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Research Safety

Zoonotic Diseases

Zoonotic Diseases of Concern

Objective

To describe a variety of zoonotic disease of concern for individuals handling research animals and the procedure for reporting and seeking treatment for suspected zoonotic disease exposures or illnesses. Zoonotic diseases have been almost completely eradicated from purpose bred research animal colonies, however, at UK extensive amounts of fieldwork and collection of animal specimens for surveillance often place researchers in contact with wild animal populations. This document seeks to provide awareness and biosafety tips for UK personnel with potential for zoonotic disease exposure.

Definitions and Acronyms

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Clothing or equipment utilized to reduce exposure to hazards in the event that the risk associated with exposure to the hazard cannot be effectively mitigated through engineering (biological safety cabinets, fume hoods) or administrative (work practices) controls. Zoonotic Disease: An infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Many times transmission occurs through an insect vector. “Approximately 75% of recently emerging infectious diseases affecting humans are diseases of animal origin; approximately 60% of all human pathogens are zoonotic” (https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/).

Background Information

The majority of known human pathogens are zoonotic. Additionally, it should be noted that the vast majority of emerging infectious diseases identified in the recent past, including West Nile Virus and SARS-Coronavirus, are zoonotic diseases. Individuals whose research or employment places them in close contact with live animals or unfixed animal specimens should be familiar with the particular zoonotic diseases associated with the animal species in use. This may vary depending on the type of activity involved with the animal species, the area of the world in which the animal or specimen was collected and even the season in which collection or fieldwork occurs. For example, transmission of Q-fever from sheep to humans is most likely to be associated with exposure to biological materials present in the birthing process. Raccoons which are wild caught in Kentucky are likely to have raccoon roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis, infections. Lyme disease is more likely to be transmitted to humans in the early spring and summer as transmission is typically via the bite of an immature tick or nymph rather than an adult.

Infectious Agent and Reference Link
Resultant Disease or Common Name
Natural Host or Reservoir
Route of Transmission
Signs and Symptoms

Arboviruses 

https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html

http://www.cdc.gov/Dengue/

http://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/

 West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever Birds, Horses, Wilde range of mammals Insect Vector. tick or mosquito bite Early symptoms are generally fever, and flu-like illness

Bacillus Anthracis https://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/index.html

 

 Anthrax Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Horses, Pigs Handling products from infected animals or by breathing in anthrax spores from infected animal products (wool or hides). Eating undercooked meat from infected animals
  • Cutaneous: small blister that develops into painless skin ulcer with a black area in the center
  • Gastrointestinal: nausea, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, fever, bad stomach pain
  • Inhalation: flu-like symptoms, cough, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, tiredness and muscle aches

Bartonella henselae

https://www.cdc.gov/bartonella/symptoms/index.html

 Cat Scratch Disease Cats, Dogs Direct inoculation through scratch or bite Lesion at inoculation site, more serious disease may result in fever, lymphadenopathy and progression to meningitis or encephalitis

Baylisascaris procyonis https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/baylisascaris/index.html

 

 Raccoon Roundworm Raccoons Ingestion of contaminated material Nausea, tiredness, liver enlargement, loss of coordination, loss of muscle control, blindness, coma

Borrelia burgdorferi 

http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/

 

 Lyme Disease Deer, Wild Rodents Insect Vector, tick bite "Bulls-eye" rash, fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint aches

Brucella species https://www.cdc.gov/brucellosis/index.html

 

 Brucellosis Cattle, Swine, Goats, Sheep, Deer, Caribou, Elk, Dogs, Coyotes Ingestion, inhalation, direct contact Fever, headache, weakness, sweating, chills, arthralgia

Coxiella burnetii 

http://www.cdc.gov/qfever/

 

 Q Fever Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Dogs, Cats, Other Mammals Ingestion, inhalation, direct contact
  • Acute disease: self-limited flu-like illness, atypical pneumonia and hepatitis
  • Chronic disease: endocarditis

Cryptosporidium species http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/

 

 "Crypto" Large vertebrate Host Range Fecal-oral transmission Profuse, watery diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, weight loss, flatulence and malaise

Dermatophytes, including Microsporum canis https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/ringworm/index.html

 

 Ringworm, Tinea Dogs, Cats, Other Mammals Direct contact Skin, hair or nail infections characterized by redness, scaling and crackling of skin, hair loss

Francisella tularensis 

http://www.cdc.gov/Tularemia/

 

 Tularemia, Rabbit Fever Rabbits, Birds, Wild Animals Ingestion, inhalation, inoculation, insect bite Ulcer at infection site, lymph node swelling, pain, fever

Hantaviruses 

http://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/

 

 Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Rodent species Inhalation of aerosolized secretions, waste or other contaminated material Early symptoms include flu-like illness, later symptoms are dependent on causative virus

Hepatitis E Virus 

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/hepeeng.php

 

