Infectious diseases Mammals Flashcards
What is the importance of wildlife disease?
Threat to native wildlife population, impact on domestic animals, zoonotic potential, economic importance
How can you tell if a virus is rabies by looking at the virus itself?
It is the only bullet shaped virus
Who are the hosts of rabies virus?
All mammals are susceptible to virus (in wildlife reservoirs in US are omnivores and carnivores)
There are two types of clinical signs of rabies, which one is described as aimless wandering, lethargy, incoordination, weakness in hindlegs, paralysis, loss of awarness?
Dumb rabies
There are two types of clinical signs of rabies, which one is described as vicious attacks and self mutilation?
Furious
There are two types of clinical signs of rabies, which one will end in convulsions, coma and death?
Both the dumb and furious forms
Can rabies persist outside of the host?
No
What are the three ways it is hypothesized that rabies has gets transfered?
Saliva contact, aerosol, organ transplant
(T/F) After 10 days it is safe to say that a wild animal does not have rabies because it spreads rapidly from site of entry to CNS within axons and peripheral nerves.
False – incubation varies from days to years (the other part is true)
Where does the rabies vaccine have to contact in wild animals for it to have an effect?
Oral or pharyngeal mucosa (except skunks, they are refractory to vaccine)
Since Canine distemper attacks cells of respiratory tract, Gi tract and the eyes what tissues does it affect?
Epitheloal cells – Epitheliotropic
In what three wild species is distemper important?
Raccoons, gray foxes, coyotes (skunks and otters are susceptible but prevalence unknown)
What 4 systems in the body does distemper affect?
Respiratory, GI, Neurologic, Dermatologic
What 4 diagnostic tests can be performed to find out if a wild animal has distemper?
Serology, histopathology, virus isolation, FAT
Can distemper virus survive in the environment for a long time?
No
How long is the incubation of distemper?
14-18 days (lymphatic tissues of resp tract)
In a delayed onset of immune response against distemper, it can lead to subacute disease characterized by…
Encephalitis or persistent infection
Are there distemper vaccines for wildlife?
Yes but they are modified live so they are controversial
What virus is responsible for the near extripation of black footed ferret?
Distemper
What is the organism that causes sarcoptc mange?
Sarcoptes scabiei
What lesions can happen with sarcoptic mange?
Alopecia, flaky, dry to moist fetid material in the fur, thickening and wringling of the skin
Is sarcoptic mange zoonotic?
It causes transient dermatitis in humans because they do not like our temperature
Which disease causes substantial mortality in red fox populations?
Sarcoptic mange
What is the mode of transmission of hemorrhagic disease of mammals?
Biting midges Culicoides spp. Vector
Which season do we see hemorrhagic disease the most?
Late summer to early fall
In acute signs what is almost pathognomonic to tell if it is hemorrhagic disease in mammals?
Hemorrhage at base of the pulmonary artery
Which domesticated animal is affected the most by hemorrhagic disease?
Sheep but can also affect cattle
This disease is a major infectious disease of white tailed deer that can have lameness, sloughing of hoof walls, rumen ulcers, loss of rumen papillae, weight loss and emaciation.
Hemorrhagic disease
What is does Mycobacterium bovis cause?
Tuberculosis
How is tuberculosis transmitted in wildlife?
Aerosol, consumption of contaminated feed, close contact with infected individual or contaminated area
What is an almost pathognomonic sign for tuberculosis?
Small nodules in chest caivity or lungs
What is a diganostic test that can be performed by a primary vet that can be done antemortem for tuberculosis?
Single cervical test by intradermal injection of tuberculin
Why is tuberculosis significant?
Concern that TB established in wildlife reservoir, loss of TB free status/trade, public health concerns (hunters)
Which body system does chronic wasting disease affect?
CNS ultimately resulting in death
What group does chronic wasting disease belong to?
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy group
What kind of protein causes chronic wasting disease?
Prions
Who are the hosts for chronic wasting disease?
Elk, various deer species (white tailed deer) and moose
(T/F) The mode of transmission of chronic wasting disease is direct only.
False, it can also be indirect but the most important is direct
Can chronic wasting disease stay in the environment for a long time?
Yes
If a cervid is displaying abnomal behavior/posture, with emiciation and poor body consition and aspiration pneumonia, what disease should be at the top of the differential list apart from rabies?
Chronic wasting disease
Where would prions be located in the body for a diagnosis of chronic wasting disease?
Obex medulla oblongata and retropharyngeal lymph nodes
Is chronic wasting disease zoonotic?
No scientific evidence that CWD infects humans (or transmitted to livestock or over domestic animals)
What is the organism that causes meningeal worm disease?
Parelaphostrongylus tenuis
Who is the intermediate host of P. tenuis?
Gastropods (L1)
How long is the prepatent period of P. tenuis in white tailed deer?
82-91 days
Where does P. tenuis live when it has infected a wild animal?
Surface of the brain underneath the skull
Pair up the following clinical signs to the wild animal it happens to if they got meningeal worm
a. White tailed deer
b. Fallow deer
c. Caribou/reindeer/mule deer
d. Moose
e. Elk
f. Exotic species (llamas)
g. Domestic species
- Neurologial disease
- Moose sickness
- Highly pathogenic
- Generally no clinical signs
- Progressively fatal neurological disease
- May survive infection/shed larvae
- Fatal peritonitis
White tailed deer – Generally no clinical signs
Fallow deer – Fatal peritonitis
Caribou/reindeer/mule deer – Highly pathogenic
Moose – Moose sickness
Elk – May survive infection/shed larvae
Exotic species (llamas) - Progressively fatal neurological disease
Domestic species – Neurologic disease
