Illnesses that can be transmitted from animals to humans, called zoonotic disease, span the gamut from minor to lethal. While you're more likely to contract an illness from another person than from your pet, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be aware of what you can catch from Fluffy and Fido. "The last thing you want to do is panic," says Dr. Marty Becker, D.V., co-author of "The Ultimate Dog Lover." "Diseases are on the rise, but if you get rid of the risk you keep the pet." Click through the gallery below to find out what zoonotic illnesses you should be aware of and what you can do to reduce your risk.

Campylobacteriosis will give you an upset tummy

More than 2 million cases of campylobacteriosis occur in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria that cause the infection live in the intestinal tracts of dogs, cats, birds and even hamsters, and can be transmitted to humans through coming into contact with contaminated water and feces. While the infection is contagious and spreads quickly, people typically recover within two to five days. Symptoms are similar to food poisoining or the stomach flu and include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

In rare cases, people may develop Guillain-Barré syndrome, which affects the nervous system and can result in paralysis that lasts several weeks. It is estimated that approximately one in every 1,000 reported campylobacter illnesses leads to Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Intestinal parasites

Approximately 14 percent of the U.S. population is infected with internal roundworms contracted from dogs and cats, according to the CDC. "Internal parasites can live inside your pet year-round," says Becker. Because roundworm eggs and microscopic adult worms can be excreted in the feces of dogs and cats and then transferred to the soil, children may be at a higher risk for contracting them while playing outside.

Don't assume your pets are parasite-free just because you don't find worms in their fecal matter. Parasitic worms can be difficult to find even with a microscope, says Becker. Symptoms of roundworm or hookworm infection include fever, cough, loss of appetite, weakness and lung congestion.

Toxoplasmosis can lead to blindness

More than 60 million people in the United States carry the Toxoplasma parasite, but very few have symptoms, according to the CDC. However, pregnant women can risk transferring the disease to their unborn children if they become infected. Most infected infants do not have symptoms at birth but can develop serious symptoms later in life, such as blindness or mental disability, according to the CDC. Occasionally, infected newborns have serious eye or brain damage at birth. Toxoplasmosis is most often transmitted through cat feces, but just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you need to give up your cat.

"Pediatricians tell people to get rid of their cats, but that's wrong. You're more likely to get [toxoplasmosis] from undercooked meat," says Becker. If you're pregnant, avoid changing the litter box; wear gloves when gardening outside to prevent contracting the parasite from infected soil; keep cats indoors, and avoid bringing any new cats or kittens into the household during pregnancy.

Psittacosis gives you pneumonia-like symptoms

Also known as "parrot fever," psittacosis is a bacterial illness that can be transmitted when dried bird feces is inhaled. Infected individuals can be treated with antibiotics. Symptoms in humans are similar to pneumonia, and include high fever, headache, chills and dry cough, according to the CDC.

Ringworm

The skin disease ringworm can be spread by direct contact with an infected pet's skin or hair. Caused by several different kinds of fungi, ringworm can be identified by a round, raised, itchy lesion with a ring or scale around the edge. The lesions can be found on the skin, scalp or nails. If you keep the skin clean and dry, apply over-the-counter antifungal powders or creams and wash your sheets daily, the infection should clear up within four weeks, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis causes flu-like symptoms

Rodents, such as mice, hamsters and guinea pigs, infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) can transmit the virus to humans via their urine, feces or saliva. Just inhaling particles from an infected pet's bodily fluids is enough to pass on the disease. Approximately five percent of adults test positive for LCM at some time in their lives, according to the CDC. While pet rodents can become infected after coming in contact with wild rodents at a breeding facility, pet store or home, human infections from these pets are rare.

LCM can cause flu-like symptoms, including fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting, and can lead to meningitis or encephalitis if not treated. Because LCM can be transmitted to unborn children, pregnant women should avoid contact with pet rodents whenever possible.

Mycobacteria marinum causes skin lesions

People can contract mycobacterium marinum through direct contact with aquarium water contaminated with the bacteria. Symptoms of the disease involve localized skin lesions, which usually appear on the fingers and hands. In rare cases, the bacteria can spread in the body and cause joint and bone infections, according to the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University.

Rabies

One of the most deadly viruses animals can transfer to humans is rabies, which infects the central nervous system and causes death within days. While wild animals -- such as raccoons, skunks and foxes -- are most likely to carry rabies, any warm-blooded animal can pass the infection to humans through biting. More than 55,000 people die of rabies each year, according to the World Health Organization. However, with nearly 95 percent of reported deaths occurring in Asia and Africa, rabies cases are rare in the U.S. In 2006, only 79 cases of rabies in domestic dogs were reported.

