Zoonoses are Diseases

Zoonoses are diseases or that can be transmitted from animals to human beings -

 

Although humans are still more likely to contract illnesses from other humans， zoonoses are important for every pet owner to know about。These are examples of the most common pet-borne diseases：

 

Aedes Aegypti ：This infectious disease is manifested by a sudden onset of fever，with severe headache，muscle and joint pains (severe pain gives it the name break-bone fever or bonecrusher disease) and rashes。This disease had killed already thousands of people。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Baccillary Dysentery：This's an infectious disease of the intestinal tract caused by bacteria of the genus Sigella。It is spread by contact with a patients or carriers or though food or water contaminated by their feces。In most cases it occurs in summer and fall and clinically it can be divided into acute and chronic types。Acute bacillary dysentery has following symptoms：fever，abdominal pain，diarrhea，tenesmus and bloody purulent stools。Symptoms of chronic bacillary dysentery are：recurrent or persistent abdominal pain，accompanied with diarrhea，alternation of diarrhea and constipation can also be present。Another sign is intermittent appearance of mucopurulent and blood-stained stools。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Boutonneuse Fever or Mediterranean Spotted Fever：Boutonneuse fever is a fever as a result of a Rickettsial infection caused by the bacterium Rickettsial conorii and transmitted by the dog tick。Boutonneuse fever is endemic in many countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea。The disease manifests with chills，high fevers，muscular and articular pains，severe headache and photophobia。The location of the bite forms a black crust。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Brucellosis or Malta fever：Is a persistent infectious disease caused by a bacterium called brucella transmitted to humans from infected animals，such as goats，cattle or swine and marked by recurrent fever，sweating，weakness and generalized aches and pain。Complications may include arthritis，heart disease and brain damage！（Deadly Diseases）

 

Campylobacteriosis: This bacterial infection can result from contact with the diarrhea common in puppies and kittens。Human symptoms include fever，abdominal pain and watery diarrhea。It is easily prevented by thoroughly washing any exposed skin。

 

Cholera：This's an infectious gastroenteritis caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae。Transmission to humans occurs through the process of ingesting contaminated water or food。In its most severe forms，cholera is one of the most rapidly fatal illnesses known and a healthy person may become hypotensive within an hour of the onset of symptoms；infected patients may die within three hours if treatment is not provided。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Dermatophytoses (a.k.a. ringworm, dermatomycoses): This zoonosis is transmitted in a variety of ways，although physical contact with an infected animal is the most common。Dry scaly spots will appear after one to two weeks and are usually confined to the hairier regions of the scalp，forearms and face。Hair will break off at the roots，creating bald spots。Exposure can be greatly reduced by wearing rubber gloves and thoroughly washing after handling an infected animal。Animals should receive immediate attention by their veterinarian。

 

Dengue Fever：One of the most notorious diseases killing thousands yearly especially children is Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever。These are acute febrile diseases，found in the tropics and Africa。The spread is similar to malaria，but unlike malaria，dengue is often found in urban areas of tropical nations，It is transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegypti which feeds during the day。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Foot and Mouth Disease：Foot and mouth disease is a zoonosis （meaning that it is disease of animals that may be transmitted to man under natural conditions）。Of this，there is no doubt！Those at highest risk are young children--found to develop clinical infection more readily than adults--and those in certain occupational groups such as veterinarians，farm workers and their families，butchers，lab workers and livestock auctioneers。The presence of minor breaks in the skin，such as dermatitis，or‘Even manicure procedures may cause sufficient abrasion to facilitate infection’。There‘re several ways people can contract the virus。These include the handling of animals and inhalation of airborne viral particles，but probably the most frequent routs of infection has been ingestion。

 

Giardia: This intestinal disease occurs throughout the world and is common in dogs & cats。Like many zoonoses，Giardia is contracted by the fecal-oral route。Symptoms may include weight loss and chronic diarrhea。There are now reliable tests and drugs for treating Giardia，but a veterinarian or physician should be contacted at once！Giardia can be prevented through proper and thorough hand-washing。

