INFECTIONS YOU CAN GET FROM “CRITTERS”FROM CRITTERS
William F. Vincent, Ph.D.Clinical Microbiologist
An disease that can be transmitted from an Any disease that can be transmitted from an animal (wild or domestic) either directly (or through a “vector”) is called a “zoonosis” orthrough a vector ) is called a zoonosis or “zoonotic” disease
Pl l f th d i “Z ” Plural of the word is “Zoonoses”
A slightly more technical definition is that it g yis an infectious disease that normally infects animals but can also infect humans
WHAT ANIMALS CAN CARRY ZOONOTIC DISEASES (PARTIAL LIST)
WHAT ANIMALS CAN CARRY ZOONOTIC DISEASES (PARTIAL LIST)DISEASES (PARTIAL LIST)DISEASES (PARTIAL LIST)
BatsBats FliesFlies Rabbits andRabbits andBatsVolesBirdsC t
BatsVolesBirdsC t
FliesGeeseHamstersLi
FliesGeeseHamstersLi
Rabbits and hares
RaccoonsR t
Rabbits and hares
RaccoonsR tCats
CattleChimpanzees
CatsCattleChimpanzees
LiceMiceDeer
LiceMiceDeer
RatsRodentsSloths
RatsRodentsSloths
and other primates
Dogs
and other primates
Dogs
MonkeysSquirrelsMosquitoes
MonkeysSquirrelsMosquitoes
SheepSnailsTicks
SheepSnailsTicksDogs
FishFleas
DogsFishFleas
MosquitoesOpossumsPigs (including
ild b )
MosquitoesOpossumsPigs (including
ild b )
TicksWolvesCoyotes
TicksWolvesCoyotes
wild boar)wild boar)
POSSIBLE ZOONOTIC DISEASESPOSSIBLE ZOONOTIC DISEASESThis list only includes those diseases that we might see in this part of the world and then is still only partialThis list only includes those diseases that we might see in this part of the world and then is still only partial
AnthraxAvian influenzaBabesiosisB t ll i
AnthraxAvian influenzaBabesiosisB t ll i
Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and other
STECsE t i
Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and other
STECsE t i
Psittacosis or “parrot fever
RabiesSalmonellosis
Psittacosis or “parrot fever
RabiesSalmonellosisBartonellosis
BrucellosisBorreliosis (Lyme
disease and others)
BartonellosisBrucellosisBorreliosis (Lyme
disease and others)
Eastern equine encephalitis
Western equine encephalitis
Eastern equine encephalitis
Western equine encephalitis
SalmonellosisSwine influenzaToxocariasisToxoplasmosis
SalmonellosisSwine influenzaToxocariasisToxoplasmosis)
CampylobacteriosisCholeraCreutzfeldt-Jakob
disease (VCJD)
)CampylobacteriosisCholeraCreutzfeldt-Jakob
disease (VCJD)
pVenezuelan equine
encephalitisGiardiasisLeptospirosis
pVenezuelan equine
encephalitisGiardiasisLeptospirosis
TrichinosisTapeworms (beef, pork,
rat and fish)Tularemia or “rabbit
TrichinosisTapeworms (beef, pork,
rat and fish)Tularemia or “rabbitdisease (VCJD) –
“mad cow diseaseCryptosporidiosisCutaneous larva
disease (VCJD) –“mad cow disease
CryptosporidiosisCutaneous larva
LeptospirosisListeriosisPlagueQ-fever
LeptospirosisListeriosisPlagueQ-fever
Tularemia or rabbit fever”
West Nile feverLeprosy
Tularemia or rabbit fever”
West Nile feverLeprosy
migransmigrans
Animals I have seen along Connecticut RiversAnimals I have seen along Connecticut Rivers
Don’t let anybody tell you that we don’t have y y ythese in Connecticut!
GIARDIASISGIARDIASIS
In this part of the world, this is the most common infection that outdoorsmenoutdoorsmen get from animals in the woods!
