DLAM Zoonoses and Lab Animal Allergies

DLAM ZOONOSES AND LAB

ANIMAL ALLERGY TRAINING

Purpose of Program

•This training is intended for research animal handlers

and animal caretakers who are consistently in physical

contact with the animals in DLAM facilities.

•These employees are required to participate in an

annual occupational health surveillance program for

animal handlers.

•This training is required annually.

Possible Hazards in DLAM Facilities

Allergic responses

Animal bites, scratches, or other trauma

Zoonotic diseases

Animals and Health Risks

LABORATORY ANIMAL ALLERGIES

•15% of the general population is allergic to

animals.

•30 – 50% of those without a previous allergy

history will develop an allergy to lab animals while

working in that environment.

•10 – 15% of these allergic workers will develop

asthma.

Risk Factors for Development of Laboratory Animal Allergies

Exposure to allergens

Duration Frequency Intensity

Previous allergic conditions

Personal history of allergies/atopy/eczema

Other predisposing conditions

Illness

Immunocompromised

Pets

Family history

Common Lab Animal Allergy Sources

Rats/ Mice--major allergens in urine/saliva

Cats--sebaceous glands, hair, saliva

Dogs--saliva, hair, skin

Rabbits--fur, saliva, urine

Birds--droppings

Bedding

Allergy Symptoms

• Red, itchy, watery eyes, runny nose1

• Sneezing, itchy, runny nose, congestion1

• Red itching skin, welts, hives2

• Asthma3 – cough (can be late-phase with symptoms starting several hours after leaving the animal facility), wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath

• Anaphylaxis4 – itching, hives, throat tightness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

1 = common, 2 = somewhat common, 3 = about 15 – 30%, 4 = rare

Prevention of Lab Animal

Associated Allergies

Biosafety cabinets

Filter top cages

Ventilated cage racks

Biobubble

Choice of bedding

Reduce time with animals

Wash hands frequently

Animal density

Proper

housekeeping

practices

Proper humidity

Personal protective

equipment (masks,

respirator)

Treatment of Lab Animal

Associated Allergies

Prevention is preferred

Education of employees

Proper use of personal protective equipment

Re-assign employees when needed

Medical treatment to reduce symptoms

If you develop allergy symptoms to lab animals,

contact University Employee Occupational Health

Clinic (UEOHC at 966-9119) for an appointment

for a medical evaluation

Knowledge Review

1. Risk factors for developing laboratory animal allergies include:

a. Amount of time spent around laboratory animals

b. Family history of allergies

c. Whether or not you have pets

d. All of the above

e. None of the above

2. Laboratory animal allergies can be prevented by using of which of the following?

a. Good hygiene practices

b. Biosafety Cabinets

c. Respirators

d. A & C

e. All of the above

Zoonoses

• Research personnel who handle animals and/or animal

tissues are at risk for zoonotic disease transmission.

• Zoonotic agents are infectious agents capable of

being transmitted from animals to humans or from

humans to animals. (TB to monkeys, flu to people)

•Zoonoses can cause minor or serious illness. In some cases,

zoonotically infected individuals do not become ill.

•On the other hand, some zoonoses can be extremely

dangerous to people, especially those with a weakened

immune system.

Zoonoses

Bacteria

Exposure to feces/urine (e.g. Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, Leptospira)

Bites/scratches: Bartonella (cat scratch disease), Rat Bite Fever-Spirillum minor, Streptobaccilis moniliformis, Leptospirosis

Viruses

Herpes B virus from Macaques – potentially fatal to humans

Rabies virus – potentially fatal to humans

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)– rodents

Parasites

Gastrointestinal – Giardiasis, cryptosporidium, tapeworms (in urine and feces)

Systemic – Toxoplasma (fatal defects in the fetus may occur if pregnant women are exposed to shedding cats)

Dermatomycosis (ringworm) can be spread by contact with infected animal

Transmission of zoonotic diseases can be prevented by

prompt recognition and isolation of any ill animal

Cats

Cat scratch disease--Bartonella henselae

Toxoplasmosis---Toxoplasma gondii

Prevention--good hygiene


Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite

Toxoplasma gondii.

