The zoonoses table in the Public Health section of the professional version of the MSD Veterinary Manual lists the most important zoonoses that have been documented. Many of these are quite rare and only occur in certain areas of the world, or under certain conditions. The table is divided into categories, based on the type of organism that causes disease (for example, bacteria, viruses, parasites, and so on). The table included here lists the zoonotic diseases that are more common or that have a large impact (such as a high chance of causing death) when they do occur.
It is also important to note that, in the majority of zoonoses, infection is due to contact with a wild animal or an insect rather than a pet. For instance, where rodents are listed in the table, it is most commonly a wild rodent that is the source of disease, not one that has been bred and kept in captivity.
Many proven zoonoses, including some relatively rare viral infections carried by insects and infections caused by parasitic worms, have been omitted, as well as those diseases caused by fish and reptile toxins.
Global Zoonoses*
Disease | Causative Organism | Principal Animals Involved | Known Distribution | Ways Spread to Humans | Signs in Humans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bacterial Diseases | |||||
Anthrax | Bacillus anthracis | Horses, livestock | Worldwide; common in Africa, Asia, South America, eastern Europe | Work-related exposure; foodborne in Africa, Russia, and Asia; occasionally wounds or insect bites; rarely airborne | Skin rash, pneumonia, blood poisoning |
Brucellosis | Brucella abortus | Cattle, bison, elk, caribou | Worldwide except North America | Work-related and recreational exposure | Fever lasting about a week, progressing to blood poisoning |
Brucella melitensis | Goats, sheep, camels | Worldwide | Milk, cheese, contact | Fever lasting about a week with arthritis, progressing to blood poisoning | |
Brucella suis | Wild and domestic pigs | Northern hemisphere | Rarely airborne | Fever lasting about a week with arthritis, endocarditis; progressing to blood poisoning | |
Campylobacter enteritis | Campylobacter jejuni | Dogs, cats, poultry | Worldwide | Mainly foodborne, milk, waterborne, or work-related | Inflammation of the intestines, arthritis, blood poisoning |
Cat scratch disease | Bartonella henselae, B. quintana | Cats | Worldwide | Scratches, bites, “licks” | Enlargement of the lymph nodes to blood poisoning; skin rash in persons with AIDS |
Erysipeloid | Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae | Pigs, turkeys, pigeons, fish, marine mammals | Worldwide | Work-related, recreational exposure | Skin rash, blood poisoning |
Escherichia coli infections (Only some infections are considered zoonotic.) | Certain strains of E. coli, including O157:H7 and others | Cattle, humans | North and South America, Europe, South Africa, Japan, Australia | Eating undercooked ground beef or food or water contaminated with cattle feces | Inflammation of the intestines, diarrhea, abdominal pain, kidney failure |
Leptospirosis | Leptospira interrogans | Common in rodents, dogs | Worldwide | Work-related and recreational exposure; water- and foodborne | Fever, rash, pneumonia, inflammation of the covering of the brain, liver and kidney failure |
Listeriosis | Listeria monocytogenes | Numerous mammals, birds | Worldwide in cool environments | Raw contaminated milk, cheese, mud, water, and vegetables are infectious | Inflammation of the intestines and the covering of the brain, blood poisoning, fetal infection |
Lyme disease (Borreliosis) | Borrelia species | Deer, rodents | Worldwide | Ticks | Fever, blood poisoning |
Mycobacteriosis | Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex | Many species of mammals, some birds | Worldwide | Primarily waterborne | Lung disease in elderly; spread throughout body in immunocompromised, especially persons with AIDS |
Pasteurellosis | Pasteurella multocida and other species | Many species of animals, especially dogs and cats | Worldwide | Wounds, scratches, bites | Wound infections, inflammation of connective tissue, blood poisoning, inflammation of the covering of the brain |
Plague | Yersinia pestis | Rodents, cats, rabbits, related animals | Areas of Western US, South America, Asia and Africa; rare | Fleas, airborne particles, handling infected animals | Skin rash, enlargement of lymph nodes, pneumonia, blood poisoning |
