flea & tick transferance

Question
QUESTION: Hi Jill,
I hope you can help me. So far I can't seem to find any direct answers to my question which is: Is it possible for a human to infect indoor cats with ticks and fleas? I am a professional pet sitter and I can't afford to have a problem like this. My dog, of course, gets fleas & ticks at times though I am diligent about applying monthly treatment. Also, I sometimes share toys among my client's pets. I'm concerned that fleas or ticks can be transferred through these toys or through me.
Please advise.
Thank you.

ANSWER: It is certainly possible for a human to bring ticks and fleas into his/her living environment.  Ticks can attach to clothing or even to one's flesh and then drop off; fleas (in a heavily infested household) can certainly do the same.  I've known cockroaches to travel on a human "conveyance" into another person's household (as personally witnessed by a close friend years ago.)  It's hardly likely that a tick infestation would be caused in this manner, but fleas...absolutely.  In a heavily flea infested household (as can happen easily, even with one pet present), you might feel the presence of fleas on your body (legs especially), but you might not notice.  As for toys, I wouldn't share toys among pet households (especially stuffed toys) without disinfecting them first (upper respiratory infection can easily be spread, like cold germs among children.)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much, Jill. This really helps. I thought as much, so I talked to the PetSmart sales people about a good disinfectant for my pet toys. None of them were of ANY help. So, I settled for lightly powdering the toys with flea powder and brushing it through the toy. I then seal the toy in a ziplock bag until I use it again... But what disinfectant can I use that's harmless to pets? Lysol seems too caustic.
Thanks again.

Answer
I would NOT offer any stuffed toy to any dog after it has absorbed chemicals from flea products.  If my dog were involved in this exchange, I would be very upset.  If you wouldn't offer such an article to a human child, don't offer it to any other living creature.  Disinfectants are not necessary; in fact, even stuffed animals can be popped into the washing machine.  A human-safe soap, such as is used with infant's clothing, and warm water will kill fleas for stuffed animals.  For the other toys, soap and water will kill adult fleas.