Top 30 Zoonotic Diseases Part 1

What is the causative agent of Anthrax?

Bacillus anthracis

What are the classic clinical signs of Anthrax in cattle?

Sudden death, bloating, bleeding from orifices after death

What are the routes of human infection for Anthrax?

Cutaneous, ingestion (infected meat), inhalation

What is a major precaution when handling animals affected by Anthrax?

Avoid full necropsies to prevent bacterial sporulation and environmental contamination.

What is Baylisascaris procyonis?

An intestinal nematode with raccoons as definitive hosts.

How can humans become infected with Baylisascaris?

Fecal-oral transmission from contact with raccoon feces.

What are the clinical signs of Bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cows?

Decreased appetite, progressive emaciation, cough, fever, weakness.

Which bacterium causes Bovine tuberculosis?

Mycobacterium bovis

What are the primary routes of human infection with Bovine TB?

Ingestion of unpasteurized dairy or undercooked meat, inhalation, and contact on broken skin.

Which species can be infected with Brucella bacteria?

Cattle, sheep, goats, and dogs.

What human symptoms are associated with Brucellosis?

Undulant fever, drenching sweats, headache, flu-like symptoms.

What bacteria is responsible for Bartonellosis (cat scratch fever)?

Bartonella henselae

What are common symptoms of Bartonellosis in humans?

Reddish-brown papules or pustules at inoculation site, fever, malaise.

How is Bartonella henselae primarily transmitted to humans?

Through cat bites or scratches.

What personal protective equipment (PPE) is recommended when dealing with zoonotic diseases?

Respiratory protection and gloves.

Clinical signs of anthrax in cattle, sheep, goats, bisons, camels and antelopes?

1. Sudden death

2. Bloating

3. Bleeding from orifices after death

CS of anthrax in humans?

1. Skin lesions with dark eschars

2. Malaise

3. GI signs

4. Fever

5. Acute resp. distress

6. Septicemia

Cause of anthrax?

Bacillus anthracis a G+ aerobic rod shaped bacteria. The bacteria sporulates when exposed to O2 and is endemic in NA

How are humans infected with anthrax?

Routes of infection are cutaneous, ingestion (infected meat) and inhalation. Wear PPE to protect from respiratory infections.

When do anthrax outbreaks happen?

When there is heavy rainfall, flooding or drought.

Bayliascaris CS?

In the definitive hosts i.e. racoon and sometimes dogs or kinkajous there are no CS.

In intermediate hosts i.e. rodents, opossums, foxes, badgers, sea otters, birds, non human primates and humans (NOT livestock) see CNS signs and ocular disease

What is bayliascaris?

B. procyonis is an intestinal nematode. The definite hosts are infected by ingesting eggs or eating infected intermediate hosts.

How are humans infected with B. procyonis?

By feco oral transmission. Avoid direct contact with dog or racoon feces. How t

How to we prevent dogs from getting infected with B. procyanosis?

Keep on monthly HW/nematode preventives.

Bovine TB CS?

1. Decreased appetite, progressive emaciation

2. Cough

3. Fever

4. Weakness

Which systems does human TB affect?

LNN, bones, joints, CNS, lungs, genitourinary system

Cause of bovine TB?

Mycobacterium bovis. G+, acid fast bacterium in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Cattle are primary hosts. There are many spillover hosts like sheep, goats, horses, llamas, dogs, pigs, ferrets, cats and rodents

Routes of human TB infection?

1. Ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products or undercooked/raw meat

2. Inhalation of aerosolized agent

3. Bacterial contact on broken skin

4. Wildlife and soil are potential sources of infection

Precautions wear PPE for resp. infections

Bovine , ovine, caprine brucellosis CS?

1. Abortions, usually in second half of gestation

2. Epididymitis and orchitis in bulls

Canine brucellosis CS?

1. Abortions, still births

2. Orchitis

3. Diskospondylitis

Human brucellosis CS?

1. Undulant fever

2. Drenching sweats

3. Headache

4. Flu like symptoms

5. Can be chronic debilitating disease

What are brucella spp?

G- coccobacillary, facultative IC bacterium

Which brucellas cause diz in cattle, sheep, goats and dogs?

B. abortus - cattle (found in bison, elk and recently feral pigs)

B. melitensis - ovine and caprine

B. canis - dogs

How are humans infected with B. abortus and melitensis?

1. Ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products

2. Exposure to Brucella vaccine, infected animals or in a laboratory

Precautions: Wear PPE and handle vaccines with care

How are humans infected with B. canis?

Exposure to infected animals and in labs, wear PPE. Importance as a cause of disease in humans is not well established.

Cause of cat scratch fever?

Bartonella henselae, a G- rod bacterium.

CS of cat scratch fever?

Cats are usually asymptomatic, ± fever and inappetence

Humans: small, reddish brown papules or pustules at inoculation site, lymphadenopathy, fever, malaise, NS and psychiatric signs

Cat scratch fever transmission and reservoirs?

Transmitted via flea feces between cats, humans infected by scratches or bites from ats. Reservoir host is the domestic cat and other felids.