Method of transmission of zoonotic diseasesThe infectious agent that causes animal-human diseases can be transmitted to humans in the following ways:
1. Direct: That is, by direct human contact with the infectious agent.
A typical example of a direct transmission of animal-human diseases is rabies, which is transmitted to humans when a rabid dog bites a human. The rabies virus, which is present in the dog's saliva, then enters the human body through the wound and causes the disease in humans.
2. Indirect: Here the transmission of the pathogen occurs after indirect human contact with the source of infection.
A typical example of indirect transmission of animal-human diseases is echinococcosis. The pathogen for humans is the echinococcus eggs, which are abundant in the feces of the infected dog. These eggs, after coming out into the environment with the dog's feces, disperse and stick to the animal's hair, and with the air or flies they contaminate the vegetables, the free water and generally the whole environment. Humans become infected when they eat contaminated food, especially raw vegetables, or when they eat with unwashed hands, when they have previously come in contact with infected animal hair. Other ways of indirect transmission are the consumption of uncooked or incompletely cooked meat, raw or sterilized milk, etc.
The most serious animal-human diseases transmitted from dog to human and endemic to our country.
1. LYSSA
The rabies virus is responsible for this disease.
Rabies has been eradicated from Greece, but it still exists in neighboring countries (especially Turkey) and in central Europe. It should be noted that the rage of wild mammals (foxes, jackals) of central Europe, moves every year further south by 20 kilometers per year. In our country, the last case of rabies in humans occurred in 1975 and the last case of rabies in a dog in 1985.
It follows that we must not rest in any way, in terms of rabies, because there is always the risk of disease entering our country from neighboring countries, especially with wild mammals.
Symptoms of rabies in the dog: The dog, when infected with rabies, changes behavior, avoids people, hides in dark places, barks for no reason, is easily irritated by light and noise, does not eat and bite objects such as wood, stones, metals and others. He cannot stand easily on his feet and his tail is usually hanging between his limbs.
Angry dogs often attack for no reason and bite humans and other animals, even their own boss. They are also likely to get lost and wander a short distance around their home without being able to return to it.
Other times, their eyes are red and saliva is running from their mouths, while their face is very wild.
Precaution: Preventive anti-rabies vaccination is recommended for all dogs, especially those that roam freely, such as hunters and shepherds, while vaccination is required in border areas, especially those bordering Turkey.
In the event of a dog being bitten by a dog, any dog should immediately contact the nearest state hospital or health center and identify the owner of the animal and report it to the nearest Veterinary Service or Police Department. The bitten animal must be veterinary monitored for 15 days in case of suspected rabies symptoms.
It has been found that an animal infected with rabies can transmit the rabies virus about a week before the first symptoms of the disease begin. For added safety, the monitoring time of the suspected animal is doubled and set by law at 15 days.
It is caused by a germ called Leptospira (Leptospira sp.). Responsible for the disease are the microbes L. canicola and especially L. icterohaemorragiae.
In the dog it mainly affects the kidneys and usually causes symptoms of kidney failure (fever, pain in the kidneys, bleeding mucous membranes).
Humans are mainly infected by the urine of infected dogs.
In humans, the incubation period ranges between 4 - 19 (usually 10) days and causes fever, headaches, chills, malaise, vomiting and muscle aches.
Precaution: Prophylactic vaccination of dogs with the corresponding vaccine is recommended. There are monovalent and multivalent vaccines against leptospirosis.
Leptospira from infected pet urine Leptospira
is a bacterium in the urine of infected animals such as dogs, mice, rats and squirrels. It can be transmitted to humans through direct or indirect contact with contaminated urine. The bacterium can survive in water, or on soil for weeks to months. If your dog walks through the yard, where there is contaminated urine, and then comes into the house, it can carry the bacterium and get leptospirosis. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, chills and rash, and can lead to kidney failure if left untreated. It is a treatable disease with antibiotics (doxycycline or penicillin) and if treated early will not cause damage to vital organs
is a bacterium in the urine of infected animals such as dogs, mice, rats and squirrels. It can be transmitted to humans through direct or indirect contact with contaminated urine. The bacterium can survive in water, or on soil for weeks to months. If your dog walks through the yard, where there is contaminated urine, and then comes into the house, it can carry the bacterium and get leptospirosis. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, chills and rash, and can lead to kidney failure if left untreated. It is a treatable disease with antibiotics (doxycycline or penicillin) and if treated early will not cause damage to vital organs
It is due to germs of the genus Yersinia.
In the dog it usually causes symptoms of the digestive system mainly.
Humans are infected with the urine and feces of infected dogs. The incubation period is 24-36 hours and various symptoms are observed, such as abdominal pain, fever, headache, anorexia, diarrhea, nausea, chills, pharyngitis and leukocytosis.
It is due to protozoa of the genus Leismania.
