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Hi James, Although evidence on this is weak, I would say that animal feces are indeed a problem. Studies have shown that chicken feces, for example, have a heavier pathogen load than human feces, and some intestinal worm infections can be acquired by humans from pig feces. But if you ask me, the problem is bigger than that. * Animal presence at the household level can mean that human feces can be spread around more, either through increased presence of flies, or simply animals treading in human feces and then bringing it closer to the household (worse of course when there's OD but just as problematic with substandard latrines). This is worse in situations where animals live in very close proximity to humans, often sharing the same room and having unrestricted access to areas where children play (possibly contributing to environmental enteropathy/ EED) and cooking areas. * There are other issues to do with intensified agriculture, where drug-resistant bacteria due to overuse/misuse of antibiotics can enter the environment, water and the food chain through animal manure.

WHO is currently working on some information pieces about this (in particular some infographics), which should be published within the next few months.

If you ask me, this is a major blindspot in current sanitation programming.