Besides the obvious threats that some wild Knoxville animals are known to pose, many different species carry diseases that they can transmit either directly or indirectly with humans. It can be very difficult to tell whether an animal is carrying diseases because there are not always obvious signs. The diseases that animals carry are many and varied. Their symptoms in humans can range from minor to lethal. Of course it is important to be cautious whenever interacting with a wild animal, and you should certainly be aware of the risk of certain health conditions that can be passed on from Tennessee animals to humans. The diseases in animals that can be transmitted to humans are called zoonoses. Some of these are mentioned below:
- Brucellosis is a serious disease and it can be passed especially from feral Tennessee pigs to humans.

- Cat scratch fever is a clinical syndrome and it is a result of a bite or scratch of fever with the transmission of bacteria.

- Escherichia Coli is found normally in the gut flora of wild Knoxville birds, pets, sheep and goats.

- Leptospirosis is bacteria that are passed around from the urine of infected animals.

- Listeriosis is the most commonly associated clinical diseases found in the ruminants, and they may include mastitis, septicemia, and encephalitis.

- Giardia is a flagellate protozoan found in the intestinal tract of many wild and domestic animals, and it may lead to diarrheal disease. The human can be infected when they take in contaminated water or food.

- Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic protozoal disease and it affects different Knoxville animal types. The humans are likely to be affected through contact with domestic cat feces.

- Ring worm is used to describe different types of the fungal skin infection in both people and Tennessee animals.

These are some examples of the many diseases that Knoxville animals are known to carry. Avoid making contact with a wild animal whenever possible, and take the proper safety precautions if contact is inevitable. If you experience any medical symptoms after interacting with a wild animal or making contact with its feces, you should contact a medical professional, even if the symptoms appear to be mild. Do not approach a wild animal that appears to be sick or acting abnormally in any circumstances. Your safety comes first, so be aware of the risks involved in making contact with any wild Tennessee animals.

Visit our Knoxville wildlife control home page to learn more about us.