COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 273
● Municipal water systems: While generally treated, outbreaks
of Cryptosporidium have occurred in municipal supplies.
Environmental Sources
● Soil contact: Direct contact with contaminated soil can
transmit various helminth eggs and larvae.
● Pets and animals: Close contact with pets, particularly cats
(Toxoplasma) and dogs (various helminths), can increase
transmission risk.
● Insect vectors: Some parasites are transmitted through insect
bites, such as malaria (Plasmodium) through mosquitoes.
Balanced Perspective on Animal Sources
While animals can serve as sources of parasitic transmission, it's
important to maintain a balanced perspective:
1. Domestic pets provide significant physical and emotional
benefits that generally outweigh potential parasite risks,
which can be mitigated through:
○ Regular veterinary care and deworming
○ Good hygiene practices after handling pets
○ Proper disposal of pet waste
○ Handwashing before meals
2. Cats and Toxoplasma gondii:
○ Indoor cats fed commercial food pose minimal risk
○ Toxoplasmosis risk primarily comes from newly infected
cats
○ Simple precautions for pregnant women and
immunocompromised individuals (having others
273