What are the diseases that threaten pets, but also their owners?

Known as zoonoses or zoonotic diseases, they are caused by a wide range of microscopic parasites such as tiny worms or bacteria and are transmitted from animals to humans through external parasites, insects or ticks, also known as vectors.

This is a particularly worrying situation because it can have negative repercussions on family members, whether two or four-legged.

How serious is this threat?

Globally, they are 1.3 million new cases of leishmaniasis every year.

Only in Europe, I pass 360,000 cases of Lyme disease have been reported in the last twenty years.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than half of the world’s population is at risk of diseases transmitted by external parasites, many of which are zoonotic.

And as temperatures rise across the planet, insects, ticks and other animals that transmit zoonotic diseases are spreading into new areas, threatening the health of dogs, cats and people.

Leishmaniasis

Caused by a microscopic protozoan parasite and transmitted by vectors such as sandflies, leishmaniasis affects dogs, cats and humans. The disease can cause multiple organ failure and skin damage. Sand midges are widely distributed in southern Europe.

protection

Also known as piroplasmosis, this disease is caused by certain protozoa spread by some ticks. Even though the protozoan that causes piroplasmosis in dogs is not the same as the one that causes it in humans, more ticks mean a greater risk for everyone!

Dirofilariasis

Heartworm disease is caused by tiny heartworms and is transmitted by mosquitoes. Heartworm disease can cause heart failure in dogs and cats and lung problems in humans; it is particularly widespread in southern Europe. Another type of heartworm affects the skin of dogs, cats, and humans; reached the Baltic Sea.

Ehrlichiosis

The main symptom of ehrlichiosis in dogs and cats is anemia. It is a disease caused by a bacterium and is transmitted by ticks. Ticks are found in southern Europe.

Lyme disease

Lyme disease or Lyme disease is a tick-borne bacteriosis. The vector is widespread throughout Europe. It is a serious condition in humans, manifested by fever, skin rashes, muscle and joint problems, and neurological conditions.

Bartonellosis

Also known as “cat scratch disease”, bartonellosis is caused by a bacterium and is transmitted by cat fleas; we find it all over the world. Bartonellosis can be fatal for some people, especially those who are immunocompromised. Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and inflammation of the eyes, gums, and heart. Protecting pets from fleas year-round can prevent the spread of bartonellosis to humans.

A growing threat

There are approximately 1,500 known infectious diseases in humans, of which approximately 60% are zoonotic. Some of them are new, while others already exist, but are becoming more common due to geographic migrations and people settling in new areas and being exposed to these species for the first time.

As an example of the spread of zoonoses, the following video explains the incidence of new parasites observed in Central Europe.

Information is essential for animal protection

An expert veterinarian is your pet’s best ally against the threat of zoonoses. And since these diseases also affect people, a professional who is knowledgeable in pet care and effective year-round pest control can have a positive impact on the health of the entire family.

But as responsible pet owners, we must take responsibility for staying up to date with the latest and most reliable information.

To get expert advice on protecting your pet and your family from zoonoses, sign up to our free newsletter.

reference

1. World Health Organization. (2014). A global brief on vector-borne diseases (No. WHO/DCO/WHD/2014.1). World Health Organization.

2. WHO Regional Office for Europe and European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (EDCD). (no date). Lyme borreliosis in Europe. World Health Organization.

3. World Health Organization. (2014). A global brief on vector-borne diseases (No. WHO/DCO/WHD/2014.1). World Health Organization.

4. Torgerson, P. R. and Macpherson, North Carolina (2011). The socioeconomic burden of parasitic zoonoses: global trends. Veterinary Parasitology, 182(1), 79-95.