 

Japanese Encephalitis：One of the most prevalent diseases is the Japanese encephalitis。This‘s a disease caused by the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus。Domestic pigs and wild birds are reservoirs of the virus，transmission to humans may cause severe symptoms。This disease is most prevalent in Southeast Asia and the Far East。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Kyasanur Forest Disease：This's a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to South Asia。The disease was first reported from Kyasanur Forest of Karnataka in India。The reservoir hosts for the disease are porcupines，rats and mice。The vector for disease transmission is a forest tick。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Leptospirosis (a.k.a. canicola fever, Weil’s disease): This disease is spread through contact with an animal’s urine，whether directly or through contaminated soil，water，foods, etc。The leptospires in the infected urine enter the human body through mucus membranes or cuts and abrasions。Symptoms include fever, nausea，vomiting，muscle aches and occasionally jaundice。To prevent exposure，wear rubber gloves when cleaning up after your pet and avoid hand-eye or hand-mouth contact until you’ve thoroughly washed up。

 

Lyme disease： Lyme disease or borelliosis is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere。The bacteria are transmitted to humans by the bite of infected hard ticks。Early manifestations of infection may include fever，headache，fatigue and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans。

 

Mad Cow Disease： Is the common term for Bovine Spongiform Encepholopathy (BSE)，a progressive neurological disorder of cattle which can be transmitted to other species，including humans。The disease is virtually 100% fatal。The human equivalent of Mad Cow Disease，Cruetzfeldt-Jakob Disease，causes memory loss，emotional instability including inappropriate outbursts，an unsteady gait，progressing to marked weakness，severe rapidly progressive dementia and death，often within a year of the onset of symptoms。Are they a type of virus or bacteria？What are they？A prion is neither a virus nor a bacteria。Prions are proteins that contain no DNA or RNA，two substances previously felt to be essential for reproduction of a living tissue。Prions are normal constituents of the body when in their normal form or conformation，but they can become twisted in a conformational change （a change in shape - in the way the molecule is folded），and then they are thought to cause disease！（Deadly Diseases）

 

Murray Valley Encephalitis Virus：This's endemic to northern Australia and Papua New Guinea。It is the causal agent of Murray Valley encephalitis and in humans can cause permanent neurological disease or death。This is a mosquito-borne virus that is maintained in a bird-mosquito-bird cycle。Water birds，including herons and cormorants，provide the natural reservoir for Murray Valley encephalitis virus。Human infection occurs only through bites from infected mosquitoes，it cannot be transmitted from person to person。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Psittosis or Parrot Fever：Psittacosis or parrot fever and ornithosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by a bacterium and contracted not only from parrots，such as macaws，cockatiels and budgerigars，but also from pigeons，sparrows，ducks，hens，gulls and many other species of bird。This can be transmitted by inhaling dust from dried bird droppings or by handling infected birds。The symptoms include fever，headache，chills and loss of appetite，cough and tiredness。In the most severe cases of parrot fever，the patient develops pneumonia。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Q Fever：Is an infectious disease transmitted by sheep and cattle and characterized by high fever，chills and muscle pains。The infection results from inhalation of contaminated particles in the air，and from contact with the vaginal mucus，milk，feces，urine or semen of infected animals。It is considered possibly the most infectious disease in the world，as a human being can be infected by a single bacterium。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Rickettsialpox：This is an infectious disease transmitted by mites which infest mice and characterized by fever，chills，rash，headache and backache but the most distinctive symptom is the rash that breaks out，spanning the infected person's entire body。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Salmonellosis: Most cases of Salmonellosis are foodborne and involve fecal contamination。The incubation period can be as short as eight hours and symptoms may include sudden vomiting and diarrhea。Birds and reptiles are particularly prone to carrying this bacteria。Prevention includes the proper cleaning of hands。

