Zoonotic and traumatic risks linked to children's contact with non-traditional companion animal (NTCA)

This report aims to present the risks caused by the child's contact with animals other than dogs and cats (non-traditional companion animal or NTCA). The popularity of these NTCA is constantly growing, whether in the family home (reptiles, amphibians, small rodents, etc.) or in public places (educational farms, petting zoos, zoos, pet stores, aquariums, etc.). These risks are increased in young children aged under 5 years due to their greater vulnerability, their unawareness of the traumatic or infectious risk as well as their natural behavior of always putting their hands in their mouth, the recommendation to wash their hands being inadequate in this case. Unlike certain zoonoses considered very common, such as ringworm, which can be observed simultaneously in the animal and its owner, there is certainly an underestimation or even ignorance of certain risks for the child when it comes to a ACNT apparently healthy but shedding a pathogen. The examples are numerous: rats and Seoul hantavirus, hamsters and lymphocytic choriomeningitis, birds and Chlamydia psittaci, , ruminants and enterohemorrhagic colibacillosis, rodents, poultry or reptiles and salmonellosis, etc. This may explain an underestimation or even ignorance of these risks for the child at home or in a public place where we forget to apply biosecurity measures to avoid direct or indirect contamination. Therefore, it is important: to warn the public of these risks; to display the necessary biosecurity measures in establishments welcoming children and animals; to strengthen health control of the trade of these NTCA; to create an epidemiological surveillance platform bringing together all the stakeholders concerned (diagnostic laboratories, doctors, veterinarians, etc.) and by promoting the sharing of informative data; to advise against any close contact between children under 5 years old and in particular certain NTCA at home (reptiles, amphibians, birds) as well as in public places (ruminants, etc.); avoid the establishment of catering areas near petting zoos intended for children.