Types of Animal Disease

There are thousands of types of animal diseases prevalent today. Although animals are carriers of many types of disease, humans are usually only affected through contamination of drink or food, making these specific diseases more worrisome.

  1. Salmonella

    • According to the National Centers for Infectious Disease (CDC), "Salmonellosis is a bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella." Salmonella is one of the most common types of food-borne illnesses nationwide. All types of species, including humans can carry salmonella in their intestinal tract. Because salmonella can live and breed outside of the intestinal tract as well, this disease cannot be eradicated. This disease is spread from animal to animal through contact and consumption of contaminated feces, or contaminated water supply through feces. Food that can be infected are things such as poultry and other meats, raw eggs, and milk. Occasionally vegetables can also be affected by being washed in a contaminated water supply. This disease is spread from humans by improper washing of hands after contact with animal feces.

    Campylobacteriosis

    • The CDC states that campylobacteriosis "is a bacterial disease caused by Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter coli." Campylobacteriosis, which affects the intestinal tract, is most common in animals farmed for food. This disease is passed from animal to animal by consumption of food or drink contaminated by feces. It can also be spread by direct contact with a contaminated animal. Humans are affected mainly with improper handling of undercooked or raw poultry meat or through direct contact with a sick animal.

    Tuberculosis

    • The Centers for Infectious Control define tuberculosis (TB) as "a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis." TB is mainly carried by domestic animals and farm animals, but can occasionally be found in wild animals. This disease usually attacks the lungs first and can be fatal. This can be transferred from animal to animal through the air and through the consumption of contaminated feces or urine. Humans are most often affected through contact with other humans, and not as much with animals.

    E. Coli

    • E. Coli is found in the intestinal tract of warm blooded animals and humans. The presence of e. coli on food or water denotes there was a fecal contamination either by animals or humans. This disease is passed from animal to animal through consumption of contaminated feces or through direct contact with a contaminated animal. Most cases of human contamination come from undercooked minced ground beef.