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Diseases transmitted from animals are called zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases can be caused by parasites and can cause various symptoms such as diarrhea, muscle aches, and fevers. Sometimes infected persons experience severe symptoms that can be life-threatening.
Foods can be contaminated if animals such as cows and pigs are infected with parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Trichinella. People can acquire trichinellosis by ingesting Trichinella-infected, undercooked meat such as bear, boar, or domestic pigs. Cryptosporidiosis can be acquired by people if orchards or water sources near cow pastures become contaminated from infected cows and people consume the fruit without proper washing.
Pets can carry and pass parasites to people but with proper hand washing the risk greatly reduced. | |
Some dog and cat parasites can infect people. Young animals, such as puppies and kittens, are more likely to be infected with ascarids and hookworms. Contact with wild animals or places where wild animals have been can expose people to parasites. For example, people can be infected by the raccoon parasite Baylisascaris when they handle soil that is contaminated with infected raccoon feces.
There are simple steps you can take to prevent common parasite infections from animals. Making sure your pet is under a veterinarian’s care will help protect your pet and your family from possible parasite infections. Washing hands frequently, especially after touching animals, and avoiding contact with animal feces can also help prevent infections. Following proper food-handling procedures will reduce the risk of transmission from contaminated food. People with compromised immune systems should be especially careful to avoid contact with animals that could transmit these infections.
Related Animal Links
Preventing Infections From Pets: A Guide for People with HIV Infection
An Ounce of Prevention Campaign: Tips on preventing infectious diseases
Related Animal Brochures
What Every Pet Owner Should Know About Roundworms and Hookworms (108 KB, 2 pages)
Note: CDC does not stock and distribute this brochure. It is distributed by the Merial Company directly to veterinary clinics.
Toxoplasmosis: An Important Message for Women (223 KB, 2 pages)
Toxoplasmosis: An Important Message for Cat Owners (209 KB, 2 pages)
Guidelines for Veterinarians: Prevention of Zoonotic Transmission of Ascarids and Hookworms of Dogs and Cats
Also available as Acrobat PDF (426 KB, 12 pages)
Related Parasitic Diseases
For more information on a some of the zoonotic parasitic diseases, please select from the list below.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Alveolar Echinococcosis (Echinococcosis, Hydatid Disease)
Ancylostomiasis (Hookworm, Cutaneous Larva Migrans [CLM])
Angiostrongyliasis (Angiostrongylus Infection)
Anisakiasis (Anisakis Infection, Pseudoterranova Infection)
Ascariasis (Ascaris Infection, Intestinal Roundworms)
B
Babesiosis (Babesia Infection)
Baylisascariasis (Baylisascaris Infection, Racoon Roundworm)
C
Capillariasis (Capillaria Infection)
Clonorchiasis (Clonorchis Infection)
Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium Infection)
Cysticercosis (Neurocysticercosis)
D
Diphyllobothriasis (Diphyllobothrium Infection)
Dipylidium caninum Infection (dog or cat tapeworm infection)
Dog tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum Infection)
E
Echinococcosis (Alveolar Echinococcosis, Hydatid Disease)
F
Fascioliasis (Fasciola Infection)
Fasciolopsiasis (Fasciolopsis Infection)
G
Giardiasis (Giardia Infection)
Gnathostomiasis (Gnathostoma Infection)
H
Heterophyiasis (Heterophyes Infection)
Hydatid Disease (Alveolar Echinococcosis)
K
Kala-azar (Leishmaniasis, Leishmania Infection)
L
Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar, Leishmania Infection)
O
Ocular Larva Migrans (Toxocariasis, Toxocara Infection, Visceral Larva Migrans)
Opisthorchiasis (Opisthorchis Infection)
P
Paragonimiasis (Paragonimus Infection)
R
Raccoon Roundworm Infection (Baylisascariasis, Baylisascaris Infection)
T
Taeniasis (Taenia Infection, Tapeworm Infection)
Tapeworm Infection (Taeniasis, Taenia Infection)
Toxocariasis (Toxocara Infection, Ocular Larva Migrans, Visceral Larva Migrans)
Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma Infection)
Trichinellosis (Trichinosis)
Trichinosis (Trichinellosis)
V
Visceral Larva Migrans (Toxocariasis, Toxocara Infection, Ocular Larva Migrans)
Z
Zoonotic Diseases (Diseases spread from animals to people)