Psittacosis and ornithosis | Chlamydophila psittaci | Parakeets, parrots, other domestic birds | Worldwide; common | Exposure to airborne particles | Pneumonia, blood poisoning |
Relapsing fever (Borreliosis) | Borrelia recurrentis | No animal reservoir for louseborne form; wild rodents (tickborne form) | Occasional epidemics | Crushing infected lice, tick bites | Relapsing fever (every 3 to 5 days, up to 10 episodes); blood poisoning |
Salmonellosis | Salmonella enterica | Horses, livestock, dogs, cats, reptiles, amphibians | Worldwide; very common | Foodborne infection, especially in the elderly, infants, or immunocompromised; work-related and recreational exposure | Inflammation of the intestines, blood poisoning |
Southern tick-associated rash illness | Borrelia lonestari | Uncertain | Southern US | Ticks | Bull’s eye-shaped rash, arthritis, blood poisoning |
Streptococcal infections | Streptococcus pyogenes, other streptococci | Horses, livestock; occasionally other animals including dogs, cats | Worldwide | Ingestion, especially of raw milk; direct contact | Inflammation of the throat and connective tissues, pneumonia, inflammation of the covering of the brain, arthritis, blood poisoning |
Tetanus | Clostridium tetani | Principally herbivores, but all animals may be intestinal carriers | Worldwide | Wound infection and injections | Muscle spasms and contractions (especially facial), seizures, high mortality |
Tuberculosis (See also Mycobacteriosis.) | Mycobacterium bovis | Livestock, monkeys | Worldwide; rare in US, Canada, Europe | Ingestion, inhalation, work-related exposure | Skin rash, inflammation of lymph nodes and the intestines |
Mycobacterium tuberculosis | Monkeys and other primates; dogs, cats, and other domestic animals, but only rarely | Worldwide | Exposure to animals infected with human tuberculosis | Lung disease, inflammation of lymph nodes and the covering of the brain, widespread organ abscesses | |
Tularemia | Francisella tularensis | Rabbits, rodents, cats | Polar regions of America, Europe, and Asia | Work-related and recreational exposure; insect bites; ingestion; inhalation | Skin ulcers; inflammation of the throat, lymph nodes, and intestines; pneumonia; blood poisoning |
Yersiniosis | Yersinia pseudotuberculosis | Mammals, birds, puppies, kittens | Temperate zones | Ingestion; recreational exposure | Inflammation of the lymph nodes and intestines |
Yersinia enterocolitica | Domestic animals, especially pigs, dogs, cats | Temperate zones | Ingestion; recreational exposure | Inflammation of the intestines with or without blood in stools, arthritis, blood poisoning | |
Rickettsial Diseases | |||||
Ehrlichiosis | Ehrlichia chaffeensis | Deer, rodents, horses, dogs | US, Japan | Ticks | Fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches |
Anaplasma phagocytophilum | Deer, rodents, horses, dogs | Worldwide | Ticks | Fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches | |
Ehrlichia sennetsu | Uncertain | Japan | Ticks | Fever, inflammation of the lymph nodes, blood poisoning, fever | |
Ehrlichia ewingi | Uncertain | Missouri | Dogs | Fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches | |
Q fever (Query fever) | Coxiella burnetii | Livestock, cats, dogs, rodents, other mammals, birds | Worldwide; common | Mainly airborne; exposure to placenta, birth tissues, animal excreta; occasionally ticks and milk | Fever, pneumonia, inflammation of the liver and the lining of the heart |
Rocky Mountain spotted fever | Rickettsia rickettsii | Rabbits, field mice, dogs | Western hemisphere | Bite of infected ticks, also from crushing tick | Fever, rash, blood poisoning |
Spotted fever group | Rickettsia parkeri | Dogs and possibly cats | Western hemisphere | Likely Gulf Coast tick and other related ticks | Fever, mild headache, widespread pain in the muscles and joints, rash |
Fungal Diseases | |||||
Candidiasis (Moniliasis) | Candida species | Birds and mammals | Worldwide | Direct contact; often person to person | Skin and mucous membrane lesions; blood poisoning and spread to organs in immunocompromised persons |
Cryptococcosis | Cryptococcus neoformans | Pigeons, cockatoos, cats, other mammals; principally environmental | Worldwide | Environmental exposure, especially pigeon nests | Self-limiting masses in the lungs; inflammation of the covering of the brain and system-wide spread in immunocompromised persons |
Histoplasmosis | Histoplasma capsulatum | Dogs; principally environmental in river valleys | Worldwide | Environmental exposure; grows abundantly in feces of chickens, blackbirds, bats | Flu-like, pneumonia, system-wide spread in immunocompromised persons |
