Infectious diseases Mammals

Question 1

What is the importance of wildlife disease?

Answer 1

Threat to native wildlife population, impact on domestic animals, zoonotic potential, economic importance

Question 2

How can you tell if a virus is rabies by looking at the virus itself?

Answer 2

It is the only bullet shaped virus

Question 3

Who are the hosts of rabies virus?

Answer 3

All mammals are susceptible to virus (in wildlife reservoirs in US are omnivores and carnivores)

Question 4

There are two types of clinical signs of rabies, which one is described as aimless wandering, lethargy, incoordination, weakness in hindlegs, paralysis, loss of awarness?

Answer 4

Dumb rabies

Question 5

There are two types of clinical signs of rabies, which one is described as vicious attacks and self mutilation?

Answer 5

Furious

Question 6

There are two types of clinical signs of rabies, which one will end in convulsions, coma and death?

Answer 6

Both the dumb and furious forms

Question 7

Can rabies persist outside of the host?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

What are the three ways it is hypothesized that rabies has gets transfered?

Answer 8

Saliva contact, aerosol, organ transplant

Question 9

(T/F) After 10 days it is safe to say that a wild animal does not have rabies because it spreads rapidly from site of entry to CNS within axons and peripheral nerves.

Answer 9

False – incubation varies from days to years (the other part is true)

Question 10

Where does the rabies vaccine have to contact in wild animals for it to have an effect?

Answer 10

Oral or pharyngeal mucosa (except skunks, they are refractory to vaccine)

Question 11

Since Canine distemper attacks cells of respiratory tract, Gi tract and the eyes what tissues does it affect?

Answer 11

Epitheloal cells – Epitheliotropic

Question 12

In what three wild species is distemper important?

Answer 12

Raccoons, gray foxes, coyotes (skunks and otters are susceptible but prevalence unknown)

Question 13

What 4 systems in the body does distemper affect?

Answer 13

Respiratory, GI, Neurologic, Dermatologic

Question 14

What 4 diagnostic tests can be performed to find out if a wild animal has distemper?

Answer 14

Serology, histopathology, virus isolation, FAT

Question 15

Can distemper virus survive in the environment for a long time?

Answer 15

No

Question 16

How long is the incubation of distemper?

Answer 16

14-18 days (lymphatic tissues of resp tract)

Question 17

In a delayed onset of immune response against distemper, it can lead to subacute disease characterized by…

Answer 17

Encephalitis or persistent infection

Question 18

Are there distemper vaccines for wildlife?

Answer 18

Yes but they are modified live so they are controversial

Question 19

What virus is responsible for the near extripation of black footed ferret?

Answer 19

Distemper

Question 20

What is the organism that causes sarcoptc mange?

Answer 20

Sarcoptes scabiei

Question 21

What lesions can happen with sarcoptic mange?

Answer 21

Alopecia, flaky, dry to moist fetid material in the fur, thickening and wringling of the skin

Question 22

Is sarcoptic mange zoonotic?

Answer 22

It causes transient dermatitis in humans because they do not like our temperature

Question 23

Which disease causes substantial mortality in red fox populations?

Answer 23

Sarcoptic mange

Question 24

What is the mode of transmission of hemorrhagic disease of mammals?

Answer 24

Biting midges Culicoides spp. Vector

Question 25

Which season do we see hemorrhagic disease the most?

Answer 25

Late summer to early fall

Question 26

In acute signs what is almost pathognomonic to tell if it is hemorrhagic disease in mammals?

Answer 26

Hemorrhage at base of the pulmonary artery

Question 27

Which domesticated animal is affected the most by hemorrhagic disease?

Answer 27

Sheep but can also affect cattle

Question 28

This disease is a major infectious disease of white tailed deer that can have lameness, sloughing of hoof walls, rumen ulcers, loss of rumen papillae, weight loss and emaciation.

Answer 28

Hemorrhagic disease

Question 29

What is does Mycobacterium bovis cause?

Answer 29

Tuberculosis

Question 30

How is tuberculosis transmitted in wildlife?

Answer 30

Aerosol, consumption of contaminated feed, close contact with infected individual or contaminated area

Question 31

What is an almost pathognomonic sign for tuberculosis?

Answer 31

Small nodules in chest caivity or lungs

Question 32

What is a diganostic test that can be performed by a primary vet that can be done antemortem for tuberculosis?

Answer 32

Single cervical test by intradermal injection of tuberculin

Question 33

Why is tuberculosis significant?

Answer 33

Concern that TB established in wildlife reservoir, loss of TB free status/trade, public health concerns (hunters)

Question 34

Which body system does chronic wasting disease affect?

Answer 34

CNS ultimately resulting in death

Question 35

What group does chronic wasting disease belong to?

Answer 35

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy group

Question 36

What kind of protein causes chronic wasting disease?

Answer 36

Prions

Question 37

Who are the hosts for chronic wasting disease?

Answer 37

Elk, various deer species (white tailed deer) and moose

Question 38

(T/F) The mode of transmission of chronic wasting disease is direct only.

Answer 38

False, it can also be indirect but the most important is direct

Question 39

Can chronic wasting disease stay in the environment for a long time?

Answer 39

Yes

Question 40

If a cervid is displaying abnomal behavior/posture, with emiciation and poor body consition and aspiration pneumonia, what disease should be at the top of the differential list apart from rabies?

Answer 40

Chronic wasting disease

Question 41

Where would prions be located in the body for a diagnosis of chronic wasting disease?

Answer 41

Obex medulla oblongata and retropharyngeal lymph nodes

Question 42

Is chronic wasting disease zoonotic?

Answer 42

No scientific evidence that CWD infects humans (or transmitted to livestock or over domestic animals)

Question 43

What is the organism that causes meningeal worm disease?

Answer 43

Parelaphostrongylus tenuis

Question 44

Who is the intermediate host of P. tenuis?

Answer 44

Gastropods (L1)

Question 45

How long is the prepatent period of P. tenuis in white tailed deer?

Answer 45

82-91 days

Question 46

Where does P. tenuis live when it has infected a wild animal?

Answer 46

Surface of the brain underneath the skull

Question 47

Pair up the following clinical signs to the wild animal it happens to if they got meningeal worm a. White tailed deer b. Fallow deer c. Caribou/reindeer/mule deer d. Moose e. Elk f. Exotic species (llamas) g. Domestic species 1. Neurologial disease 2. Moose sickness 3. Highly pathogenic 4. Generally no clinical signs 5. Progressively fatal neurological disease 6. May survive infection/shed larvae 7. Fatal peritonitis

Answer 47

White tailed deer – Generally no clinical signs Fallow deer – Fatal peritonitis Caribou/reindeer/mule deer – Highly pathogenic Moose – Moose sickness Elk – May survive infection/shed larvae Exotic species (llamas) - Progressively fatal neurological disease Domestic species – Neurologic disease