Parasitic Zoonosis Transmitted by Pet Animals

ABSTRACT

The growing popularity of dogs and cats as pet animals in Korea, together with high rates of ascarid and hookworm infections among these animals, has resulted in widespread contamination of the soil with infective eggs and larvae in playgrounds and school yards. Several reports indicated that the prevalence of parasites in soil from playgrounds of kindergarten, elementary schools and residential areas in both urban and rural areas of Korea was as high as 33.3%. With several cases of ocular toxocariasis among Koreans being reported, larva migrans of young people caused by pet animal parasites should be recognized. Although rabies is by far the most dangerous zoonotic pathogen from dogs, children are more cornmonly exposed to various zoonotic parasites such as roundworms, hookworms or giardia originated from pet animals. Several parasites of dogs and cats that can be transmitted to pet owners are discussed.