Date sent:      	Wed, 2 Aug 2000

Abnormal Signs Found in Animals of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome Patients:  A Look at 463 Animals

Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vol. 6 No. 2, 2000, pp. 73-81

R. Tom Glass, DDS, PhD


ABSTRACT.

Objective:   To evaluate the abnormal signs found in the domestic
animals (pets) of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
(ME/CFS) patients.

Design:   Retrospective study of the domestic animals (pets) of
criteria-met ME/CFS patients using a standardized questionnaire which
included patient comments.

Setting:   University medical center and ME/CFS support groups 
throughout the United States.

Patients:   A total of 127 patients met the surveillance criteria of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the establishment
of the diagnosis of ME/CFS and were included in the study. This group of
patients had a total of 463 domestic animals (pets), of which 348 animals
demonstrated abnormal signs and 115 were considered healthy.

Measurements:   Information from the standardized questionnaire was
compiled and appropriate statistical tests, including mean, median, Z
test, multivariant analysis, and Chi-square test, were used.

Results:   One hundred six (83%) of the 127 ME/CFS surveyed reported
that at least one of their animals (predominantly domestic pets) showed a
wide range of unusual or atypical signs, many of which mimicked the signs
and symptoms of ME/CFS. The sick animals’ signs were divided into General
(40%), Neurological (35%), Gastrointestinal (10%),
Reticuloendothelial/Blood (9%), Neoplasia (4%), and Endocrine (2%).

One of the most striking result of the study was that 113 of the 127
ME/CFS patients surveyed felt their ME/CFS symptoms were somehow
associated with their animals contact. Ninety (71%) of the 127 ME/CFS
patients reported that they were the primary caretakers for multiple
animals. Other less common findings were: the onset of ME/CFS being
associated with obtaining the animal; the onset of ME/CFS being associated
with a flea bite episode; prior residents having sick animals and ME/CFS;
other family member contracting ME/CFS from their close association with
the sick animal (as opposed to their association with the family members
who had ME/CFS); ME/CFS symptoms decreasing after the pet leaving or
dying.

Conclusions:   A large number of animals of ME/CFS patients have atypical
or unusual diseases which at least mimic ME/CFS. Most of the 127 ME/CFS
patients surveyed have significant animal interactions.


KEYWORDS. Domestic animals, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue
syndrome


INTRODUCTION

While anecdotal reports have often linked domestic animals with Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), no formal scientific
studies have been reported in the literature. In a recent study, Glass
described the interaction between criteria diagnosed ME/CFS patients and
their animals. In this study, ME/CFS patients had a significantly higher
contact with animals than reported by the American Veterinary Medical
Association (MEICFS = 96.8% contact/National Average = 57.9% contact) (4).
This study also found that the number of dogs and cats owned by both male
and female ME/CFS patients was significantly higher than reported by the
American Veterinary Medical Association (Dogs: ME/CFS males = 9.5; ME/CFS
females = 7.9; National Average = 1.52) (Cats: ME/CFS males = 6.1; ME/CFS
females = 8.7; National Average = 1.95). Finally, this study found that
83% of the animals of ME/CFS patients showed signs which mimicked ME/CFS
in humans. Ninety-four percent of these ME/CFS patients had either been
the primary caregiver for the sick animals or had intimate contact
(sleeping with, being bitten or scratched by, or kissing the animal).


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 ______________________________

R. Tom Glass is Professor of Pathology arid Director of the Graduate
Program in Forensic Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Oklahoma
State University, and Professor Emeritus of Oral and Maxillofacial
Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. 

Address
correspondence to: Dr. R. Tom Glass, College of Osteopathic Medicine,
Oklahoma State University, 1111 West 17th Street, Tulsa, OK 74107-1898.
The author wishes to acknowledge and thank all of those ME/CFS patients
and their loved ones who have been so supportive of his research by
contributing their stories, their time, their encouragement and their
money. It is to all of these people that this article is dedicated.
Research funded by: The J. Dean Robertson Society, University of Oklahoma,
Grant C5185801.

Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vol. 6(2) 2000
© 2000 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.