Zoonotic disease or zoonoses are terms used to describe an infection or disease that can be transmitted from an animal to a human being.

Altogether, well over a hundred diseases are capable of being transmitted from animals to humans, although most are rare in North America. All domestic animals including dogs, cats, birds, horses, cows, sheep, goats and rabbits can potentially spread diseases to people, but rarely does this actually occur. If pet owners exercise basic hygiene principles, especially hand washing, most of these potential diseases can be avoided.

While the risk of contracting any of these illnesses is low, here is a list of common zoonotic diseases. Note that many of these infections are the result of eating undercooked meat, fish and poultry, or involve exotic animals and travel.

Anisakiasis

Anthrax

Babesiosis

Brucellosis

Campylobacteriosis

Ciguatera Fish Poisoning

Colorado Tick Fever

Cryptosporidiosis

Cysticercosis

Dengue

Dermatophytosis (Ringworm)

Domoic Acid Poisoning (Amnesic Shellfish

Poisoning)

Echinococcosis (Hydatid Disease)

Ehrlichiosis

Encephalitis (specify etiology)

Escherichia coli 0157:H7 Infection

Food borne disease

Giardiasis

Hantavirus Infections

Leptospirosis

Listeriosis

Lyme Disease Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis

Malaria

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

Plague, Human or Animal

Psittacosis

Q Fever

Rabies, Human or Animal

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Salmonellosis (Other than Typhoid Fever)

Scombroid Fish Poisoning

Swimmer's Itch (Schistosomal Dermatitis)

Toxoplasmosis

Trichinosis

Tuberculosis

Tularemia

Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (e.g., Crimean-Congo, Ebola, Lassa and Marburg viruses)

Water-associated Disease

Yellow Fever

Yersiniosis

More Chandan Kumar Poddar's questions See All
Similar questions and discussions