|
TUFTS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
CENTER FOR ANIMALS AND PUBLIC POLICY
THE ANIMAL POLICY REPORT, December 1998
Public safety from attacks and exposure to zoonotic diseases
as a result of the ownership of exotic pets was the subject
of discussion and a resolution at the 1998 Annual Meeting
of the Conference of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
(CSTE) and National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians
(NASPHV). The position and background statement read as follows:
ISSUE: Non-human primates (NHP) are wild, exotic animals
that impact public health because of their potential to transmit
zoonotic diseases and inflict severe injuries. In 1975, in
response to the public health issues, the USPHS adopted a
regulation defining the legitimate uses of NHP in the United
States and prohibiting the importation and distribution of
NHP for "pets, hobby, or an avocation with occasional
display to the public" (USPHS Foreign Quarantine regulation
CFR 71.53). NHP imported prior to the October 10, 1975 regulation,
and the offspring of a pair which were both imported before
1975,were considered "grandfathered" as pets. In
the regulation, definitions are given for bona fide uses of
NHP for educational, scientific, and exhibition purposes.
Despite this regulation, a lucrative, and largely unregulated
commerce in NHP as pets is thriving in the United States.
BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION: Monkeys and apes are
bought and sold, taken into public places including schools,
parks, and shopping centers, and maintained in private ownership
in most states. Health department and animal control officials
are often consulted after bites and injuries occur. Medical
assessment of these exposures requires special attention due
to the potential for highly fatal and rare zoonoses, severe
injuries, and serious wound related infections.
Zoonoses, some highly fatal and others with unknown human
risk consequences, such as Herpes B virus, simian immunodeficiency
virus, and ebola viruses have been transmitted from infected
NHP to humans. There are no licensed vaccines or medical treatments
to prevent or protect NHP from contracting these diseases.
Furthermore, because of the close genetic relationship of
humans and NHP, there is potential for interspecies exchange
of a wide spectrum of disease causing organisms. Anthropozoonotic
disease transmission of many common enteric and respiratory
pathogens such as hepatitis A, shigellosis, and Mycobacterium
tuberculosis between humans and NHP is well documented.
Many of the monkeys in the pet market are macaques. Surveys
have shown that 70-100%of adult macaques in both captive and
wild populations are infected with simian Herpes B virus.
Infected monkeys remain carriers throughout their life, intermittently
shedding the virus in body fluids, particularly during mating,
illness, or stressful events. Simian Herpes B virus is a zoonotic
infection, causing severe meningo encephalitis when transmitted
to humans (70% case fatality rate). Herpes B virus infection
requires specialized testing for diagnosis, and very few cases
in humans have been diagnosed.
State and local laws and ordinances vary widely regarding
restrictions on the maintenance of NHP and other wild animals
in private ownership. However, most states do not have regulations
which effectively address this issue. Federal regulations
involve many agencies and as they are enforced presently,
lack the continuity to control the public health risks of
NHP in the pet trade. The exotic animal trade raises complex
issues of animal welfare, public health, and conservation.
Accredited zoological parks and bona fide research facilities
mandate specialized training for handlers, and enforce strict
protocols concerning zoonotic disease and injury hazards associated
with captive NHP. In contrast, well intentioned pet owners,
generally lack the expertise and equipment to maintain NHP
safely, and consequently put the welfare of themselves, their
families, friends, neighborhoods, and often others, at risk
of disease and serious injury.
POSITION ADOPTED: NASPHV/CSTE recommends that a working
group consisting of representatives from CDC/DQ, NCID's Zoonoses
Working Group, USDA, NIH, and USFWS be formed with goals of:
1) assessing the current level of federal regulations concerning
NHP across agencies, as to their scope, purposes, enforcement
responsibilities, and definitions; 2) developing and implementing
methods to restrict the pet trade in NHP; 3) enforcing institutional
responsibility in maintaining lifelong care of NHP; 4) monitoring
and assuring legitimacy and safety of interstate movements
and redistributions of NHP; 5) developing a federal requirement
for permanent identification of all NHP in USDA licensed facilities
in the United States (tattoo/ microchip) with a comprehensive
central database; 6) the collection of more data about incidents
and numbers of NHP outside of CDC registered institutions.
POSITION: NASPHV/CSTE recommends federal and state
legislation prohibiting:
1) private ownership of NHP;
2) future commerce in NHP for the pet trade;
3) privately owned "grandfathered" NHP:
- from all public areas or in any type of exhibition (except
in transport to a veterinary facility, or during legal transport)
- from breeding
|
