North American Zoonoses

A variety of infectious agents can be transmitted from animals to humans, either directly or indirectly. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of a zoonosis may not be considered at presentation, which can lead to a delay in initiating appropriate therapy, or is never made because the symptoms are non-specific and no exposure history is obtained. The keys to making a diagnosis are to recognize the clinical manifestations of the diseases (eg, fever of unknown origin, arthritis, rash, or lymphadenopathy), to obtain an exposure history, and to understand the local epidemiology. When a child presents with an unexplained febrile illness or infectious disease, clinicians should ask about potential exposures to animals, including pets, ingestion of unusual foods, such as raw or unpasteurized milk, and a travel history.