In our country, visceral leishmaniasis is mainly found, due to Leismania donovani.
The disease occurs in 1 - 15% of dogs in various parts of the country and is transmitted to animals and humans by the bite of insects of the genus Phlebotomus (gnats).
The gnats are active in our area -due to the climatic conditions- usually during the period from April to October-November.
In both dogs and humans, leishmaniasis can multiply in leukocytes and cause cell damage, as well as damage to the liver, spleen and other organs until the host dies, if proper treatment is not given in time.
The magnitude of the risk to public health in our country is shown by the existence of special legislation to address this disease.
According to the law, it is mandatory to euthanize the infected animal or keep it in a special cage, where mosquitoes can not pass.
Prevention:
- Remove rubbish, piles of leaves and other useless materials at a distance of more than 100 meters from the houses, so that there are no wet and dark places where mosquitoes give birth and their larvae grow.
- Use insect repellent inside the dog's house and on his coat or special collar.
- Serological tests of dogs in April to diagnose infected animals from the previous period of activity of mosquitoes and to take measures to prevent infection of healthy ones and in November to diagnose animals infected during the new period and to take the appropriate measures.
- Monitoring the dog's health and immediate examination in cases of weight loss, skin lesions and other symptoms that may suspect leishmaniasis.
It is caused by the nematode parasite Toxocara canis.
Dogs become infected when they swallow the eggs of parasites, which were previously left outside for 8 to 20 days after being excreted in the feces of infected animals. Dangerous areas for animal infection are gardens, parks, sidewalks, playgrounds, etc., where dogs defecate.
After their arrival and hatching, in the small intestine of dogs, the parasites invade the intestinal wall and in the form of a larva migrate to the tissues of the animal. During their wandering, the young parasites injure the tissues through which they pass and cause the "syndrome of viscerally and ocularly migrating larvae".
The larvae that migrate to the animal's lungs, ascend the bronchial tree, are swallowed, reach the small intestine and mature within 1-2 months after infection of the animal.
Adult parasites live for about 18 months and begin egg production 14-21 days after adulthood. Eggs are released into the environment with animal feces (200,000 eggs / parasite / day) and become dangerous to animals and humans after staying in the environment for 8 - 20 days, while maintaining their infectivity for up to 6 months.
Humans are infected by accidentally ingesting eggs of the parasite. Mostly infected are children who play in dog-infected parks, playgrounds, etc ..
The parasites hatch in the small intestine and follow their migration to the internal organs (lung, liver, brain, eyes, kidneys, etc.) and cause the "syndrome of visceral and ocular migrating larvae, which is characterized by infestations , blindness and high eosinophilia.
Prevention:
Dogs become infected when they swallow the eggs of parasites, which were previously left outside for 8 to 20 days after being excreted in the feces of infected animals. Dangerous areas for animal infection are gardens, parks, sidewalks, playgrounds, etc., where dogs defecate.
After their arrival and hatching, in the small intestine of dogs, the parasites invade the intestinal wall and in the form of a larva migrate to the tissues of the animal. During their wandering, the young parasites injure the tissues through which they pass and cause the "syndrome of viscerally and ocularly migrating larvae".
The larvae that migrate to the animal's lungs, ascend the bronchial tree, are swallowed, reach the small intestine and mature within 1-2 months after infection of the animal.
Adult parasites live for about 18 months and begin egg production 14-21 days after adulthood. Eggs are released into the environment with animal feces (200,000 eggs / parasite / day) and become dangerous to animals and humans after staying in the environment for 8 - 20 days, while maintaining their infectivity for up to 6 months.
Humans are infected by accidentally ingesting eggs of the parasite. Mostly infected are children who play in dog-infected parks, playgrounds, etc ..
The parasites hatch in the small intestine and follow their migration to the internal organs (lung, liver, brain, eyes, kidneys, etc.) and cause the "syndrome of visceral and ocular migrating larvae, which is characterized by infestations , blindness and high eosinophilia.
Prevention:
- Informing the owner to collect the feces of his animal.
- Regular deworming of the animal.
- Strict application of the rules of personal hygiene.
Due to the film Echinococcus granulosus.
The dog is the final host and carries the echinococcus tape in its small intestine.
The infection of the dog is done by consuming the "water bladders" with the raw intestines of infected intermediate hosts, which are ruminants, pigs, horses, rodents, etc., as well as humans.
Therefore, a dog that eats cooked food or proper feed is not infected with the parasite, does not spread echinococcus eggs in the environment and is not a source of infection to humans and animals.
In contrast, hounds or stray dogs, and even more so stray dogs, pose a serious risk to public health and animal health in relation to echinococcosis.
The dog is the final host and carries the echinococcus tape in its small intestine.
The infection of the dog is done by consuming the "water bladders" with the raw intestines of infected intermediate hosts, which are ruminants, pigs, horses, rodents, etc., as well as humans.
