|
What worms are contagious to people?
Many common pet ailments cannot be transmitted to people. Those that can be are called "zoonotic". Unfortunately, two of the most common intestinal worms are zoonotic and can cause significant problems for humans, especially children.
Roundworms or Toxacarasis:
Puppies and kittens catch this worm from their moms, from contaminated  soil, or from eating bugs and wildlife. The worm eggs are then shed in your pet's poop. Eggs in fresh poop are not contagious to people but they become very harmful once they have been sitting in the soil, sandbox, beach or playground. If fingers touch contaminated soil and then go in a person's mouth, the eggs can hatch inside the body. The eggs release larvae (baby worms). As the larvae migrate, they cause a severe illness called "Visceral Larval Migrans". The worms generally migrate through the internal organs, causing damage as they go. They have a tendency to find the brain and eyes, causing permanent damage and blindness. Roundworm infection is an important cause of acquired blindness in children.
Hookworms or Ancyclostomasis:
Similar to roundworms, this worm can also be spread by the pet's mom, the environment or wildlife ingestion. Even worse, the larvae of this worm can also go straight through a pet's - or a human's - skin to cause infection. It is quite common for people to walk on contaminated soil or sand with bare feet and get an infection called "Cutaneous Larval Migrans." The condition causes a very itchy rash everywhere that larvae have migrated. It's treatable, but no fun!
Prevention
For the good of both your pets and your loved ones, it is important to prevent the spread of parasites. Here are a few essential tips:
- Follow your veterinarian's recommendations for routine parasite prevention so the eggs do not get shed into the environment. Monthly heartworm preventatives are very important. Cats that go outside often test positive for worms since they hunt, so they need to always get a monthly preventative as prescribed by their veterinarian.
- Keep your dog on a leash and pick up poop promptly to decrease environmental contamination.
- Sandboxes should be covered when not in use so they do not become an outdoor litter box for cats.
- Pets should be kept off of playgrounds and restricted beach areas.
- Children should be taught to wash their hands after touching a pet or playing outside.
- Restrict your pet's access to house plants since up to 20% of potting soil is contaminated with parasite eggs.
For more information visit www.capcvet.org
| 
