Backyard Chicken Disease Risk in Perspective

A concerned citizen recently wrote to a Sarasota City Commissioner opposing chickens as pets and citing six diseases that might be transmitted from chickens to humans as a reason.

Certainly all citizens should be concerned about the possible transfer of diseases from pets, livestock and wild animals to humans. Awareness has been growing regarding the importance of hand-washing after contact with any animal, including animals such as reptiles and fish.

The diseases cited in the email were:

Avian Tuberculosis: A tuberculosis that affects poultry. Main risk is to immune compromised individuals. According to the International Parrot Society People with normally functioning immune systems have a high resistance to this infection. The bacteria are already in the environment due to shedding from wildlife. However, we do urge at risk individuals to take proper precautions and avoid contact or exposure.

Chlamydiosis causes pitt or parrot fever. According to IFAS In the U.S., chlamydiosis is a major problem with turkeys, pigeons, and psittacines. In Europe, the main avian species affected are ducks and geese. Some birds (turkeys) are extremely susceptible to chlamydiosis, while others (chickens) are more resistant.

Colibacillosis is caused by E. coli, of which there are many strains. According to IFAS: In most cases, symptomatic treatment (fluids, antidiarrheals) is all that is required. In more severe infections, antibiotics such as tetracycline and chloramphenicol may be necessary.

Histoplasmosis is a fungal disease. According to IFAS Most cases in humans are asymptomatic, but it can be a serious disease.

Cryptococcosis is another fungal disease. Again In people with a normal immune system, the lung (pulmonary) form of the infection may have no symptoms. In people with impaired immune systems, the cryptococcus organism may spread to the brain.

Cryptosporidiosis according to IFAS Cryptosporidiosis is caused by protozoa of the genus Cryptosporidium . There are three known species, C. baileyi , C. meleagridis and an unnamed species in quail. Cryptosporidiosis normally causes respiratory problems in chickens and turkeys. It can also cause gastroenteritis and diarrhea. In humans, it causes abdominal pain, nausea, and watery diarrhea lasting 3-4 days. In immunocompromised people, it can cause severe, persistent diarrhea with associated malabsorption of nutrients and weight loss.

In addition to the diseases the citizen mentioned , Salmonella is probably the most common disease spread by pets like chickens, reptiles and fish. The CDC is particularly cautious about children under three handling (playing with) baby chicks.

For specific advice from the CDC please see Health Risks Associated With Raising Chickens.

To put all these diseases in perspective, it is worth considering how the CDC summarizes the number of diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people.

Under birds, the CDC lists three diseases, already mentioned above:

Chlamydia psittaci Infection (psittacosis): A bacterial disease associated with pet birds, including parrots and parakeets. Recommendations and Reports MMWR.

Cryptococcus Infection (cryptococcosis): A fungal disease associated with wild-bird droppings, including those from pigeons.

Salmonella Infection (salmonellosis): A bacterial disease associated with many birds, especially chickens, baby chicks, and ducklings.

For dogs, far more diseases are listed : 15 and for cats: 14. Because dogs and cats are mammals, and probably because of their long association with people, we share more diseases with them.

Bottom line: If we were allowing people to have pets based on diseases, cats and dogs would be near the end of the list. But that doesn’t eliminate possible problems with chickens.

CLUCK supports proper sanitation for the health of both chickens and chicken keepers. Young children and people with compromised immune systems are the greatest at risk. Handwashing after contact with all animals is recommended for everyone and people at greater risk should probably consider respiratory masks. At the end of this entry you'll find the 12 steps the CDC recommends to minimize risk. Virtually all are simple common sense and hygiene.

Below, you can learn the names of dog-related diseases.

Brucella canis Infection (brucellosis): A bacterial disease rarely associated with dogs.

Campylobacter Infection (campylobacteriosis): A bacterial disease associated with dogs, cats, and farm animals.

Cryptosporidium Infection (cryptosporidiosis): A parasitic disease associated with dogs, especially puppies, cats, and farm animals.

Dipylidium Infection (tapeworm): A parasitic disease associated with dogs, cats and fleas.

Giardia Infection (giardiasis): A parasitic disease associated with various animals, including dogs and their environment (including water).

Hookworm Infection: A parasitic disease associated with dogs and cats and their environment.

Leishmania Infection (leishmaniasis): A parasitic disease associated with dogs and sand flies outside the United States.

Leptospira Infection (leptospirosis): A bacterial disease associated with wild and domestic animals, including dogs.

Lyme Disease: A bacterial disease that can affect dogs and ticks.

Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii): A bacterial disease occasionally associated with dogs.

Rabies: A viral disease associated with various animals, including dogs.

Ringworm: A fungal disease associated with dogs.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: A bacterial disease associated with dogs and ticks.

Roundworm: See Toxocara infection.

Salmonella Infection (salmonellosis): A bacterial disease associated with various animals including dogs.

Tapeworm (flea tapeworm): See Dipylidium Infection.

Toxocara Infection (toxocariasis, roundworm): A parasitic disease associated with dogs and cats and their environment.

The following list deals with diseases associated with cats.

Campylobacter Infection (campylobacteriosis): A bacterial disease associated with cats, dogs, and farm animals.

Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae): A bacterial disease associated with cat scratches and bites.

Coxiella burnetti Infection (Q fever): A bacterial disease occasionally associated with cats.

Cryptosporidium Infection (cryptosporidiosis): A parasitic disease associated with cats, dogs, and farm animals.

Dipylidium Infection (tapeworm): A parasitic disease associated with cats, dogs and fleas.

Hookworm Infection: A parasitic disease associated with cats, dogs and their environment.

Leptospira Infection (leptospirosis): A bacterial disease associated wild and domestic animals including cats.

Plague (Yersinia pestis) Infection: A rare bacterial disease associated with rodents and cats and fleas.

Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii): A bacterial disease occasionally associated with cats.

Rabies: A viral disease associated with various animals, including cats.

Ringworm: A fungal disease associated various animals, including with cats.

Roundworm: See Toxocara Infection.

Salmonella Infection (salmonellosis): A bacterial disease associated with various animals, including cats.

Tapeworm (flea tapeworm): See Dipylidium Infection.

Toxocara Infection (toxocariasis, roundworm): A parasitic disease associated with cats, dogs and their environment.

Toxoplasma Infection (toxoplasmosis): A parasitic disease associated with cats and their environment.

Listed below are the 12 steps the CDC recommends to minimize risk. Virtually all are simple common sense and hygiene.

1. Keep baby chicks and adult chickens away from persons with weaker immune

systems, including the elderly, pregnant women, diabetics, patients receiving

chemotherapy, and people who are infected with HIV.

2. Do not keep chickens if a household has children less than five years of age.

3. Make sure that any interaction between chicks or chickens and small children is

supervised and that children wash their hands afterwards. Children less than five

years of age tend to put their hands and other potentially contaminated objects

into their mouths.

4. Supervise hand washing for small children to make sure that it is adequate. See

our CDC website for proper hand washing guidelines:

5. Always wash your hands with soap and water after touching chickens or anything

in their environment. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol based

hand sanitizer. Bacteria on your hands can be easily transferred to objects and

other people in your home.

6. Wash contaminated items with hot soapy water or with a mild bleach solution.

7. Do not eat or drink around your chickens.

8. Keep chickens away from food preparation areas.

9. Do not wash items from chicken coops like water and food dishes in the kitchen

sink.

10. Do not allow chickens to roam freely around the house.

11. Frequently clean the area where chickens are kept.

12. Visit your physician if you experience abdominal pain, fever, and/or diarrhea.