Microbiology 15 - Zoonoses

Question 1

What are the key features of campylobacter food poisoning?

Answer 1

Bloating and cramps

Question 2

What are the key features of salmonella infection?

Answer 2

Diarrhoea and vomiting

Question 3

How can salmonella food poisoning be treated?

Answer 3

Supportive + ciprofloxacin

Question 4

Which types of salmonella must always be treated, and with which can you wait to see if they will need treatment?

Answer 4

S. typhi/ paratyphi = always treat

Other types = watchful waiting

Question 5

Bartonella is a zoonotic infection from which animal?

Answer 5

Kittens

Question 6

What diseases can be caused by bartonella henselae?

Answer 6

Cat scratch disease/ baciliary angiomatosis (if immunocompromised)

Question 7

How should cat scratch disease be treated?

Answer 7

Erythromycin + doxycycline

Question 8

What are the signs of baciliary angiomatosis?

Answer 8

Skin papules and whacky LFTs

Question 9

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic infection from which animal?

Answer 9

Cats

Question 10

How is toxoplasmosis treated?

Answer 10

Spiramycin- a macrolide (often used in pregnant women to reduce chance of foetus getting the infection)

Pyrimethamine + Sulfadiazine if pregnant woman and baby have it

Question 11

What is the risk with toxoplasmosis infection in the immunocompromised?

Answer 11

That it will be reactivated, leading to progressive visual/ hearing/ motor/ cognitive impairment and seizures

Also risk to pregnant women

Question 12

What is the risk with toxoplasmosis infection in pregnancy?

Answer 12

Still birth

Question 13

Where in the world is brucellosis most likely found?

Answer 13

Middle East/italy/malta

Question 14

What are the symptoms of brucellosis?

Answer 14

Fever, back pain, orchitis, focal abscesses
(hard to differentiate from TB sometimes)
grown on- Castaneda medium

Question 15

What is the causative organism in Q fever?

Answer 15

Coxiella burnetti

Question 16

How is coxiella burnetti transmitted to humans?

Answer 16

Unpasteurised milk

Also from contact with farm animals

Question 17

What are the symptoms of Q fever?

Answer 17

It’s a flu-like illness

Question 18

What is the treatment for Q fever?

Answer 18

Doxycycline

Question 19

What are the causative organisms in rabies?

Answer 19

Lyssa viruses

Question 20

What are the symptoms of rat bite fever?

Answer 20

Fevers and polyarthralgia

Question 21

Hantovirus is transmitted to humans via contact with which type of animal?

Answer 21

Rats

Question 22

How can rite bite fever and hantovirus be differentiated clinically?

Answer 22

Rat bite fever = polyarthralgia

Hantovirus = myalgia

Question 23

Recall some general principles of investigating and treating zoonotic infections

Answer 23

1. History is very important
2. Investigation should involve relevant cultures
3. Do serology in a targeted way - do not break the NHS budget!
4. Pls don’t do PCR cause it costs a fortune
5. Doxycycline is usually a good punt for treatment