Zoonoses: Aerosol/Respiratory

Question 1

What makes a bacterial pathogen fit into the “Category A” agents?

Answer 1

These all have MULTIPLE routes of infection. Their aerosol potential makes them BIOWEAPONS but veterinary risks are more diverse and include necropsy and tx of animals

Question 2

What bacterial pathogens are category A agents?

Answer 2

Bacillus anthracis
Yersina pestis
Francisella tularensis

Question 3

What domestic animal are humans most likely to get Tularemia from?

Answer 3

CATS

Question 4

Who are the long term reservoirs of F. tularensis?

Answer 4

Rodents and lagomorphs

Question 5

What are the routes of transmission of F. tularensis?

Answer 5

Tickborne (common in sheep)
Ingestion (cats ingesting infected rodents)
People - most often get it from ticks or direct contact with animals/carcasses; aerosol exposure is less common

Question 6

What animals serve as the bridge for Yersina pestis between wildlife and human population ?

Answer 6

Infected domestic animals - often cats

Question 7

What animals/vectors are involved in the primary cycle of Y. pestis?

Answer 7

Rodent-flea-rodent

31 species of flea are competent vectors

Question 8

How can people be infected with Y. pestis?

Answer 8

flea bite
aerosol from pneumonic cases
Directly from infected animal blood or abscesses

Question 9

What clinical signs will you see in cats with either plague or tularemia?

Answer 9

local infection followed by sepsis –> endotoxemia–> pneumonia

Lymphadenopathy of draining LN (often in cervical region), fever, lethargy, anorexia, sepsis

Question 10

What symptoms will you see in humans with tularemia or plague?

Answer 10

*plague eschars - areas of bacteria entry - necrosis

Both: high fever and high fatality in pneumonia and septic cases
Circulatory collapse with blackened extremities

Question 11

What cautions should be taken when dealing with a potentially infected cat?

Answer 11

Lymphnode aspirates are highly infections - wear proper PPE
Isolation for the animal
PPE for the vet and staff at during any encounter with the animal: gloves, mask, +/- mucous membrane protection

Question 12

How long can Bacillus anthracis survive in soil? Why?

Answer 12

it is a spore forming bacterium that can survive in the soil under good conditions for years

Question 13

How do herbivores and carnivores get anthrax?

Answer 13

Herbivores ingest spores in the soil while grazing

Carnivores eat infected herbivores

*all species: inhalation of spores in aerosolized soil or other contaminated fomites

Question 14

What are the most common way veterinarians could get anthrax?

Answer 14

Aerosol or percutaneous exposure to blood from infected animals

**most veterinary cases are seen in cattle **

Question 15

What process do anthrax spores undergo when they enter the bloodstream?

Answer 15

They germinate –> cause sepsis

Question 16

In cattle infected with anthraz, death will often follow what syndrome? How can you tell?

Answer 16

DIC

The carcass will have un-clotted blood seeping from the orifices

Question 17

Which of the following are PM signs of anthrax in cattle? (more than one may apply)

1. blood not clotted
2. spores in blood on microscopy
3. rabid bloating
4. lack of rigor mortis
5. blood from orifices

Answer 17

ALL OF THEM

Question 18

Who is the reservoir of Hantavirus?

Answer 18

rodents

*typically sylvatic but can also infect some pet rodents

Question 19

How do rodents shed hantavirus?

Answer 19

saliva, urine, feces

Question 20

What is the primary mode of transmission of Hantavirus?

Answer 20

Primarily aerosol
*inhalation of viruses in urine or feces

Transmission can be direct or indirect - secondary transmission through bite

Question 21

What determines the severity of dz due to Hantavirus?

Answer 21

The species of virus

Question 22

What is the “new world” disease caused by Hantavirus?

Answer 22

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
*USA strains of the virus

Starts as fever, chills, myalagia, headache.. increased vascular permeability in the lungs

*fatal in 40% of human cases

Question 23

What is the “old world” disease caused by Hantavirus?

Answer 23

Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal syndrome (HFRS)

Petechial hemorrhage, renal damage, and cardiovascular shock

*fatal in up to 15% of cases

Question 24

What are the risk factors to contracting Hantavirus?

Answer 24

Human-rodent contact

• increased rodent density
• rodents living in barns or buildings
• people who work with rodents or rodent habitats

Question 25

How do you prevent contracting Hantavirus?

Answer 25

Reduce human exposure. Wear proper PPE when dealing with rodents or their habitats (face mask and gloves)

Question 26

How are humans exposed to fungal pulmonary infections?

Answer 26

Infections from spores in the environment become aerosolized and are inhaled

Question 27

What are two saprophytic soil fungi that have the potential to cause fungal pulmonary infections in humans?

Answer 27

Blastomyces and Coddidiodes *birds and bats can be reservoirs - fecal excretion = soil contamination

Question 28

What are two opportunistic fungi that can cause fungal pulmonary infections in humans?

Answer 28

Histoplasma and Cryptococcus Spores in soil or in bird bedding/feces

Question 29

Are humans and animals with fungal pulmonary infections infectious?

Answer 29

NO The body temperature is too high for sporulation of these fungi *could be a risk post mortem potentially

Question 30

What symptoms are seen in a patient with an acute fungal pulmonary infection?

