[Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in pet birds in Yazd, Iran]

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Pet birds can harbor diseases that can be transmitted to their owners. Although pet ownership is not without risks, many of Iranian households own pet birds and are therefore at risk of a number of bacterial, protozoal, fungal, viral, or parasitic zoonoses. Escherichia Coli O157H7 is responsible for outbreaks of human intestinal diseases and the potentially fatal haemolytic-uraemic syndrome [HUS] worldwide. Considering people's interests to keep pet birds and the potential ability of pet birds to transmit Escherichia Coli O157H7 to humans, the present study was conducted to evaluate Escherichia Coli O157H7 infection in Yazd pet birds