Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Owner-collected swabs of pets: a method fit for the purpose of zoonoses research.
- Journal:
- Epidemiology and infection
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Möbius, N et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Biometry · Germany
Plain-English summary
This study looked at whether pet owners could successfully collect nasal and oral swabs from their cats and dogs at home to help researchers understand exposure to germs that can be passed from animals to humans. In Hannover, Germany, 100 pet owners participated, and both veterinarians and the owners took swabs from the pets. The results showed that while the quality of the samples varied, the owners were able to collect swabs that provided useful information about the presence of harmful bacteria. Most owners felt they didn’t need a vet's help to do this, and the method proved to be effective for gathering samples. Overall, this approach worked well for collecting information on zoonotic pathogens.
Abstract
As part of the preparation of a large cohort study in the entire German population, this study examined the feasibility of cat and dog owners collecting nasal and oral swabs of their animals at home as a method of assessing exposure to zoonoses. In veterinary clinics in Hannover, Germany, 100 pet owners were recruited. Nasal and oral swabs of pets were taken by a veterinarian at the clinic and owners took swabs at home. Swabs were analysed regarding bacterial growth and compared (owner vs. vet) using Cohen's kappa and McNemar's test. The return rate of kits was 92%, and 77% of owners thought it unnecessary to have veterinarian assistance to swab the mouth. McNemar's test results: oral swabs 78% agreement with Gram-positive bacterial growth, 87% agreement with Gram-negative bacterial growth; with similar results for nasal swabs. Although sample quality differed, this method allowed the receipt of swabs from pets in order to obtain information about colonization with zoonotic pathogens.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23114113/