Infection from pets
Nov 24, 2023
Despite the health and psychological benefits of pets for their owners, they can transmit various infections, some of which can be fatal. Those most susceptible to infections are children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. In the following, we will identify the most common diseases that can be transmitted from pets and how to prevent them.
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Ringworm:
- Ringworm is a contagious fungal infection that can be transmitted from pets to their owners.
- The ringworm fungus is highly infectious, capable of surviving without a host for several months.
- Symptoms in animals include the appearance of wounds and patches of lost fur accompanied by red marks in the center.
- Human symptoms include the appearance of circular red spots on the skin.
- Prevention involves washing bedding and sheets in hot water once or twice a month, avoiding sharing covers and personal care tools with pets.
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Roundworm:
- Roundworm is one of the most common internal parasites among cats, resembling spaghetti in shape and reaching up to 9 cm in length.
- This parasite is transmitted through contaminated milk from cat mothers to their offspring and to adult cats through the ingestion of rodents.
- Thousands of children are infected annually with roundworms, which can cause blindness if left untreated.
- Symptoms in animals include diarrhea or constipation, vomiting, coughing, blood in the stool, and the presence of worms in the feces.
- Human symptoms include coughing, difficulty breathing, stomach pain, blood in the stool.
- Prevention includes keeping cats indoors, as outdoor cats are more susceptible to these parasites. Also, wearing gloves when cleaning the cat's litter box and thoroughly washing hands afterward.
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Tapeworm:
- Tapeworms absorb the intestinal lining of dogs and can cause life-threatening bleeding, especially in puppies.
- Eggs of these worms pass through feces from one dog to another or from an infected dog to its owner through skin contact.
- Symptoms in animals include diarrhea, possibly bloody, and weight loss.
- Symptoms in humans are rare but may include skin rash and loss of appetite.
- Prevention involves regularly cleaning dog feces and using gloves, followed by thorough handwashing.
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Giardia:
- Giardia is a single-celled waterborne parasite found in rivers and lakes, more common in dogs than in cats.
- Symptoms in both animals and humans include diarrhea.
- Prevention includes choosing clean drinking water for dogs and washing hands thoroughly after cleaning their feces.
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Campylobacter:
- Campylobacter is a bacteria that can cause sudden abortion in animals and food poisoning in humans.
- It can be transmitted to humans through small cats, puppies, small horses, rabbits, and birds.
- Symptoms in both animals and humans include diarrhea.
- Prevention involves avoiding kissing or carrying a pet if it has diarrhea, even after recovery, and washing hands thoroughly after contact.
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Salmonella:
- Salmonella is highly prevalent in reptiles and some small birds.
- While animals may show no symptoms, humans can experience severe symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, fever, stomach pain, and headache.
- Prevention includes thorough handwashing after handling reptiles or birds and avoiding washing any tanks or containers related to the animals in the kitchen or bathroom.
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Tapeworm (again):
- Affects children more than adults due to poor handwashing habits and constant hand-to-mouth behavior.
- Symptoms in animals include the appearance of rice-like pieces in the stool and vomiting.
- Human symptoms include the appearance of rice-like pieces in the stool.
- Prevention involves washing hands thoroughly after touching the animal and ensuring it is free of fleas.
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Cat Scratch Disease:
- Cat Scratch Disease, or Bartonella infection, is carried by many cats, especially in their tails, and can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches.
- Symptoms in animals include extreme fatigue, weakness, repeated exposure to fleas, and swelling of the lymph nodes.
- Symptoms in humans include redness and swelling near the bite or scratch site, swelling of nearby lymph nodes, fever, headache, fatigue, joint pain, and weight loss.
- Prevention includes regularly cleaning and grooming the cat's tail, avoiding exposure to scratches, and avoiding licking the cat if it has open wounds.
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Plague:
- Plague is an extremely rare disease that can be transmitted between pets through fleas.
- Symptoms in animals include fever and swelling of the lymph nodes.
- Symptoms in humans include fever, headache, weakness, and swelling of the lymph nodes.
- Prevention involves keeping pets free of fleas.
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Toxoplasmosis:
- Toxoplasmosis is a common disease among cats that is transmitted to them by eating their prey. Infection in pregnant women can lead to severe complications in the eyes or the fetus.
- Symptoms in cats include immune failure, possibly leading to diarrhea or more significant health problems such as liver or nervous system damage.
- There are usually no symptoms in humans, but sometimes symptoms similar to a cold may appear, along with swelling of nearby lymph nodes.
- Prevention includes preventing cats from hunting prey outside the home, wearing gloves when cleaning the litter box, and thoroughly washing hands afterward.
- Rabies:
- Rabies is a fatal neurological disease that cannot be cured once symptoms appear. It affects the nervous system of animals, especially dogs and cats, and can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches.
- Symptoms in animals include excessive nervousness, extreme fear of water, extreme sensitivity to light, isolation, loss of appetite, and violence.
- Symptoms in humans include fatigue, tremors, fever, loss of appetite, severe anxiety, insomnia, and eventually, confirmed death.
- Prevention involves ensuring that pets are vaccinated against this deadly disease and preventing them from going outside and mixing with stray animals. In case of scratches or bites from an animal with the possibility of infection, serum or treatment should be taken immediately before symptoms appear.
Sources:
- Review of bacterial and viral zoonotic infections transmitted by dogs
- Diseases That Can Spread Between Animals and People
- Infections That Pets Can Spread
- What Can I Catch From My Dog: A Guide to Staying Healthy
- Pet Related Infections in Humans
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