Wildlife Zoonoses

Question 1

Hantavirus
- etiology/pathogenesis
- transmission to humans
- geographic distribution

Answer 1

• rodent reservoir of the virus
• humans become infected when rodent urine, feces or saliva contents become aerolized during handling
• primarily in western U.S.
• control: sanitation, PPE during rodent handling

Human CS

Question 2

Tularemia
- main terrestrial host
- transmission
- geographical occurrence
- zoonotic prevention

Answer 2

• Hosts: Rabbits
• Transmission: mosquitoes, ticks, contaminated water/soil -> ingestion, inhalation, wounds
• Occurs in central U.S.
• Zoonotic Prevention: sanitary precautions, vector control, gloves

Question 3

Plague
- Hosts: reservoir, epizootic, and susceptible
- transmission
- management
- PH control

Answer 3

• Reservoir rodent hosts (voles, mice), Epizootic rodent hosts (prairie dogs), Sus non-rodent hosts (felids, black-footed ferrets)
• Transmission = flea bite (bacteria in flea GIT causes regurg -> infected blood into host)
• Mgmt = widespread eradication is not feasible -> local rodent control in close human proximity + flea control
• PH Control = tx domestic cats for fleas, Category A bioterrorism agent

DX - rapid decline of colonial rodents

Question 4

Human clinical signs of Plague

Answer 4

• Lymhpadentitis
• Septicemia
• Pneumonia
• fever, chills, myalgia, nausea, sora throat

Question 5

How are deer suspected to get Tuberculosis? What is the PH significance?

Answer 5

• Spillover of Mycobacterium bovis from CATTLE (bovine TB) into deer populations- aerosol, contaminated feed, crowding/stress
• Concern for deer hunters being exposed to TB -> wear PPE & gloves when dressing deer
• Prevent deer density via hunting, eliminating supplemental feeding/baiting

Question 6

Avian Tuberculosis
- transmission
- CS (birds)
- lesions (birds)
- PH Risk

Answer 6

• Transmitted via fecal-contaminated food/water/environment
• CS (birds) = emaciation, muscle-wasting
• Lesions (birds) = muscle atrophy, multi-focal nodules in organs
• PH Risk: young, eldery, immunocompromised

Question 7

West Nile Virus
- transmission cycle
- pathogenesis
- prevention

Answer 7

• Avian reservoir with mosquito vectors
• Horses & humans = dead-end hosts
• casues encephalitis!
• Prrevention = vector control