Ringworm (Dermatophytosis) | Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton species | Dogs, cats, cattle, rodents, other animals | Worldwide | Direct contact with infected animals or material (bedding) | Skin and hair lesions; rarely, widespread skin involvement in immunocompromised persons |
Sporotrichosis | Sporothrix schenckii | Horses, other domestic and laboratory animals, birds; primarily environmental in vegetation (moss) and wood | Worldwide | Work-related contact, including with animals | Skin ulcers may follow course of draining lymphatics of arms and legs; may spread throughout system in immunocompromised persons |
Parasitic Diseases—Protozoans | |||||
Cryptosporidiosis | Cryptosporidium parvum | Cattle, other animals | Worldwide | Work-related contact and ingestion; waterborne | Inflammation of the intestine (cholera-like and persistent in immunocompromised persons); inflammation of the bladder |
Giardiasis | Giardia lamblia | Beavers, porcupines, dogs, other animals | Worldwide; common | Water and less often food; person to person | Inflammation of the intestines; may be persistent |
Leishmaniasis (Kalaazar [visceral]) | Leishmania donovani and other species | Dogs, wolves, other wild canids | Southern Asia, South America, Africa | Bite of infected sand flies | Fever, enlargement of the spleen and liver, loss of red and white blood cells |
Leishmaniasis (skin and mucosal) | Leishmania tropica, L. braziliensis complex | Dogs, wild canids, rodents, marsupials, sloths, other wild mammals | Southern Asia, South America, Africa | Bite of infected sand flies | Raised bumps or ulcers on skin; may spread to oral mucous membranes and persist or recur |
Toxoplasmosis | Toxoplasma gondii | Mammals, especially cats, livestock, birds | Worldwide; common | Ingestion of feces of infected cats or found in meat or raw milk | Fever and inflammation of the lymph nodes; system-wide, multi-organ disease in immunocompromised persons, including brain abscess; infection of fetus may result in severe damage to central nervous system |
Parasitic Diseases—Trematodes (Flukes) | |||||
Parasitic Diseases—Cestodes (Tapeworms) | |||||
Dipylidiasis (dog tapeworm infection) | Dipylidium caninum | Dogs, cats, fleas | Worldwide | Ingestion of dog or cat fleas | Usually in children, without signs or mild abdominal distress; pieces of worms in stool resemble cucumber seeds |
Parasitic Diseases—Nematodes (Roundworms) | |||||
Larva migrans, visceral | Toxocara canis, T. cati | Dogs, cats | Worldwide | Ingestion of eggs shed in feces of dogs and cats | Fever, wheezing cough; rash on trunk and extremities; may wax and wane for months; eye involvement (larvae may settle in retina and impair vision) |
Trichinosis (Trichinellosis) | Trichinella spiralis and subspecies, T. nativa, T. britovi, T. nelsoni, T. pseudospiralis | Pigs, rodents, horses, wild carnivores, marine mammals | Worldwide, especially subarctic region | Ingestion of pork and flesh of wild animals containing cysts | Inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines followed by fever, severe pain in the joints, facial swelling; central nervous system or heart muscle involvement may follow |
Parasitic Diseases—Others | |||||
Diseases Spread by Insects, Ticks, or Mites | |||||
Acariasis (Mange) | Mites of Sarcoptes, Cheyletiella, Dermanyssus, and Ornithonyssus species | Domestic animals | Worldwide | Contact with infected individuals or animals; contaminated clothing | Itchy skin lesions |
Myiasis | Cochliomyia hominivorax (screwworm) | Mammals | Tropical America | Eggs laid in fresh wounds or on skin | Skin wounds; nasal infestations; intestinal infestation; usually mild; some may be shifting and destructive causing burrows and boils |
Cuterebra species (rodent or rabbit bot fly) | Mammals | North America | Eggs laid in fresh wounds or on skin | See above | |
Dermatobia hominis (human bot fly) | Mammals | South America, Mexico | Can invade living tissue; eats dead tissue in wounds | See above | |
Gasterophilus species (equine bot fly) | Mammals | Worldwide | Can invade living tissue; eats dead tissue in wounds | See above | |
Tick paralysis | Envenomization of ticks Dermacentor andersoni, D. variabilis, and sometimes Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Rhinocephalus, and Argas species | Various animals | North America, Australia, South Africa, Ethiopia | Direct contact (attachment) with tick | Inflammation of lining of stomach and intestines followed by nerve paralysis; burning or prickling sensation may be noted |
