Rabies and Leishmaniasis in Small Animals Flashcards
what are imported diseases in the UK
rabies
leishmaniosis
ehrlichiosis
babesiosis
dirofilariasis
brucellosis
ancylostomiasis
tularaemia
fungal – various
what is the pathogenesis of rabies
Replication at bite wound
Entry to sensory nerve via ACh receptor
Entry to spinal cord
Replication in brain
Passage in cranial nerve to salivary gland
what are the signs of rabies
depends on the form
encephalitic (furious) vs paralytic (dumb) form are difficult to distinguish between
both progress to paralysis, coma, circulatory insufficiency and death
what are the behavioural changes in rabies
Excitability, nervousness, hypersensitivity, abnormal vocalization, abnormal sexual behaviour, and attacking/eating inanimate objects
what are the cranial nerve deficits in rabies
Dysphonia and dysphagia
- Resulting in drooling of saliva
- Seizures are rare
what are the peripheral nerve deficits in rabies
Paralysis starts in the bitten limb
Progresses to other limbs
Finally pharyngeal and respiratory muscles
what are the signs of rabies in cats
rarer
furious form more prominent
what are the ddx for behavioural changes in rabies (4)
- Space occupying brain diseases
- Brain neoplasia
- Hydrocephalus
- Metabolic diseases
- Hepatic or uremia encephalopathy, hypoglycemia
- Toxicity ex. lead
- Thiamine deficiency
- Pica as a consequence of systemic disorders ex. anemia
- Inflammatory brain diseases
- Bacterial, viral, protozoal or fungal infections
- Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) or other inflammations
- Degenerative CNS disorders
* Lysosomal storage diseases, cerebral infarct
what are the ddx for dysphonia/dysphagia/drooling saliva in rabies (3)
- Neuromuscular disease
- Myasthenia gravis, polyneuropathies, trigeminal neuritis, facial nerve paralysis and myopathies
- Tetanus
- Brain lesions
* Neoplasia, idiopathic phenobarbitone-responsive hypersalivation - GI disease
* Esophageal foreign body, pharyngeal disease
what should you do/not do if you suspect rabies
DO
- Contact local division veterinary office or police
- Keep animal in cage
DO NOT
- Refer the animal
- Euthanize the animal
- Handle the animal
- What will happen
Consultants in Communicable Disease Control
Observation + investigation
how is rabies prevented
vaccination
what causes leishmaniosis
leishmania infantum
where is leishmaniosis common
spain
portugal
south france
italy
what is the incubation period of leishmaniosis
long
\
is leishmaniosis zoonotic
yes
how is leishmaniosis transmitted
sandflies
woodlands and beaches
direct transmission possible in dog to dog and dog to human
what are the clinical signs of leishmaniosis
chronic, waxing and waning disease
Serious illness signs
- Weight loss
- Pyrexia
- Lymphadenopathy
- Pale mucous membranes
Dermatological signs
- Exfoliative dermatitis, periocular alopecia, mucocutaneous ulceration, nodular lesions (tongue)
Others
- Panophthalmitis
- Crusting around eyes, nose
- Shifting lameness
- Anemia
what are the differentials of skin changes in leishmaniasis
Immune mediated skin disease
Pyoderma, mange
Epitheliotropic lymphoma
what are the ddx of systemic changes in leishmaniasis
Ehrlichia
Lymphoma
Chronic renal and liver disease
Other neoplasia
what is a ddx for the whole syndrome of leishmaniasis
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
what are the lab findings in leishmaniasis
Hyperglobulinemia
- Can be monoclonal
Others
- Hypoalbuminemia
- Anemia
- Increased liver enzymes
- Thrombocytopenia
- Azotemia
Positive immune mediated tests
- Coombs test
- ANA
- Urinalysis
Severe proteinuria
how is leishmaniosis diagnosed
Direct ID
- Lymph node + bone marrow aspirates
Serology
- SNAP test/ELISA
- Exposure vs disease
PCR
- Acarus (Bristol)
Concurrent infections
how is leishmaniosis treated
Pentavalent antimonial
- Meglumine antimonate (Glucatime)
- 100 mg/kg SID SC for 4 weeks
- Painful
- Adverse reactions
- Local
- Generalized
- Sodium stibogluconate
Allopurinol (Zyloric)
- Long term and for mild remissions
- 10 mg/kg BID PO for 6 months
what else is a new method to treat leishmaniasis
Miltefosine
Hexadecylphosphocholine
how is leishmaniosis prevented
vector avoidance
insect repellents
how is leishmaniasis vaccinated
“CaniLesh”
Excreted protein from culture
Dose every 3 weeks for 3 doses
Not perfect
Reduces the number of animals that are positive and reduces their clinical signs
