Date sent:      	Tue, 1 Aug 2000 

The Human/Animal Interaction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome: A Look at 127 Patients

Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vol. 6 No. 2, 2000, pp. 65-72

R. Tom Glass, DDS, PhD


ABSTRACT.
Objective:  To evaluate the interaction between Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients and domestic
animals (pets).

Design:  Retrospective study 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.

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. This
information was compared to national statistical information on animal
interaction compiled by the American Veterinary Medicine Association.

Results:    The most striking result of the study was the association
between ME/CFS patients and animals (usually indoor pets) and the number
of animals per ME/CFS patient. Ninety-seven percent of the ME/CFS patients
had animal contact (expected national contact: 57.9%), with only 2 males
and 2 females not reporting animal contact. Reported dog
ownership/household for ME/CFS males was 9.5 and for ME/CFS females was
7.9 (expected national average: 1.52). Reported cat ownership/household
for ME/CFS males was 6.1 and for ME/CFS females was 8.7 (expected national
average: 1.95). One hundred and six of the respondents (83.5%) reported
that their animals (pets) had atypical diseases with symptoms which
mimicked ME/CFS in humans. Of the 106 ME/CFS patients, 100 (94.3%) either
were the primary caregiver for the sick animals or had intimate contact
(sleeping with, being bitten or scratched by, or kissing the animal).

Conclusions:  ME/CFS patients have a significant animal interaction and a
large number of these animals have atypical or unusual diseases which at
least mimic ME/CFS.

KEYWORDS. PETS, viral disease


INTRODUCTION

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disease
complex which was first defined in 1988, but may have been recognized
under other names for a number of years (1). The disease process has
multiple manifestations, however, the hallmark symptom is that of fatigue,
allowing only 50% of daily activity. The fatigue must last in excess of
six months. Other symptoms which are common include behavioral changes
(depression and cognitive disorders being the most common),
lymphadenopathy, pharyngitis, myalgia and muscle weakness, arthralgia,
body temperature changes (both hypothermia and hyperthermia), and an array
of immune competency changes (including none at all) (2,3). While this
definition was debated in a 1992 NIH Conference, the consensus of the
Workshop was to retain the 1988 definition (4).

Anecdotal reports have often linked domestic animals with ME/CFS, but no
formal scientific studies have been reported (5,6). Specifically, cats and
dogs have been implicated by their owners. The usual association has been
the presence of the animal in the household of ME/CFS patients followed by
strange diseases in the animal, many of which mimic ME/CFS. The symptoms
in the animals have often necessitated euthanasia. Both dogs and cats are
known to be susceptible to a wide range of viruses, but with the exception
of rabies, no zooriotic viral infection has been demonstrated between
these typical domestic animals and humans (7).

Recent observations from our animal biopsy service have demonstrated two
interesting findings in animals of ME/CFS patients (unpublished data).
Gingival biopsies from cats have demonstrated an unusual epithelial viral
vesicle associated with an equally unusual submucosal inflammatory
response. Several melanomas have been found in dogs of ME/CFS patients
with the unique feature of a striking progression of the tumor in the
absence of an inflammatory response.
 ________________________________ 

R.Tom Glass is Professor of Pathology and 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. 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.