Zoonoses and exotic pets in Latin America: assessing transmission risks
Zoonoses, those diseases transmitted from animals to humans, are a major public health concern.
The infectious agents responsible for these diseases, which can be bacteria, viruses, parasites, or other pathogens, can spread to humans through various means, whether by direct contact with infected animals, consuming contaminated food, exposure to contaminated water, or simply being in an infected environment. These diseases can have severe consequences for human health.
Recently, an international research team led by the Doñana Biological Station (CSIC) and Pablo de Olavide University explored the presence of wild-origin pets in Neotropical countries, covering most of South and Central America. Their findings revealed that this practice could pose a threat to both human health and species conservation.
Over a 13-year period, this scientific team conducted extensive sampling across 15 countries. The results were striking: wild-origin pets were found in 95% of the visited locations. These conclusions, detailed in the journal People and Nature, highlight the seriousness of the problem and the urgent need to address it.
The illegal trade of wild-origin pets not only challenges species conservation but also represents a significant risk for zoonotic disease transmission.
It is estimated that over 1.5 million live birds are illegally captured annually for international pet trade. This practice, often overlooked locally, is deeply rooted in regions spanning from southern Mexico to southern Brazil, where the tradition of keeping wild pets dates back to pre-Columbian times.
Although zoonoses are not new, they remain a significant public health threat. These diseases are estimated to cause 2.7 million deaths per year. Increasing human populations and growing connectivity between regions have created conditions conducive to large-scale zoonotic outbreaks.
Additionally, cross-species transmission between humans, livestock, and wildlife can have severe ecological and socioeconomic impacts. Therefore, it is essential to identify activities that facilitate the spread of these diseases and take measures to prevent their transmission among species.
Exotic pets and zoonoses in Latin America: assessing transmission potential between animals and humans
During their research, the international team found approximately 10,000 individuals from 274 native species kept in captivity in over 6,500 households. While most of these pets were parrots, which are not considered high-risk for zoonotic transmission, some cases of psittacosis, a disease transmissible to humans and other domestic animals, have already been reported.
Contact between these wild pets and domestic animals like chickens or other exotic parrots can lead to the transmission of diseases absent in wild populations, potentially impacting species conservation.
Moreover, although these pets have not been identified as carriers of high-risk diseases so far, this does not guarantee they cannot transmit them in the future. Even species such as primates or rodents kept as pets may pose a risk of serious disease transmission to humans, as past epidemics have demonstrated.
The research team warns about the unpredictability of where the next emerging disease outbreak may occur. However, they point out that regions with high biodiversity, such as the tropics, are more likely to be hotspots for new pathogens. These areas are experiencing rapid human population growth and infrastructure development, increasing connectivity between remote areas and large cities.
It is therefore crucial to take measures to prevent potential zoonotic outbreaks. The team suggests focusing on two main areas: discouraging the keeping of wild animals in captivity and improving health surveillance to quickly detect and control any emerging outbreak in humans or animals.
Pedro Romero-Vidal, a researcher at Pablo de Olavide University who led this study, emphasizes the importance of addressing the tradition of keeping wild animals as pets in South and Central America, as it represents a potential risk for disease transmission between humans, domestic animals, and wildlife.
