Bruno Chomel and Ben Sun, chief veterinarian with the California Department of Public Health, conducted extensive research on risks of pathogens passed by animals on to humans.

Two experts listed some of the consequences from animal infection: a man caught meningitis after his dog licked his hip replacement wound; a 9-year-old boy got the bubonic plague in 1974 in New Mexico from his flea-infested cat; a newborn was sickened with meningitis as the pet cat stole the baby’s pacifier and played with it; a 44-year-old woman developed meningitis because she regularly kissed the dog’s face and fed it by transferring food mouth to mouth.

According to the report, more than 60 percent of American households have a pet, and the research shows that 14 percent to 62 percent of them let their dogs and cats sleep with them.

Fifty-three percent of dog owners considered their pet a member of the family, while 56 percent of them admitted they sleep with their dog next to them. About 25 percent of women sleep regularly with a pet, while just 16 percent of men do.

Larry Kornegay, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, stressed that pet owners should use common sense to reduce risks such as washing hands after playing with pets and regular veterinary visits.

He also said the research is “pretty balanced and the cases of infection from animals are “uncommon if not rare.”

But he added: “The benefits of having a pet, whether or not you sleep with it, far outweigh the negatives, which are quite uncommon.”

Several medical studies show dogs and cats may lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels and even decrease feelings of loneliness for their owners.

By Lee Woo-young and news reports  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)