Enteric infections associated with exposure to animals or animal products

The epidemiology and clinical presentation of enteric infections are discussed in this article. These include bacterial, viral, and parasitic illnesses, and are associated with the increasing popularity of drinking unpasteurized milk; eating raw fish and shellfish; consuming undercooked pork, poultry, and eggs; and having contact with pets. Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio, Yersinia, Aeromonas, Edwardsiella, hepatitis A virus, Norwalk virus, Anisakis, Eustrongylides, Diphyllobothrium, Nanophyetus, Isospora, and Cryptosporidium are included. The importance of preventing these increasingly recognized enteric infections is emphasized.