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Animal and Human Related Communicable Diseases

While there are many health conditions that are exclusive to animals or humans, there are several diseases that can spread between the two. Some of these diseases are spread only by direct contact with the infected animal, but others can be contracted through parasites or coming in contact with common food or water.

  1. Roundworms

    • Roundworms are a common intestinal parasite often found in cats and dogs that can be passed on to a human host through the ingestion of the parasite's eggs. Roundworms sometimes get passed to children who play in areas where the infected animals have defecated. If the eggs of the worms come in contact with the skin, perhaps in the lawn or in a sandbox, and the child touches his hand to his mouth or eyes, the child may become infected. In many cases roundworms will not result in any significant symptoms or problems. However, there are rare cases of parasite infestation, known as visceral larval migrans (VLM), that can damage the organs, including the brain. Ocular larval migrans (OLM) can result in blindness, according to Canadian pet information website Pets.ca.

    Lyme Disease

    • Lyme disease is a condition that is identified by a number of symptoms, including rash and flu-like symptoms, such as headache, swollen lymph nodes and muscle aches. This difficult to diagnose disease can result in facial paralysis, meningitis and irregular heart rhythms if left untreated. The disease is common in deer and mice and is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, according to KidsHealth.org. The disease is transferred to humans when deer ticks bite the infected animal and then come in contact with a human. The tick bite injects the bacteria into the human bloodstream causing the disease. The disease can typically be cured within four weeks using antibiotics.

    Rabies

    • Rabies is a serious, but preventable, viral disease that is spread from infected animals to humans through saliva. The infection usually happens as the result of a bite from the animal. Raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes and dogs are often the carrier of this virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. The rabies virus affects the nervous system and may eventually result in insomnia, anxiety, confusion, paralysis, agitation, excessive salivation and an intense fear of water. Once these serious symptoms occur, death usually happens within days. A two-week regimen of vaccine will cure the disease in humans, according to the CDC.

    Leptospirosis

    • Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that is rare, very serious and contagious. When animals carrying the bacteria in their system urinate in fresh water that is eventually ingested by a human, the bacteria enter the system and cause symptoms ranging from chills and muscle pain to a rash and enlarged spleen or liver. The disease can be life-threatening if not treated properly. Antibiotics are generally successful against the bacteria, according to the National Institutes of Health.

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