Zoonotic Diseases:
Here are some of the more common diseases that can be transmitted from pets to humans. Most are mild,
but some are serious.
Parasites:
Toxocara
An infection caused by the parasitic roundworms found in the intestine of dogs. It is extremely prevalent in
puppies because they acquire infections from their mothers, which transfer larvae prenatally or from their
milk. Unless treatments are administered before 4 weeks of age, puppies will contaminate the environment,
because female worms become fully mature and produce eggs when puppies are 3 weeks of age. The eggs
can remain in most environments for months or even years. The two major forms of Toxocara are Occular
larva Migrans (OLM) and Visceral larva migrans (VLM). OLM is an eye disease that can cause blindness.
VLM is more rare, but can cause serious damage to the nervous system and organs.
Treatment: Treat your puppy before 4 weeks of age. You can choose form various dewormers to get rid of
various types of worms in your pet.
Toxoplasmosis
This is caused by a parasite found in animal feces. Most people who become infected are not aware of it.
Some people may feel flu-like symptoms for a month or more; however, it can be serious for immune
compromised people, pregnant women, and small children. You can get this by handling cat feces but also
from eating raw meat or even gardening.
Prevention: Wash your hands after you come in contact with these things. Also, don’t let your cat eat raw
meat. Keep it indoors to prevent it from eating small animals.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a contagious fungus infection that can affect the scalp, the body, the feet, and the nails.
Despite its name, it has nothing to do with worms. The name comes from the characteristic red ring that can
appear on an infected person's skin. Many different kinds of animals can transmit ringworm to people. It is
transmitted from direct contact with an infected animal's skin or hair. Dogs and cats, especially kittens or
puppies, can infect humans with ringworm. Larger animals, such as cows and horses can infect humans as
well. People can also get ringworm from contact with other people and their personal items.
Treatment and Prevention: Keep surfaces clean and disinfected regularly. Wash children’s hands after
contact with a pet. You can also use an antifungal to eliminate Ringworm.
Roundworms
These worms are spaghetti-like worms found in infected cat and dog feces. In humans, they can cause
fever, cough, loss of appetite, and congestion. Never touch feces with your bare hands.
Treatment: To get rid of these worms, there are various dewormers available.
Hookworms
Hookworms are an intestinal parasite that attaches to the inside of the intestinal wall and literally drains the
blood from the host animal. It is an extremely common parasite seen in the majority of all puppies that can
cause diarrhea, vomiting, bloody stools, anemia and even death. They may penetrate the skin of human and
cat and dog hosts. When people have contact with soil or sand contaminated by the feces of dogs and cats
infected with hookworms, they can develop progressive linear eruptive lesions, a syndrome called
cutaneous larva migrans, or creeping eruption.
Treatment and Prevention: Deworming puppies, kittens, and their mothers is the most effective method to
avert disease in pets and prevent environmental contamination because they have the highest worm
burdens, are the most vulnerable to the ill effects of these infections, and are the main sources of infective
stages. Preventive treatments in puppies and kittens must begin soon after birth. There are several
anthelmintic drugs that are safe and effective against roundworms, hookworms, and other intestinal
helminthes of dogs and cats.
Deworming Puppies: Start 2 weeks of age, repeat 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age.
Deworming Kittens: Start at 6 weeks of age, repeat 8 and 10 weeks of age.
Although more than 100 zoonotic infections exist, the most common culprits are bite-related,
gastrointestinal, and skin-related diseases.
As a general rule, zoonotic diseases are more commonly encountered in children because they may
provoke biting or scratching, go barefoot during warm weather, and may not wash their hands after handling
household pets.
Biting and Scratching:
Animal Bites
According to MerialEDU, July 2005; more than 1 million animal bites occur each year in the US, with half of
them serious enough to warrant medical evaluation and treatment. The majority of victims are children. Dogs
are responsible for 80% of reported bites, cats for 10%, and the remainder are due to household lizards,
ferrets, rabbits, and other small animals. More cat bites become infected than dog bites. Dog bites cause
tearing injuries, which can be more easily irrigated, while cat bites usually produce deep puncture wounds,
which are more likely to become infected.
