The most common coccidia found in dogs do not have any affect on humans. However, less common types of coccidia are potentially infectious to humans. One parasite, called Cryptosporidium, may be carried by dogs or cats and may be transmitted to people.
How contagious is coccidia to humans?
Humans may first encounter coccidia when they acquire a dog, cat or bird that is infected. Other than T. gondii, the infectious organisms are canine and feline-specific and are not contagious to humans, unlike the zoonotic diseases.
Is coccidia in dogs contagious to people?
Coccidia is contagious between dogs. Fortunately, the protozoa are host-specific, so while cats can become infected with certain subspecies of Isospora, your dog cannot pass the disease to cats in the household. Similarly, the disease is not contagious for humans.
What are the symptoms of coccidiosis in humans?
Although infection usually does not give rise to symptoms, reports in the literature mention diarrhea, abdominal pain, lassitude and slight weight loss in association with coccidiosis.
How do you treat coccidia in humans?
Nitazoxanide has been FDA-approved for treatment of diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium in people with healthy immune systems and is available by prescription.
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