Fact Sheets
Definition of Zoonoses; A disease or agent transmitted from animals to humans.
Dogs are important in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities however they can also be the cause of ill health in humans, both mental and physical. For example, unhealthy dogs can pass on many diseases to people, such as gut diseases... " Gastrointestinal diseases are a major problem in young children in Indigenous communities, and an important factor in failure to thrive. In Western Australia, hospitalisation for gastroenteritis was 7 times higher in Aboriginal children than Non-Aboriginal children (Gracey and Cullinane 2003). Diarrheal episodes were associated with the presence of potential zoonotic pathogens such as Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. (Gunzburg et al 1992, Meloni et al 1993)".
| Fact Sheets | |
| Zoonoses | What are the potential zoonotic pathogens from dogs in Indigenous communities? |
| Gastrointestinal (gut) Diseases |
Gastrointestinal diseases are a major problem in young children in Indigenous communities, and an important factor in failure to thrive. |
| Giardia | Giardia can be shared between animals and people, causing gut disease . |
| Salmonella | FACT- Salmonella always has a Zoonotic Origin |
| Dog Hook worm | Dog hookworm can make people sick too. |
| Dog Roundworm | Children are most at risk of getting sick from dog roundworms. |
| Hydatid cysts | Hydatid Cysts come from a tapeworm that lives in dogs. Hydatid disease in people can be fatal. |
| Leptospirosis | Leptospirosis- a disease spread in urine |
| Skin sores and Streptococci | Streptococci (Streps) are bacteria that can be found on the skin of humans and dogs. Streps are involved in rheumatic fever and post-rheumatic kidney and heart disease. |
| Scabies | Scabies is a skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei |
| Ringworm | Ringworm is fungal skin disease tha can be shared between people and animals. |
| Dog Bites | Dog bites: are an important “zoonotic” and safety problem! |
