Pet owners, take care
Dogs, cats and other pets can carry a wide variety of zoonoses, or diseases transmitted from animals to humans. Rabies is by far the most dangerous, as it is virtually 100 percent fatal once symptoms develop. Children or adults who have been bitten by any animal should immediately wash the wound with water and soap and seek medical attention.
Besides rabies, one of the more dangerous zoonoses is toxoplasmosis, caused by a parasite that lives in cats' intestines. It is most commonly transmitted through contaminated food or gardening and rarely causes symptoms in otherwise healthy people. But it is sometimes contracted by coming into contact with cat feces. A woman who becomes infected in the first half of pregnancy can pass toxoplasmosis to her baby, causing blindness, deafness, and neurological disorders. To prevent transmission, both humans and animals should eat only well-cooked foods and well-washed fruits and vegetables. Outdoor sandboxes should be kept covered when not in use, and litter boxes should be emptied and cleaned daily—but not by pregnant women or people with compromised immune systems, who should avoid any contact with cat waste.
Intestinal parasites can also be passed from animals to humans, sometimes causing -serious illness. Among the most dangerous is echinococcus, or dog tapeworm, which in humans produces larvae-containing cysts in the liver, lungs and other organs (hydatidosis). It is endemic in Southern Cone countries.
Other parasites passed from pets to humans include hook-worms, which cause skin lesions, and ascarids, which can cause permanent visual, neurological, or other tissue damage. Leishmaniasis, caused by a parasite that lives in dogs and is transmitted by sand flies, causes weight loss, cough, fever, diarrhea, and enlarged liver and spleen. Brazil has seen a resurgence of the disease in many urban favelas, or slums.
Fleas and ticks on pets can spread diseases including Rocky Mountain or Brazilian spotted fever, Lyme disease, and even typhus and plague. Other diseases pets can transmit to humans include mange, which is caused by mites, and ringworm, which is caused by a fungus that in humans can infect the skin, scalp and nails. Leptospirosis is a potentially deadly bacterial disease spread through animal urine and contaminated water, but pet-to-human transmission appears to be rare.
Fortunately, nearly all these diseases can be prevented if owners vaccinate and worm their pets regularly, control ticks and fleas, dispose of pet waste properly, and wash their hands after touching animals or handling their dishes and toys. In addition, pregnant women, children under 5, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems should avoid any contact with reptiles, chicks or ducklings, puppies or kittens, or any pet with diarrhea.