The Influence of Breastfeeding, Cesarean Section, Pet Animals, and Urbanization on the Development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Data from the Swiss IBD Cohort Study

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is incompletely understood. Current concepts imply that environmental factors (EFs) trigger disease onset as well as flares in genetically susceptible individuals. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The objective of this study is to analyze the association between IBD and various EFs, which may influence the pathogenesis of the disease. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> 2,294 patients from the Swiss IBD Cohort Study (SIBDCS) received a questionnaire regarding EF including mode of delivery, breastfeeding, animals in household, and place of residence. The control group comprised patients’ childhood friends, who grew up in a similar environment (“friends cohort”). <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 1,111 questionnaires were returned from SIBDCS patients (response rate: 48.4%). Breastfeeding for &#x3c;6 months was associated with a decreased risk for ulcerative colitis/indeterminate colitis (UC/IC) (OR: 0.473, <i>p</i> = 0.006). IBD patients reported less pet animals in the household than the control group (<i>p</i> = 0.004). The presence of cats or dogs (OR: 0.688, <i>p</i> = 0.015) and pet rodents (OR: 0.598, <i>p</i> = 0.001) in the household before the age of 20 was inversely associated with the risk for UC/IC. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The present study underlines the importance of EFs in the pathogenesis of IBD. Overall, the development of UC/IC seems to be more affected from environmental influences than from Crohn’s disease. Our results imply a protective effect of possessing pet animals in household and short breastfeeding regarding the onset of UC/IC.

Oxyurid nematodes of pet rodents in Slovakia - a neglected zoonotic threat

The role of rodents as reservoirs of helminths of public health importance is not well known. The zoonotic potential of Syphacia spp. has been confirmed; therefore, the study aimed to estimate the occurrence of oxyurid nematodes in small rodents from pet shops and breeding clubs in Slovakia. Fecal samples of 586 pet rodents kept in 133 cages were collected between 2016 and 2018 and examined by Faust´s flotation method. Four species of oxyurid nematodes, Syphacia muris, S. obvelata, Aspiculuris tetraptera and Paraspidodera uncinata were detected. A. tetraptera was found in the faecal samples of all rodent species included in this survey. The number of positive boxes varied from 5.4% in hamsters to 70.0% with mice. The prevalence of Syphacia muris was highest in Mongolian gerbils where up to 75.0% boxes were positive; S. obvelata was found in 26.7% of boxes with mice, 25.0% of boxes with Mongolian gerbils and 3.2% of boxes with rats. The high prevalence of Syphacia spp. in all animal species points out the infection risk for humans. Animals offered for sale are often in close contact with human beings; therefore they should be regularly tested for parasites and then effectively dewormed.

Leptospirosis meningitis transmission from a pet mouse: a case report

Background Leptospirosis is a reemerging zoonosis with a worldwide distribution and a wide range of clinical manifestations. We report a case of leptospirosis meningitis in a previously healthy woman infected by her pet mouse. Case presentation A 27-year-old Caucasian woman with pet mice presented to our institute with a 1 week history of fever, headache, myalgia, vomiting, diarrhea, and dark urine. Her admission examination revealed neck stiffness, conjunctivitis, and icteric sclera. Her liver enzymes, bilirubin, white blood cell count, and C-reactive protein were elevated. Her cerebrospinal fluid showed an elevated white blood cell count. Polymerase chain reactions using her cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and urine showed negative results for leptospirosis, but the result of her microagglutination test was positive for Leptospira interrogans serovar sejroe with a more than threefold increase in paired sera. The patient was treated with ceftriaxone for 1 week, and her condition steadily improved. Conclusions This case report raises awareness of pet rodents as sources of leptospirosis. Leptospirosis meningitis should be considered in patients with meningeal symptoms and pet rodents.

Pet rodents as possible risk for leptospirosis, Belgium and France, 2009 to 2016

Leptospirosis is an under-reported and emerging zoonotic disease which is potentially fatal in humans. Rodents are the main reservoirs for pathogenic Leptospira spp., but diagnosis in these animals is difficult, and their infection, which does not induce symptoms, usually goes unoticed. Although the exposures of most human cases of leptospirosis are poorly documented, we were able to identify six human cases of leptospirosis which were associated with direct contact with pet rodents (mice or rats) in Belgium and France between 2009 and 2016. All cases had severe disease and for all, the presence of Leptospira spp. DNA in the kidneys of their pet animals was confirmed, strongly suggesting that excretion of leptospires in urine was the way of transmission. Half of the cases shared the serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae, which is usually associated with severe disease, with the pet rats which they were in contact with. With the popularity of rats and mice as pets, this study should contribute to raising awareness on asymptomatic pet rodents as a source of Leptospira infections.