Companion animals provide unconditional love, which is one of the reasons why many people welcome pets home. Although pet owners usually hug and care for pets safely without hesitation, they should be aware of zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that pets can transmit to humans.
The Cornell Feline Health Center recommends that the risk of getting diseases from dogs or cats is low, but people with immature or weak immune systems are more likely to get these diseases. The following are some examples of zoonotic diseases.
• Rabies: Rabies is a virus transmitted through bites that affects the nervous system. Domestic dogs and cats are usually vaccinated against rabies, so a person is more likely to get rabies from wild animals. • Toxoplasmosis: Toxoplasmosis is caused by protozoa. Toxoplasmosis can be caused by eating half-cooked meat or touching animal feces. If the cat is contaminated, cleaning the litter box may be risky, especially if you are pregnant or want to become pregnant. WebMD warns that this disease can infect the fetus and cause serious birth defects and even miscarriage. • Scratch disease: Bartonella henryi is a bacterium
It is found in the saliva of infected cats and the body of cat fleas. It is usually spread from cats to humans through scratches and bites. Approximately 40% of cats carry this bacteria at some stage in their lives. • Hookworms: Hookworms are tiny parasites that animals can ingest from the environment or infect them through breast milk. People get hookworms when they walk barefoot, kneel or sit on the ground contaminated with the feces of infected animals. According to PetMed, hookworm larvae enter the top layer of the skin. • Ringworm: A very contagious fungal infection. Ringworm is really not a worm. It occurs on the top layer of the skin and can be transmitted to dogs, cats, horses and other animals. Humans get ringworm
Touching surfaces touched by pets or other people with ringworm. • Psittacosis: Also known as psittacosis, this is a bacterial infection obtained by inhaling dry feces or respiratory fluids from infected birds. This includes parrots, parakeets, macaws and cockatiels. It may cause severe respiratory symptoms or no symptoms at all. Frequent cleaning of the bird cage is essential. • COVID-19: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that some dogs and cats have contracted the virus that causes COVID 19 after being in close contact with someone infected with the virus. Based on limited information, the risk of animals transmitting COVID-19 to humans is considered low.
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