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

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4.75 % DEET

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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!