Zoonotic Diseases, also known as zoonoses, are diseases caused by infectious agents that can be spread from animals, including pets, to people. There are over 150 known zoonotic diseases which involve a variety of agents, including bacteria, parasites, viruses and others.
Fortunately, zoonotic diseases are not an overwhelming concern in the U.S. They tend to be rare and, in most cases, easily preventable. This is partly due to rigorous elimination and vaccination programs that have occurred over the years, as well as the availability of clean water and proper control of waste. Further, pet owners today are more likely to feed their pets high quality diets, regularly vaccinate their pets, and minimize parasites with regular deworming and flea and tick control. Nevertheless, zoonotic diseases do occur and it's important to be aware of them.
Examples of bacterial zoonoses include brucellosis, bubonic plague, leptospirosis, psittacosis, salmonellosis, tetanus and tularemia. Examples of mycotic zoonosis include aspergillosis and histoplasmosis. Balisascaris procynois is an example of a parasitical zoonoses, and rabies is an example of a viral zoonoses. Examples of protozoal diseases include giardiasis and toxoplasmosis. Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are examples of tick-borne diseases. Other zoonotic diseases include anthrax, E. coli, shigellosis, campylobacteriosis, cysticercosis/taeniasis, echinococcosis/hydatidosis, trematodosis, avian influenze, crimean-congo haemorrhagic fever, ebola, rift river fever, bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
In many cases, zoonotic disease can be prevented. In fact, prevention is often much easier than treatment. As previously mentioned, proper pet care including vaccinations, a high quality diet and parasite control is important. Other precautions can be taken and can be very important for immunocompromised persons. Wash your hands well with soap and water after playing with or caring for animals, particularly before handling and eating food. Also wash hands well after changing litter boxes. It's best for immunocompromised persons, including pregnant women, to have someone else take care of the litter box. Be aware of what your pet eats and drinks, feeding him only pet food or meat that is thoroughly cooked. Avoid raw or undercooked meat and don't let your pet get into garbage or drink from toilet bowls. Also make sure that your pet doesn't eat other animal's stools or hunt and eat prey. Any persistent diarrhea that your pet experiences should be reported to your veterinarian and your pet checked for infections. If your cat scratches or bites you, immediately wash the wound well with soap and water. Keeping your cat's nails clipped can help to prevent scratches. |
