Disease	Causative agent	Species associated with transmission to humans	Transmission route to humans	Symptoms in humans and clinical signs in animals
Aeromonas infection	Bacteria (Aeromonas species)	Fish and amphibians	Infection through open wounds and drinking contaminated water	Infection most commonly occurs in immunocompromised individuals and causes diarrhea or blood infections. Amphibians and fish may exhibit limb and fin discoloration and internal bleeding (Reptiles and Amphibians, 2022)
Avian mites	Parasitic mite (Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus sylvarium)	Pigeons or bird nests near the home, pet birds, gerbils (Lucky et al, 2001), live poultry	D. gallinae is found in the bird's environment, including nesting materials. O. sylvarium spends its life on the host and is transmitted by close contact with infected birds (Boseret et al, 2013).	People most often experience pruritic skin lesions. Birds may exhibit depression, potentially life-threatening anemia, and increased chick mortality (Boseret et al, 2013).
Baylisascaris	Parasitic roundworm (most commonly Baylisascaris procyonis)	Raccoons are the definitive host and may spread this parasite to other species, including poultry. Infection has also been observed in a pet kinkajou (Taira et al, 2013). Dogs, though not an NTP, can be infected as an aberrant host and can shed eggs in their feces.	Ingestion of roundworm eggs found in raccoon feces, contaminated food, or objects(Wildlife, 2021)	People may experience severe disease from parasitic migration into the eye (ocular larval migrans), organs (visceral larval migrans), or brain (neural larval migrans) (Wildlife, 2021).
Campylobacteriosis	Bacteria (Campylobacter)	Poultry, rodents (including hamsters, guinea pigs, and gerbils) (Small Mammals, 2019). The bacteria have been detected in lizard and chinchilla feces (Turowski et al, 2014; Whiley et al, 2016).	Ingestion of contaminated food, water, or contact with feces from infected animals (Small Mammals, 2019).	People may have diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever within 2–5 days after exposure. Many animals, including rodents, can carry the bacteria without any signs of illness; however, some may have diarrhea.
Cheyletiellosis	Parasitic mite (Cheyletiella species)	Rabbits, ferrets(Ferrets, 2022).	Direct contact with an infected animal	Chyletiella can temporarily infest people, causing skin irritation and itching. Infested animals are often subclinical, but may have hair loss, dandruff, and itching (Small Mammals, 2019).
Chlamydophila	Bacteria (Chlamydophila psittaci)	Psittacine birds, poultry (Henrion et al, 2002; Moroney et al, 1998; Thomas et al, 2017; Vanrompay et al, 2007)	Inhalation of aerosolized bird feces or respiratory tract secretions, either from direct contact with infected birds, or indirect environmental exposure (Thomas et al, 2017)	Illness severity in people may range from more common, self-limiting influenza-like-illness to less common fulminant psittacosis. Rarely, maternal or fetal illness and death may occur (Thomas et al, 2017). Birds may have a subclinical infection or have signs ranging from mild upper respiratory disease or nonspecific signs, including diarrhea, and signs of liver disease such as excretion of green to yellow-green urates. In severe cases, death may occur (Thomas et al, 2017).
Cryptococcosis	Fungus (Cryptococcus neoformans)	Pigeons most commonly, but may also be present in pet psittacine and passerine birds (Lugarini et al, 2008).	Inhalation of dust and soil containing dried contaminated bird droppings	Symptoms in people can resemble pneumonia, including cough, shortness of breath, and fever. Cryptococcal meningitis can cause headache, fever, and neck pain. Birds' symptoms are usually subclinical (“Birds Kept as Pets,” 2019).
Dermatophytosis (ringworm)	Fungus (commonly Trichophyton or Microsporum species)	Guinea pigs (Day, 2016; Kraemer et al, 2013), hedgehogs, and rabbits (Cafarchia et al, 2012; Day, 2016; Donnelly et al, 2000; Kraemer et al, 2013; Small Mammals, 2019)	Direct contact with an infected animal's skin or hair, or contaminated fomites.	Humans can have itchy, red, circular lesions with hair loss. Animals may be sub-clinically infected, or have circular areas of pruritic, reddened, skin and hair loss (Small Mammals, 2019).
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)	Arbovirus	Reptiles and amphibians,(Graham et al, 2012) birds, emu, horses, and other mammals (Corrin et al, 2021; Veazey et al, 1994)	Mosquito bite	EEE is a rare cause of encephalitis; approximately 30% of people with EEE die. In emus, marked depression, hemorrhagic diarrhea, and emesis.
Envenomation	Venom (secretion containing toxic proteins, enzymes, or other compounds)	Venomous species of snakes, fish, spiders, snails, and centipedes	Bite or sting from a venomous species	The type of venom determines the effect on people, varying from hematologic (coagulative or anemic) to neurologic (often paralytic) signs. The envenomating animal is not affected (Warwick and Steedman, 2012)
Erysipelas	Bacteria (Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae)	Fish, poultry, swine, emus (Eriksson et al, 2009)	Infection usually occurs through open wounds, especially on the hands	Three different syndromes in people are possible: erysipeloid, a generalized cutaneous form, and a septicemic form with endocarditis. Clinical signs in animals varies by species. In birds, it most commonly causes sudden death, swollen hocks, and cutaneous lesions. Healthy fish can carry this bacterium on their scales without any signs of illness (Eriksson et al, 2009).
