zoonoses

Question 1

what are zoonoses ?

Answer 1

infections that pass between living animals and human

Question 2

what are examples of anthroponosis ?

Answer 2

influenza
strep throat - dogs
leishmaniasis - dogs
chytridiomycosis - fungus affects amphibians

Question 3

what are common zoonoses in the UK ?

Answer 3

salmonella
campylobacter
toxoplasma
psittacosis - chlyamydophila psittaci
Q-fever - coxiella burnetti
ringworm/dermatophytosis

Question 4

how long is the incubation period for rabies ?

Answer 4

2 weeks to several months

Question 5

what is the progression and what are the symptoms of rabies ?

Answer 5

travels to brain via peripheral nerves and causes an acute encephalitis

malaise, fever, headache
progress to mania, lethargy, coma
overproduction of saliva and tears
unable to swallow and hydrophobia
death by respiratory failure

Question 6

how is rabies diagnosed ?

Answer 6

PCR or saliva or CSF

often confirmed post mortem on brain biopsy

Question 7

how do you treat rabies ?

Answer 7

post exposure prophylaxis (human rabies immunoglobulin) HRIG immediately
+4 doses of rabies vaccine over 14 days
infiltrated round bite if possible

Question 8

what is brucellosis ?

Answer 8

brucella - small, gram -ve coccobacilli

used to be occupational hazard of farmers, vets, slaughterhouse workers

Question 9

how is brucellosis spread ?

Answer 9

organisms excreted in milk, placenta and aborted foetus

during milking infected animals
during parturition
handling carcasses f infected animals
consumption of unpasteurised dairy products

Question 10

what are the 3 species of brucellosis ?

Answer 10

melitensis - goats, sheep, camels
suis - pigs
abortus - cattle

Question 11

what is the incubation period of brucellosis ?

Answer 11

5-30 days

up to 6 months

Question 12

what is the acute and subacute presentation of brucellosis ?

Answer 12

high undulant fever
weakness
headaches
sweats
splenomegaly

subacute lasts over 1 month
fever and joint pain

Question 13

what is the chronic presentation of brucellosis ?

Answer 13

lasts months/years
flu-like symptoms
malaise
depression
chronic arthritis
endocarditis
epididymis-orchitis
meningitis and splenomegaly

Question 14

how do you treat brucellosis ?

Answer 14

long acting doxycycline 2-3 months
+ rifampicin OR IM gentamicin for first weeks
add cotrimoxazole for 2 weeks in CNS disease

relapse occurs due to intracellular organism
chronic hard to treat

Question 15

what is leptospirosis

Answer 15

caused by spirochaetes L. hardjo from cattle is commonest
penetrate abraded skin and mucous membranes
11% dairy workers have positive serology

Question 16

how do you get infected with leptospirosis ?

Answer 16

direct contact with animal
contact with water contaminated with urine
incubation 2-30 days

Question 17

how does leptospirosis present ?

Answer 17

undifferentiated fever
myalgia
headaches
abdo pain

sever disease 5-15%
Weil’s disease - jaundice AKI, bleeding
pulmonary haemorrhage

Question 18

how do you diagnose leptospirosis ?

Answer 18

microscopic agglutination test (MAT) paired sera - not great
ELISA serology
PCR ?
culture - takes one week

Question 19

how do you treat leptospirosis ?

Answer 19

treat early
doxycycline for mild disease
IV penicillin for severe 
prompt dialysis
mechanical ventilation

Question 20

what is the causative organism for Lyme disease ?

Answer 20

borrelia burgdorferi

transmitted by ticks from deer - ixodes ricinus

Question 21

what are clinical signs of Lyme disease ?

Answer 21

erythema migrans - bullseye rash, 3-90 days
acrodermatitis chronic atroficans - distal extensor surface, blue-red discolouration progressive + peripheral neuropathy
lymphocytoma - blue solitary painless nodule, earlobe/areola, kids
neuroborreliosis - triad facial nerve palsy, radicular pain and lymphocytic meningitis , onset 2-6 weeks after

Question 22

how do you diagnose lymes disease ?

Answer 22

EM is a clinical diagnosis

high serology titres

Question 23

how do you treat Lyme disease ?

Answer 23

oral doxycycline or IV ceftriaxone

treat for 21 days