> From: Deb Rebel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >
> > Hamsters and gerbils can catch human colds and vice versa;
> > chinchillas can't. I have had colds go through my rodentry and
> > really cause death and destruction.
> >
> > I know that most diseases are one host specific...but some
> > can and do cross barriers and survive and thrive in multiple
> > hosts. Else a lot of the research over the years in medicine
> > and pharmaceuticals with animals for the benefit of humans
> > would not have been possible.
> >
> > I don't know if you remember the 'swine flu'....it crossed
> > the barrier in Asia from pigs to humans, then spread. It
> > was a flu virus...
> >
> > Deb
> > Rebel's Rodent Ranch
Whilst bacterial, fungal and amoebal diseases are not host specific, as I
understand it, viruses are. That is not to say that they cannot cross
species, but this involves some mutation and is the exception rather than
the rule. When viruses do cross species, the result is usually spectacular
as in HIV and swine flu and the 1999 outbreak of chicken flu (which luckily
proved not to be that contagious in humans and so a possible pandemic was
contained). About 10 years ago there was a terrible epidemic amongst wild
seals in Europe. 90% of Common (Harbour) Seals were wiped out in some
areas. Eventually the infectious agent was found to be a mutated canine
distemper virus. Incidentally canine distemper is a close relative of the
human measles but both are distinct viruses. Humans cannot get distemper
and vice versa.
Therefore, if you have a cold, I don't think you are likely to pass it on
to your gerbils. However, if you have a bacterial illness e.g. strep
throat, salmonella, then yes you could. You should also be careful if your
gerbils have illnesses that could be bacterial as they could pass the
disease onto you. Diarrhea is always potentially bacterial. Sore noses
can be caused by staph bacteria. These can cause boils and, if ingested,
upset stomachs in humans. So always wash your hands after playing with a
gerbil with a sore nose. It's common sense really.
Cheers
Sue
