A breeding ground for animal parasites and viruses that can infect humans.
Posted on 02.05.2024 9.00pm Posted on 02.05.2024 9.00pm Modified on 02.5.2024 4.47pm Views 38
Avoid contact and dispose of excrement in parks, forests, sidewalks and yards where dogs or cats stay. [사진= 게티이미지뱅크]What are the consequences if you don’t clean up dog poop while walking your dog? This results in the spread of parasites and viruses that threaten the lives of neighbors. This is the content of an article by Julia Wertz, professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Florida, published in the Washington Post (WP) on the 4th (local time).
Dog feces left in neighborhoods, trails or dog parks can become the epicenter of zoonotic diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Before washing into the soil, dog feces can spread potentially lethal parasites to pets and wildlife, as well as people of all ages. A study published in 2020 found intestinal parasites in 85% of dog parks in the United States.
Human diseases caused by soil-borne parasites are rare in the United States, but are estimated to infect one billion people worldwide. Household waste cleanup warnings are not just about cleaning public spaces, but also about protecting the health of the community.
Parasites that can spread to humans
Generally, parasites such as rod-shaped hookworms, roundworms, ball-shaped hookworms (coccidia), and whipworms are hidden in dog poop. Hookworms and roundworms can spread to a variety of species, including humans.
The larvae of these parasites can enter the human body through small scratches on the skin after contact with contaminated soil or through accidental oral ingestion. The simple act of wiping sweat from your face with unwashed hands after returning from an outing, then licking your lips or taking a drink, can lead to an infection. The eggs of these parasites remain viable in the soil even if washed away with a hose or rainwater, so they can remain infectious for months or even years.
Once hookworm and roundworm larvae enter the human body, they become adults and can then travel to the lungs through the bloodstream. Then, it travels to the digestive tract through coughing, attaches to the intestinal wall and absorbs nutrients. People with healthy immune systems may not show clinical signs of infection, but high parasitemia can lead to anemia and malnutrition. Especially in children, it can cause intestinal obstruction that requires surgery.
Roundworms sometimes migrate to human eyes in the larval stage and, in rare cases, can cause permanent blindness. When hookworm larvae travel just under the host’s skin, they can cause severe itching.
Effects on other animals
Dogs and cats can also experience the same symptoms people experience due to parasitic infections. In addition to the risk of hookworms and roundworms, pets are also vulnerable to whipworms, giardia, and ball hookworms.
In addition to parasites, leftover feces may contain parvovirus, distemper virus, and canine coronavirus. These viruses can cause life-threatening diseases in other pets, especially unvaccinated dogs and cats, as well as puppies and kittens.
These viruses attack rapidly dividing cells, particularly the intestinal lining and bone marrow, preventing them from adequately absorbing nutrients and producing replacement red and white blood cells that help defend against these and other viruses. Vaccination can protect your pet.
Wild animals of the canine and feline families are also vulnerable to these parasites and viruses. These include coyotes, wolves, foxes, raccoons, mink, and bobcats (North American wild cats). In the case of these wild animals it is much less likely that they would benefit from vaccination.
Dispose of waste away from contact with hands.
Therefore, you should avoid contact and dispose of excrement in parks, forests, sidewalks and yards where dogs or cats stay. It is safer to use a shovel to place waste directly into a plastic bag, or to pick up waste by placing a bag on your hand and then dragging it over.
To prevent neighbors or healthcare workers from becoming infected, be sure to tie a plastic bag and throw it in the garbage can. In particular, you should not touch your face, eat or drink before washing your hands. Hand sanitizers can kill viruses, but they cannot kill parasite eggs.
Exposure to parasites can occur through sand, especially in playgrounds, parks and beaches. Cats and other small mammals like to use sandy areas as toilets.
If you have a pet, you must follow the parasite prevention protocol and carry out a parasite test every year. Also, don’t forget that droppings must be removed immediately to prevent them from causing harm to surrounding mammals (humans, pets, wild animals).
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