病原体，并教育他们在处理宠物食品或零食后要做好手部卫生。
