Table 5 Demographics, animal husbandry, attachment and practices of exotic companion mammal and reptile-owning households (Ontario, Canada)
From: Pet husbandry and infection control practices related to zoonotic disease risks in Ontario, Canada
Variable | Exotic Companion Mammal1(N=29) | Reptile (N=22) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
NR | N (%) | NR | N (%) | |
Household Demographics | ||||
Child under 16 yrs living in household | 29 | 19 (65.5) | 22 | 10 (45.5) |
Child under 5 yrs living in household | 29 | 3 (10.3) | 22 | 2 (9.1) |
Adult ≥ 65 yrs living in household | 29 | 2 (6.9) | 22 | 0 |
Individual living in household ever diagnosed | 23 | 8 (34.8) | 19 | 9 (47.4) |
with an immunocompromising condition | ||||
Individual < 5 yrs, ≥ 65 yrs, or ever diagnosed | 26 | 12 (46.2) | 20 | 11 (55.0) |
with an immunocompromising condition | ||||
Previous receipt of pet-associated zoonotic | 27 | 11 (40.7) | 17 | 7 (41.2) |
disease education2 | ||||
Animal Husbandry, Attachment and Practices | ||||
Cage cleaned | 29 | 21 | ||
Daily | 2 (6.9) | 1 (4.8) | ||
Every several days | 6 (20.7) | 3 (14.3) | ||
Weekly | 18 (62.1) | 6 (28.6) | ||
Every 2 weeks | 3 (10.3) | 5 (23.8) | ||
Greater than every 2 weeks | 0 | 6 (28.6) | ||
Animals allowed to roam through house | NA | NA | 22 | 2 (9.1) |
Animals allowed to roam in kitchen | NA | NA | 22 | 2 (9.1) |
Animals/cages washed in kitchen sink | NA | NA | 22 | 3 (13.6) |
Animals/cages washed in bathtub or bathroom | NA | NA | 18 | 5 (27.8) |
sink | ||||
Household’s emotional attachment to pet | 29 | 21 | ||
Very attached | 16 (55.2) | 3 (14.3) | ||
Somewhat attached | 11 (37.9) | 11 (52.4) | ||
Not very attached | 2 (6.9) | 4 (19.1) | ||
Not at all attached | 0 | 3 (14.3) | ||
Questions answered by households with one or more children under 16 yrs | ||||
Any children ever clean the animal’s cage | 19 | 12 (63.2) | 10 | 4 (40.0) |
Wear gloves when cleaning | 12 | 1 (8.3) | 3 | 0 |
Wash hands after cleaning | 12 | 11 (91.7) | 4 | 3 (75.0) |
Animals roam in children’s room | NA | NA | 8 | 0 |
Children touch the pet | 19 | 19 (100) | 9 | 7 (77.8) |
Children wash hands after touching | 19 | 7 | ||
Always | 8 (42.1) | 4 (57.1) | ||
Usually | 8 (42.1) | 0 | ||
Sometimes | 3 (15.8) | 2 (28.6) | ||
Never | 0 | 1 (14.3) | ||
Children’s emotional attachment to the pet | 18 | 10 | ||
Very attached | 11 (61.1) | 1 (10.0) | ||
Somewhat attached | 6 (33.3) | 5 (50.0) | ||
Not very attached | 1 (5.6) | 3 (30.0) | ||
Not at all attached | 0 | 1 (10.0) | ||