Humans and animals have evolved together and are dependent upon each other in many ways. Whether you live in a rural or urban setting, the chances are excellent that you interact with animals daily. After all, animals provide us with much more than just love and companionship. They can provide food, fiber, travel, sport, and scientific discovery for people around the globe.
Millions of households in the U.S. have one or more pets, and keeping the entire household healthy is top-of-mind for us all. Yet, zoonotic diseases, which can pass from animal to human, can cause illness for both. There are over 200 known types of zoonotic diseases, also called zoonoses, and they are the root cause of a large percentage of new and existing diseases in humans.
What is Zoonotic Disease?
A zoonosis (zoonotic disease or zoonoses – plural) is an infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans or the other way around. One of the deadliest and most recent examples of a zoonosis is COVID. While it’s rare that animals spread COVID to people, there are widely reported cases of infected people spreading it to animals, including big cats and primates in zoos and mink on mink farms. Even whitetail deer in several U.S. states have tested positive for COVID.
From tapeworms to the avian flu, zoonoses can present a significant threat to human and animal health. Researchers recently found that 13 zoonoses are responsible for 2.2 million human deaths each year. The vast majority of these occur in low- and middle-income countries, such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania, and India. Worldwide, about 60 percent of all human diseases and 75 percent of all emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. Most human infections come from livestock, including pigs, chickens, cattle, goats, sheep, and camels. People can become infected either through direct or indirect contact, or the disease can be vector-borne (ticks, fleas, and mosquitos), foodborne (such as raw eggs or undercooked meat), or waterborne (drinking water contaminated by an infected animal).
Most disease transmissions from animals to people occur when people hike, bike, boat, or enjoy other outdoor activities. Petting zoos are also common places where people pick up zoonoses, as are farms where people come into close contact with livestock.
What Zoonoses Should We Be Concerned About in Florida?
Leptospirosis (Lepto)
Lepto is a bacterial infection that can affect humans and pets. It causes a wide range of flu-like symptoms in humans and can lead to serious damage to the kidney and liver. Lepto is usually transferred through water where pets or wildlife have been. It’s common in warm climates with high annual rainfall…like Jacksonville.
Mosquitos
If you’ve lived in Florida for any length of time, you’ve probably received a mosquito bite or two. Mosquitos found in Florida can transmit the West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis. Other mosquito-borne diseases are found in other parts of the world and can be brought back to Florida by infected people. These include chikungunya fever, dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, and Rift Valley fever. But probably the biggest concern to pet owners is heartworm disease. Mosquitos carry a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis, which is injected into the bloodstream when a mosquito bites a dog or a cat.
It takes about six to seven months for these parasitic worms to become adult heartworms, which is why our vets recommend a monthly heartworm preventative for all of our Jacksonville Community Pet Clinic feline and canine patients. The good news is that heartworms are preventable and do not cross between people and pets. It is extremely rare for people to get heartworms, but if they do, it can only be through the bite of a mosquito–not from their pet.
Fleas
Fleas carry several zoonoses, including the Plague, flea-borne typhus, cat scratch fever, and tapeworms, to name a few. Plague and flea-borne typhus are more common in western states and Hawaii, while cat scratch fever, also called cat-scratch disease, can occur anywhere that an infected cat scratches a person and they have flea feces on their claws from itching their flea bites. Tapeworms can spread to people and animals if they accidentally swallow an infected flea. Most people never know if they are carrying tapeworms, but tapeworms can rob vital nutrients and lead to infections.
Rabies
Domestic dogs, cats, rabbits, and wild animals such as skunks, raccoons, and bats can transfer the rabies virus to humans via bites and scratches. According to the CDC, around 59,000 people worldwide die from rabies every year, and 99 percent of them were bitten by a rabid dog. This is highly preventable. All it takes is getting your pet’s shots every year, including an annual rabies booster. Most counties in Florida require proof of vaccination from your veterinarian if your dog or cat is picked up by animal control and can result in a steep fine if they don’t have their rabies tag.
What Can You Do To Protect Yourself and Your Pets?
Good hand hygiene is essential. Always wash your hands after being around animals with soap and clean, running water. Protect yourself from bites from mosquitos, ticks, and fleas through insect repellents and either oral or topical preventative treatments for your pets. Eliminate areas of standing water around your yard, such as from flower pot saucers and keeping birdbaths clean. Always practice good food handling routines by frequently washing your hands while cooking, safely storing and thawing meats, and keeping all your food preparation surfaces clean.
Want to Know More?
At the Jacksonville Community Pet Clinic, our veterinarians can keep you and your pet healthy through regular physical examinations, giving them their annual vaccinations, and providing you with monthly flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives. With those and a good dose of common sense, such as never trying to pet a wild animal, you and your pet can have the best odds of remaining zoonosis disease-free.
