Which of the following is not zoonotic?

Which of the following is not zoonotic?

• A. Toxoplasma
• B. Echinococcus
• C. Dipylidium
• D. Giardia

Answer: (B)

Zoonosis is about pathogens moving from animals to humans. All of these parasites have that potential through different routes linked to animals or their surroundings. Toxoplasma gondii can reach people from cats and contaminated litter or through undercooked meat from infected animals. Echinococcus species cycle between canids (like dogs) and intermediate hosts, and humans can ingest eggs leading to cysts—a classic animal-to-human transmission. Dipylidium caninum can infect people when a person swallows fleas that have become carriers from infected pets. Giardia duodenalis includes strains that infect both animals and humans, with transmission often via water or food contaminated by animal feces. Because each of these can be transmitted from animals to humans, there isn’t a non-zoonotic option among them.

Zoonosis is about pathogens moving from animals to humans. All of these parasites have that potential through different routes linked to animals or their surroundings. Toxoplasma gondii can reach people from cats and contaminated litter or through undercooked meat from infected animals. Echinococcus species cycle between canids (like dogs) and intermediate hosts, and humans can ingest eggs leading to cysts—a classic animal-to-human transmission. Dipylidium caninum can infect people when a person swallows fleas that have become carriers from infected pets. Giardia duodenalis includes strains that infect both animals and humans, with transmission often via water or food contaminated by animal feces. Because each of these can be transmitted from animals to humans, there isn’t a non-zoonotic option among them.