Can a person become infected with worms from a cat: how and what kind

There are a number of diseases that humans and domestic cats can infect each other with. One of them is helminthic infestation. Some parasites are common to cats and people; for some, the pet is a “transit point”, a temporary host. Let's consider how you can become infected with worms from a cat, and what measures to take to prevent this from happening.

Ways of infection by parasites

Helminths reproduce by laying eggs. When they come out with the excrement of an infected animal, they can persist for some time outside the host’s body, in the external environment. The cat licks itself, so parasites can end up on its face, fur, and paws. Therefore, the most common way of infecting a person with helminths from a cat is through contact.

By kissing and stroking a cat, a person can pick up parasite eggs if he does not wash his hands.

It is very easy to become infected with worms through the feces of a domestic cat. You should clean the tray as often as possible while wearing rubber gloves. A cat's litter box is the most dangerous place to become infected, since helminth eggs are released in feces.

Also read the article about worms in cats.

What worms can be dangerous to humans?

Let's figure out which worms from a cat can “move” to a person. Contrary to the persistent “scarecrows” of doctors, there are not so many common types of parasites in domestic animals and people. A person is more likely to become infected from food, dirty hands, or contact with other people who are also carriers.

Note! The likelihood of a person contracting worms from a cat is quite low. Infestation can occur due to failure to comply with basic hygiene rules.

However, our pets can be carriers of fast-spreading diseases such as ringworm.

So, you can assume that your cat has become infected with worms based on the following symptoms:

Tapeworms and flatworms

Tapeworms pose the greatest danger to humans. These parasites grow according to the principle - the more space, the more active the growth. There are cases when parasites several meters long were extracted from people... and this is not the limit.

Fortunately, there are not many common types of tapeworms (cestodes) between humans and cats:

Dipilidiosis is the most common infestation common to humans and cats. Infection is characterized by disruption of the gastrointestinal tract and a severe allergic reaction. The causative agent is the cestode Dipylidiosis.
Teniosis – a characteristic feature of the invasion is considered to be extensive damage to the small intestine. The causative agent is the cestode Taeniosis.
Echinococcosis is a dangerous disease that leads to the formation of cysts. The larvae migrate with the bloodstream and can develop in the liver, lungs and other organs. The causative agent is the cestode Echinococcosis.
Diphyllobothriasis is an invasion that leads to various disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and anemia. The causative agent is the cestode Diphyllobothriasis.

Note! All tapeworms develop through an intermediate host - a rodent, flea or human.

Practice shows that the most common flatworm found in cats in urban environments is the cucumber tapeworm.

The risk of human infection with borage is minimal, since the intermediate carrier of the parasite is the flea. Cats become infected when they bite fleas from their fur in an attempt to get rid of the itching and discomfort. A flea becomes an intermediate carrier when it eats a parasite egg that comes out of the intestines of a cat (or another carrier) in the feces.

Important! Tapeworms are dangerous because they attach to the walls of the stomach or other tissues using hooks. Additionally, all flat tapeworms are hermaphrodites, meaning they do not require a partner to reproduce.

Roundworms and nematodes

Roundworms, commonly known as roundworms, are considered the most numerous and persistent species of worms. Human infection occurs by ingestion of eggs, which can be inseminated on any surface. A person can become infected with roundworms from food, especially meat. The use of dirty towels, dishes, and food storage containers leads to guaranteed invasion.

Note! Roundworms do not require an intermediate host.

Roundworm larvae mature quickly; common roundworms require only 74 hours. The ripe egg enters the host’s body and very quickly reaches the adult stage. In addition to the common roundworms, there are more dangerous types of worms, the larvae of which are able to penetrate the bloodstream and migrate throughout the body.

Of the common, common infestations of humans and cats, it is worth highlighting:

Ascariasis is the most common type of intestinal helminth. Adults living in the human intestine can reach a length of up to 30 cm. They are sensitive to all anthelmintics. The causative agent is the nematode Ascaris lumbricoides.
Pinworms are a common type of parasite, most often found in children. Parasitizes the intestines. The causative agent is the nematode Oxyuridae.
Uncinariasis is rarely diagnosed in humans. Characterized by skin lesions due to migration of larvae. The causative agent is the nematode Uncinariosis.