Giardiasis	Protozoal parasite (Giardia)	Relatively uncommon in rodents but has been associated with chinchillas, rats, and mice, and other small mammals such as rabbits (Pantchev et al, 2014)	Ingestion of food or water contaminated with infected feces.	Both people and animals experience diarrhea, greasy stools, and dehydration. People may experience abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting lasting up to two weeks (Small Mammals, 2019; Pantchev et al, 2014)
Leptospirosis	Bacteria (Leptospira)	Rodents including rats, mice, and other domestic species including cattle, pigs, horses, and dogs (Day, 2016; Friedmann et al, 1973; Himsworth et al, 2013; Leptospirosis, 2019)	Spread through the urine and other bodily fluids of infected animals.	People may be asymptomatic or have non-specific signs including high fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rash. Disease may occur in two phases, where an initial disease phase is followed by a recovery period, and then a second more severe phase of disease (Day, 2016; Gaudie et al, 2008). Animals may carry and spread the bacteria without any clinical signs (Leptospirosis, 2019).
Melioidosis (aka Whitmore's disease)	Bacteria (Burkholderia pseudomallei)	Tropical freshwater fish have recently been associated with human infection (Melioidosis, 2021; Dawson et al, 2021). Sheep, goats, swine, horses, cats, dogs, and cattle are susceptible to infection.	Acquired by inhalation of contaminated dust or water droplets, ingestion of contaminated water, and ingestion of soil-contaminated food or contact with contaminated soil, especially skin abrasions. Recently, tropical freshwater fish have also been identified as a source of infection.	People may have localized infection (pain, swelling, fever, ulceration abscess), pulmonary infection (cough, chest pain, high fever, headache, anorexia), bloodstream infection (fever, headache, respiratory distress, abdominal discomfort, joint pain, disorientation), or disseminated infection (fever, weight loss, stomach or chest pain, muscle or joint pain, headache, central nervous system/brain infection, seizures). In animals, clinical signs vary depending on the site of infection and can range from acute to chronic. Fever, anorexia, swollen glands, or caseous nodules/abscesses. Subclinical infection is common (Low Choy, 2016).
Mycobacteriosis	Bacteria (Mycobacterium marinum)	Fish, amphibians, reptiles, hedgehogs (Bouricha et al, 2014; Hashish et al, 2018; Disease Information—Mycobacteriosis, 2020; Riley and Chomel, 2005)	Spread through contaminated water or contact with infected animals	People may experience granulomatous or nodular skin and tissue lesions that may progress to involve tissues. Disseminated infection can occur in immunocompromised patients (Akram and Aboobacker, 2021). Fish and reptiles may be asymptomatic or may be affected by open sores, granulomatous lesions, or deformed bones (Reptiles and Amphibians, 2022; Bouricha et al, 2014).
Newcastle disease	Virus (Newcastle disease virus)	Live poultry, pigeons, parrots, and other birds	Direct contact with large quantities of virus from infected animals, or contaminated materials in their environment including feces	People typically experience mild illness, with conjunctivitis being the most common symptom. Severity and progression of disease in birds depends on the viral strain and species of bird. Some birds may be sub-clinically infected. Infection with mild strains may cause respiratory signs including coughing, gasping, and sneezing. Infection with more severe strains, especially in chickens, may additionally cause decreased egg production, swollen head and neck tissues, watery green or white diarrhea, neurologic signs, and even sudden death (“Virulent Newcastle Disease,” 2021; “Disease Information—Newcastle Disease,” n.d.).
Pasteurellosis	Bacteria (Pasteurella multocida)	Rabbits and rodents including hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, and mice (Small Mammals, 2019)	Often transmitted from small mammals through animal bites and scratches	Illness in people from infection with Pasturella is uncommon but symptoms may include painful wounds and skin infections from animal bites. Most small mammals do not show signs of illness. Some rabbits develop a respiratory disease (“snuffles”), including nasal and ocular discharge. The lungs, skin, and reproductive tracts of rabbits may also be affected (Small Mammals, 2019).
Visceral pentasomiasis	Parasitic lung worm (many genera)	Snakes, crocodilians	People whose diet includes snake meat, workers at Asian snake-farms, snake keepers in zoos and pet shops, veterinarians, and snake owners may be exposed to ova present in snake secretions or meat.	Rare in the United States but may be observed in immigrants from endemic areas and long-term travelers. Symptoms in people vary depending on the organ systems involved. Abdominal pain, cough, septicemia, and death are possible, though most infections are asymptomatic (Tappe and Büttner, 2009). In reptiles, these organisms live in the lungs and cause either subclinical infection or cause secondary bacterial or fungal pneumonia (Paré, 2008).
