What are the risks associated with animal parasites?

Young children are especially at risk. Based on a national survey, 73 percent of pediatricians see cases of pet-to-human parasitic zoonotic disease every year. Parasites can cause problems that range from intestinal upset to blindness or even death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), thousands of patients in the United States are infected with roundworms annually, and an estimated 750 will suffer permanent visual impairment or even blindness.