| Information sheets | | | Elsenburg infopaks | | | Animals, diseases: 7 |
Zoonoses
Afrikaans | Xhosa
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Many animal diseases can be transmitted to humans, should the infected animals be handled or their flesh be eaten. Such diseases are called zoonoses. |
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They can result in serious illness or even lead to death.
Let us briefly discuss a few of the best known ones. |
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Ringworm is transmitted from dogs and cats to especially children, when they play with the animals. The fungus infection can, for example, result in falling out of the hair, thus necessitating medical treatment. |
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Anthrax (splenopathy) can be transmitted from cattle, sheep and pigs. The skin form of the disease can, for example, be contracted by skinning a bovine that had had the disease. |
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Bubonic plague and salmonella are contracted when rats and mice infect clean food. The symptoms are severe stomach pains, diarrhea and nausea. |
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Cutaneous larva migrans is a worm found in dogs and cats. When these animals defecate in sand, and humans come into contact with the sand, the larva penetrates the skin. It crawls around under the skin causing much itching and pain. To prevent this disease, dogs and cats should be de-wormed regularly. |
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Humans should, never eat the flesh of animals that have tapeworm in the lungs and liver,; neither should it be fed to dogs. Should this happen, the dog could get tapeworm and transfer it to humans who handle the infested animal. It is most important to wash the hands thoroughly after having handled a dog. Tapeworms that have been transferred from dogs to humans, can spread to the human lung. Therefore not only dogs but also adults and children must regularly be de-wormed. |
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Bovine measles looks like tiny white lumps or like tomato pips and it is found in the flesh of cattle. Eating such infested meat gives tapeworms that can spread even to the lungs. |
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If meat is eaten of pigs that have pork measles, this sometimes results in the occurrence of vesicles in the human brain or worms in the stomach. This is a very dangerous disease. |
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If underdone meat that is infested with tapeworm vesicles is eaten, the tapeworms sometimes spread to the brain. The disease begins with a severe headache and can eventually result in total paralysis. It is therefore important for human health to have all meat inspected by a health inspector or a veterinarian before it is consumed. Meat must also always be well cooked. |
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Even after meat has been cooked for one hour, the middle part can still be raw. Any tapeworm vesicles that occur in the meat can therefore still be alive and can infest the consumer. Remember: one cannot get tapeworms from meat that is well cooked. |
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The life cycle of the tapeworm is as follows: A person who has tapeworms excretes them when he defecates in the veld, or animal pen or stall. Pigs or cattle can ingest the eggs in the excreta. The tapeworm vesicles develop in the muscles of the animal. When humans eat this meat, the tapeworms develop in them. |
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Therefore use a toilet. If none is available, dig a hole in the ground and fill it up with soil after use. It is also important to de-worm animals and humans when necessary. |
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Tuberculosis, also known as TB, occurs in cattle, pigs, goats and sheep. This disease can sometimes be seen as clumps against an animal's ribs. The meat from such a carcase is not edible and must be burned. A person who slaughters an animal that has TB or eats of its meat, can contract the disease. |
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TB can also be contracted by the milk one drinks. Sour milk, curds and milk that has been boiled is, however, safe. |
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Diamond skin disease occurs in pigs. Large red spots on the animal's skin characterize it. The disease can be transmitted to humans when they handle or slaughter the pig. |
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A typical symptom of the disease is a swollen and painful limb. This spreads to the joints. |
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Rabies is a deadly disease that is transmitted to humans from dogs and cats and also from other animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. A rabid domestic animal suddenly becomes aggressive and shows signs of madness. Mucus drools from the mouth and the animal bites. Wild animals, on the other hand, suddenly lose their fear of humans. A person bitten by a rabid animal must immediately go to the nearest hospital or doctor to receive medical treatment. If at all possible, the animal that bit the victim must be taken along as well. |
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To prevent this extremely dangerous disease, animals must be inoculated against it by a veterinarian every year. |
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To summarize: we must ensure that the meat eaten by us and our children is safe and healthy. How is this to be done? All animals must be slaughtered at an abattoir where a meat inspector or a veterinarian can certify that it is disease free and safe for human consumption inspects all the meat. |
NF Naudé
ELSENBURG Veterinary Services
