Cross Species - Top 30 Zoonotic Diseases Part 4

Question 1

what rodents can be infected with bubonic plague? what clinical signs do they show?

Answer 1

rock squirrels, wood rats, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks, mice, voles, & rabbits

may be subclinical to peracute/fatal

petechiae/ecchymoses in skin/other organs & hemoptysis

Question 2

what is the classic case presentation of plague in cats?

Answer 2

lymphadenopathy especially in cervical lymph nodes, fever, dyspnea, hemoptysis, DIC, & death

Question 3

what are the 3 forms of plague seen in humans?

Answer 3

1. bubonic - headaches & painful swollen lymph nodes
2. septicemic - abdominal pain, shock, petechiae/ecchymoses in skin/other organs, & necrosis of fingers/toes
3. pneumonic - headache, shortness of breath, chest pain, productive cough

Question 4

what is the most serious form of plague in humans?

Answer 4

pneumonic

Question 5

what is the etiology of plague?

Answer 5

yersinia pestis - gram negative bacillus

Question 6

what animals are the host species for plague? how is it transmitted?

Answer 6

rodents & lagomorphs are hosts - transmitted among animals through fleas

Question 7

what is the distribution of plague?

Answer 7

western 1/3 of the USA, patchy distribution worldwide

Question 8

what are the zoonotic concerns with plague?

Answer 8

transmission to humans through flea bites - bubonic or septicemic

transmission to humans from direct contact with infected animals - septicemic form

respiratory inhalation of infectious droplets - pneumonic form

Question 9

what precautions can be taken to prevent plague infection in humans?

Answer 9

flea control, rat control, prevent pets from roaming/hunting, insect repellants, & PPE with respiratory protection

Question 10

what is the most common form of plague in cats & humans?

Answer 10

bubonic

Question 11

T/F: plague is reportable in many states & may potentially be used as a biologic weapon

Answer 11

true

Question 12

T/F: plague is known to have caused 3 major pandemics in humans

Answer 12

true

Question 13

what is the classic case presentation of non-typhoidal salmonellosis in reptiles/poultry?

Answer 13

typically asymptomatic

Question 14

what is the classic case presentation of non-typhoidal salmonellosis in newborn ruminants, pigs, horses, fowl, puppies, & kittens?

Answer 14

enteritis & septicemia

Question 15

what is the classic case presentation of non-typhoidal salmonellosis in older animals?

Answer 15

gastroenteritis without septicemia

Question 16

what is the classic case presentation of non-typhoidal salmonellosis in humans?

Answer 16

gastroenteritis & septicemia

Question 17

what is the etiology of non-typhoidal salmonellosis?

Answer 17

salmonella spp, gram negative facultative anaerobic rods with worldwide distribution

Question 18

what is the most pathogenic isolate found in salmonellosis?

Answer 18

s. enterica sub species enterica

Question 19

how is salmonellosis transmitted to humans?

Answer 19

fecal-oral, food contamination (eggs, poultry, dairy products), & handling infected animals

Question 20

what precautions can be taken to avoid salmonellosis infection?

Answer 20

PPE, careful food handling, wash hands after handling potentially infected animals (poultry/reptiles), & cull/isolate carriers in a herd

Question 21

what is the classic case presentation of cystic echinococcosis in sheep?

Answer 21

usually asymptomatic - ascites, icterus

Question 22

what is the classic case presentation of cystic echinococcosis in humans?

Answer 22

signs dependent on location of cysts, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, seizures, dementia

Question 23

what is the classic case presentation of alveolar echinococcosis in humans?

Answer 23

asymptomatic for years, abdominal discomfort, weakness, weight loss, liver failure, icterus, & ascites

Question 24

what is the etiology of cystic echinococcosis & alveolar echinococcosis?

Answer 24

echinococcus granulosus - cystic

echinococcus multilocularis - alveolar

Question 25

what are the definitive hosts of echinococcus?

Answer 25

definitive hosts - infected by ingesting intermediate host tissues with cysts e. granulosus - dogs, other canines, hyenas, & cats e. multilocularis - foxes & coyotes

Question 26

what are the intermediate hosts for echinococcus species?

Answer 26

e. granulosus - herbivores & humans, ingesting eggs from contaminated pastures/soils, cysts develop in liver, lungs, & rarely brain e. multilocularis - microtine rodents (voles & field mice), cysts typically develop in the liver

Question 27

how do humans get echinococcosis?

Answer 27

ingestion of eggs from food, water, or fomites contaminated with feces of definitive host

Question 28

what precautions are taken for preventing echinococcosis?

Answer 28

reduce human exposure by preventing infections in dogs & cats - don't allow ingestion of livestock entrails or hunting rodents

Question 29

what happens if a echinococcus cyst ruptures?

Answer 29

anaphylactic reaction & possible death

Question 30

T/F: echinococcosis is an OIE reportable disease

Answer 30

true

Question 31

what is the classic case presentation of lepto in dogs?

Answer 31

fever, lethargy, anorexia, icterus (liver disease), coagulopathy, respiratory signs, & renal disease

Question 32

what is the classic case presentation of lepto in young horses & ruminants?

Answer 32

fever, icterus, renal disease in horses

Question 33

what is the classic case presentation of lepto in adult horses & ruminants?

Answer 33

abortion & uveitis in horses

Question 34

what is the classic case presentation of lepto in humans?

Answer 34

biphasic disease starting with flu-like illness (fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea) with a brief recovery then headache, muscle aches, fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, icterus, meningitis, & multi-organ failure

Question 35

what is the etiology of leptospirosis?

Answer 35

leptospira species - spirochete bacteria many different serovars that are host adapted

Question 36

how is leptospirosis spread to humans?

Answer 36

shed in the urine of infected animals direct transmission to humans via ingestion/exposure across mucus membranes or abraded skin, infected urine, infected placenta/fetus after abortion, or contaminated water

Question 37

what precautions can be taken to prevent infection with leptospirosis?

Answer 37

PPE with face protection & avoiding contaminated environments

Question 38

what is the classic case presentation of lymphocytic choriomeningitis in rodents?

Answer 38

stunted growth, inappetence, weight loss, photophobia, seizures, glomerulonephritis, & lethargy

Question 39

what is the classic case presentation of lymphocytic choriomeningitis in humans?

Answer 39

flu like symptoms, meningitis, severe developmental defects, & abortions

Question 40

what is the etiology of lymphocytic chorioretinitis?

Answer 40

arenavirus - lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus

Question 41

how do humans get lymphocytic chorioretinitis?

Answer 41

direct contact with infected rodents or their excretions/secretions through aerosol, mucus membranes, or abraded skin & infected solid organ transplants

Question 41

what is the natural host of lymphocytic chorioretinitis?

Answer 41

natural host - house mouse but other rodents may be reservoir hosts

Question 42

how is lymphocytic chorioretinitis prevented in humans?

Answer 42

proper PPE with face protection

Question 43

T/F: lymphocytic chorioretinitis has bioterrorism potential

Answer 43

true

Question 44

what animals could spread lymphocytic chorioretinitis to humans?

Answer 44

infected hamsters, mice, & guinea pigs