Uncinariasis is a very unpleasant disease, but it will not cause significant harm. The larvae irritate the surface of the skin in which they migrate, but due to inappropriate temperature conditions, they do not reproduce.

When infested, a person may feel discomfort associated with the body's immune response - fever, mild malaise or indigestion.

Very rarely, but still recorded facts of infection of people with roundworms, the larvae of which can migrate to the eyes, lungs, heart and brain.

Given the minimal risk of infection and regular prevention, you and your family are in no danger. If for some reason you neglected prevention and experience obvious discomfort associated with a specific organ, it is wiser to consult a doctor before making any decisions. By the way, many people live with liver parasites without even knowing it.

The most dangerous round parasites COMMON to cats and people are nematodes.

Parasite eggs are spread in fecal matter. It takes 2–3 weeks for the egg to mature under tolerable temperature conditions. To become infected, a person must come into direct contact with surfaces and seed larvae - in the case of a cat, it is enough to clean the litter box and not wash your hands. Note that people become infected much more often from contact with raw meat and seafood.

After entering the body, some nematodes are able to penetrate the bloodstream and migrate to different organs. If nematode eggs do not enter the oral cavity, they are harmless because they cannot penetrate the skin and die quickly. However, the presence of eggs on human skin can lead to an allergic reaction.

The larvae of some types of nematodes can penetrate the upper layers of the skin, but due to inappropriate body temperature they cannot reproduce. The phenomenon is certainly not pleasant; the invasion can cause a wandering rash, redness, local discomfort, but nothing more. With this type of infection, a person becomes the last carrier, and the larvae die in 10–14 days.

Note! The penetration of nematode larvae under the skin makes it vulnerable to fungi and infectious lesions.

Symptoms of parasitic infestation

To prevent infection with helminths, the owner needs to monitor the health of his pet, regularly take him for examinations to a veterinary clinic, and in between, examine him himself. Absolutely all parasitic organisms do not have the goal of killing their host, because if he dies, they will have nowhere to live. But the constant lack of nutrients, the lion's share of which goes to feed the parasites, as well as the toxins released by them in the process of life, significantly weaken the body of the helminth carrier. And the symptoms of helminthic infestation are always present; a person only needs to carefully monitor the behavior and condition of his pet.

The first sign that a cat has worms is a change in appetite. The cat may refuse to eat or, conversely, constantly ask for food; it may develop unusual cravings. At the same time, the pet becomes lethargic, apathetic, and can lie for days on end, only getting up to go to the bowl.

Also symptoms of helminthic infestation are:

digestive disorders (alternating constipation and diarrhea or one of these manifestations on an ongoing basis);
dyspeptic symptoms;
cough;
discharge from the eyes;
the appearance of allergic reactions;
constant licking of the perineal area due to itching of the anus;
the presence in the excrement of various impurities (blood, mucus), as well as worms visible to the eye.

If helminths have infected a kitten’s body, it may experience delayed growth and development and slow weight gain. In an adult animal, the condition of the coat deteriorates; in severe cases, convulsions and loss of coordination of movements may occur.

Your pet may complain by meowing loudly if the presence of worms causes pain or discomfort in the abdomen.

When helminths begin to actively grow and multiply, a lump of worms in the intestines causes tension and swelling of the abdomen, and an increase in its size.

If you observe such symptoms, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. He will examine the animal, determine the type of helminthic infestation and prescribe the most effective medications. A sick cat can infect both other pets and people. Therefore, measures should be taken immediately, especially if there are children in the house.

Worms in cats: can humans become infected with them?

The list of cat worms that can parasitize humans is quite extensive. It includes almost a hundred species of worms parasitizing cats. At first glance, it may seem that a cat, especially one walking in the yard, is the most terrible animal and a child can easily become infected with cat worms.

In fact, it's not all that scary. Most cat worms are found exclusively in tropical climates. In addition, the overwhelming majority of cat worms are so-called biohelminths - parasites, the development of which necessarily requires an intermediate host.

Get infected with worms from a cat. Theoretically, possible worms in a cat are not at all a reason to deprive yourself of the joy of communicating with this wonderful animal. Nevertheless, for the sake of your health, and that of the cat itself, it is worth taking a number of measures that will reliably prevent your child from becoming infected with worms from cats.