Therefore, a dog that eats cooked food or proper feed is not infected with the parasite, does not spread echinococcus eggs in the environment and is not a source of infection to humans and animals.
In contrast, hounds or stray dogs, and even more so stray dogs, pose a serious risk to public health and animal health in relation to echinococcosis.
The eggs of the parasite are spread in the environment with the feces of the infected dog and can be swallowed by herbivores and humans, in the tissues of which watery cysts develop . Echinococcus eggs retain their infectivity in the external environment for many months and can be transmitted to human food by flies or other insects that have come in contact with the feces of an infected dog. long distances.
Human echinococcosis is caused by eating eggs of echinococcus, which are excreted in the feces of sarcophagi, which are the main hosts. Humans are intermediate hosts in the parasite life cycle. There are four species of echinococcus, of which echinococcus granulosus (cystic fibrosis) and echinococcus multilocularis (alveolar disease) are the common human pathogens. Echinococcus vogeli and echinococcus oligathrus are strains of minor importance.
Echinococcus granulosus
It is common in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Central Asia, China, Eastern Europe, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Great Britain, Alaska, NW Canada, the United States and in Mississippi, South America. Human infection occurs mainly when eggs excreted in dog feces are ingested accidentally. The released embryos enter the circulation and are transported to various organs, where they form hydrated cysts.
The vast majority of cysts occur in the liver (over 60%). The lung is less affected, and less commonly watery cysts are located in other tissues (eg brain, bones, skeletal muscle, kidneys, spleen). The coexistence of multiple cysts is observed in several patients.
The cysts consist of three layers, an inner one with stem cells, a supporting intermediate layer and an outer one produced by the host. The cysts can grow in size and become huge.
Liver cysts
The bladder can remain asymptomatic for over 20 years and be accidentally discovered on an abdominal ultrasound. Symptoms such as pain, nausea, and vomiting are usually absent when the bladder is less than 10 cm in size. The pressure of the adjacent tissues can cause biliary obstruction, jaundice, cholangitis, cirrhosis. If the bladder breaks suddenly, it can immediately cause anaphylaxis and death. During a slow rupture, the allergic effects are several times milder, but due to the outflow of the contents of the bladder, however, jaundice, biliary colic, infection of many organs can develop.
Pulmonary cysts
They have no symptoms until they rupture or increase in size. In these cases there are complications such as bronchial obstruction with shortness of breath, respiratory failure, allergy, leakage of contents.
Brain cysts
They cause symptoms earlier due to pressure on the sensitive brain tissue. Dizziness, headache, convulsions, symptoms of increased intracranial pressure may occur.
Bone cysts
Cause erosions and manifest with pain and easy fracture. The spine is the most common source of infection. If the cysts are accompanied by compression of the spinal cord, paralysis develops. The diagnosis is made by imaging test (ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) and special blood tests.
Echinococcus multilocularis
Appears only in the northern hemisphere. Wild carnivores (wolves, foxes) are the main hosts, while wild rodents are the intermediate hosts. Human infection is mainly caused by accidental ingestion of worm eggs, which are excreted in the feces of foxes or dogs. The main location of the cysts is in the liver, where the cyst can metastasize or infiltrate locally in a tumor-like form. Primary lung disease is rare. The diagnosis is made by imaging test (ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) and special blood tests.
Treatment
Surgical treatment used to be a one-way street, despite high mortality rates - postoperative complications and relapses. Today, with modern anthelmintic regimens, the percentage of patients who eventually undergo surgery is constantly decreasing.
Prevention:
- Do not have your pets in your room, but in their own space
- Do not feed your animals with offal
- Change clothes and clean up after interacting with animals
- Wash your hands after your interaction with animals and before eating, for more than twenty seconds
- Do not let your face come in contact with animals (avoid kissing and hugging) and do not put unwashed hands on your face
- Consult your veterinarian for prophylactic treatment of domestic dogs if you live in an endemic area
- Wash fruits and vegetables adequately.
- Dogs should be fed exclusively with cooked food or special animal feed.
- Strictly follow the rules of personal hygiene.
- Fight flies and other insects that carry echinococcus eggs.
- Regular parasitological examination of animals and their treatment.
- Collect and destroy animal feces.
ALSO IN ADDITION TO THE CLASSIC DISEASES THERE ARE OTHERS SUCH AS
Ringworm in small dogs and kittensYoung animals are more likely to transmit the disease to humans. Ringworm is caused by a fungus and causes people to have a scaly, reddish, round skin rash or a bald patch on the scalp. Some adult pets, usually cats, often have no ringworm symptoms.
But you can easily catch it by touching an infected pet, or even its blanket. The fungus is also present in garden soil, where cats and dogs may have defecated. If you get ringworm, you can use a topical antifungal ointment. In some more severe cases, your doctor may prescribe a pill treatment.
