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FACT-CHECK: COVID-19 is not a virus: did you know and should you care?

Warning: this article contains pedantry.

You may have heard of the pesky pandemic that’s sweeping civilisation before it like a skidding snow plough headed for your home.

If you haven’t already climbed into your happy place and switched off all social media, you may have seen headlines like:

TESTING TIMES One in four Brits could get coronavirus tests in weeks to shorten lockdown after Government…

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First reported UK case of dog-to-dog Leishmaniasis transmission

Infection News. First case of Leishmaniasis in pet dog that has never left the UK #leishmaniasis #PetHealth #dog #sciencenews

The first case of Leishmaniasis (or leishmaniosis) in a pet dog which has never left the United Kingdom has been reported in the Vet Record this week.

Leishmaniasis is caused by a protozoan parasite and is usually transmitted via the bite of female sandflies. It can infect humans and other animals including dogs and is not endemic i.e. native to the UK.

In dogs, the infection can also be passed…

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INFECTION OF THE WEEK: Tuberculosis (TB)

INFECTION OF THE WEEK: Tuberculosis (TB) What do the poet John Keats, Eleanor Roosevelt and Franz Kafka have in common with more than a million people worldwide every year? #worldtbday #tuberculosis #infectionoftheweek

90 Second summary

What do the poet John Keats, Eleanor Roosevelt and Franz Kafka have in common with more than a million people worldwide every year?

They all died of tuberculosis (TB).

You saw that coming didn’t you?

The World Health Organization (WHO)describe this airborne infection as one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. Yet, the majority of these cases were curable, even those cases…

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INFECTION OF THE WEEK: Leishmaniasis

60 second summary

Is it a virus, is it a bacteria? No, this one’s a protozoan parasite that infects you when you’re bitten by an infected female Phlebotomine sand fly.

Promastigote of Leishmania parasite Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.com

There are no vaccines or prophylactic drugs you can take to prevent catching Leishmaniasis.

The Leishmania protozoa, invades your cells hijacking the very macrophage

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Do raw meat dog foods pose a health risk for pets and their owners?

Your dog’s dinner could contain enough pathogenic bacteria to harm your health and your pet, say Swedish researchers in a study recently published in the Veterinary Record.

Image credit:  Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock.com

Feeding Fido a raw meat-based diet has become an increasingly popular option in recent years but this type of raw, offal based, dog food does not undergo the same treatment to reduce potentially dangerous microorganisms as its cooked competitors.

In this study, the researchers tested 60 frozen samples of raw dog food from ten different European manufacturers and checked for bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae. Levels of these bacteria in food are used as an indicator of poor hygiene standards.

All of the samples contained Enterobacteriaceae and over half of the samples contained levels high enough to have unsatisfactory microbial hygiene according to European Union regulations.

The researchers also tested for bacteria that could pose a health risk to animals and humans.

EU regulations don't permit Salmonella in any animal feed but Salmonella species were found in four of the 60 samples tested.

Campylobacter was found in just three samples, but it is often killed by freezing, which the researchers say could account for the low number of contaminated samples.

Levels of bacteria present in the tested samples varied widely between manufacturers and between different types of dog food from the same manufacturer.

The researchers say that their results show that it is critical to maintain good hygiene when storing, handling and feeding your pet with a raw-meat diet, in order to limit the potential health risks to animals and humans, especially young and immunocompromised individuals

British Veterinary Association Junior Vice President Daniella Dos Santos commented: "This research offers further compelling evidence to support vets concerns about the potential animal and public health risks associated with feeding pets a raw meat-based diet.

"Bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella can cause significant gastrointestinal disease in animals. Pets can also shed potentially harmful pathogens present in raw food into their environment, so there is a risk to owners both in handling the food and coming into contact with the animal. Pet owners who choose to feed a raw food diet should be aware of the potential health risks and take full precautions while storing and handling the food.

"BVA would also not recommend making a raw food diet at home without veterinary guidance due to the potential for nutritional deficiencies in homemade diets.

"We would advise any owner wanting to try a raw meat-based diet for their pet to first consult a veterinary surgeon."

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