It has been estimated that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million faecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhoea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans.
Dog faeces may contain...
Whipworms (a round worm that causes trichuriasis when it infects a human large intestine. It is commonly known as the whipworm which refers to the shape of the worm; it looks like a whip with wider "handles" at the posterior end.
Hookworms (a parasitic worm that lives in the small intestine of its host, which may be a mammal such as a dog, cat, or human)
In children hookworms cause intellectual, cognitive and growth retardation, intrauterine growth retardation, prematurity, and low birth weight among newborns born to infected mothers.
Roundworms (Roundworms can infest the human gut, where they live, feed and reproduce. Children are most likely to be infected)
If a large number of eggs have been ingested, or if the worms move from the small intestine to other parts of the body, they can cause serious complications, such as a bowel obstruction.
Tapeworms (Tapeworms are parasites that can live in a person's intestine(bowel). Tapeworms are known medically as cestodes. They are usually flat and ribbon-like and made up of segments.
They don't always cause symptoms and when they do they are often mistaken for another illness.) But tapeworms can lead to serious complications and those that develop as larvae in your body are more difficult to treat.
Parvovirus (a highly contagious viral disease that can produce a life-threatening illness).
Giardiasis (popularly known as beaver fever is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Giardia lamblia)
Diarrhoea is the most common symptom of giardiasis.
Other symptoms can include:
abdominal cramps
foul-smelling flatulence and belching
nausea (feeling sick)
bloating
indigestion
fatigue (extreme tiredness)
dehydration
loss of appetite
weight loss caused by malnutrition
Salmonellosis (an infection found in dogs caused by the Salmonella bacteria. It often leads to disorders, including gastroenteritis, spontaneous abortions, and septicemia. This bacterial disease is also zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans.)
Cryptosporidiosis (an intestinal disease caused by the Cryptosporidium parasite)
Cryptosporidium is a parasite (a tiny organism) that causes an infection called cryptosporidiosis affecting people and farm animals. Cryptosporidium is found in lakes, streams and rivers, untreated drinking water and sometimes in swimming pools.
For most people, the illness is unpleasant but self-limiting. However, it can be a serious illness in people who have immune systems that are not working properly
Campylobacteriosis ( bacterial intestinal infection. Up to 49 percent of dogs carry campylobacteriosis)
Campylobacter infection is a type of gastroenteritis (gastro) caused by a bacteria known as Campylobacter. Symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Infection is more common in children under five years of age and young adults. Children's sandpits can become contaminated with Campylobacter through animal faeces.
If left unattended, these parasites will contaminate the water, soil, and can even cause infection in both pets and humans (especially children). The microscopic Hookworm larvae can be passed to another pet or person directly through the skin or by accidental ingestion as can other bacteria.
Hookworms, tapeworms, threadworms and campylobacteriosis can be passed on from dogs to humans. This is the most significant reason to avoid allowing dogs to lick your face and mouth.
If a dog has recently eaten faeces or groomed their hind quarters and come into contact with any of the above parasites, there is a chance these parasites will be passed directly into your mouth.
Children are especially vulnerable to infection because they tend to enjoy playing in the dirt, where parasites such as hookworm larvae lay dormant waiting for a new host. Young children may also put dirty hands or toys in their mouth.
Toxocariasis
Toxocariasis is an infestation of humans, usually children, with the larvae of Toxocara canis, a small threadlike worm that resides in a dog's intestine.
A dog harbouring the small round worm causes large numbers of worm eggs in its faeces, which can then contaminate the soil.
Children who then play with an infested dog or with soil contaminated with its faeces can then inadvertently put their fingers in their mouths and can swallow some of the worm eggs.
The swallowed eggs hatch in the intestine of the child to liberate larvae, which then travel towards the liver, lungs, brain and eyes.
Here they can trigger off allergic reactions such as asthma, and they also have more serious affects such as loss of vision at least partially.
Children generally run a much greater risk of coming into contact with Toxocara in public parks where there is no guarantee that the dogs which are allowed to roam free there are all wormed.
Out of interest, the diagnosis of toxocariasis is made from sputum analysis and from liver biopsy, and severe cases are treated in hospital with anthelmintic drugs (anti-worm drugs) to control the infestation.
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