What is a zoonotic disease?
A zoonosis is an infection that can pass naturally between vertebrate animals and people. Transmission may occur through bites or scratches, contact with urine or faeces, contaminated food or water, vectors such as ticks, or contact with infected skin and hair. The route matters because prevention should match the actual route rather than creating general fear of animals.
Important examples for South African pet owners
Rabies
Rabies is almost invariably fatal once clinical signs develop, but it is preventable. South Africa continues to record animal rabies, with substantial geographic variation and a significant burden in KwaZulu-Natal. Keep dogs and cats vaccinated according to local veterinary and legal requirements. Any bite or scratch from a potentially rabid animal needs immediate wound washing and urgent human medical assessment; do not wait for symptoms.
Leptospirosis
Leptospira organisms are shed in urine and can contaminate water or soil. Infection can enter through broken skin or mucous membranes. Risk varies by geography, climate, wildlife and rodent exposure. Discuss local risk and vaccination with your veterinarian, avoid contact with urine from a sick animal and use gloves for cleaning contaminated areas.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal skin infection, not a worm. It can spread through direct contact or contaminated objects and is more common in young animals and crowded environments. Scaly hair loss in a pet or circular skin lesions in a person should prompt veterinary or medical advice rather than home treatment based on appearance alone.
Intestinal parasites
Some roundworm infections follow accidental ingestion of infective eggs from contaminated environments, while some hookworm larvae can penetrate human skin. Regular faecal risk assessment and parasite control, daily faeces removal, hand washing and covering children’s sandpits are practical controls.
Toxoplasmosis
Cats are the definitive host for Toxoplasma gondii, but infection is not usually acquired simply by touching a cat. Most cats shed oocysts for a limited period after initial infection, and the oocysts need time in the environment to become infective. Daily litter removal, gloves and hand washing reduce risk. Pregnant and immunocompromised people should obtain individual medical advice and, where possible, have another person manage litter. Undercooked meat and contaminated soil or produce are also important routes for people.
Raw food is a household exposure, not only a pet-food choice
Raw meat may contain bacterial pathogens. Pets can shed organisms without looking ill, and contamination can spread to hands, bowls and kitchen surfaces. Households containing young children, older adults, pregnant people or immunocompromised people have the least margin for error. Because proven unique benefits have not been shown to outweigh these risks, I do not recommend raw feeding.
A calm prevention checklist
- Keep core vaccination, including rabies, current and discuss local risks with your veterinarian.
- Use an individual parasite-control plan; remove faeces promptly and wash hands afterwards.
- Seek veterinary care for persistent diarrhoea, unusual skin lesions, neurological signs, jaundice or significant illness.
- Wash bites and scratches immediately and obtain human medical advice when indicated.
- Avoid feeding raw animal products; prepare pet food away from human food and clean bowls and surfaces.
- Tell both the veterinarian and the human healthcare professional about relevant animal exposure, especially in a high-risk household.
The goal is not to make people afraid of pets. It is to recognise specific routes of transmission and interrupt them with proportionate, evidence-based precautions.
URGENT BITE OR SCRATCH BLOCK
Wash a bite or scratch immediately with soap and running water. If rabies exposure is possible, or the wound is deep, contaminated, painful or becoming inflamed, obtain human medical advice promptly. Do not wait for symptoms of rabies.
Frequently asked questions
Can I catch rabies from my vaccinated pet?
Vaccination greatly reduces risk but any potential exposure still deserves appropriate assessment. Keep vaccination records current and follow local medical and veterinary guidance after a bite or suspicious contact.
Should a pregnant person avoid cats?
Usually there is no reason to give up a cat. Daily litter removal, gloves, hand washing and avoiding undercooked meat and contaminated soil are practical precautions. Individual medical advice is appropriate.
Can my pet transmit parasites even if it looks healthy?
Yes, some infected animals have few or no obvious signs. Risk-based parasite control, faeces removal and hand hygiene are more reliable than judging from appearance.
Who needs extra precautions?
Young children, older adults, pregnant people and immunocompromised people may experience more severe disease from some infections. Their medical team and the pet’s veterinarian can tailor precautions without defaulting to separation from the pet.
References
- Rahman MT et al. Zoonotic diseases: etiology, impact, and control. Microorganisms. 2020;8:1405.
- Stull JW et al. Reducing the risk of pet-associated zoonotic infections. CMAJ. 2015;187:736-743.
- Malan AJ et al. Epidemiology of animal rabies in South Africa. 2024.
- Ahmed F et al. Raw meat based diet for household pets as a potential door opener to parasitic load of domestic and urban environment. 2021.