Your pet can give you so much: love, attention, entertainment, company – and infection. But being alert to some of these problems can help to keep you and your pet healthy. Whether you own a dog or a cat, a bird or a reptile, a rabbit or fish, you should be aware that your pet can have an effect on your health by infecting you with certain diseases. These are called zoonotic diseases, which are animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans. You may already know about some of the more common zoonotic diseases: Lyme disease is a bacterial disease transmitted by tick bites; malaria is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, and bubonic plague is transmitted by rats, or rather by fleas that become infected by biting the rats. However, you should also be aware of several common zoonotic diseases that can be transmitted by your pet. Most common are:
Ringworm is a contagious fungal infection of the skin and is not caused by a worm. It is spread from person to person, from animal to person, or indirectly from contaminated objects. Ringworm is typically...
Chlamydiosis is caused by the bacteria-like organism Chlamydia psittaci and can be spread to people through infected droppings and respiratory secretions. Chlamydial infections can cause varied clinical...
Cat-scratch Disease (CSD), is a self-limiting bacterial infection in humans that most often occurs after prolonged contact with a young cat. When diagnosed in cats, it is called feline bartonellosis.
Rabies is a virus that attacks the nervous system and is contagious to people and other animals through saliva. There is no treatment for rabies and affected animals typically die soon after showing signs...
Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the protozoal organism Toxoplasma gondii. This disease is zoonotic, which means it is transmissible to humans, and pregnant women especially must be careful...
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