This type of cat worms includes tapeworms (cucumber tapeworm, broad tapeworm), which are often found in carnivorous animals, which cause diseases such as diphyllobothriasis and dipylidia.

Although these helminthic infestations are dangerous for humans, even if a cat has worms, a person cannot become infected with them from a cat (we do not consider the option of eating cat meat infected with larvae).

Types of helminths common to humans and cats

Some types of helminths for which the cat is the main host do not pose a great danger to humans. However, this does not mean that the pet does not need to be treated. A caring owner must monitor the condition of his pet and take measures to preserve his health. The main danger is that some parasitic worms are equally dangerous for both the cat and its owners. Among them:

toxocara;
roundworms;
Echinococcus;
hookworms;
liver flukes (from the genus Opisthorchis);
wide tape.

Toxocariasis

This is a disease caused by Toxocara - helminths related to nematodes, that is, roundworms. A person can become infected with this type of disease by ingesting worm eggs. They are microscopic and can remain on hands after contact with an infectious cat. Children under 4 years of age are most susceptible to this disease.

Symptoms of this type of helminthic infestation are:

allergic skin manifestations in the form of itchy rashes;
febrile phenomena;
enlarged liver and spleen;
eye lesions (keratitis, chorioretinitis);
inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract (bronchitis, pneumonia), accompanied by attacks of suffocation and painful cough.

Ascariasis

This is one of the most common helminth infections. According to some statistics, about 25% of people are infected with roundworms. This disease is transmitted in various ways, including a person can become infected from their own cat. The reverse process is also possible, that is, transmission from person to cat.

Roundworms prefer to live in the small intestine. These are roundworms, the length of an adult individual can reach 40 cm. In addition to the main localization, roundworms can spread to the liver, lungs, heart and brain, and be present in the blood.

The first symptoms of ascariasis are dyspepsia, significant weight loss, blood in the stool, allergic reactions, hypersalivation. Additional manifestations may indicate the localization of roundworms outside the gastrointestinal tract.

Echinococcosis

This is one of the most dangerous helminthic infestations that a person can become infected with from a domestic cat. Infection occurs when larvae of echinococcus, a type of tapeworm, enter the human body through the mouth. First, the eggs fall onto the fur of an infected cat, and from there onto a person’s hands and into his food.

A characteristic feature of Echinococcus is its ability to form cysts filled with a huge number of worms.

Before the appearance of these formations, the disease can be practically asymptomatic. These parasites are very fond of the liver. Damage to this organ by echinococcus leads to decreased functionality and the development of dangerous diseases.

Hookworm

Hookworms are parasitic nematodes that enter the human body through the skin, especially if there are wounds on it, and through the nutritional route (through the mouth). They feed on blood and prefer the duodenum to live. The disease manifests itself as digestive disorders, weakness, lethargy, and the development of anemia. Parasites damage the intestinal walls, which leads to various problems with the digestive tract.

Opisthorchiasis

This disease is caused by flatworms called trematodes. The causative agents of opisthorchiasis are liver flukes from the genus Opisthorchis.

Most often, infection occurs by eating raw fish infected with these parasites.

Signs of opisthorchiasis are:

decreased vitality, lethargy, weakness;
febrile phenomena;
excessive sweating;
allergic skin rashes (usually appear on the face: on the nose and forehead);
excessive gas formation in the intestines;
nausea and vomiting;
diarrhea;
pain in the abdominal area;
loss of appetite.

Diphyllobothriasis

This is a helminthic infestation caused by tapeworms - cestodes - from the family Diphyllobothriidae. Usually the causative agent of this disease is the broad tapeworm, less often - other representatives of this family. Worms prefer to live in the intestine, most often the small intestine. Most often, cats become infected with diphyllobothriasis by eating raw fish, many species of which are intermediate hosts for tapeworms.

The disease is manifested by constant disturbances in the functioning of the digestive tract, lethargy, weakness, and low-grade fever. A person’s weight begins to rapidly decrease and anemia develops. This condition is manifested by dizziness, tachycardia, low blood pressure. In severe cases, humans experience hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. When there is a large accumulation of parasites in the intestines, obstruction may occur.

How dangerous are worms for cats and humans?

