Peay Animal Hospital Inc.

Worms and You

Articles / Current Pet News
Posted by Dr. Peay on Aug 18, 2002 - 11:52 AM

Worms and You



Pet owners sometimes worry about "getting worms" from pets. It is possible, but the risk is extremely small if you make sure your pet receives proper health care. Furthermore, people can become infected with intestinal parasites (worms) from other people and from eating undercooked meat.


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Pet associated worms


Pet owners sometimes worry about "getting worms" from pets. It is possible, but preventable by simple measures. There are several different worms that can infect dogs and cats. People, usually children, can become infected with pet-associated worms by:
Ingesting parasite eggs from soil, hands or objects contaminated by dog or cat feces. Roundworms (Toxocara canis and cati) and tapeworms (Echinococcus spp.) can be spread in this manner. Most cases involve young children eating dirt contaminated with animal feces.
Direct skin contact with hookworm larvae (Ancyclostoma spp.) from soil contaminated by dog or cat feces. Ingesting a flea harboring larvae of the dog and cat tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum). Spread of infection to human beings is rare.

Prevention


To prevent human infection with pet-associated worms:
Deworm pups early. Pups may start passing roundworm eggs as early as three weeks of age. Deworm, under veterinary direction, all pups at two weeks of age and repeat treatment every two weeks until the pups are started on one of the heartworm preventatives that also aid in intestinal worm control. If the mother dog is not already on heartworm preventative, she should be treated at the same time as the puppies and preferable checked for heartworms and started on one of the heartworm preventatives.
Cat roundworms do not start laying eggs as quickly as dog roundworms. Therefore, deworming kittens beginning at four to six weeks of age is sufficient from a public health standpoint.
Keep children away from contamination.
Keep young children away from areas contaminated with feces and encourage them to wash their hands after play and before eating. Sandboxes should be covered when not in use. Prevent children from eating dirt.
Have new pets checked. Have your veterinarian do a physical exam, including a fecal test, as soon as you acquire a new cat or dog. Pups acquired at six to eight weeks of age should be dewormed and started on a heartworm preventative.
Have adult pets checked annually. Have your veterinarian check a stool sample from adult pets once a year, as part of an annual physical exam. They should of course be on a heartworm preventative and a good flea control program (flea control is essential to tape worm control).

People-to-people worms


There are many types of worms that are transmitted from people to other people. Poor sanitation is the primary reason they\'re spread. Most are uncommon in North America. A notable exception is pinworms.
Pinworms (Enterobius vermicularis) are the most common intestinal parasite infecting children in temperate climates. Prevalence of pinworms in the general childhood population is at least 20%. Pets are in no way involved in their occurrence.
Infection results from ingesting pinworm eggs from contaminated hands or objects. Meticulous hand washing and house keeping have little effect on the control of pinworm infestation. Most people harboring pinworms have no symptoms However, some experience itching in the rectal area. Pinworm infestation can be diagnosed by finding the female worm in the anal region an hour after the child has been put to bed for the night. Physicians have treatments available.

Meat-associated worms


People can get tapeworms from eating undercooked beef, pork or freshwater fish. Beef tapeworm infection (Taenia saginata) is uncommon in the US, but still occurs in California and New England. Pork tapeworm infection (Taenia solium) is rare in the US. Fish tapeworm infection (Diphylobothrium latum) occurs in Florida and the North Central states. Infection may be prevented by thoroughly cooking beef, pork and freshwater fish.
Trichinosis (Trichinella spiralis is another disease caused by eating undercooked pork. It involves migration of larvae to muscles where they encyst. Occurrence in the US is sporadic.
This article is from Peay Animal Hospital Inc.
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