Digestible Dog NewsNips™

Canine To Human Fungal Disease?

TheDogPress.com received a rash of inquiries about contagious fungi after a July 2021 dogs-to-human outbreak of Candida auris in CA and TX.

August 3, 2021

Barbara J. Andrews, Editor-In-Chief, SAAB Member

On July 23, 2021 the CDC released this statement “Candida auris is an emerging, often multidrug-resistant yeast that is highly transmissible…”

Dr. Russell Faust, Oakland County CA Health Division, made this dire distinction “I look at this as potentially our Ebola. So we need to be very, very cautious when we're talking about C. auris.”

The ii NetPlaces Network (Instant Info) phones lit up and TheDogPlace.org was deluged with emails about transmissible diseases. Our quick reply was that this is not about Canidae i.e.“canines” and that Dr. Faust’s warning was for people “working with multidrug resistant (MDR) fungus Candida auris in an animal facility.”

It might be a stretch but extra safeguards re this infection could apply to veterinarians and anyone visiting a veterinary office. On that basis we decided to let you know more.

The CDC reports Candida auris ^{{Ref #1}} is deadly in 1 in 3 of people ^{{Ref #2}}. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also warns “It is especially a threat to hospitalized people and those who live in long-term care facilities.”

The fungus was first seen in America in 2010 and was characterized as “pretty much unbeatable and difficult to identify” by Dr. Lynn Sosa, Connecticut state epidemiologist. According to The National Institutes of Health (NIH) “In less than a decade since its identification in 2009, the emerging fungal pathogen Candida auris has become a major public health threat due to its multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotype, high transmissibility, and high mortality.” ^{{Ref #3}}

We know there are stories circulating about kissing a dog and diseases “caught from a dog.” That is as likely as catching it from a space alien. Our staff’s consensus is that many dogs are over-medicated and thus have a weakened immune system but that does not mean they carry or transmit this disease.

That said, TheDogPlace.org has warned of the “prescribing-for-profit” practice since 1998. Over the last 22 years, selling product instead of service has become common “practice.” That is because many veterinarians are now corporate-owned and just work for the company. That means animals are as over-medicated as are humans.

So… perhaps our readers have reason to be a little concerned. In researching Candida auris we found an interesting snippet on a government health site. See Ref #4 below.

And another piece of solid advice: “The recent administration of antibacterial drug therapy is a potential risk factor for development of candiduria in dogs and cats. Judicious use of antibacterial drugs might help to prevent candiduria.” ^{{Ref #4}}

In late July 2021 Stat.news reported “What makes these newly reported cases more concerning is the fact none of the people had been treated with antifungal drugs prior to the diagnosis. That means the strain of C. auris they caught was already pan-resistant.”

So you and your pets should be fine but we do advise avoiding veterinary and doctor’s offices (where germs are) as much as possible during these health challenges that seem to have exploded in 2020 and 2021.

Reference Article Information: {1} CDC Report/Candida auris   {2} Candida auris is deadly per CDC

{3} “fungal pathogen Candida auris” Nat. Institute Of Health   {4} “potential risk factors” nih.gov/30758081

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