Cat Scratch Fever
This bacterial disease is spread by cat scratches and bites. The bacteria that causes the disease is found in
the fleas that inhabit cats which is passed on to the cat through the flea bites. The most common symptom is
swollen glands under the neck. There may also be a low grade fever and flu symptoms with weakness,
nausea, chills, loss of appetite and a headache. Kittens are more likely to carry it than older cats.
Prevention: If your cat scratches or bites you, wash the wounds with disinfectant soap and hot water. Also,
keep your pets free of fleas. The fleas are what carry the bacteria initially that is passed on to the animal and
then to the human.
Gastrointestinal Illnesses:
Campylobacter
These infections result from the ingestion of contaminated food or water or from the exposure to feces of
infected humans or animals, including household dogs, cats, birds, and hamsters. Common symptoms
include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Puppies sometimes carry this bacteria in their stool.
Prevention: Clean up stool carefully with pooper scoopers and bags, and never touch it with your hands.
Giardia
This is one of the most common intestinal parasite found in people and usually causes diarrhea in people
and animals. This disease can be transmitted to people from other people, or from wild or domesticated
animal, most commonly from contaminated water. The symptoms may last weeks, and infected people may
be contagious for months.
Leptospirosis
A bacteria in dog and cat urine that can cause flu-like symptoms or more serious illnesses. It is spread
mainly through ingestion and through contamination of cuts and abrasions by the urine of infected animals
and is usually not transmitted from person to person. Direct contact with animal urine is a risk. Indirect
contact from water that has been contaminated with urine is also a risk.
Prevention: Wash your hands after handling pets and prevent pets from drinking contaminated water.
Mycobacterium
A bacteria found in fish and aquarium water. Exposure can result in swollen lymph glands in kids or more
serious illnesses for the immune compromised.
Cryptosporidium
This is a bacterial disease carried in the feces of cats, dogs, and horses. In humans, it can cause diarrhea,
nausea, and vomiting.
Prevention: Always wash your hands after handling animals.
Salmonellosis
This bacteria, which is passed through animal feces, can cause diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. The
organisms most likely to carry salmonella include poultry, livestock, reptiles, and pets. Although most
frequently transmitted from contaminated food or water, occasional transmission occurs from infected
people as well as from pets, especially reptiles such as iguanas, turtles, and geckos.
Prevention: Wash your hands thoroughly after handling pets or aquariums. Don’t let children kiss their pets.
Attack rates for nontyphodial salmonella infections are highest in children and the elderly.
Skin:
Scabies
This infection is caused by the mite, while S. scabiei, subspecies canis, is acquired from dogs. A typical rash
will usually appear. In dogs, the canis mite produces a skin infection called mange, and these dog owners
should be advised to seek medical attention if they develop any suspicious rashes.
Below is a more complete list of zoonotic diseases of dogs and cats.
Dog Zoonotic Diseases
Anthrax
Dermatophytosis
Salmonellosis
Blastomycosis
Dipylidium Caninum
Scabies
Bergeyella Zoohelcum
Echinococcosis
Staphylococcus Intermedius
Brucella Canis
Francisella Tularensis
Strongyloides Stercoralis
Campylobacteriosis
Gastrospirillum Hominus
Trichinosis
Capnocytophaga Canimorsus
Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis
Visceral Larva Migrans
Capnocytophaga Cynodegmi
Leptospirosis
Yersinia Enterocolitica
CDC groups EF-4a and EF-4b
Lyme Disease
CDC group NO-1
Neisseria Canis
Cheyletiellosis
Neisseria Weaveri
Coenurosis
Pasteurella Multocida
Cryptosporidiosis
Plague
Cutaneous Larva Migrans
Rabies
Demodex Folliculorum
Rocky Moutain Spotted Fever
Cat Zoonotic Diseases
Afipia Felis
Neisseria Canis
Anthrax
Pasteurella Multocida
Bartonella Henselae
Plague
Bergeyella Zoonhelcum
Poxvirus
Brucella Suis
Q-Fever
Campylobacteriosis
Rabies
Capnocytophaga Canimorsus
Rickettsia Felis
CDC group NO-1
Salmonellosis
Chamydia Psittaci
Scabies
Cowpox
Sporothrix Schenckii
Cutaneous Larva Migrans
Trichinosis
Dipylidium Caninum
Visceral Larva Migrans
Leptospirosis
Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis