Zoonoses Flashcards
What is the WHO definition of zoonoses?
Infections that are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans
Malaria, Schistosomiasis, Oncoceriasis and elephantiasis are NOT zoonoses. Why do these not classify as zoonoses?
Even though they are transmitted from animals, they depend on human host as part of life cycle
What are examples of an anthroponosis (humans infecting animals. ‘Reverse zoonoses’)?
> Influenza (virus infecting birds, pigs)
‘Strep throat’ (bacteria affecting dogs)
Leishmaniasis (parasite infecting dogs)
Chytridiomycosis (fungus affecting amphibians)
List some examples of bacterial zoonoses?
- Salmonella
- Campylobacter
- Shigella
- E. coli
- Leptospirosis
- Plague
- Psittacosis
List some examples of viral zoonoses?
- Rabies
- Avian influenza
- Ebola
- West Nile fever
List some examples of parasite zoonoses?
- Toxoplasmosis
- Cysticercosis
- Echinococcosis
- Visceral larva migrans
What are fungal and prion zoonoses?
Fungal
- Dermatophytoses
- Sporotrichosis
Prions
-CJD
What are examples of more common zoonoses in the UK?
- Salmonella
- Campylobacter
- Toxoplasma
- Psittacosis: Chlamydophila psittaci
- Q fever: Coxiella burnetti
- Ringworm
What are examples of rarely seen zoonoses in the UK?
- Anthrax
- Rabies
- Bubonic plague
- Tularaemia
- Acute brucellosis
List some emerging zoonoses? (newly evolved/occured previously but shows increase in incidence/expansion in geographical, host or vector range)
- Avian influenza
- Nipah virus
- Rabies
- Brucellosis
- Monkeypox
What is rabies and how is it transmitted?
Viral infection (lyssavirus) transmitted via animal bite
Animals include dogs (97%), bats, monkeys, foxes, racoons
What is the incubation period of rabies?
Can be 2 weeks to several months
Rabies travels to brain via peripheral nerves. What does it then cause?
Acute encephalitis
- Malaise, headache and fever
- Progress to mania, lethargy and coma
- Overproduction of saliva and tears
- Can’t swallow and osmophobia
- Death by resp failure
What is the diagnosis and treatment of Rabies?
Diagnosis
- PCR of saliva/CSF
- Difficult, often found on post mortem
Treatment
-Immediately give post exposure prophylaxis: Human rabies immunoglobulin around bite (if possible)
Brucellosis causing organisms are excreted in milk, placenta and aborted foetuses of livestock. When can humans become infected?
> During milking infected animals
During parturition
Handling carcasses of infected animals
Consumption of unpasteurized dairy products
Describe the Brucella organisms appearance
Small, gram negative coccobacilli
Discuss the following about Brucella Melitensis (1st of 3 Brucella organisms)
- Human virulence
- Animal host
- Geographic area
- Most virulent in humans out of 3 organisms
- Goats, sheep and camels are hosts
- Mediterranean area