Zoonoses in companion animals Flashcards
Define zoonosis
a disease that can be transmitted from vertebrate animals to humans
Why is zoonosis relevant to the veterinary profession?
Veterinarians face high risks of zoonotic infections, are legally required to inform clients about risks, and play a role in public health education, particularly for immunocompromised clients.
Give examples of zoonotic diseases associated with companion animals
Bacterial: Salmonellosis, Psittacosis, Bartonellosis.
Parasitic: Toxoplasmosis, Echinococcosis.
Viral: Rabies.
Fungal: Dermatophytosis (ringworm).
What zoonotic infections can companion animals carry without showing symptoms?
Dogs: Leptospirosis, Salmonella.
Cats: Bartonellosis, Toxoplasmosis.
Reptiles: Salmonella.
How can zoonotic transmission be prevented in UK pets?
Routine deworming (every 3-6 months).
Vaccination (e.g., rabies, leptospirosis).
Good hygiene practices, like handwashing.
Control of flea and tick infestations.
Name measures to prevent zoonotic infections in exotics or imported pets
Quarantine and health checks.
Vaccinations and parasite control.
Education on specific risks of exotic pets (e.g., Salmonella in reptiles).
What zoonotic risks are posed by wildlife living near humans?
Foxes: Echinococcus granulosus.
Badgers: Mycobacterium bovis.
Bats: Rabies (Lyssaviruses).
Rodents: Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease).
How is Salmonella transmitted and what are its risks?
Transmitted via contaminated food, feces, or direct contact with carriers.
Risks include subclinical shedding in dogs, cats, reptiles, and biofilm formation in damp conditions (meaning it survives cleaning).
What are the health risks from cat and dog bites?
Bacteria: Pasteurella spp., Bartonella henselae, Capnocytophaga canimorsus.
Infections can lead to sepsis, cellulitis, or more severe complications if untreated.
What precautions reduce risks of bites or scratches?
Proper animal handling.
Feline-friendly environments.
Educating children on interacting with pets.
what are the key requirements for pet travel to the EU?
Microchip or legible tattoo (pre-2011).
Rabies vaccination (minimum 21 days post-vaccination).
Animal Health Certificate issued by an Official Veterinarian.
What is needed for pet travel to non-EU countries?
Export Health Certificate.
Export Application Form (EXA).
Compliance with destination country requirements.
How can pet food contribute to zoonotic infections?
Contaminated raw or undercooked pet food can harbor pathogens like Salmonella or E. coli, posing risks to both pets and humans.
What are examples of zoonotic diseases uncommon in the UK but significant globally?
Echinococcus multilocularis (Europe).
Brucella canis (common in imported dogs).
Describe Bordatella bronchiseptica
Part of Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD, Contagious Cough, Kennel Cough) complex
A MULTIFACTORIAL common disease of dogs
Bordetella can be primary pathogen or secondary invader
Disease from mild to severe
Shedding post-infection up to 12 weeks
Can infect cats
This one can be zoonotic
Give live vaccination so bac multiply and then body produces Abs
Intra nasal vaccine
How can we prevent transmission of disease?
Describe Salmonellosis
Salmonella enterica.
Some species adapted, not causing any clinical signs.
Affects any animal with an ‘intestinal tract’.
Majority: food-borne infections.
Shedding continuous or intermittent.
Surviving in frozen meat, don’t forget dog food handling
(not only raw!)
Subclinical carriers are common (esp. cattle, reptiles, poultry)
Loves damp conditions, no need for an animal to multiply, forms biofilm
Antibiotic resistance.
What is Encephalitozoon caniculi
an obligate, intracellular, spore-forming parasite, zoonotic (affecting immunocompromised individuals) common in clinically healthy rabbits
What is the toxoplasmosis life cycle
How is toxoplasmosis transmitted
Ingestion of contaminated food/water.
Direct contact with cat faeces (litter boxes).
Vertical transmission from mother to foetus.
What is the clinical presentation of toxoplasmosis in cats and humans
Cats: Often asymptomatic but may show lethargy, anorexia, or diarrhoea.
Humans: Immunocompetent individuals may be asymptomatic or have flu-like symptoms. Immunocompromised individuals risk severe encephalitis or systemic disease.
