Feline Parasites Causing Zoonosis – Protect Yourself Effectively

Some feline parasites and larvae of feline worms are a concern for public health. Learn how to reduce the risk of transmission from feline to human of common cat parasites.

Humans function as intermittent host for some protozoan cat parasites and cat worm larvae. Infestation happens usually through ingestion. Ovocysts or larvae are found in the environment (soil and water), on the cat directly, in litter boxes etc.

The most common feline parasites causing zoonosis (disease transmitted from animal to human) are:

Giardiasis Toxoplasmosis Hookworm larvae

Prevention

You can protect yourself and your children from zoonoses caused by feline parasites best, if you avoid ingestion of or contact with ovocysts, tissue cysts and larvae.

• Always wash hands after handling, grooming, stroking your cat.
• Wash hands and surfaces after handling raw meat.
• Boil drinking water, if the source s not reliable.
• Wear gloves when you work with garden soil.
• Wash hands, vegetables and fruits before eating.
• Keep children's sandboxes covered to avoid cats defecating into them.

Cat litter box: empty and disinfect it with boiling water on a daily basis. Ovocysts need a minimum of 24 hours to become infective.

• Pregnant women should avoid all contact with cats that are infected and shed ovocysts with their faeces. Avoid eating raw meat- or milk and products. Don't handle cat litter boxes. When working with garden soil, wear gloves.

Giardiasis

Giardia is the most common intestinal parasite in humans in North America. However, it is not entirely understood, if cysts shed by dogs and cats are infective for humans.

This feline parasite causes an enteric infection and malabsorption syndrome in cats and dogs and, if it is not treated, can lead to chronic debilitation. Cats are infected only occasionally.

Transmission happens through water that is infested by cysts.

If your cat is diagnosed with Giardiasis your vet will determine which drug needs to be used on an individual treatment schedule. Serial parasitical testing of your cat's faeces during the monitoring phases of treatment will be necessary.

Antiparasitic animal medications may cause severe complications in cats, if not used in an approproate dosage and without professional monitoring and testing.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasma gondii is a coccidian protozoan parasite that lives intracellular (within cells) and infects nearly all mammals, including humans.

Felines are definitive hosts. Humans and all other mammals function as alternate hosts.

The zoonotic potential of this feline parasite is considerable. Take preventative care and avoid infections through:

1. Diet: avoid feeding raw meat, viscera, bones and unpasteurized cow's or goat's milk.
2. Cats should not roam free to hunt birds or rodents
3. Prevent cats from entering stables where food-producing animals are kept, don't let cats soil feed or bedding.

Hookworm – Ancylostomiasis: CLM

Hookworms are intestinal, nematode parasites of felines (A. tubaeforme) and canines (A caninum). Especially A. braziliense, that infests both dogs and cats, is of public health concern. Larvae of this species penetrate the skin and cause CLM (cutaneous larva migrans).

Infection happens through ingestion and skin penetration of infective larvae that contaminate the environment

Hookworms are voracious blood sucking worms that will do a lot of mechanic damage to the gut wall and their blood vessels and may lead to severe anaemia in infested dogs and cats. It causes in neonates and young kittens an acute or peracute disease, in older kittens and adult cats a more chronic disease.

The best prevention is following a thorough de-worming schedule for young kittens, adult cats and breeding queens with anthelmintics that are effective against adult worms and the different staged larvae.

It is highly recommended to give only cat worming medication determined by a vet to eliminate this cat worm effectively.