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