Cats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis.

They become infected by eating infected rodents, birds, or

other small animals. The parasite is then passed in the cat's

feces in an oocyst form, which is microscopic.

Kittens and cats can shed millions of oocysts in their feces

for as long as 3 weeks after infection.

A Toxoplasma-infected cat that is shedding the parasite in

its feces contaminates the litter box or if allowed outside,

can contaminate the soil or water in the environment as well.


Toxoplasmosis is not passed from person-to-person,

except in instances of mother-to-child (congenital)

transmission and blood transfusion or organ

transplantation.

People can be infected by:

Accidental ingestion of oocysts after cleaning a cat's litter box

when the cat has shed Toxoplasma in its feces

Accidental ingestion of oocysts after touching or ingesting

anything that has come into contact with a cat's feces that contain

Toxoplasma

Drinking water contaminated with the Toxoplasma parasite


Pregnant Women

Mother-to-child (congenital) transmission

A woman who is newly infected with Toxoplasma during

pregnancy can pass the infection to her unborn child (congenital

infection). The woman may not have symptoms, but there can be

severe consequences for the unborn child, such as diseases of

the nervous system and eyes.

If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant and

you work with cats, please contact EHS for a risk assessment.

Sheep-

Q Fever

• Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the

organism Coxiella burnetii.

• Individuals acquire this infection by inhaling aerosols

and contaminated dusts generated by animals or

animal products. Q fever can also be contracted

via:

• Direct or indirect contact with infected animal

• Contact with contaminated surfaces, clothing,

equipment, bedding, etc

Prior to working with or around sheep

PAPR respirators or N95 masks are required to enter the

animal housing area and laboratory that contain sheep.

This requires annual training (EHS) and medical clearance and fit

testing at UEOHC annually.

The following should contact UEOHC for a medical

screening and/or EHS for a risk assessment :

Immunocompromised individuals and those with pre-existing heart

valve conditions are at higher risk of infection and should be fully

informed of the increased risks.

Pregnant women or women who are considering becoming pregnant

should also be fully informed of the increased risks.

Swine

Infected swine can transmit diseases to humans via

the fecal-oral route, urine or contaminated water

splashes, or direct contact

Colibacteriosis (E. coli)

Salmonella (Non-typhoidal)

Leptospirosis

Ringworm

Rodents

Rat Bite Fever-

Spirillum minor, Streptobaccilis moniliformis

Leptospirosis

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)

Parasites

Yersinia pestis--fleas from cats/ rodents in southwest

Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme Disease)- transmitted to

animals/humans by infected ticks

Non- Human Primates (NHP)

Zoonotic hazards

Herpes B virus (Macaques)

Salmonella

Tuberculosis

Simian Immunodeficiency Syndrome (SIV), Simian T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus (STLV)

Endogenous retroviruses

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Shigella dysenteriae

Rabies Virus

Feral animals represent the greatest risk

Acquire animals that have been documented free of

disease

Post bite evaluation for need for Rabies booster,

wound prophylaxis, tetanus

Herpes B Virus

(Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 1)

Naturally occurring infection seen only in genus Macaca(rhesus, cynomolgus, pig-tailed, others).

80-100% imported adult rhesus macaques are Herpes B positive.

In facilities where macaque monkeys are present saliva, genital secretions and conjunctival secretions are considered the primary body fluids associated with transmission

Transmission has been documented through handling infected CNS & kidney tissue

Feces, urine or other fluids may be contaminated

Human disease is rare and has been identified in about 50 cases and well-documented in 26 cases.

~70% case fatality rate in humans

Tuberculosis

Transmitted to humans through exposure to infected

animal/animal tissue.

Also a reverse zoonosis, can be spread from humans

to primates

Screening is done by PPD in arm at UEOHC.

Positive tests indicate previous infection.

Chest x-rays are then required to rule out active disease.

