GIS: Cleaning up after your pet is more important than you think

Cleaning up after your dog and cat is not only a matter of a clean and aesthetically pleasing environment, but also a matter of health. The feces of our four-legged pets can contain dangerous parasites and microorganisms that can cause disease in both humans and other animals.

Dog or cat roundworm eggs

Humans can become infected with dog roundworm (Toxocara cani) or cat roundworm eggs through the oral route. Eggs can be found in feces-contaminated soil or sand - for example, in a neighborhood sandbox, in a park, on a lawn, or even around the house if infected quadrupeds are present. A place where children are often infected is uncovered sandboxes, where cats like to poop.

Dog roundworm eggs in humans develop to the level of larvae, which end up in the liver and other organs (causing what is known as visceral toxocariasis) or, much less frequently, in the eyeball (ocular toxocariasis). In an infected human, unlike in dogs, the parasites do not develop in the gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless, syndromes caused by roundworm larvae lead to serious health problems, especially in children.

Remember that roundworm eggs can be found on the fur of animals. When rolling on the ground, animals' fur can become contaminated with invasive Toxocara eggs. In neglected animals, the eggs can reach the invasive stage already on the fur.

Treatment of human infestation must be carried out by an infectious disease specialist, following appropriate diagnostics.

Toxoplasma gondii oocysts

Oocysts, are developmental forms of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Feline animals excrete them together with their feces. Therefore, it is very important to regularly remove cat feces from the litter box. Oocysts become invasive after about 2-5 days in the outdoor environment and retain the ability to infect for many months.

Oocysts can infect humans and other animal species. Infection can occur through contact with invasive oocysts in cat feces, but also after eating raw or insufficiently heat-treated meat and internal organs of infected animals - such as raw pork.

Tapeworms of dogs and cats

Cases of settlement of the tapeworm Dipylidium canium in the human body are rare, although possible. In the development cycle of this tapeworm, the intermediate host is the dog or cat flea, i.e., the larval forms of the tapeworm are found in the flea's body. Thus, the likelihood of human infection occurs in an environment with flea-infested animals.

Another type of danger is tapeworms of the genus Taenia, whose eggs can be found on the fur of dogs/cats or in their feces.

Lamblia/Gargia

The reservoir of this parasite is mainly humans, but also some domestic mammals (dogs, cats) and wild animals. Infection is spread easily by the oral route, through contaminated hands or, more often, water (drinking or recreational water, such as in swimming pools, lakes, or rivers), less often by contaminated food. In dogs and cats, the parasite is found in feces. Infection in humans is called lambliasis.

Other parasites found in animal feces that are dangerous to humans

In addition to the above parasites, other species of tapeworms pose a significant threat to humans: the single-stranded echinococcus, causing the so-called echinococcosis, and the multi-stranded echinococcus, responsible for the so-called alveococcosis). The sources of these tapeworms are infected dogs or wild canids, e.g. foxes, raccoons.

Infection with these parasites leads in humans to the formation of cysts in various internal organs (most often the liver). The disease often develops asymptomatically for a very long time, leading to serious organ damage.

Watch out for your dogs and cats

Dogs and cats are susceptible to roundworms, hookworms, trichomoniasis, tapeworms, coccidia, and gargia, among others. In addition to parasites, viruses, such as parvovirus and distemper virus, may be present in animal feces. These viruses are a major threat to our pets and cause dangerous diseases that can threaten the lives of pets, especially unvaccinated or very young ones.

What you can do to avoid getting infected

Always collect and dispose of your pet's feces, including in the woods or fields. This is especially important in public places. If you don't clean up after your pet, you could get a fine.

• After cleaning, wash your hands with soap and water. Hand sanitizers are not enough.
• Always wash your hands after contact with an animal, such as stroking, cuddling.
• Always wash your hands before cooking, preparing and before eating food.
• Remember that feeding children while they are playing in the sandbox can promote infection.
• Develop in children the habit of frequent hand washing - before eating, after playing with animals.
• Don't kiss animals.
• Avoid contact with strange animals.
• Wash fruits and vegetables - even when they come from your own garden. You don't know what animals are looking in there.
• Always cover the sandbox in your yard when children are not using it. It is the responsibility of the playground manager to cover and maintain the cleanliness of neighborhood sandboxes, but be sure to choose ones that you have no doubts about the hygiene of.
• Regularly deworm and vaccinate your dogs and cats - this way you protect yourself, your loved ones, as well as your pets.

Source: GIS