Plague	Bacteria (Yersinia pestis)	Rabbits, cats, and rodent species including squirrels, wood rats, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks, mice, and voles (Campbell et al, 2019; “Ecology and Transmission,” 2019; Melman et al, 2018; von Reyn et al, 1976)	Infection occurs from bites from infected rodent fleas or from handling tissues and bodily fluids from plague-infected animals.	Both people and animals can have one of three principal forms of plague: bubonic, septicemic, or pneumonic. In people, bubonic plague is the most common form and begins with sudden onset of high fever, chills, headache, malaise, and myalgia, along with a bubo (a swollen and painful draining lymph node) most commonly in the femoral or inguinal lymph nodes. Plague causes variable disease in rodents, from subclinical infection or mild respiratory signs to severe, rapidly fatal disease.(“Ecology and Transmission,” 2019)
Rabies	Virus (rabies virus)	Affects all mammals, but only rarely occurs in small mammals such as squirrels, rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, chipmunks, guinea pigs, ferrets, rabbits, and hares. (“Other Wild Animals,” 2021; Schlossberg, 2016.)	Infection occurs through bites, scratches, or other types of exposure of broken skin of mucous membranes to infectious materials from rabid animals.	Human signs occur days to months after exposure and include generalized weakness, fever, headache, confusion, behavioral changes, and delirium (“What are the signs and symptoms of rabies,” 2021; Schlossberg, 2016). Infected animals may present with a variety of signs but most often show early nonspecific signs, acute neurologic signs, and death (Edison et al, 2005; Small Mammals, 2019)
Rat lungworm infection	Parasitic worm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis)	Rats are the definitive host	Larvae are passed in rat feces, which develop in mollusk intermediate hosts to become infectious. Humans are infected by consuming the intermediate host or by consuming an amphibian or crustacean that ate an infected mollusk.	People may or may not have symptoms. In those who do, symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, tingling or painful feelings in the skin, low-grade fever, nausea, and vomiting. Rat hosts may lose weight (Jarvi et al, 2017).
Salmonellosis	Bacteria (Salmonella species)	Rodents and other small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and other aquatic species, feeder animals (frozen and live), backyard poultry, and other animals (Basler et al, 2016; Behravesh et al, 2014; Bosch et al, 2016; Cartwright et al, 2016; Fuller et al, 2008; Gaffga et al, 2012; Hale et al, 2012; Kiebler et al, 2020; Walters et al, 2016).	Ingestion after contact with infected fecal material, contaminated cages, coops, and bedding, or contaminated fur or feathers or eggs	Most people recover without treatment after 4–7 days of illness including diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Patients with severe illness may require hospitalization. Rarely, infection may spread from the intestines into the bloodstream, causing systemic illness and death. Animals may be asymptomatic carriers or have symptoms similar to humans (Salmonella Infection, 2015).
Sarcoptic mange	Parasitic mite (Trixacarus caviae)	Has been rarely associated with guinea pigs(Eshar and Bdolah-Abram, 2012; Honda et al, 2011; Nath, 2016)	Direct contact	People may be transiently affected with a pruritic local skin reaction. Animals may be sub-clinically infected or exhibit pruritis, erythema, and hair loss (Honda et al, 2011).
Tularemia	Bacteria (Francisella tularensis)	Rabbits, hares, rodents (including muskrats, prairie dogs, hamsters, and others), domestic cats and other species (“Tularemia,” 2018; Feldman, 2005; Stidham et al, 2018)	Tick bites, deer fly bites, skin contact with infected animals or infected tissues, ingestion of contaminated water, inhalation of contaminated aerosols or agricultural dusts, and lab exposure (“Tularemia,” 2018)	People may experience symptoms that range from mild to life-threatening and are dependent upon on how the bacteria enter the body, and typically include fever. The most common form of disease is ulceroglandular, manifesting as a skin ulcer at the site of infection, chills, head and muscle pain, prostration, and potential progression to septicemia. Other forms of disease include glandular, oculoglandular, oropharyngeal, pneumonic, and typhoidal. Infected rabbits and rodents are usually found dead, but may exhibit weakness, fever, lymphadenopathy, and abscesses (“Tularemia,” 2018; Feldman, 2005)
Zoonotic influenza	Virus (influenza type A virus)	Poultry, swine, and other animals (“Influenza in Animals,” 2018)	Direct contact with infected animals; indirect contact with virus contaminated surfaces; inhalation of aerosolized virus	People infected with zoonotic animal influenza viruses may have mild to severe symptoms that include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, and even death.(“Avian Influenza A Virus Infections,” 2022) Ferrets are very susceptible to infection with influenza viruses, including human seasonal influenza A viruses and avian and swine influenza A viruses. Ferrets can have a variety of symptoms including fever, nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing, decreased appetite, and weakness (Ferrets, 2022) Poultry may have mild to severe illness ranging from decreased egg production to death, depending on the subtype and pathogenicity of the avian influenza virus. (“Influenza in Animals,” 2018) Other animals such as cats and dogs may have mild to severe signs (“Influenza in Animals,” 2018; “Influenza in Cats,” 2018)