The causative agent, Giardia intestinalis, is commonly associated with aquatic animals such as beaversanimals such as beavers
As a result, the disease is often called “Beaver fever”Beaver fever
Any freshwater body of water, including municipal reservoirs can harbor themunicipal reservoirs, can harbor the cysts of this protozoan
Giardiasis, continuedGiardiasis, continued
Symptoms include diarrhea, loose or watery stools, stomach cramps and upset stomach
Symptoms usually begin 1 to 2 weeks after ingestion of the cysts
Can last 2 to 6 weeks but occasionally much longer. This can lead to weight loss and dehydration
It can easily spread to other members of the family
Boiling water is the best way to prevent disease
Giardiasis, continued
Chl i bl l i l i ff i i killi hi Chlorine tablets are relatively ineffective in killing this parasite since the cysts can resist destruction by chlorine
A cyst of Giardia intestinalis –very hard to killA cyst of Giardia intestinalis –very hard to kill
These cysts can persist in the water ( d fi hi t kl ) f l(and on your fishing tackle) for long periods of time
K thK thKnow the enemy!Know the enemy!
TULAREMIA (“RABBIT FEVER”)TULAREMIA (“RABBIT FEVER”)
Tularemia is a disease of animals and humans caused by the Tularemia is a disease of animals and humans caused by the bacterium bacterium Francisella tularensisFrancisella tularensis
Color‐enhanced electron micrograph f F i ll t l i
Rabbits hares and rodents (including squirrels) areRabbits hares and rodents (including squirrels) are
of Francisella tularensis
Rabbits, hares and rodents (including squirrels) are Rabbits, hares and rodents (including squirrels) are especially susceptible and die in large numbers during an especially susceptible and die in large numbers during an outbreakoutbreak
Rabbit dying from tularemia
Transmission
Bacterium is highly infectious and can enter human body through skin, eyes, mouth throat or lungs
Symptoms often vary according to mode of entry into the body
In the U.S., disease can also be transmitted through tick bites (wood tick, dog tick, lone‐star tick, deer tick) and deer fliesflies
Handling infected animals, as occurs during dressing and skinning, is often the means of transmissiong,
The organism can survive for weeks in moist soil, hay and decaying animal carcasses
Skin lesions are the most common manifestations of tularemia
Tularemia of the eye Pulmonary tularemia
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of tularemia is often difficult:
It is a relatively uncommon disease
Can often be mistaken for more common illnesses
Patients must make sure that they tell their physician about any likely exposures (carcasses deer fly and tick bites etc )any likely exposures (carcasses, deer fly and tick bites, etc.)
Laboratory tests are available
Treatment
Most common antibiotic is doxycycline
Treatment is usually 10 to 21 days although symptoms may last for several weeks
Most patients completel reco er Most patients completely recover
Prevention
When hiking, camping or working outdoors:
Use effective repellant containing 20 to 30 % DEET
Spray clothing (not body) with Permethrin
Wear long pants long sleeves and long socks to keep Wear long pants, long sleeves and long socks to keep deer flies and ticks off
Deer tick nymph Deer fly
Remove attached ticks promptly
Don’t drink untreated surface waterDon t drink untreated surface water
When mowing or landscaping:
D ’t i k d d i l D ’t “ d Don’t mow over sick or dead animals. Don’t use “weed whackers” near them either!
