Parasites

Zoonotic Disease – You can catch worms from dogs?

The bond between a person and their pet adds a richness to life that is difficult to explain to those who have not been privileged enough to experience it firsthand. For many people, their pets co-habit in the home – sitting on the furniture, often even sleeping in the bed. These precious moments often include the soft purr of a cuddling cat snuggling with us or the family dog giving “kisses” to anyone who will receive his/her affection, especially young children. Sometimes, dogs and cats may end up sharing more than just affection with their owners – they may introduce parasites into our world – some hidden to the naked eye (i.e. microscopic) and others apparent. Luckily, with proper education on the prevention of zoonotic (diseases transmitted from animals to humans) infections of common parasites – the closeness between owners and their pets no longer needs to interrupted by creepy crawly critters.

Two of the most common intestinal parasites transferred from pets to people include ascarids (commonly referred to as “roundworms”) and hookworms. Roundworms and hookworms are most prevalently diagnosed in puppies and kittens (a stage in their life when they are particularly adorable and cuddly), but can occur in dogs and cats of all ages. Unless the puppy or kitten’s mother was properly dewormed prior to or during pregnancy, most puppies and kittens will become infected with roundworm and hookworm larvae either while developing in the uterus or via nursing. If left untreated, the young puppies and kittens will begin to shed the infective eggs into their environment – our homes and yards. The eggs or larvae are invisible to naked eye. Children’s play habits and their attraction to pets put them at higher risk for infection than adults.

Specifically, roundworm eggs need to be ingested from the environment – typically by a child putting dirty fingers into their mouth that have infected eggs or kissing a pet that has recently ingested the eggs by grooming itself. Once a person is infected with the roundworm eggs, the eggs hatch and release worms which can migrate anywhere in the body. Eventually, the worm will lodge in a part of body and die, which causes an extreme inflammatory reaction. Classically, the worm lodges in the eye, and if it dies there, blindness usually results.

Hookworms can be transmitted to humans in the same manner as roundworms (the inadvertent consumption of eggs in the environment) as well as through direct penetration of the skin. Children who play in contaminated areas, like parks, backyards and sandboxes are susceptible to infection, as well as adults who come into contact with larvae-contaminated soil such as plumbers, electricians or other professionals who crawl beneath raised buildings. Typically, the hookworm infection in humans is self-limiting and appears as linear itchy eruptive lesions on the skin; however, more severe cases are possible.

While the above scenarios are frightening, the great news is that it is preventable! Creating an awareness of the hidden parasitic risk of pets is the first step and education on proper prevention is the second. Most cases of human roundworm and hookworm infections can be prevented by taking the following steps:

1. Eliminate intestinal parasites from cats and dogs by preventative deworming of cats and dogs. At a minimum, all pets should be receive deworming treatments once a year. However, puppies and kittens should be dewormed multiple times over the first few months of life. Giving a puppy or kitten dewormer once will not treat him/her effectively for intestinal parasites.
   
   
2. Proper hand-washing and practicing good hygiene. Wear shoes when you walk on possibly contaminated grass – especially at public parks.
   
   
3. Keeping children away from potentially contaminated environments, such uncovered sandboxes or public areas where dog waste is not cleaned up.
   
   
4. Clean up pet feces on a regular basis – the CDC reports that a roundworm in an infected puppy can produce more than 100,000 eggs per day which can spread throughout the area where the puppy wanders and remain infective in the environment for years.
   
   
5. If your cat or dog is pregnant, deworm her to protect the offspring from becoming infected and shedding eggs into the environment.

Soon the wintry weather will become a distant memory as the spring flowers begin to bloom and we are again spending more time outside playing with friends and pets. Take precautions and use proper hygiene when spending time in potentially contaminated environments. If your pet has not been dewormed recently or tested for intestinal parasites, contact your veterinarian for more information. Keep your bond with the pet world healthy and parasite free!