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We detected antibodies to H5 and N1 subtype influenza A viruses in 4/194 (2%) dogs from Washington, USA, that hunted or engaged in hunt tests and training with wild birds. Historical data provided by dog owners showed seropositive dogs had high levels of exposure to waterfowl.

SARS-CoV-2 likely emerged from an animal reservoir. However, the frequency of and risk factors for interspecies transmission remain unclear. We conducted a community-based study in Idaho, USA, of pets in households that had >1 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans. Among 119 dogs and 57 cats, clinical signs consistent with SARS-CoV-2 were reported for 20 dogs (21%) and 19 cats (39%). Of 81 dogs and 32 cats sampled, 40% of dogs and 43% of cats were seropositive, and 5% of dogs and 8% of cats were PCR positive. This discordance might be caused by delays in sampling. Respondents commonly reported close human‒animal contact and willingness to take measures to prevent transmission to their pets. Reported preventive measures showed a slightly protective but nonsignificant trend for both illness and seropositivity in pets. Sharing of beds and bowls had slight harmful effects, reaching statistical significance for sharing bowls and seropositivity.

Traditional zoonotic disease research focuses on detection of recognized pathogens and may miss opportunities to understand broader microbial transmission dynamics between humans, animals, and the environment. We studied human-macaque microbiome overlap in Kosum Phisai District, Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand, where a growing population of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Kosumpee Forest Park interact with humans from an adjacent village. We surveyed workers in or near the park with elevated exposure to macaques to characterize tasks resulting in exposure to macaque feces in addition to dietary and lifestyle factors that influence gut microbiome composition. Fecal samples were collected from 12 exposed workers and 6 controls without macaque exposure, as well as 8 macaques from Kosumpee Forest Park and 4 from an isolated forest patch with minimal human contact. The V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene from fecal sample extracted DNA was amplified and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq to characterize the microbial community. A permuted betadisper test on the weighted UniFrac distances revealed significant differences in the dispersion patterns of gut microbiota from exposed and control macaques (p = 0.03). The high variance in gut microbiota composition of macaques in contact with humans has potential implications for gut microbiome stability and susceptibility to disease, described by the Anna Karenina principle (AKP). Human samples had homogenous variance in beta diversity but different spatial medians between groups (p = 0.02), indicating a shift in microbial composition that may be explained by fundamental lifestyle differences between the groups unrelated to exposure status. SourceTracker was used to estimate the percent of gut taxa in exposed humans that was contributed by macaques. While one worker showed evidence of elevated contribution, the overall trend was not significant. Task observations among workers revealed opportunities to employ protective measures or training to reduce exposure to occupational hazards. These results suggest the potential for hygiene measures to mitigate negative aspects of contact between humans and macaques in order to optimize the health of both populations.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210679.].

Introduction/Objective: This study evaluates 4 years of data from the Seattle One Health Clinic (OHC), a novel model for clinical care which integrates human and animal health care services for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness (YPEH) and their pets. Methods: We analyzed deidentified data from standardized OHC visit forms, electronic medical records, and veterinary records from 2019 to 2022. We assessed the overlaps between human and animal healthcare provided and the impact of environmental stressors on both human and animal patients. Results: Over 50% of all human clients established healthcare for the first time in 2 years, with 85% attending one or more follow-up appointments with non-emergency healthcare services within 2 years following their initial OHC appointment. All animals received care during their visit. Needs addressed at the human-animal interface included zoonotic infections, animal allergies, and mental/behavioral health. The most common client-pet reported environmental concerns were food insecurity, heat, and cold. Conclusion: Our results suggest integrated human and animal healthcare is a feasible and acceptable model of care for YPEH to access acute and preventative care at the human-animal-environmental interface. This approach holds promise for increasing health-seeking behaviors, and engagement in preventative, therapeutic, and follow-up care.

While experiencing homelessness with a pet can present unique challenges, it can also provide physical health, mental health, and social benefits. A Photovoice project with adolescents and adults experiencing homelessness with a pet was conducted in Seattle, Washington, USA in 2018–2019 to explore the experience of homelessness with a pet, the impact of the human-animal bond on the health of each, and to drive policy changes to help support people experiencing homelessness (PEH) with pets. Twenty-five people spanning a range of age groups, genders, and living situations were recruited primarily through homeless-services providers, 19 of whom completed the study and created over 900 images. One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant to review printed photos. A key theme emerging from the interviews and photos was the importance and strength of the human-animal bond, providing mental and physical health benefits, and motivation for daily activities or making/maintaining positive changes. Challenges related to homelessness with a pet included barriers to access services, housing, and employment. Participants provided policy recommendations to improve support for PEH with pets. Multiple public exhibitions of images from all participants were held, reaching service providers, policy makers, and the general public. Visitor feedback included statements of positive change in attitudes towards PEH with pets among housed individuals. Collectively, the images, stories and themes deepen our understanding of homelessness with pets, leading to increased empathy and potential for policies that benefit the health of PEH and their pets.

Veterinary workers must care for their animal patients while simultaneously protecting their own health and safety. This process can be complicated by the presence and perception of pet owners who may not agree with a given tactic used to protect veterinary workers from injury. We conducted focus groups of pet owners in the Seattle area during November 2016 to gain a deeper understanding of their perceptions relating to veterinary worker safety practices. Focus group interviews were recorded and transcribed and study themes identified and summarised. Twenty pet owners participated in three focus groups. Study themes arising from the focus group discussions could be categorised into human, animal, behavioural and environmental domains as outlined in a One Health Occupational Safety and Health (OHOSH) model. Communication was a recurring study theme identified, suggesting that lacking or impaired veterinary personnel-client communication plays a key role in the safe delivery of veterinary services and can negatively impact the use of safety practices among veterinary personnel. Our study suggests that it is important for veterinary personnel to communicate to clients the reasons for policies related to worker safety. Such communication can help engage the veterinary client in order to effectively avoid situations that precipitate injury.

OBJECTIVES:Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) remains one of the most prevalent occupational diseases. Occupational hearing conservation programs (HCPs) can reduce the risk of NIHL, but there remains no consensus on assessing HCP effectiveness. We conducted a multisite, mixed-method assessment of HCP programs. METHODS:At 13 manufacturing plants, we performed assessments, including interviews with program staff and worker focus groups and surveys. We analyzed the association between these assessments and age-corrected NIHL rates. RESULTS:Only a few items from the HCP staff interviews correlated with NIHL rates. For the employee survey, management commitment to NIHL prevention and being counseled about NIHL were strongly associated with NIHL rates. CONCLUSION:Management commitment and counseling of workers about NIHL may be key factors in program effectiveness. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods appears to be useful for assessing HCPs.