Attività assistite con gli animali e salute pubblica: monitoraggio sanitario condotto nell'area verde di un Ospedale Psichiatrico Giudiziario in Campania.

The animal assisted activities (AAA) are aimed at improving the physical condition or mental patients. The presence of an animal can relieve stress, anxiety, fear, boredom and pain of people who come to fi nd themselves in an uncomfortable situation. However, the contact with animals can be a source of zoonotic infections, especially when the animals are not subjected to regular microbiological controls. Our study therefore aims at monitoring the health of the animals housed in green area of Criminal Mental Hospital against zoonotic pathogens in order to assess the potential risk to operators, doctors and inmates themselves. The isolation of bacteria (Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp and Escherichia coli O157) were conducted by cultural and molecular methods. Based on surveys conducted for the isolation of Campylobacter spp. 9 out of 70 samples were positive for Campylobacter jejuni with a prevalence of 12.9% (CI = 6.4 - 23.5%) of the samples analyzed. Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli O157 were consistently negative. Animals investigated in our study could be potential vectors of zoonoses, with special reference to C. jejuni infection. Although it is well known from literature data that poultry is the main reservoir of Campylobacter spp., during the AAA contact with animals is frequent, so it is very important to focus on the regular health monitoring of animals, in order to protect public and animal health.