 Hepatitis Rabbits and other animal species Fecal-oral transmission Symptoms identical to acute viral hepatitis. Jaundice, malaise, anorexia, abdominal pain, nausea, fever, diarrhea, discolored stool and/or urine, and hepatomegaly

Influenza Virus 

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/

 http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/

 

 Avian Flu, Swine Flu Swine, Domestic and Wild Avian species Direct animal to human transmission is rare, respiration of aerosols or droplets, contact with contaminated surfaces Fever, headache, myalgia, malaise, sore throat, non-productive cough, sneezing and nasal discharge

Leptospira interrogans 

http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/

 

 Leptospirosis Domesticated animal including Dogs, Horses, Cattle Direct or indirect contact with urine or tissue of infected animals Fever, headache, chills, severe malaise, vomiting, myalgia, and conjunctival suffusion

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/lcm/

 

 LCMV Rodents, particularly Mus. musculus and Syrian Hamsters Contact with contaminated rodent waste or secretions Flu-like illness, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis

Macacine herpesvirus 1 (formerly Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1 [CHV‐1]) http://www.cdc.gov/herpesbvirus/index.html

 

 Herpes B Virus, Monkey B Virus, Herpesvirus Simiae Macaques Direct mucous membrane or wound contact with bodily fluids from infected macaques or contaminated surfaces Fever, headache, and vesicular skin lesions at exposure site

Monkeypox Virus 

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox/index.html

 

 Monkeypox Arboreal squirrels, rodents Direct mucous membrane or wound contact with bodily fluids from infected animals or contaminated surfaces Initial flu-like illness followed by rash development

Mycobacterium tuberculosis 

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/

 

 Tuberculosis, TB Non-human primates Inhalation of infectious aerosols, direct contact with infected animals/tissues Fatigue, fever, cough, chest pain

Orf Virus 

https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/orf-virus/index.html

 

 Sore Mouth, Contagious Ecthyma Sheep, Goats Direct skin contact with infected animal or contaminated surfaces Painful sores at inoculation, point

Rabies Virus 

http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/

 

 Rabies Wilde Mammalian host range, Dogs, Raccoons, Skunks, Bats Bite of infected animal, contact of infectious material (saliva) with mucous membrane or wound Acute infection, progressive encephalomyelitis, typically fatal, initial symptoms resemble flu-like illness

Salmonella species 

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/

 

 Salmonellosis Domestic and wild animals, Birds, Pets - especially reptiles and turtles Ingestion of contaminated food, direct contact with infected animals, fecal-oral Acute gastroenteritis, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting

Strongyloides species https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/strongyloides/gen_info/faqs.html

 

 Strongyloidiasis Humans are typically infected with Strongyloides stercoralis Contact with soil contaminated with free-living helminths Generally asymptomatic, some have non-specific or generalized complaints

Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxocariasis/index.html

 

 Toxocariasis, Roundworm Dogs, Cats serve as reservoirs Ingestion of embryonated eggs from soil, dirty hands, raw vegetables, contact with infected animals Generally asymptomatic, symptoms will depend and vary greatly depending on organ system affected

Toxoplasma gondii https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/index.html

 

 Toxoplasmosis Cats, Warm-blooded animals, Birds Ingestion, inhalation, contact with infective oocysts, typically present in cat feces Generally asymptomatic; abortion, stillbirth, and severe central nervous system involvement may be seen in congenital cases

Procedure

  • Know the signs and symptoms of the likely zoonotic diseases present in the animal species with which you will be working. 
  • Know who to contact in the event of a suspected exposure or illness. Follow the same procedure you would for other occupational injuries or exposures, http://ehs.uky.edu/docs/pdf/ohs_lab_exposure_protocol_0001.pdf. 
  • Take precautions to prevent biting or physical injury when handling live animals. These may include chemical or physical restraints or personal protective equipment such as bite-resistant gloves. 
  • Depending on the route of transmission and likelihood of zoonotic disease presence determine the appropriate personal protective equipment. Consultations with knowledgeable veterinarians and/or biosafety professionals can be helpful in determining this information. Examples of appropriate PPE may be: Gloves when handling animals with suspected Salmonella infections. Face shields and respiratory protection when handling non-human primates with suspected Herpes B virus infections. 
  • Receive appropriate vaccinations based on animal species being handled. An example of appropriate vaccination would be receipt of rabies vaccine prior to handling of field collected raccoon specimens. 
  • Utilize appropriate transport containers and storage methods for potentially infectious specimens collected in the field or animal research facilities. 
  • Decontaminate reusable equipment and properly dispose of materials which may have been in contact with infectious animals or specimens.

References

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), 5th Edition, http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/bmbl5/bmbl5toc.htm

Methods for Trapping & Sampling Small Mammals for Virologic Testing, http://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/pdf/rodent_manual.pdf

 Pathogen Safety Data Sheets, Public Health Agency of Canada, 

http://www.phacaspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/index-eng.php

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, A-Z Index,

http://www.cdc.gov/

 National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, 

http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/

 

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