1. General Disease & Parasite Vocab

2. Diseases

3. Rabies Description: How is it contracted? Symptoms: Prevention:
Zoonotic viral disease of the nervous system
How is it contracted?
Contracted through the bites/scratches of infected animals (specifically through their saliva) which carries the virus
Symptoms:
CNS abnormalities, such as loss of coordination
Extreme behavior changes , such as aggression
Prevention:
Vaccination

4. Toxoplasmosis Description: How is it contracted?: Symptoms:
Zoonotic disease produced by infection of Toxoplasma gondii protozoan
How is it contracted?:
Spread through contaminated litter or cat feces
Symptoms:
Particular concern for pregnant women, as it can cause miscarriage, premature delivery and blindness
Prevention:
Wear rubber gloves to clean litter boxes, thoroughly wash hands afterwards

5. Ringworm Description: How is it contracted? Symptoms: Prevention:
Zoonotic Fungal skin disease
How is it contracted?
Spread through contact with infection animal or materials exposed to infected animal
Symptoms:
Round, scaly encrusted lesions w/hair loss
Prevention:
Clean environment and supplies

6. Psittacosis (Parrot Fever)
Description:
Zoonotic respiratory disease
How is it contracted?
Contracted by caged birds w/contaminated feces
Symptoms:
Flu/Pneumonia –like symptoms
Prevention:
Wear dust mask when cleaning bird cages
Eliminate mites/lice from environment by spraying cage and bird w/disinfectant

7. Cat Scratch Fever Description: How is it contracted? Symptoms:
Zoonotic bacterial disease
How is it contracted?
Through scratches/bites of infected cat or through exposure of open wounds to bacteria
Symptoms:
Redness and swelling at site of bite/scratch
Fatigue/headaches/fever
Prevention:
Avoid contact w/infected cats
Wash hands after contact w/cats
Use flea/tick prevention

8. Salmonellosis Description: How is it contracted? Symptoms: Prevention:
Zoonotic bacterial disease, caused by Salmonella bacteria
How is it contracted?
Through contact w/salmonella bacteria
which is on the skin of reptiles and amphibians
Dirty environment
Symptoms:
Gastroenteritis (stomach upset)
Fever, diarrhea, vomiting
Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion in dogs
Prevention:
Wash hands after contact w/reptiles
Clean environment

9. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Description:
Zoonotic bacterial disease
How is it contracted?
Through bite of infected tick
Symptoms:
fever, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, and muscle pain
Rash may also develop, but is often absent in the first few days, and in some patients, never develops
Prevention:
Tick preventative
Avoid woody areas during tick season

10. Lyme Disease Description: How is it contracted? Symptoms: Prevention:
Zoonotic bacterial disease
How is it contracted?
Through bite of infected tick
Symptoms:
lameness, swollen joints, and fever
Rash, distinctive skin lesions
Hives, flue-like symptoms
Prevention:
Tick preventative
Lyme vaccine
Avoid woody areas during tick season

11. Parasites

12. Ticks Description: How is it contracted? Symptoms/Complications:
external parasites that feed on the blood of host animals 
How is it contracted?
Dog picks up ticks in tall brush and grass
Symptoms/Complications:
Blood loss
Anemia
Tick paralysis
Skin irritation and infection
Prevention:
Tick preventative
Lyme vaccine
Avoid woody areas during tick season

13. Ascarids/Roundworms Description: How is it contracted?
Zoonotic, internal parasites that affects dogs and cats intestinal system
How is it contracted?
Dog picks up ticks in tall brush and grass
Symptoms/Complications:
Fever, headache, cough, poor appetite
Prevention:
Deworm pets
Good sanitation

14. Hookworm Description:
Small, thin intestinal worms that attach to an anima’s small intestines
How is it contracted?
Migration through the placenta in utero
Ingesting infected mother’s milk
Ingesting larvae in the soil
Direct penetration of the skin through pads of feet
Ingesting an intermediate host
Symptoms/Complications:
Severe blood loss
Malnutrition
Bloody wine-dark or tar-dark diarrhea
Prevention:
Deworm pets
Good sanitation

15. Tapeworm Description: How is it contracted? Symptoms/Complications:
Internal worm that lives in the small intestine and can range from several inches to several feet
How is it contracted?
Ingesting fleas or infected feces, animals or meat
Symptoms/Complications:
May cause AHD (Alveolar Hydatid Disease) – can be fatal or produce parasitic tumors/cysts in the liver
White segments of worm moving on anus/rectal area of animal or on their feces
Anal itching
Prevention:
Flea prevention
Avoid feeding uncooked meat, raw game or dead animals