 

Scabies (a.k.a. itch, mange): The parasite which causes this disease is transmitted through physical contact。This form of scabies is less serious than the human-to-human form and usually cures itself in three to four weeks。Infected animals usually have blisters, scabs and hair loss along their ears，muzzles and forelegs。Physical contact with infected animals and their bedding should be avoided。

 

Schistosomiasis or Bilhaziasis： Is a tropical disease caused by a fluke worm whose larvae penetrate the skin and invades the circulatory system。It is most commonly found in Asia，Africa and South America，especially in areas with water that is contaminated with freshwater snails，which may carry the parasite。An acute disease caused by a rickettsial microorganism that is transmitted to humans by the bite of certain lice and fleas，and is characterized by high fever，severe headaches and a red rash。Rickettsia is endemic in rodent hosts，including mice and rats，and spreads to humans through mites，fleas and body lice。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Trichinosis：Trichinosis or trichiniasis is a disease caused by a parasitic worm that eneters the body via undercooked or raw meat especially pork，invading the intestines and muscles and provoking gastro intestinal symptoms initially and muscle stiffness and pain later。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Trichomoniasis：This is a vaginal infection by the trichomonas morganism。It‘s most common in women and uncircumcised men。For uncircumcised men，the most common site for the infection is the tip of the penis。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Tularemia (a.k.a. rabbit fever, deerfly fever): This disease is usually associated with an infestation of ticks and contact with their bodily fluids。A tick bite may create a localized ulcer or contact with mucus membranes can cause a severe infection of those tissues。Infected dogs and cats rarely display any symptoms。Tularemia can be prevented through various tick-eradication techniques such as dipping。Tweezers and rubber gloves should be used if ticks need to be removed by hand。

 

Toxoplasmosis: Cats are the primary cause of Toxoplasmosis among humans，as the organism is carried in their droppings。The life-cycle of this parasite is very complex，but infection usually occurs when an owner comes into physical contact with the cat's feces while cleaning a litter box。Human symptoms include headaches, enlarged lymph nodes and a flu-like illness。Most humans will be unaffected by its presence，however，and expectant mothers can avoid exposure simply by avoiding litter-box duties while pregnant。

 

Typhus：An acute disease caused by a rickettsial microorganism that is transmitted to humans by the bite of certain lice and fleas and is characterized by high fever，severe headaches and a red rash。Rickettsia is endemic in rodent hosts，including mice and rats and spreads to humans through mites，fleas and body lice。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Typhoid Fever：Typhoid fever or Yellow Jack is an illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi。It is transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with feces from an infected person。（Deadly Diseases）

 

Yaws：This's a tropical infection of the skin bones，bones and joints caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pertenue。The disease is transmitted by skin contact with infected individuals or eye gnats，the spirochete entering through an existing cut or similar damage。（Deadly Diseases）

 

 

Because healthy，unbroken skin is very resistant to infection，the agents causing zoonoses must enter the body through cuts，wounds，mucus membranes，or other body openings。Cuts should be covered and face masks may be worn when cleaning up after a pet — especially in terms of litter boxes。

You need not come into direct contact with an infected animal to contract a disease。Many zoonoses are transmitted via bodily fluids：saliva，urine，blood，nasal excretions，fecal material，etc。Proper precautions should be taken when cleaning up after any animal。

Animals can carry a zoonosis without exhibiting any symptoms。Don't trust your eyes。。。Use the same precautions with a healthy-looking animal as you would with a sick one。Practice good pet hygiene。This more than any other thing，will reduce your risk of being exposed to disease。

Vaccinating your animals against preventable diseases is always highly recommended。。。and remember，if you own a dog it is the law that he / she be vaccinated for rabies。

 

【Diseases transmitted from pets to people is not an excuse for abandoned pets。As long as pay attention to personal hygiene，most of the communicable diseases are preventable。】