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Abstract
Pets offer individuals and the community significant benefits, however cognisance
must be taken of the potential for transmission of infectious agents from these animals
to humans. The prevalence of many parasites, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium,
has increased over the past few decades while others, such as Toxocara and Ancylostoma,
have decreased. These changes could be real, associated with the ready availability
of efficacious anthelmintic products or could be artificial due to the type of surveys
conducted, the animals surveyed and the diagnostic tests used. Immunocompromised people,
in particular, must be aware of the potential risk of acquiring parasitic infections
from their pets. However, with the adoption of good hygiene and a thorough knowledge
of the transmission of these parasites, immunocompromised people should be able to
continue to enjoy the significant benefits of pet ownership. As many owners are not
aware of the zoonotic parasites that could be carried by their pets or their mode
of transmission, it is concluded that veterinarians need to play a greater role in
the education of their clients.