Can pet hamsters be dangerous?

Do you ever think that the cute hamster your child is playing with could be a source of life-threatening infection? If not, you should! A rodent is a rodent after all!

Dr. Swanson and colleagues from National Center for Infectious Diseases and the CDC recently conducted an investigation to examine if some of the human cases of Salmonella infection originated from the rodents. These investigators published their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine (January 2007).

They found that a strain of S. enterica serotype typhimurium in a patient's pet mouse and from seven hamsters from pet stores. In addition, these bacteria were also found in rodent cages and reusable transport containers. These strains of bacteria isolated from humans and rodents were resistant to commonly used antibiotics like ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, and tetracycline.

Bottomline, just because it is cute and cuddly does not mean it is harmless! Also make sure the children wash their hands after playing with these pets. Consider all rodent fecal matter to be potentially infectious.

Do you have pet hamsters at home? Do you and your kids wash hands after playing with them? Would this report make you change your attitude towards pet rodents/hamsters?