The Control of Notifiable Zoonotic Diseases in Pet Animals in Sweden

Abstract

Zoonotic diseases are diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans. There are multiple ways for humans to acquire a zoonotic disease. Zoonoses can spread either from direct contact with a carrier or sick animal, ingestion of contaminated feedstuff or have an indirect or environmental source (LAHUERTA, et al., 2011). Zoonotic diseases are caused by a great variety of agents or infections such as parasites, fungi, bacteria or viruses (RABINOWITZ, et al., 2007). The clinical symptoms in humans are of a wide range and depend on the disease. Some zoonotic infections are asymptomatic while other has clinical signs that vary from mild, chronic form to an acute life threatening disease (LAHUERTA, et al., 2011).