Consider wearing a dust mask to reduce risk of inhaling Consider wearing a dust mask to reduce risk of inhaling bacteria
If h ki i l If you hunt, trap or skin animals:
Use gloves (preferably surgical ones) when handling i l i ll bbit k t i i d danimals, especially rabbits, muskrats, prairie dogs and
other rodents
Cook game meat thoroughly Cook game meat thoroughly before eating
THE MARTHA’S VINEYARD PROBLEM!THE MARTHA’S VINEYARD PROBLEM! Tularemia has always been present on Martha’s Vineyard
Tularemia is a very potential candidate as a bioterrorist weapon
In 2000, there was a very significant up‐swing in the number of cases that worried Homeland Security people
It appeared that many rabbits on It appeared that many rabbits on the island were infected and landscapers using weed whackers were generating aerosols and infecting themselves via rabbit urine in the soil
Every year, there are significant numbers of cases of tularemia on the island
There is great concern that this could lead eventually to a large increase in tularemia cases in Southern New England especially among outdoorsmen and landscapersespecially among outdoorsmen and landscapers
DISEASES TRANSMITTED BY TICKS
In this part of the country, the tick usually involved yis the deer tick (blacklegged tick) (Ixodes scapularis)
This is a very small tick and is often overlooked
You got to look for a freckle that wasn’t there before!
If the tick is removed within 24 hours, infection usually can be preventedcan be prevented
TICKBORNE DISEASES IN NEW ENGLAND(Most Common)(Most Common)
Lyme Borreliosis
Caused by a bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi
Originally started in Connecticut – very high incidence g y y galong the coast of Connecticut
If treated with a single dose of Doxycycline within 24 hours, infection can usually be prevented
Borrelia burgdorferi – the
Erythema migrans (“bull’s
Borrelia burgdorferi the causative agent of Lyme Disease
Erythema migrans (“bull’s eye rash” associated with
Lyme disease
Anaplasmosis
Formerly known as Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE)
Causative agent is Anaplasma phagocytophilium
Transmitted in the same fashion as Lyme disease
No rash No rash
Symptoms include fever, myalgia, headache, etc. Can easily be confused with other diseases such as influenzaeasily be confused with other diseases such as influenza
Symptoms can range from none to fatalnone to fatal
Anaplasma phagocytophilium inside white blood cells
Babesiosis
B b i i ti i it ( t b t i ) i il t Babesia microti is a parasite (not a bacterium) very similar to the causative agents of malaria
This picture taken through the microscope of a blood smear shows Babesia microti growingshows Babesia microti growing inside a red blood cell
Many people who are infected with Babesia microti feel fine and do not have any symptomsand do not have any symptoms.
Some people develop nonspecific flu‐like symptoms, such as fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite,fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, or fatigue
Babesiosis first appeared on Cape Cod several decades ago b t h i d l th S th N E l d tbut has since spread along the Southern New England coast
The disease has now started to spread to the Central areas f h d h P ifi Cof the country and the Pacific Coast
Babesiosis can be a life‐threatening disease in certain i llpersons especially:
Persons without a spleen (or a damaged one)
Persons who are immunocompromised
Persons with other underlying diseasesy g
The elderly
Efficiency of Insect RepellentsEfficiency of Insect RepellentsProduct
24 % DEET
24 % DEET6.5 % DEETDeep Woods OFF
OFF Skintastic
24 % DEET
6.5 % DDET
4.75 % DEETOFF Skintastic for Kids
Natrapel
4.75 % DEET
Natrapel
Herbal Armor
Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard
Repello Wristband
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350Minutes of Protection
First Salmon!
LEPTOSPIROSIS
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals
Note the cork screw appearance
Another name for it is “Fort Bragg fever” Another name for it is Fort Bragg fever
Usually transmitted through the ingestion of water or food that has been contaminated by the urine of an infected animal
Organism has been found in cattle, horses, dogs, wild i l d danimals and rodents
Symptoms can range from non‐existent to life‐threatening
Most common are:
High fever
Severe headache
Chills
Muscle aches
Vomiting
Jaundice
Many of these symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases
Diagnosis is made by laboratory testing of blood and urine samples
Fishermen! Be careful when fishing through streams that Fishermen! Be careful when fishing through streams that run through marshy areas where there are beavers, muskrats, regular rats, etc.
Many cases are associated with this kind of environment
Use an alcohol‐based hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds before eating drinking orleast 20 seconds before eating, drinking or putting your hands anywhere near your
mouth
PLAGUEPLAGUE
No “plague” in the United States in the 20th Century? Guess again!
