All about pets

Diseases Transmitted

Posted on: April 25, 2011

              Diseases transmitted by pets

As they are cute, as it can be dangerous pets . As the germ-bearing animals may be due to the emergence of infectious diseases such as hydatid cyst, toxoplasmosis, cat scratch disease psittacosis. Diseases transmitted from animals to humans are called zoonoses. Although not all pets of infectious agents are transmitted to humans, there are a number of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi that are pathogenic for humans. Transmission of germs from animals to humans is through scratches, bites, contact with faeces, saliva, hair or skin debris. Another way by which animals may constitute a health hazard to master is the infestation of lice, fleas, or ticks, which can be vectors for transmission of pathogens. Infectious diseases transmitted by animals can have severe consequences to certain categories with an increased vulnerability – newborns, infants, toddlers, pregnant women, elderly. Forms of sickness are more serious for children because the immune system is not fully matured and anti-infective defense is weak.

      Here are infections that can transmit pets:


Gastrointestinal infection with Campylobacterdogs and cats bearing  Campylobacter jejuni can transmit infection in humans, which manifests itself by dyspepsia, abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever. Animals may be asymptomatic carriers of bacteria and transmitted to humans through contaminated water or milk. Campylobacter gastrointestinal infection can spread to local children (crèche, kindergarten), may result outbreak of gastroenteritis. Treatment consists of antibiotics

Cat scratch disease- Is an infectious disease caused by Bartonella henselae, inoculated by a cat scratch or bite. And other animals (dogs, rats) can be carriers of the bacteria. In humans, the disease is manifested by the appearance of a papule to vesicle and then turns into pimple, locoregional lymph pain, fever and headache. Treatment involves antibiotics

Rabies-Is a serious neurological disorder caused by rabies virus inoculated to humans through a bite wound or skin contact with the saliva of an infected animal. Animals can be affected by rabies are dogs, cats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, wolves and bats. To prevent rabies in dogs and cats is anti-rabies vaccination. Patients who have been bitten by an animal suspected of rabies should receive anti-rabies serum and vaccine.

Toxoplasmosis– is a parasitic disease caused by touch with Toxoplasma gondii, which is eliminated in feces of cats. Toxoplasma infection can be asymptomatic or may manifest clinically by adenopathy, myalgia, fever, rash, fatigue. Testing is part of Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women TORCH screening, because the parasite can affect fetal development and may even lead to miscarriage. Serious forms of illness appear in immunocompromised patients(infected HIV or under immunosuppressive therapy or chemotherapy)

Toxocaroza- is a parasitic disease caused by infestation with Toxocara canis / cati, which is the host intestine of dogs and cats. Man Infects through contact with animal faeces contaminating soil or water. Once in the human digestive tract, the worms hatch eggs and give birth to larvae can disseminate throughout the body (larva migrans visceralis – visceral migration of larvae). The disease may manifest as fever, respiratory symptoms, hepatomegaly, lymphadenopathy or ocular disease (Larva migrans ocularis).

Tinea corporis (ringworm circinat)-  Is a skin mycosis caused by a fungus of the genus Trichophyton, contacted the man from a sick animal (dog, cat, cattle). The disease is manifested by the appearance of round-oval reddish plates, dry, scaly. Treatment includes topical antifungal, or chronic forms, systemic.


Salmonellosis- is a bacterial infection caused by species of the genus Salmonella, especially from contact with reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles) – that eliminates bacteria in the faeces, and contaminated surfaces (terrarium). Salmonellosis gastrointestinal infections occur most frequently (abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, dehydration), but young children may develop pneumonia, meningitis or even septicemia.

Typhus  fever- is an infectious disease caused by Rickets prowazeki, which is inoculated to humans by lice. The disease is manifested by the cutaneous exanthem of childhood eruptive diseases like fever, chills, headache, myalgia and severe sepsis. Typhus fever is highly contagious and can result in epidemic (hence also known as epidemic typhus). Another form of ricketsioză noncontagious isrocky mountains spotted fever (Rocky Mountain spotted fever), which is given by ricketsii Rickets, inoculated to humans by ticks.

Cryptococcosis- is a parasitic disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, which is transmitted to humans through inhalation of particles from the droppings of birds (parrots, pigeons). Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic infection that occurs in immunocompromised persons (HIV, weakened immune system) in patients with sarcoidosis or lymphoma. There are three forms of disease: cutaneous, pulmonary and meningeal.

Psittacosis (parrot fever)- is a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia psitacci which is transmitted to humans through contact with droppings of birds (parrots, parakeets) or contaminated surfaces (cage). Psitacci Chlamydia causes atypical pneumonia in humans who receive antibiotics

Coriomeningita lymphocytic-is a viral disease caused by virus LCM (lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus). Humans can contact the virus through contact with  urine, droppings or saliva of rodents (hamasteri, mice, gerbils, guinea pig). Infection with symptoms of influenza, meningitis and encephalitis.

Echinococoza (hidatidoza)– is a parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus. Parasite intermediate host is the animal (dog, cat) as definitive host and humans. Infection is through contact with Echinococcus eggs on the hairs or contaminated surfaces. The parasite causes hydatid cyst.

Other infections transmitted from animals: Mycobacterium marinum (fish aquarium), Borrelia burgdorferi – Lyme disease (animals that host ticks), Giardia (dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, beavers), leptospirosis (rodents, dogs, cats), brucellosis (dog), listeriosis..

Prevention of diseases transmitted by pets

The fact that pets can be the source of infectious diseases should not be grounds for waiving them, unless there are very vulnerable people would be exposed to too much risk (immunosuppressed, transplant, people with chronic diseases or under treatment immunosuppressive or chemotherapy). On the contrary, pets can enrich family life, if handled carefully and take some precautions:

• completing all vaccinations as recommended by veterinarian

• Do not let animals drink water on the street in pools or in the toilet

• Always wash your hands after you put your hand on an animal or manipulated surfaces that come into contact with animal (cage, box)

• Use gloves when cleaning the litter and animal dejectele (in birds using a facial mask)

• provide animal feed in a special container and not down

• Do not kiss animals

• maintain cleanliness in the area where the animal lives

• Keep away the animals of bathroom and kitchen

• Supervise children when they are in the company of animals

• discouraged children to pay attention to community animals, stray pets

•control the pet of flea and ticks

When pets are prohibited?

Pets should be avoided if people take imunsupresor treatment, chemotherapy or corticosteroids (prednisone), and for those with allergies (eczema, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, asthma).

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