What advice would you give to a HIV positive client with a cat regarding toxoplasmosis
Avoid cleaning litter boxes or use gloves/masks.
Ensure proper hand hygiene.
Keep the cat indoors to reduce hunting risks.
What advice would you give to a pregnant client with a cat regarding toxoplasmosis? What effects would it have on a client in earlier vs later stages of pregnancy?
Avoid cleaning litter boxes or use gloves/masks.
Ensure proper hand hygiene.
Keep the cat indoors to reduce hunting risks.
Avoid raw/undercooked meat.
Effects on Human Foetus by Pregnancy Stage:
- Early stage: Severe consequences, including miscarriage.
- Later stages: Congenital toxoplasmosis with neurological or ocular damage.
What possible zoonoses can be related to a kitten with diarrhoea and how are they transmitted
Giardiasis: Transmission via contaminated water or faeces. Causes diarrhoea in humans.
Cryptosporidiosis: Spread through faecal-oral route, especially from contaminated water. Risk to immunocompromised individuals.
Toxocariasis: Caused by Toxocara spp.; ingestion of eggs from contaminated soil or faeces leads to visceral/ocular larva migrans.
Salmonellosis: Faecal-oral transmission; can cause severe diarrhoea in humans, especially children.
How can you prevent/reduce risk of transmission if a kitten has diarrhoea
Regular handwashing, especially after handling the kitten or cleaning litter.
Proper disposal of faeces.
Avoid allowing the kitten on kitchen counters or near food preparation areas.
describe lifecycle of Giardiasis
describe lifecycle of cryptosporidiosis
Describe toxocariasis life cycle
Describe salmonellosis life cycle
What possible zoonoses can be related to a puppy with diarrhoea and how are they transmitted
Giardiasis: Transmission via contaminated water or faeces. Causes diarrhoea in humans.
Toxocariasis: High zoonotic potential, visceral and ocular larva migrans.
Salmonellosis: Contaminated faeces or undercooked meat.
Campylobacteriosis: Transmitted through contaminated water, faeces, or raw food; leads to severe diarrhoea in humans.
How can you prevent/reduce risk of transmission if a puppy has diarrhoea
Routine deworming.
Prompt faeces disposal.
Hygiene during interactions and food preparation.
Describe the campylobacteriosis life cycle
What are the main helminth species of cats and dogs
Describe the Ancylostoma caninum (dog hookworm) life cycle
Describe the Echinococcus granulosus (Hydatid Tapeworm) life cycle
Describe the Dipylidium caninum (flea tapeworm) life cycle
Why do ‘we’ recommend deworming every 3-6 months? How long does a deworming tablet (use ‘Drontal’ or ‘Milbemax’ as an example) stay in the body?
Is it justifiable to treat the animals without diagnosing a problem?
What is the flea life cycle and what common diseases do they transmit and how are they prevented
What are potential food-borne contaminants in raw and commercial diets and how can they be prevented
b. Sporulated egg
b. Coxiella burnetii
c. Ixodes spp.
d. Chorioretinitis
d. Echinococcus granulosus
When and how long are Toxoplasma oocysts shed by a cat?
cats shed oocysts for 1-3 weeks after the first infection
When are shed toxoplasma oocysts infectious (at which stage)?
Oocysts become infectious 24-48 hours after sporulation in environment
What are two ways that a cat becomes infected with Toxoplasma?
By ingesting infected prey (intermediate hosts)
By consuming food or water contaminated with infectious oocysts
What are the routes that a person can become infected with Toxoplasma?
Consuming contaminated food or water
Handling cat litter or contaminated soil
Vertical transmission from mother to foetus
What is the name given to a disease caused by Toxoplasma acquired by a foetus in utero?
Congenital toxoplasmosis
Which one is better if you are a child-bearing age woman tested for the antibodies to Toxoplasma?
Being negative or being positive and why?
Positive as it indicates previous exposure and immunity, reducing the risk of transmission to a foetus during pregnancy
In which trimester of pregnancy there is the highest risk of congenital (toxoplasmosis) in a woman?
third trimester
In which trimester of pregnancy the foetus has the lowest risk of congenital (toxoplasmosis)?
first trimester
In which trimester of pregnancy the foetus has the most severe signs if becomes infected with Toxoplasma?
first trimester (results in severe developmental abnormalities or miscarriage)
What is the difference between Toxoplasma and Toxocara?
