7. Zoonoses Flashcards
What is meant by the term zoonoses?
Infections pass between living animals and humans
Can be virus, bacteria, parasites or fungi. Cant be parasites that rely on a human host though e.g. malaria
What are some common zoonoses that exist in the UK?
Salmonella, Campylobacter
Toxoplasma
Q-fever
Ringworm
What is rabies?
A viral infection transmitted from the bite of an infected animal
Wide range of wild animals transmitters (dogs, bats)
DESCRIBE THE COURSE OF RABIES?
Takes 2 weeks to incubate, travels to the brain via peripheral nerves.
Causes an acute encephalitis
What are the symptoms of rabies?
Malaise, headache and fever Progresses to mania, lethargy and coma Over production of saliva and tear Unable to swallow Death by respiratory failure
How do you treat rabies?
PCR of salvia/CSF Often confirmed on post mortem biopsy. Always fatal
Immediately after bite give human rabies immunogloublin. around the bite if possible, as well as 4 doses of rabies vaccine over 14 days
What is brucellosis
Occupational hazard of farmers, vets, slaughterhouses. Organism excreted in milk. Human affected
During milking infected animals
During parturition
Handling dead animals
Consumption of unpasteurised dairy products
What species cause brucellosis?
What is the incubation period for brucellosis
Melitensis
Suis
Abortus
5-30 days (up to 6 months0
How does brucellosis presnt?
Acute phase- High fever, weakness, headaches, drenching sweats, splenomegaly
Subacute phase- lasts over a month (fever and joint pain)
Chronic-lasts months or years, flu symptoms, malaise, depression, chronic arthritis, endocarditis, splenomegaly
Subclinical- most common no symptoms but positive serology
How do you treat brucellosis?
Long acting doxyxycline and rifampicin or IM gent
Chronic- hard to treat
Add cortimoxazole in CNS disease
What is leptospirosis?
Common from cattle, fever, meningism, no jaundice. 11% of dairy workers have positive sserology but no symptoms
How does acute leptospirosis occur?
Undifferentiated fever, myalgia, headaches and abdo pain
Severe disease in 50-15%
Weil’s disease (triad of jaundice, AKI, bleeding)
Pulmonary haemorrhage
Case fatality 5-40% >50% in PH
What is the treatment of leptospirosis?
Antibiotics most effective in early disease
Doxycyline for mild disease, penicillin for severe
Steroids dont help
Prompt dialysis
Mechanical ventilation
What is Lyme’s disease?
A disease spread by ticks causing autoimmune like symptoms
What symptoms does it present with?
Erythema migrans (classic rash)
Acrodermatitis chronica (ACA)- bluish/red decolourisation
lymphocytoma
neuroborreliosis (facila nerve palsy, radicular pain and lymhocytic meningitis)
Arthritis
Carditis
heart block