Symptoms of rabies can take several weeks to develop in dogs and cats, and include disorientation, irritability and seizures. The most well-known symptom of rabies is foaming at the mouth, which occurs when the virus attacks the nerves in the head and throat. Because rabies causes paralysis, animals will eventually go into respiratory failure and die due to paralysis of the diaphragm, according to the CDC. To prevent infection, make sure your pets are up to date with their rabies vaccinations, and stay away from wild animals.

Cat scratch fever

Ted Nugent knows a thing or two about cat scratch fever. While it's not particularly dangerous, cat scratch fever (also known as cat scratch disease) is spread through cat bites and scratches. Forty percent of cats carry the disease at some point in their lives, but kittens are more likely to be infected, according to the CDC. Cats have no symptoms of the bacterial disease, but humans can suffer from fever, headache, fatigue and a poor appetite. Symptoms can last from six to 12 weeks before the infection clears up on its own. Be sure to seek medical attention for deep cat bites, says Becker. "It's like two hypodermic needles injecting bacteria deep into your hand."

Leptospirosis causes flu-like symptoms

Prevalent in rural, suburban and urbanized areas, leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can be transmitted to pets through drinking or swimming in stagnant water. Humans and animals can become infected through contact with contaminated urine, water or soil. Symptoms in animals include vomiting, refusal to eat, severe weakness and diarrhea. In humans, the symptoms are flu-like, but can sometimes develop into a more severe, life-threatening illness with infections in the kidney, liver, brain, lungs and heart, according to the CDC.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Both humans and animals can be infected with Rocky Mountain spotted fever through tick bites. Cases occur throughout the United States, mainly from April to September, and more than half occur in the South Atlantic region of the country, according to the CDC. Five to 10 days after being bitten, symptoms may arise, including fever, nausea, vomiting and severe headache, followed by a rash that may spread across portions of the body. The infection can be cleared up with antibiotics.

Salmonellosis

It's not just peanut butter that you need to be wary of. Reptiles -- including lizards -- snakes, turtles, baby chicks and ducklings can pass salmonellosis to people. While most infected animals carry salmonellosis in their feces, the outer skin and shell surfaces of baby turtles can also transmit bacteria to humans. In 1975, the FDA banned the sale of baby turtles with shells less than four inches long after 250,000 children were diagnosed with turtle-associated salmonellosis. Symptoms include vomiting, fever, diarrhea and cramps. To avoid infection, Becker suggests using antibacterial soap after handling reptiles.

Rare but deadly

While it's unlikely that a domesticated pet will ever be infected by any of these illnesses, anthrax, avian influenza, Ebola virus and mad cow disease are all rare but deadly zoonotic diseases. The Ebola virus, for example, can be contracted from infected primates, while anthrax can be transmitted to humans by farm animals, including cows, sheep and goats.

Who's most at risk?

"Those with weakened immune systems, infants, HIV/AIDS patients, the elderly, people undergoing cancer therapy or organ transplants are most at risk," says Becker. Some diseases, such as toxoplasmosis and lymphocytic choriomeningitis are particularly dangerous to pregnant women because of the possibility of transmission to unborn children.

Zoonotic disease prevention

"Common sense and good hygiene is going to go a long way," says Becker, who advocates washing hands or using hand sanitizer after handling pets to minimize transmission of disease. If your pet is on a raw diet, consider cooking meat all the way through before serving. There's a risk of becoming infected with salmonella and internal parasites from a raw diet, says Becker. "It's not a full risk, but it's a real risk. Definitely cook the meat all the way through to 160 degrees Fahrenheit."

Regular checkups

Twice yearly veterinary checkups and up-to-date immunizations are the first lines of defense against zoonotic illnesses. Avoid pet areas at Interstate rest stops like the plague, says Becker. "Can you imagine how many pets have gone there? Not everybody vaccinates their pets and uses parasite control," he says. "Consider those highway rest stops like the hot zone area. Make sure your dog has an invisible hedge of protection by being fully vaccinated."

Clean up after your pet

Cleaning and covering litter boxes daily can help reduce the risk of fecal-related diseases, such as toxoplasmosis and intestinal parasites. "Scoop your litter box daily, and clean it with scalding water and detergent," says Becker. "Replace it twice a year." Becker suggests picking up the yard every three days to diminish soil contamination, because it takes three days for fecal matter to become infected by roundworms and hookworms. Make sure that your fence is in good repair to prevent your pets from escaping and coming in contact with wild animals. Cover children's sandboxes, and secure pet food and loose garbage.