Kenyans keep a wide range of domestic animals ranging from pets and farm animals that are reared as an economic activity.
It is relatively easy to acquire a farm animal in Kenya since the country is predominantly an agricultural nation.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the country’s animal population comprises 18.8 million cattle, 26.7 million goats, 18.9 million sheep, 3.2 million camels, 44.6 million poultry, 1.9 million donkeys, 0.5 million pigs, and an undetermined number of companion, game and aquatic animals.
Many Kenyans while adopting a pet or buying a farm animal fail to establish if those animals can cause any harm or transmit diseases to humans.
Kenyans.co.ke looked at 3 commonly domesticated animals with poisonous saliva that can transmit illnesses to humans.
Pig
The pig is the most dangerous domesticated animal in terms of saliva. This is because, unlike others, its saliva can be transmitted airborne.
“The saliva of the pig is highly infectious and can exist as an aerosol which you might inhale.”
“The saliva can transmit diseases like rabies, giardiasis, balantidiasis, and influenza,” according to research done by Iowa State University of Veterinary Medicine (2022).
Dog
A dog, man's best friends and one of the most kept pets in Kenya, also has poisonous saliva.
Some bacteria in a dog’s mouths are zoonotic, meaning the canine can pass them to humans and cause disease.
“Some common zoonotic bacteria include clostridium, E. coli, salmonella, and campylobacter, which can cause severe gastrointestinal disease in humans,” according to Leni Kaplan a lecturer of community practice service at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Cat
A cat which is another commonly petted animal transmits Cat Scratch Disease through its saliva.
“Cat scratch disease is an infection caused by a bacterium in cat saliva.”
“The disease causes redness and swelling at the site of a cat scratch or bite, and flu-like symptoms,” warns Hopkins Medicine.
You're advised to handle pets and all domesticated animals with caution, since they could be disease carriers. Importantly, mouth contact including kissing should be avoided.
