BIOL 437 Week 13 (Zoonoses)

Question 1

zoonosis

Answer 1

• any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans
• over 200 known types
• comprise a large percentage of new and existing diseases in humans
• some are 100% preventable through vaccination and other methods (ex. rabies)

Question 2

examples of zoonoses

Answer 2

• anthrax
• cholera
• covid-19
• cowpox
• plague
• rabies
• west nile virus

Question 3

factors to consider

Answer 3

• transmission route
• risk factors
• clinical signs and symptoms
• prevention measures
• treatment options

Question 4

transmission route

Answer 4

• direct contact
• indirect contact
• vectors

Question 5

risk factors

Answer 5

• exposure potential: travel history, occupation, pets in house
• co-morbidities; host factors
• vaccine status

Question 6

direct contact

Answer 6

• contact with saliva, blood, urine, mucous, feces

- ex. petting animals, bites or scratches

Question 7

indirect contact

Answer 7

• coming into contact with areas where animals live and roam
• services with contaminated germs
• ex. aquarium tank water, pets habitats, chicken coops, plants, barns, soil

Question 8

vector-borne

Answer 8

-being bitten by a tick or insect

Question 9

foodborne

Answer 9

• each year 1 in 6 americans get sick from eating contaminated food
• contaminated food can cause illness in people and animals

Question 10

waterborne

Answer 10

-drinking or coming in contact with water that has been contaminated with feces from an infected animal

Question 11

domestic/companion animals

Answer 11

• toxoplasmosis
• ringworm
• avian influenza
• swine influenza
• bovine tuberculosis

Question 12

wildlife

Answer 12

• lyme disease
• birds (west nile virus)
• plague (prairie dogs)
• rabies (bats, skunks, foxes)

Question 13

emerging zoonotic diseases sources

Answer 13

• live animal markets
• wildlife hunting
• intensive wildlife farming
• domestic animals

Question 14

how to protect yourself from zoonotic diseases?

Answer 14

• keep hands clean
• wash hands after seeing animals
• prevent bites from mosquitoes
• learn ways to handle food safely
• avoid bites and scratches from animals

Question 15

reportable zoonoses in BC

Answer 15

• One Health Concept: interconnection between animals, humans and the ecosystem
• collaboration between animal and human helath professionals is essential
• BC reportable Animal Zoonoses program

Question 16

BC Reportable Animal Zoonoses Program

Answer 16

-initiated in 2015
-Cheif Veterinary Officer informs the public helath officer about the occurence of certain zoonotic disease
>diseases are selected for value in reporting and take action through increased knowledge and awareness of their occurence in animals

Question 17

reportable zoonoses in BC examples

Answer 17

• anthrax
• rabis
• BSE
• plague
• tuberculosis
• west nile virus

Question 18

rabies example VI

Answer 18

-bat flew into a Parksville man
-21 year old male
-2019
-didn’t develop symptoms until 6 weeks later
-contact was during daylight, very minor contact with hand
>no visible bite or scratch marks

Question 19

key facts about rabies

Answer 19

• vaccine-preventable disease
• occurs in more than 150 countries
• dogs are the main source for human deaths
• once clinical symptoms apper, it is virtualy 100% fatal
• interupt transmission through vaccination
• infection causes 10 thousands of deaths every year
• in BC, bat is only know reservoir
• Ontario: bat, racoons, skunks and red foxes

Question 20

zoonoses in Canada

Answer 20

• laboratory for foodborne zoonoses

- cetnre for food-borne, environmental and zoonotic infectious diseases

Question 21

recent detection of avian influenza in Canada

Answer 21

• CFIA advised world organization for animal health
• spring migrations has driven the spread of avian influenza into new areas
• not a public health concern for people who are not in routine contact with infected birds
• people working with poultry should take additional precautions

Question 22

who is monitoring for diseases at the global level?

Answer 22

-metabiota
>we support government decisions 
>estimate, mitigrate and manage epidemic risk
-tracking in Canaa
>SARS-CoV-2
>norovirus
>salmonella

Question 23

risk assessment for zoonoses at the global level

Answer 23

• Joint Risk Assessment Operational Tool (JRA OT)

- 98 page document uses Rift Valley Fever virus as an example

Question 24

joint statement on prioritization of montioring covid-19 infection in wildlife

Answer 24

• wildlife does not currenlty play a significant role in the spread
• spread could affect the health and faciliate emergence in new virus variants
• farmed animals have been observed to be infected
• intro of covid-19 to wildlife could result in establishment of animal reservoirs

Question 25

One Health in Action

Answer 25

• CDC’s One Health experts work globaly to implement a One Health Zoonotic Disease Priorization
• respond to those zoonotic diseases of greatest national concern

Question 26

Cryptosporidiosis

Answer 26

• a 4th year vet student became very ill
• was working on a rotation of working with sick calves
• sent to hospital and had extensive testing
• placed on erythromycin for suspected bacterial infection
• diagnosised after 5 days in the hosptial
• hospitalized for one week before being discharded and writing national board exams less than a week later