Viral Diseases | |||||
Colorado tick fever | Colorado tick fever virus | Ground squirrels, chipmunks, porcupines, small rodents | Western US; common | Tick bites | 2- to 3-phase illness with inflammation of the brain and its covering occurring in late phases; abdominal pain and vomiting may occur |
Contagious ecthyma (Orf) | Orf virus (parapox) | Sheep, goats, wild hoofed mammals | Worldwide; common | Work-related exposure | Raised rash with sores, usually on hands |
Ebola hemorrhagic fever; Marburg hemorrhagic fever | Ebola and Marburg viruses | Primates and bats suspected | Central and southern Africa | Contact with infected animals or animal tissues | Abrupt onset of fever; joint and muscle pain; headache; gastrointestinal signs with vomiting; rash; hepatitis; widespread bleeding 3 to 4 days after onset; death rate 50 to 90% for Ebola, 20 to 30% for Marburg |
Hantaviral pulmonary syndrome | Sin Nombre virus, Black Creek Canal virus | Deer mice, cotton rats | US, may be more widespread throughout Americas | Aerosols from rodent excretions and secretions | Fever, joint pain, respiratory failure, decrease in blood cell counts; death rate of 40 to 50% |
Hendra virus infection | Hendra virus | Horses, fruit bats | Australia (Queensland) | Direct contact with infected animals or contaminated tissue | Respiratory infection, inflammation of the brain; can be fatal |
Hepatitis E | Hepatitis E virus | Pigs, deer, others | Worldwide | Ingestion of contaminated fecal matter or raw or undercooked liver | Fever, gastrointestinal signs, jaundice; may be prolonged; worse in pregnancy |
Herpes B virus disease | Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1 (Herpesvirus simiae, B virus) | Old World monkeys | Worldwide; rare | Monkey bites and scratches; work-related exposure | Skin blisters followed by severe encephalitis with seizures, coma, paralysis; fatal in 70% of cases |
Influenza type A (swine flu, avian flu, bird flu, Hong Kong flu) | Influenza virus (myxovirus) | Birds, pigs, other mammals; migratory waterfowl serve as reservoirs and carriers for highly pathogenic avian influenza | Worldwide; common | Contact exposure; animals rarely a source | Upper and lower respiratory signs; may progress to influenza, pneumonia, or secondary bacterial pneumonia; seasonally endemic or epidemic |
Monkeypox | Monkeypox virus | Prairie dogs, Gambian rats, other African rodents, other pet rodents in US, primates | West and central Africa; rare | Contact; aerosols | Usually mild, smallpox-like disease; even milder in those vaccinated for smallpox; swelling of the lymph nodes and other glands prominent |
Rabies and rabies-related infections | Lyssaviruses (Rabies virus, Duvenhage virus, Mokola virus, Ibadan shrew virus) | Wild and domestic dogs, ferrets, skunks, mink, civets, bats, other mammals | Worldwide except Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, Japan, Taiwan; many smaller islands, including Hawaii, are free of infection | Bites of diseased animals; aerosols in closed environments | Tingling of the skin or pain at bite site, fever, joint pain, mood changes progress to excessively rapid breathing, general tingling of the skin, paralysis, seizures, fear of water; death rate more than 99%; other strains of virus very rare, but deadly |
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) | Coronavirus | Civet cats most likely | China, southeast Asia | Direct contact suspected, person to person | Fever, joint pain, headache, diarrhea, pneumonia; fatality rate 10% |
West Nile virus infection | West Nile virus | Wild birds, horses, other mammals | Eastern and Western hemisphere; common | Mosquito bites; blood transfusion, tissue transplant rarely; may be milkborne | Fever, rash, worse in elderly; inflammation of the brain may be accompanied by paralysis and respiratory failure |
Prion Diseases | |||||
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease | Prion protein (likely from bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease) | Cattle | Primarily in England, sporadic cases in France, Ireland, Italy, Canada, US, Japan | Ingestion of beef | Degeneration of nervous system; rapidly fatal |
*Many proven zoonoses, including some relatively rare viral infections carried by insects and infections caused by parasitic worms, have been omitted, as well as those diseases caused by fish and reptile toxins. | |||||
