There’s no evidence that humans can transmit the monkeypox virus to their pets after an Italian greyhound contracted the disease from its owners.
A report published within the Lancet medical journal discussed how a pet dog contracted monkeypox after sharing the bed of its owners —a gay French couple engaging in a non-monogamous relationship.
In keeping with the couple, they noticed that their pet dog had developed pustules on its stomach. They admitted that the animal shared a bed with the 2 of them, so it may need licked one or each of them before licking itself.
The Parisian man, aged 27 and 44, have made sexual contact with other partners amid their relationship. They were confirmed to have the virus in June, and so they suffered from extensive ulcers and rashes.
Their pet dog only began showing signs of monkeypox infection 12 days after. A PCR test later confirmed that the animal also contracted the disease, as per Recent York Post.
The 44-year-old man is a Latino who lives with HIV. The younger man is White and doesn’t have HIV. They live in the identical household, but they’re non-exclusive to one another.
Each men presented with anal ulceration about six days after having sex with other guys. The older man then developed a rash on the face, ears and legs, while his younger partner had them on the legs and back. Additionally they experienced weakness, headaches and fever alongside the rash.
Ever since their dog showed monkeypox symptoms, the couple had been careful to stop their pet from making contact with other animals or humans. The Italian greyhound developed skin lesions, including tender bumps with white pus on its abdomen. It also had anal skin ulcer.
In countries where monkeypox is endemic, only wild animals, including rodents and primates, have been found to hold the virus. Within the U.S. and Europe, the virus has been detected in prairie dogs and captive primates.
Monkeypox infection in domesticated animals, equivalent to dogs and acts, was unheard of before this case. The researchers indicated of their study that the primary case should prompt debate on the necessity to isolate pets from their owners who’ve the virus.