Moon's Graden

by **JLC0** » Sun, 15 Dec 1996 04:00:00

We recently purchased a hamster and are having a great deal of fun with
him. Someone told me that my son, who is on immunosuppressive *** could
get "diseases" from the hamster. Does anyone know if humans can get
illnesses from hamsters?

Jackie and Webley (the hamster)

by **David G. Imb** » Mon, 16 Dec 1996 04:00:00

->We recently purchased a hamster and are having a great deal of fun with
->him. Someone told me that my son, who is on immunosuppressive *** could
->get "diseases" from the hamster. Does anyone know if humans can get
->illnesses from hamsters?
->

I've read that there is generally no danger in this regard. Hamsters are more
in danger of catching some human viral infections (such as the common cold)
as they are not immune to them as many other animals are.

General hygeine precautions are always advisable with any fur bearing creature,
because fur can be a life-supportive environment for any number of
organisms, as can waste matter, which the hamster inadvertantly has more
contact with than humans.

DGI

********************************

David G. Imber
Maniform Creative Services
http://www.moonsgarden.com/

********************************

by **coris..** » Tue, 17 Dec 1996 04:00:00

Hamsters do sometimes carry a form of meningitis. A good breeder cleans
his hands between handling the hamsters and the mice who give this to the
hamsters. Hamsters can also get colds just like humans can. I don't know
of any diseases however that only target immunosuppressed patients. You
should probably ask your doctor and/or vet. I know cat feces carry a
disease dangerous to babies and HIV patients.

by **Dawn William** » Wed, 18 Dec 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

> We recently purchased a hamster and are having a great deal of fun with
> him. Someone told me that my son, who is on immunosuppressive *** could
> get "diseases" from the hamster. Does anyone know if humans can get
> illnesses from hamsters?

> Jackie and Webley (the hamster)

According to C.A. Johnson-Delaney, DVM in the Journal of Small ***
Animal Medicine 2(3)103-111, in the article "Potential zoonoses from
nontraditional pets with particular attention to the immunosuppressed pet
owner," there are a few potential diseases a person can pick up of a
hamster. She lumps rabbits and rodents together and lists possible risks
as pasteurella (more a problem with rabbits) which is a bacteria that can
infect wounds, ringworm, Salmonella (she recommends a culture of the
animal's fresh feces be done), mites (such as Sarcoptes), and internal
parasites such as coccidia and "Hymenolepid tapeworms." Of course this
doesn't mean that every hamster is going to be afflicted with these
diseases to pass on to their owners. The biggest risk seems to be from a
bite or scratch getting infected... so all wounds should be scrubbed and
disinfected (wounds on the child that is), and bigger wounds might need
antibiotics.

Hope this helps!

Dawn

It should also be noted the author of the article notes that "Very few
zoonotic diseases have been documented from pet rabbits and rodents,"
most of them are reported rom bite wounds in rodents and rabbit scratches.

by **O. Souir** » Thu, 19 Dec 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

> We recently purchased a hamster and are having a great deal of fun with
> him. Someone told me that my son, who is on immunosuppressive ***
could
> get "diseases" from the hamster. Does anyone know if humans can get
> illnesses from hamsters?

> Jackie and Webley (the hamster)

What about indigestions ? While eating far too much hamsters ? :)

Good newsgroup. Regards. O. Souiry

by **lorrain..** » Thu, 19 Dec 1996 04:00:00

Hamsters do not normally suffer from any diseases that can be passed to
humans.

The main worry with a hamster would be that a bad bite may necessitate a
tetanus injection.

Lorraine
Heart of England Hamster Club

Moon's Graden

human diseases from hamsters?

human diseases from hamsters?

human diseases from hamsters?

human diseases from hamsters?

human diseases from hamsters?

human diseases from hamsters?

human diseases from hamsters?