Toxoplasma: protozoan parasite with definitive host (cat)
Toxocara: nematode (roundworm) with dog/cat as definitive hosts
A cat comes with skin lesions.
Name 3 zoonoses that can present in this manner.
Ringworm (dermatophytosis)
Cowpox virus infection
Bartonellosis (Cat-scratch disease)
What is most common presentation of rabies (the clinical signs) in people?
Hydrophobia, agitation and paralysis
Which bat species in the UK are potential carriers of Lyssavirus?
Daubenton’s bat
When a dog travels to EU from the UK what are two rules related to timing of the rabies vaccination?
Must be vaccinated at least 21 days prior to travel
The dog must be at least 12 weeks old to receive rabies vaccine
Name a tapeworm which is the main reason of administration of anthelmintic treatment before the animal returns to the UK?
Echinococcus multilocularis
What does it mean that E. multilocularis is a notifiable disease?
It must be reported to authorities when identified due to its serious public health risk.
What is the most likely way for a person to become infected with Brucella canis?
Which ‘part of an animal’ is source of infection?
Contact with infected reproductive fluids during birthing or abortion
What is the difference between ‘disease status’ of Brucella canis in the UK vs Northern Ireland?
UK: Not endemic but monitored.
Northern Ireland: Notifiable disease.
Which disease in people is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi?
Lyme disease
Which species of tick are common carrier of Borellia burgdorferi?
Ixodes
What type of organism (e.g bacterium, virus etc) is Encephalitozoon cuniculi?
Which domestic pet can shed this organism?
Microsporidian parasite shed by rabbits.
Which disease is caused by Yersinia pestis?
How is it ‘delivered’ into a human?
Which animal was the most common ‘donor’?
Disease: Plague.
Transmission: Via flea bites.
Reservoir: Rats.
Which pathogen causes Weil’s disease?
How people become infected with this agent?
Leptospira spp.
Transmitted through contact with water contaminated by infected animal urine
What is the name of a zoonosis related to birds that causes atypical pneumonia?
What is the name of the organism?
Psittacosis caused by Chlamydia psittaci
How are puppies and kittens infected with Toxocara sp. roundworms?
Transplacentally, transmammary or ingestion of infective eggs
What is the infective stage of Toxocara sp.?
Sporulated eggs
What physical attribute makes Toxocara sp. eggs particularly good at reaching the host?
Thick, resistant eggshell allows survival in harsh environments
Which two organisms that are a part of normal flora of oral cavity in both dogs and cats, are commonly isolated from bite wounds?
Pasteurella multocida
Capnocytophaga canimorsus
Name two Campylobacter spp. causing the disease in people.
What is the most common source of infection in people?
Campylobacter jejuni and campylobacter coli
Primarily from poultry
Which species cause cryptosporidiosis in people?
From which animal a person is most likely to get the infection?
Caused by Cryptosporidium parvum
Primarily from cattle
What disease is people caused by Bartonella henseale?
How a person becomes infected?
Cat-scratch disease
Transmitted via scratches or bites from cats
What is the definition of pre-patent period in parasitology?
How long is the pre-patent period of Toxocara canis?
Pre-patent period: Time from infection to shedding of eggs.
Duration: About 3–4 weeks.
How long de-worming tablet like ‘Milbemax’ or ‘Drontal’ last in an animal’s body?
How long is the animal protected from an infection?
Milbemax & Drontal work short-term & remove existing worms in animal’s body at time of administration.
These medications don’t persist in body for long; they are metabolized & eliminated relatively quickly, usually within 24–48 hours.
Animal is not protected from reinfection after treatment because these drugs don’t provide residual or preventative effects.
This is why routine deworming is recommended every 3–6 months to target any new infections that may have occurred after last treatment.
Which species of Giardia affect people?
Which species of Giardia in a puppy or a kitten with a diarrhoea can cause giardiasis in people?
Giardia duodenalis can infect humans
strains from dogs or cats can be zoonotic
What is the most common source of infection with Mycobacterium bovis in cats?
Contact with infected badgers or contaminated milk
How did cats become infected with highly pathogenic influenza (H5N1) in the recent outbreak in the USA?
Ingesting infected wild birds or exposure to contaminated environments
