Journal article
Transmission and epidemiology of zoonotic protozoal diseases of companion animals
Clinical microbiology reviews, Vol.26(1), pp.58-85
01/2013
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00067-12
PMCID: PMC3553666
PMID: 23297259
Abstract
Over 77 million dogs and 93 million cats share our households in the United States. Multiple studies have demonstrated the importance of pets in their owners' physical and mental health. Given the large number of companion animals in the United States and the proximity and bond of these animals with their owners, understanding and preventing the diseases that these companions bring with them are of paramount importance. Zoonotic protozoal parasites, including toxoplasmosis, Chagas' disease, babesiosis, giardiasis, and leishmaniasis, can cause insidious infections, with asymptomatic animals being capable of transmitting disease. Giardia and Toxoplasma gondii, endemic to the United States, have high prevalences in companion animals. Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi are found regionally within the United States. These diseases have lower prevalences but are significant sources of human disease globally and are expanding their companion animal distribution. Thankfully, healthy individuals in the United States are protected by intact immune systems and bolstered by good nutrition, sanitation, and hygiene. Immunocompromised individuals, including the growing number of obese and/or diabetic people, are at a much higher risk of developing zoonoses. Awareness of these often neglected diseases in all health communities is important for protecting pets and owners. To provide this awareness, this review is focused on zoonotic protozoal mechanisms of virulence, epidemiology, and the transmission of pathogens of consequence to pet owners in the United States.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Transmission and epidemiology of zoonotic protozoal diseases of companion animals
- Creators
- Kevin J Esch - Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USAChristine A Petersen
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Clinical microbiology reviews, Vol.26(1), pp.58-85
- DOI
- 10.1128/CMR.00067-12
- PMID
- 23297259
- PMCID
- PMC3553666
- NLM abbreviation
- Clin Microbiol Rev
- ISSN
- 0893-8512
- eISSN
- 1098-6618
- Publisher
- United States
- Grant note
- R21 AI088051 / NIAID NIH HHS K08 AI050803 / NIAID NIH HHS AI50803 / NIAID NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2013
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9983995141102771
Metrics
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