Animal Fecal Matter & Human Disease

Of course, no one likes to get animal poop on their hands--it is just disgusting. However, there are also medical reasons you should refrain from contact with animal feces. It can transmit many different types of disease to humans.

Worms

• According to the Nemours Foundation, there are several types of worms that can infect humans that come into contact with animal feces. Among them are tapeworms, roundworms and hookworms.

Other Parasites

• There are other types of parasites besides worms found in animal feces that can cause human disease. The parasite toxoplasma gondii, which causes toxoplasmosis, is one of the more common parasites found particularly in cat feces, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Bacterial Infection

• Some of the bacterial infections humans can get from contact with animal feces include campylobacter bacteria, which can come from the feces of dogs, cats, hamsters and other animals, as well as psittacosis bacteria, which is contained in bird feces.

Fungal Infection

• According to both the Nemours Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, humans can also catch fungal infections from contact with animal feces. Most notable among these are cryptococcosis, which comes from bird feces, and ringworm, which can be in several different types of animal feces.

Viral Infection

• Viruses can also be transmitted to humans through animal feces, according to the National Institutes of Health. Hantavirus, which is found in mouse droppings, is one such viral infection.

Prevention, Solution

• Washing your hands is the best way to prevent disease transmission from animal feces. According to the Nemours Foundation, you should not only wash your hands when you know you've touched animal feces but also after handling any animals, in case they have fecal matter on their fur or feathers.