Plague is “endemic” in the Southwest United States. There are a few dozen cases every year
This is the samemicroorganism (Yersinia pestis) that caused the bubonic plague or “Black Death” of the Medieval Ages.
A “bubo” on the neck of a patient with bubonic plague
Most cases of plague are transmitted to humans by the bite of fleas from infected ground animals such as prairie dogs, squirrels, coyotes
The disease can also be transmitted by a bite from an infected animal
Distribution of humanDistribution of human plague cases in the
Southwest of the U.S.
SALMONELLOSISSALMONELLOSIS The Salmonella are mainly associated with animals
including:
D ti i l ( h h d t Domestic animals (cows, horses, sheep, dogs, cats, etc.)
Wild animals (deer bears raccoons rodents I ) Wild animals (deer, bears, raccoons, rodents, I.)
Reptiles – especially turtles
Birds – especially domestic poultry
The handling of infected animals is one of the major ways to transmit Salmonella
Ground water around farms can often be contaminated with SalmonellaSalmonella
Ingestion of certain foods is often associated with salmonellosis. These include:
Uncooked or poorly cooked poultry
Raw meats
U k d d k d Uncooked or under‐cooked eggs
Uncooked cookie and cake dough
Powdered milk
Unpasteurized ciderNo pink please!
Unpasteurized cider
Veggies that have been irrigated with contaminated water and then eaten rawwater and then eaten raw
Symptoms
Usually begin 48 to 72 hours after transmission
Major symptom is acute gastroenteritis
Other symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, muscle aches
Treatment
The use of antibiotics to treat salmonellosis is notrecommended
Patients receiving antibiotics have a much better chance of becoming “carriers” than do untreated patients!
CAMPYLOBACTERIOSIS
This disease is very similar to salmonellosis in almost all ways including:ways including:
Transmission
Symptoms Symptoms
Treatment
Stool specimens must be submitted to the laboratory in order to tell the difference.
It is probably as common as salmonellosis in this part of the world
Often transmitted by drinking water on or near a farm that has been contaminated by domestic animals including cows
Unpasteurized cider has been involved in the past
Affects about 2.4 million persons in U.S. each year –probably more common than salmonellosis
This microorganism was totally unknown until the 1970s
U f tibi ti i t t t d Use of antibiotics in treatment under debate
Organism has a cork screw‐like appearance under the microscope
Oak Orchard River while fishing for steelheadfor steelhead
Nice surprise!
Shiga Toxigenic Shiga Toxigenic E. coliE. coli
Often referred to in the popular press as E. coli O157 – notentirely accurate as there are a number of other strains
Symptoms are very similar to those of salmonellosis
Most often associated with undercooked beef and with veggies that have been irrigated or washed with contaminated water
Very dangerous to children as they may Very dangerous to children as they may develop “hemorrhagic uremic syndrome” (HUS) and death rate is high
Thee first big outbreak was in Jack‐in‐The Box restaurants in the West transmitted by undercooked hamburgerby undercooked hamburger
RABIES
Rabies is “endemic” in the United States which means that it is always there waiting to cause an epidemic
Small ground animals, such as skunks, squirrels, raccoons, bats, foxes, etc are the most common source of infection in this part of the country
Canine species such as wild dogs, wolves and coyotes are also potential carriers
Human rabies victim
A dog showing signs of rabies
Thi di i l f d i h f h ld? This disease is only found in other parts of the world?
Think again!
There are roughly 70 to 90 new cases annually among residents of the United States who have never left the
h d h h lcountry or had contact with a person with leprosy
Most of these cases occur in the Gulf area
It is believed that the disease may be carried by armadillos
Leprosy patients enjoying a day of fishing on Lake Johnson at the Carville Leprosarium in Louisiana
Unless you have made plans to the contrary, h t d !have a great day!