Answer 30

Often pneumonia like - due to inflammation High fever, night sweats, enlarged pulmonary LN, Radiographic masses **if the immune system fails - disseminated infection can occur and spread to other organs

Question 31

What is the reservoir of Coccidioides immitis?

Answer 31

SOIL

Question 32

Where does Coccidioides immitis amplify?

Answer 32

People, dogs, cats, horses, etc *deceased animals may spread fungus to new areas of soil

Question 33

Where is histoplasmosis found?

Answer 33

In soil or buildings with bird feces or bat guano present *increased risk for pigeon handlers and farmers using chicken feces for manure

Question 34

Who does histoplasmosis affect and what percentage of those infected are symptomatic?

Answer 34

people, dogs, cats ~10 % will be symptomatic

Question 35

Blastomycers dermatitidis is a ______ fungus that is associated with the feces of _______ and ________

Answer 35

soil birds bats *affects people, dogs, cats, horses, etc etc

Question 36

What family is the zoonotic influenza virus a part of, and what are other names for it?

Answer 36

Family: Orthomyxoviridae avian flu, bird flu, foul plague, swine flu, canine flu, etc

Question 37

How many distinct types of zoonotic influenza are there? How are they categorized?

Answer 37

3 distinct types: A, B, C Influenza A antigens: have haemaglutinin and Neuraminidase surface glycoproteins

Question 38

What species are affected by Influenza A antigens?

Answer 38

Birds, swine, horses, and dogs mainly

Question 39

Animal to human transmission of influenza is only documented for ______ and ________ (what animals?)

Answer 39

Birds and swine

Question 40

T/F: Influenza C is quite common

Answer 40

FALSE it is rare

Question 41

Who gets infected with influenza B?

Answer 41

Humans and seals human morbidity is documented each year

Question 42

Swine are considered a _____ vessel, because they are susceptible to both the ____ strain of influenza and the ________ strain of influenza

Answer 42

Viral Mixing Vessel Human and Avian strains

Question 43

What are the modes of transmission of zoonotic influenza?

Answer 43

Between people: direct and indirect (contaminated surfaces) Swine: direct and aerosolization Wild birds: Fecal oral, saliva, nasal secretions Poultry: direct, contaminated surfaces, feed, water, and aerosol Animals - human: contaminated surfaces, manure handling, dust

Question 44

What clinical signs are seen in birds and swine with influenza?

Answer 44

Avian: mostly low pathogenic strains: Upper respiratory and repro organs are affected. High pathogenic stains - lead to high mortality and sudden death; lethargy, facial edema, cough Swine: fever, coughing, nasal dc, repro problems. Morbidity 100% but low mortality. *mortality increased with secondary infections

Question 45

What symptoms are seen in humans with influenza infection?

Answer 45

Fever, myalagia, headache, malaise, sore throat, cough *age and immune-compromised factors will increase severity

Question 46

Are antiviral medications used in birds or swine with influenza?

Answer 46

NO fear of resistance *only humans will get antivirals

Question 47

What are some methods of control and prevention of influenza?

Answer 47

*Contact state vet in suspect or positive cases of avian influenza *Wear appropriate PPE Test and isolate sick animals *Educate owners *Annual seasonal vaccines for vets and at risk groups like farm workers *Vaccination of livestock and poultry

Question 48

What people are most at risk for contracting Q fever?

Answer 48

Slaughterhouse personnel vets (especially people working with pregnant sheep)

Question 49

What are the two morphological forms of C. burnetti?

Answer 49

Large and bacilliform | small density form (spore like)

Question 50

What are the modes of transmission of C. burnetti?

Answer 50

``` Windborne in dust exposure to parturient cats Shed in birth products - especially sheep shed in milk Lower shedding in urine and feces *tick borne - mainly animal to animal ```

Question 51

What symptoms will you see in a person with Q fever?

Answer 51

Fever, malaise, chills, sweats, headache

Question 52

What clinical signs will you see in cattle/sheep/goats with C. burnetti?

Answer 52

Anorexia and abortion

Question 53

What should be done to control C. burnetti?

Answer 53

* immediately seek medical attention if suspected * segregate parturient animals and burn placentas and other reproductive discharges * proper bio safety procedures * vaccinate livestock

Question 54

What people are most at risk for Psittacosis or chlamydiosis?

Answer 54

Bird owners, pet store workers, vets, poultry and poultry processing personnel

Question 55

Chlamydophilia psitacci occurs mostly in what birds?

Answer 55

Psittacine birds - parrots also occurs in domestic poultry

Question 56

What are the routes of transmission of C. psitacci?

Answer 56

Birds: fecal-oral Humans: direct handling of infected bird

Question 57

What symptoms will you see in a human infected with C. psitacci?

Answer 57

Acute febrile syndrome: headache, myalgia, cough, shortness of breath, photophobia. Complications include - hepatitis, endocarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis, nephritis

Question 58

What clinical signs do you see in birds with C. psitacci?

Answer 58

Can cause morbidity and mortality in psittacine birds

Question 59

How do you control C. psitacci?

Answer 59

* counsel bird owners on signs of parrot fever * consider disease in any sick bird with lethargy and non specific signs - especially if stressed * biosafety measures in handling infected birds (PPE)