The Pet Sit Blog

What is a zoonotic disease?

July 30, 2009

Posted in: Uncategorized

According to Webster’s College Dictionary, it is any disease of animals communicable to humans. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that 75 percent of all emerging diseases in the world today are zoonotic. That includes the swine fly, mad cow disease, bird flu, West Nile virus and more.

To minimize the risk of contracting an illness, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises pet owners to, “Practice good personal hygiene, keep pet areas clean, control disease carrying insects and get regular vaccinations and veterinary care for their pets.”

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) the most common zoonotic diseases you are likely to encounter are:

Salmonella
Salmonellosis is the disease caused by the Samonella bacteria and is transmitted primarily by reptiles and the feces of baby chicks and ducklings.

Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal infection that affects the skin and can be easily spread from companion animals to humans. In pets, ringworm appears as a dry, scaly, itchy patch in the skin. In humans, it often appears as a round lesion with a scaly ring around the edge, accompanied by redness and itching.

Roundworms and hookworms
Roundworm larvae can migrate through the body, damaging organs and tissue. They are known to damage the retina of the eye and cause blindness. Hookworm larvae migrate just under the skin and can cause inflammation and pain. And they can also eventually reach the small intestines, where they attach themselves to the intestinal wall and live off of blood from their human host.  

Cat Scratch Disease and Rabies
Even combined, the numbers of people in North America who are affected by zoonotic diseases is just a fraction of the number of people who are injured by their companion animals. Dog bites and cat-related injuries are far more common.

Cat Scratch Fever is a flea-borne infection that is transmitted to humans through a scratch or bite. It causes infection at the site of the injury and can result in swollen lymph nodes, fever and lethargy. Any cat scratch or bite should be treated seriously by thorough cleansing and disinfecting. If problems arise, consult a doctor for follow-up treatment and antibiotics.

Rabies is a viral disease that is almost always fatal to humans and can affect any warm-blooded animal. It is usually transmitted via saliva through the bite of an infected animal, but can also pass from host to human via infected saliva or blood coming in contact with an open wound or mucous membranes.

The chance of companion animals passing these diseases onto their owners is slight. Vaccine protocols have greatly decreased many zoonotic diseases and similiar strategic de-worming plans may help to stop zoonotic parasites as well.

If you have any questions, please consult your veterinarian.