It can be assumed that what kind of worms are in cats, such parasites are transmitted to the owner. The danger of worms that have settled in the body is that they actively feed on blood, lymph, and tissues of various internal organs, which leads to the inevitable depletion of the patient’s vitality.

Any parasitic worms poison the body of animals and humans with toxic substances that are a consequence of their vital activity and death. Decomposition products also lead to allergic reactions and severe poisoning. In addition, parasites use suction cups and fixing hooks to injure organs, causing vascular ruptures and necrosis.

The appearance of symptoms of helminthic infestation, such as constipation and bloating, may indicate intestinal obstruction. If the lesion occurs in a cat, then it may die, since a huge number of worms block the lumen of the poor animal's intestines, and it cannot empty it naturally. And these are not all the reasons why worms in cats are so dangerous; In any case, treatment should be immediate.

Treatment methods

If symptoms of helminthic infestation appear, you should immediately consult a doctor and get tested. The veterinarian will order stool, blood, and possibly urine tests. After receiving the test results and determining the type of infestation, medications will be prescribed to expel the parasites.

Antihelminthic drugs are used as the main therapy. Most often, the principle of their action is based on the effect on the muscles of the worm. As a result of paralysis of all muscles, the parasite dies, and its remains are excreted from the body. For this, doctors prescribe additional drugs from the group of sorbents. He may also prescribe medications to restore the functioning of the digestive tract. Antihistamines are used as symptomatic therapy (for allergic manifestations).

Traditional medicine recommends consuming bitter vegetables to treat helminthic infestations (garlic, which contains substances that many types of worms cannot tolerate, helps well), and decoctions of herbs containing a large amount of bitterness (wormwood, tansy). Such remedies should be taken with caution, since the herbs are toxic not only to parasites, but also to the human body.

Mr. Cat recommends: preventing helminth infection from cats

To avoid picking up worms from your own cat, you should follow certain rules. First of all, you need to take measures aimed at preventing helminthiasis in the animal.

For this purpose, veterinarians recommend regularly taking the cat with a course of anthelmintic drugs (about twice a year).

In order to prevent infection with helminths from a cat, you must:

wash your hands with antibacterial soap after handling your cat;
Do not feed your cat raw meat or fish;
regularly wash the cat litter with disinfectants;
do not allow your pet to come into contact with stray animals; it is advisable not to let the cat go outside at all, where it can eat an infected mouse or pick up helminths in another way.

Also, a person should not have close contact with cats encountered on the street. This can lead to infection of a person or a cat living at home, as there is a danger of bringing helminth eggs home on hands, shoes and clothes.

People living in the same apartment with cats, even the cleanest ones, should also periodically take preventive anthelmintic medications.

Children are most likely to become infected through contact with cats infected with helminths. Therefore, they should definitely be taught to wash their hands with soap after interacting with a domestic cat, not to touch animals encountered on the street, and also observe other rules of personal hygiene.

Can you get infected from a cat?

Different types of helminths live in the body of a pet. However, only a few of them (less than 10) pose a danger to humans and can be transmitted through contact. In total, there are over 250 varieties of parasites that inhabit the organisms of warm-blooded creatures. Comparing these figures, we can conclude that 10 versus 250 is an insignificant number of species. This simplifies treatment, since you can use broad-spectrum drugs that will certainly destroy all parasites on this list.

Ways of infection by parasites

When deciding whether it is possible to become infected with worms from a domestic cat, you should study the methods of penetration of parasites dangerous to humans:

Transmission of helminth eggs occurs through the hands into the oral cavity. The cat has one peculiarity - to clean its fur using its tongue. In this case, the parasites spread throughout the skin. When a person pets a pet, the worm eggs remain on the hands and then end up in the mouth. They can also be transmitted through contact with various surfaces that come into contact with people as a result of poor hand hygiene.
When defecating, a significant part of the offspring of helminths is released. Their transmission from cats to humans occurs during litter cleaning. If you do not use gloves or walk past the sink after cleaning the cat litter, helminth eggs are guaranteed to remain on your hands.

Several types of parasites can live in a pet, but less than 10 are dangerous.

Every day, cat worms lay offspring. During defecation, a significant part of it comes out. Due to their smooth surface and microscopic size, the eggs spread quite quickly, and as a result, after some time, a person becomes infected.