Simian Immunodeficiency (SIV)

SIV is a lenti-virus that infects non-human primates in

nature. Monkey SIV strains can infect humans, but does

not lead to the development of AIDS.

Unlike HIV infections in humans, SIV infections in their

natural hosts are widely believed to be non-

pathogenic. However, if SIV is used to infect an Asian

rhesus macaque, for example, the animal will develop

an AIDS-like illness similar to HIV infection in humans

Hepatitis Viruses

Hepatitis A:

Enteric (oral/fecal spread)

Non chronic carrier state

Hepatitis Viruses

Hepatitis B

Bloodborne pathogen

Low mortality (1 % case fatality rate)

Up to 10% of those infected become chronic carriers

with high incidence of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Vaccine required (or declination)

Hepatitis Virus

Hepatitis C

Bloodborne.

Disease is milder in comparison with Hepatitis B,

however there is a higher rate of chronic carriers.

No vaccine, however, treatment within weeks of

infection can prevent chronic disease.

Routes of Exposure for

Zoonotic Diseases

Routes of Exposure

• Bites and scratches from infected animals

• Needlestick injuries with contaminated needles or scalpels

• Eye and mucous membrane exposure to body fluids or particulates from infected animals

Percutaneous Exposure

Zoonotic diseases are commonly spread

percutaneously (bites, scratches, needlesticks):

Some organisms are Staphlyloccus aureus, Bartonella

henselae

Proper wound care/ tetanus immunization

Appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis

Bacterial Infections from Bite Wounds

>200 species of bacteria in the mouths of many

animals, including humans.

Streptococcal species, staphylococcal species, tetanus.

Bite wounds should be thoroughly cleaned.

Prophylaxis for moderate to deep bites with

Amoxacillin/clavulinic acid (Augmentin).

Exposure Procedures

Immediate Response:

Mucous membrane: flush in an eye wash or potable

water for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Non-intact skin exposures: Wash with soap and water

or antiseptic for 15 minutes.

REPORT ANY INJURIES AND ILLNESSES TO

PI/LAB SUPERVISOR AND IMMEDIATELY

REPORT TO UEOHC (962-9119)

Knowledge Review

3. Zoonotic agents are infectious agents capable of being transmitted from animals to

humans only?

a. True

b. False

4. A vaccine for _____________ is available for DLAM employees who work with/around

research animals.

a. Hepatitis B

b. Hepatitis C

c. Herpes B

d. All of the above

5. Zoonotic diseases cannot be spread by:

a. Needlesticks with contaminated needles

b. Contaminated materials being splashed into the eyes

c. Contaminated materials coming into contact with gloved hands

d. Being bitten by an infected animal

Access Control and Staff Training

Training (more extensive & periodic)

Personnel must enroll in medical surveillance program

Restricted/controlled access

Written emergency response plans

Hazardous Agents Used in

Research Animals

Animals exposed to biological, radiological, or chemical

hazards can create a risk of exposure to people.

When working with animals that have been exposed to

hazardous agents, precautionary measures (use of PPE,

engineering and administrative controls) should be taken.

Read the Use of Biological, Chemical, Radiation forms

posted on the animal room/cubicle doors

Minimize Risk

Wear proper PPE (respirators, gloves, Tyvek suit, gown,

shoe covers, etc.) as indicated by signage.

Use gloves when handling animals & change gloves

between animals.

Wash your hands as soon as possible after removing

gloves.

No eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or

handling contact lenses in any DLAM facility.

Minimize Risk

Keep food intended for human consumption separate

from animal food.

Report any animals that appear to be ill.

Report any occupational illness or injury to your lab

manager and/or PI and immediately report to

UEOHC (919-966-9119, M-F 8:30-4:30)

Immunocompromised/Pregnant Individuals

Immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women

should be aware of the potential zoonotic hazards that

may be present in the workplace.

If you are undergoing chemotherapy/radiation therapy,

being treated with steroids or other drugs that could

cause immunosuppression and/or you are pregnant or

plan on becoming pregnant, please notify EHS to

determine appropriate protective measures and

monitoring.