microbiology : pets as carriers
Pets as carriers of soil inhabitant microbes into our homes
GIZELL VASQUEZ
Biology department, Pathogenic microbiology, Crosby Jones, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX 76909
There are approximately 78.2 million owned dogs in the United States (1), and according to the United States government the current population of the nation is 308.7 million. The portion of dogs to humans is 4:1. These statistics are of importance because these pets physiologically observed their environment by smell (2). These environmental areas usually contain soil which led to my consideration of possible microorganisms that may be introduced to these animals that later serve as carriers and transmissions of the microorganism to people and/or our home. Sampling was performed on two different breeds of indoor dogs to test the differences before and after becoming exposed to the outdoor (soil containing) environment. By the tests I was able to compare the amount of differing microbes introduced to the dogs (as possible contaminations into the home). The data showed a heavy increase in varied/amount of microbes present in the snout samples of both dogs, after exposure to the outdoor environment. (Fig.)Thus the microbe contamination in pet owners home can show to have a significant increase in variety and amount of microbes vs. non- pet owners.
The focus of this experiment is not whether a pet is habitually indoor or outdoor, but in the areas where the animal comes into contact when observing its environment. Animals are usually allowed out to complete their duties of defecating/urinating and before completing these duties, they observe the environment (usually areas that include soil).
I am an owner of two dogs, and with courses in which I was enrolled this semester had me observing my surrounding more readily. In my pathogenic microbiology lecture I learned the various inhabitants in natural soil. Observing my indoor dogs as I would take them outside to do their business (or “Ti
GIZELL VASQUEZ
Biology department, Pathogenic microbiology, Crosby Jones, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX 76909
There are approximately 78.2 million owned dogs in the United States (1), and according to the United States government the current population of the nation is 308.7 million. The portion of dogs to humans is 4:1. These statistics are of importance because these pets physiologically observed their environment by smell (2). These environmental areas usually contain soil which led to my consideration of possible microorganisms that may be introduced to these animals that later serve as carriers and transmissions of the microorganism to people and/or our home. Sampling was performed on two different breeds of indoor dogs to test the differences before and after becoming exposed to the outdoor (soil containing) environment. By the tests I was able to compare the amount of differing microbes introduced to the dogs (as possible contaminations into the home). The data showed a heavy increase in varied/amount of microbes present in the snout samples of both dogs, after exposure to the outdoor environment. (Fig.)Thus the microbe contamination in pet owners home can show to have a significant increase in variety and amount of microbes vs. non- pet owners.
The focus of this experiment is not whether a pet is habitually indoor or outdoor, but in the areas where the animal comes into contact when observing its environment. Animals are usually allowed out to complete their duties of defecating/urinating and before completing these duties, they observe the environment (usually areas that include soil).
I am an owner of two dogs, and with courses in which I was enrolled this semester had me observing my surrounding more readily. In my pathogenic microbiology lecture I learned the various inhabitants in natural soil. Observing my indoor dogs as I would take them outside to do their business (or “Ti