In 64 million American
household’s pets are a source of joy and perhaps even the key to longer,
healthier lives. However, pet-owning households with young children, pregnant
women, and people with weakened immune systems need to be aware that their
animals can play host to disease-causing microorganisms.
Humans are not likely to catch a
disease through their pets, but in very rare cases it can happen. Fortunately,
most of these diseases rarely occur in healthy individuals, are mild and can be
easily treated. Others, like toxoplasmosis, can be
far more serious. Diseases transmitted from animals to humans are called
zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases usually live out their complex life cycles
in animals, but sometimes cross into human bodies. Usually contracting a
pet-borne disease requires very close contact with animals or their excretions,
so zoonotic diseases can be avoided with common sense, cleanliness and regular
pet examinations and vaccinations.