Ascarids, hookworms and tapeworms
Most puppies and kittens are born with roundworms and this is why they should be checked regularly and treated appropriately. Ascaris eggs can survive for up to a month in humid environments, such as sand and soil where a pet defecates. If you catch contaminated sand and then do not wash your hands, you may swallow the eggs without realizing it. Infected with roundworm eggs can cause eye, heart, lung and even neurological symptoms. Visceral ascariasis, the disease that can result from roundworms, can be treated with antiparasitic drugs.
Hookworms in a pet, usually in dogs and cats, can be caused by a variety of parasites. A person can become infected if hookworm larvae from contaminated soil penetrate the skin. The infection is not serious, it usually goes away on its own, or you may be given an antiparasitic treatment.
The tape can be transmitted by fleas living on the animal when the animal cleans itself and swallows an infected flea. The pet can then infect humans, although the risk is low. If your skin comes in contact with your pet's anus, then the tape may be transferred to you. You may have gastrointestinal symptoms and unexplained weight loss. You will need to take some pills.
Most puppies and kittens are born with roundworms and this is why they should be checked regularly and treated appropriately. Ascaris eggs can survive for up to a month in humid environments, such as sand and soil where a pet defecates. If you catch contaminated sand and then do not wash your hands, you may swallow the eggs without realizing it. Infected with roundworm eggs can cause eye, heart, lung and even neurological symptoms. Visceral ascariasis, the disease that can result from roundworms, can be treated with antiparasitic drugs.
Hookworms in a pet, usually in dogs and cats, can be caused by a variety of parasites. A person can become infected if hookworm larvae from contaminated soil penetrate the skin. The infection is not serious, it usually goes away on its own, or you may be given an antiparasitic treatment.
The tape can be transmitted by fleas living on the animal when the animal cleans itself and swallows an infected flea. The pet can then infect humans, although the risk is low. If your skin comes in contact with your pet's anus, then the tape may be transferred to you. You may have gastrointestinal symptoms and unexplained weight loss. You will need to take some pills.
Salmonella from Pets
Many people choose to have a lizard, a snake, or other reptiles instead of dogs and cats. Then they have a higher risk for a disease known as salmonellosis which is caused by the salmonella bacterium.
In addition to snakes and lizards, turtles and iguanas also host this bacterium. It does not cause symptoms in the animal, but it can cause problems in humans (diarrhea, fever and cramps) that last for about a week.
Many people choose to have a lizard, a snake, or other reptiles instead of dogs and cats. Then they have a higher risk for a disease known as salmonellosis which is caused by the salmonella bacterium.
In addition to snakes and lizards, turtles and iguanas also host this bacterium. It does not cause symptoms in the animal, but it can cause problems in humans (diarrhea, fever and cramps) that last for about a week.
Pet and bird infestation
A pet bird, such as a parrot, can become infected with a bacterium called Chlamydophila psittaci and could transmit it to you. Humans can catch it by inhaling dried secretions from infected birds, even if the birds themselves have absolutely no symptoms.
Symptoms you may get include fever, chills, muscle aches and dry cough. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, such as tetracycline or doxycycline.
A pet bird, such as a parrot, can become infected with a bacterium called Chlamydophila psittaci and could transmit it to you. Humans can catch it by inhaling dried secretions from infected birds, even if the birds themselves have absolutely no symptoms.
Toxoplasmosis from cats
A parasite called toxoplasma is transmitted to humans through feces in the sand that the pet needs if it is infected. It is a very dangerous disease for an unborn child. If a woman catches this parasite during her pregnancy, it can cause genetic abnormalities in the baby.
A parasite called toxoplasma is transmitted to humans through feces in the sand that the pet needs if it is infected. It is a very dangerous disease for an unborn child. If a woman catches this parasite during her pregnancy, it can cause genetic abnormalities in the baby.
Avian tuberculosis Poultry can catch
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mycobacterium avium complex) and be asymptomatic, but if the germ is spread through the air, it can be transmitted to humans through inhalation. As a disease, it resembles tuberculosis and "hits" the lungs, but fortunately it is very rare. It is almost impossible to catch it unless you are an immunosuppressed person. The infection is difficult to treat and often proves antibiotic resistant. It is a form of tuberculosis, but it is not the traditional form of tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mycobacterium avium complex) and be asymptomatic, but if the germ is spread through the air, it can be transmitted to humans through inhalation. As a disease, it resembles tuberculosis and "hits" the lungs, but fortunately it is very rare. It is almost impossible to catch it unless you are an immunosuppressed person. The infection is difficult to treat and often proves antibiotic resistant. It is a form of tuberculosis, but it is not the traditional form of tuberculosis.
Source: ANASTASIOS G. TSONIS - Director of Veterinary Messinia.
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