INTRODUCTION Among allergic patients, pet avoidance is commonly recommended. It is difficult for patients to accomplish this because of their emotional attachment to the pets, and its effectiveness is controversial. OBJECTIVE To explore the applicability and effectiveness of pet avoidance measures among sensitized patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated 288 patients with asthma, rhinit...

BACKGROUND Pigeons (Columba livia) have been kept as pet and reared for food in several countries including Iran. Ectoparasites are regarded as the basic causes of retardation in growth, lowered vitality and poor conditions of the birds. Pseudolynchia canariensis a hippoboscidae fly is one of the important ectoparasites of pigeons and is responsible for the transmission of pathogens to birds an...

Understanding factors driving successful invasions is one of the cornerstones of invasion biology. Bird invasions have been frequently used as study models, and the foundation of current knowledge largely relies on species purposefully introduced during the 19th and early 20th centuries in countries colonized by Europeans. However, the profile of exotic bird species has changed radically in the...

Last Updated: August 2013 Importance Rat bite fever is a human illness that can be caused by two different bacteria, Streptobacillus moniliformis and Spirillum minus. Although this disease is readily cured with antibiotics, untreated infections are sometimes fatal. Both S. moniliformis and Sp. minus are acquired primarily from rodents, especially rats. At one time, rat bite fever was mainly a h...

From ancient herders calling their fl ocks to today’s pet owners conversing with their cats or dogs, humans have always tried to extend their communication to other species. Francis of Assisi famously held a sermon to birds, whom he called his brothers and sisters. Stories, real, enhanced or imagined, abound through the ages, from deities taking animal shapes to modern horse whisperers. In many...

In recent years there has been an increased interest in studies related to the welfare of avian species commonly kept as companion animals, specifically those in the order Psittaciformes, commonly referred to as ‘parrots’. During this time the biology and behaviour of wild parrots has also become better understood, aiding the assessment of welfare in captive environments. The impact of the pet ...

Live animal trade is considered a major mode of introduction of viruses from enzootic foci into disease-free areas. Due to societal and behavioural changes, some wild animal species may nowadays be considered as pet species. The species diversity of animals involved in international trade is thus increasing. This could benefit pathogens that have a broad host range such as arboviruses. The obje...