All About Pet-to-People Infections

Zoonoses are those pet-to-people infections that can go undetected at first but need to be treated immediately. But there's no need to banish your favourite beast since a bit of prevention can keep everyone happy and together.

Parrot Fever

Humans are exposed to the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci (the cause of parrot fever, or psittacosis) when they inhale dust from the feathers or dried waste of infected parrots, parakeets, love birds, pigeons, finches, chickens, or turkeys. In humans, parrot fever causes flu-like symptoms; infected birds rarely get sick. A fecal test can detect infection in birds. Tetracycline is an effective treatment. Fortunately this is a relatively rare disease. Read more about keeping your parrot healthy at The Parrot Pages.

Ringworm

Ringworm has nothing to do with worms. It’s a skin disease caused by a fungus and carried by dogs, horses, cows, and cats. The infection, which is most common in small children, usually appears as an inflamed, scaly patch on an part of the body not normally covered by clothing. The scalp is a common ringworm site. An antifungal cream usually clears up the condition in both humans and animals.

Roundworm

This parasite is common in dogs, though it can also live in the intestinal tracts of cats and horses. Roundworm eggs, excreted in infected animals’ feces, may become embedded in their fur and transferred to human hands. About 10,000 human cases of roundworm are reported in North America annually. Most aren’t serious, but rare cases of roundworm-related blindness have occurred. To be safe, test and treat your pets for worms, and wash your hands after petting any dog, cat, or horse.

Toxoplasmosis

A majority of North Americans (60 percent) have been exposed to toxoplasma, a parasite usually spread to humans via cat feces. The resulting infection, toxoplasmosis, generally goes undetected, leaving most cat owners with antibodies that protect against repeat infection. But toxoplasmosis is a serious disease in infants and people with weakened immunity. If a woman contracts it during pregnancy, toxoplasmosis can also cause birth defects or fetal death. If you’re pregnant, caring for a newborn, get someone else to change the litterbox! Learn more about prevention and treatment from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).