Zoonotic

Diseases
 Zoonotic Diseases
(Disease caused by Animals )
 A zoonosis is any infectious disease that is
transmitted by a vector from non-human
animals , both wild and domestic, to
humans or from humans to non-human
animals (Reverse Zoonoses)
RABIES
 Epidemiology of Disease
 Rabies is a zoonosis which is prevalent in wildlife.
The main animals involved differs from continent
to continent.
 Europe (fox, bats)
 Middle East (wolf, dog)
 Asia (dog)
 Africa (dog, mongoose, antelope)
 N America (foxes, skunks, raccoons,
insectivorous bats)
 S America (dog, vampire bats)

 In developing countries dogs remain the principal

reservoir.
Mode of Transmission
 Transmitted to animals and humans
through close contact with saliva from an
infected animal (bites, scratches, through
broken skin and mucous membranes).
 No person to person spread
demonstrated.
 Airborne transmission - uncommon
 Organ transplants e.g. cornea (rare)
Causative Agents

 Rabies virus - a rhabdovirus of the genus

Lyssavirus

Period of Communicability
 Dogs and cats - from 3-7 days before the
onset of clinical symptoms, and
throughout the course of disease.
 Factors that can be used
to prevent the disease
 Pathological
 Vaccine
 Rabies vaccine is an inactivated virus vaccine
which promotes immunity by inducing an active
immune response. The production of specific
antibodies requires about 7-10 days to develop.
Rabies immune globulin or antirabies serum, equine
(ARS) is given in conjunction with rabies vaccine to
provide immune protection until an antibody
response can occur.
Factors that can be used
to prevent the disease
 Non- Pathological
 First, visit your veterinarian with your pet on a regular basis and
keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and
dogs.

 Second, maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and

ferrets indoors and keeping dogs under direct supervision.

 Third, spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of

unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or
vaccinated regularly.

 Finally, call animal control to remove all stray animals from your
neighborhood since these animals may be unvaccinated or ill.
Possible health needs of
Disease
 Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease.
Vaccinating dogs is the most cost-
effective strategy for preventing rabies in
people. Dog vaccination reduces deaths
attributable to rabies and the need for
PEP as a part of dog bite patient care.
Effectiveness Healthcare and
Goverment
ANTHRAX
 Epidemiology of Anthrax
 Anthrax is a zoonotic disease that primarily
affects herbivores such as cattle, sheep, goats,
antelope, and deer, which become infected by
ingesting contaminated vegetation, water, or
soil; humans are generally incidental hosts.
 Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions
in Central and South America, sub-Saharan
Africa, Central and Southwestern Asia, and
Southern and Eastern Europe. Although
outbreaks occur most years in livestock and wild
herbivores in the United States and Canada,
human anthrax is now rare in both of these
countries.
Mode of Transmission
 Transmission occurs by inoculation
through open skin via contact with
infected animal tissue, other animal
products and contaminated soil and by
ingestion of undercooked, contaminated
or raw meat. Inhalation anthrax results
from the inhalation of anthrax spores,
particularly in risky industrial settings.
Causative Agents

 Anthraxis an acute infectious disease

caused by the bacterium Bacillus
anthracis. The disease most commonly
occurs in animals and can also infect
humans.

 Incubation period
 Symptoms vary depending on how the
disease is contracted. Symptoms usually
occur 1 to 7 days after exposure, but the
incubation period can also be up to 2
months.
 Factors that can be used
to prevent the disease
 Pathological
 Anthrax can be treated with antibiotics. The disease
may be prevented after exposure to anthrax spores
by early treatment with the appropriate antibiotics.
 Antibiotics, such as penicillin, are used to treat all
forms of anthrax.
 Non-Pathological
 Maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene.
 Avoid contact with infected animal and contaminated
animal product.
 Manage skin abrasions carefully.
 Wash hands thoroughly with liquid soap and water before
handling food or eating
 Thorough washing and cooking of food before
consumption.
Drug of Choice
 AnthraxVaccine Adsorbed (AVA)
protects against anthrax.
Possible health needs of
Disease
 Persons who may have been exposed to
anthrax are not contagious, so quarantine
is not appropriate. Persons with draining
lesions should be cared for using contact
precautions. Dressings with drainage from
the lesions should be incinerated,
autoclaved, or otherwise disposed of as
biohazard waste.
 Effectiveness Healthcare and
Goverment
Supporting Organizations
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
• NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• World Health Organization (WHO)
BIRD FLU
 Epidemiology of BIRD FLU
 Avian influenza in humans, commonly known as
bird flu, is an infection of the nose, throat and
lungs caused by specific types of influenza A (flu)
virus.
 Human infections with bird flu are more serious
than seasonal flu and have a higher fatality rate
(percentage of people who die after getting the
infection).
 Causative Agent
 Avian influenza is caused by those influenza viruses
that mainly affect birds and poultry, such as chickens
or ducks. Human cases infected with avian influenza
A (e.g. H5N1, H5N6, H6N1, H7N4, H7N9, H9N2 and
H10N8) viruses have been identified in recent years.

Since they do not commonly infect humans, there is

little or no immune protection against them in the
human population. However, if an avian influenza
virus acquired the capacity to spread easily from
person to person, either through adaptation or
acquisition of certain genes from human viruses, an
influenza pandemic can occur.
Mode of Transmission
 People mainly become infected with avian
influenza virus through contact with infected
birds and poultry (live or dead) or their
droppings, or contact with contaminated
environments (such as wet markets and live
poultry markets). Human-to-human
transmission is inefficient. Outbreaks of avian
influenza in poultry have been reported in
some countries from time to time, and some
cases of human infection have occasionally
been reported.
 Factors that can be used
to prevent the disease
 Pathological
 the virus that causes the human form of the flu can develop
resistance to the two most common forms of antiviral
medications, amantadine and rimantadine (Flumadine).
These medications shouldn’t be used to treat the disease.

 Your family or others in close contact with you might also be

prescribed antivirals as a preventive measure, even if they
aren’t sick. You’ll be placed in isolation to avoid spreading
the virus to others.

 Your doctor may place you on a breathing machine if you

develop a severe infection.
 Factors that can be used
to prevent the disease

 Non-Pathological
 appropriate personal protective
equipment and careful attention to hand
hygiene
Drug of Choice
 Inmost cases, treatment with antiviral
medication such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or
zanamivir (Relenza) can help reduce the
severity of the disease. However, the
medication must be taken within 48 hours
after symptoms first appear.
Possible health needs of
Disease
 Patients should get adequate rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Supportive treatment can relieve symptoms. People with
flu-like symptoms should seek medical advice, especially
those with weakened body resistance, or if their condition
deteriorates (e.g. developing persistent high fever or
shortness of breath).
 Avian influenza A (including H5N1, H5N6, H7N9 and H10N8
viruses) are generally more severe than common flu, and
most patients require hospital care. Some anti-viral drugs
may be effective in treating the condition. Aspirin should
not be taken by children to avoid the risk of inducing Reye's
Syndrome.
 Call your doctor if you have flu symptoms within 10 days of
handling birds or traveling to areas with a known avian flu
outbreak.
Effectiveness Healthcare and Goverment
 CDC recommends that people responding to poultry outbreaks should get
a seasonal influenza vaccination every year, preferably at least two weeks
before engaging in an outbreak response.
 Seasonal influenza vaccination will not prevent infection with avian
influenza A viruses, but can reduce the risk of co-infection with human and
avian influenza A viruses. These people should also be monitored for illness
during and after responding to avian influenza outbreaks among poultry.
 The CDC has issued no recommendations against traveling to countries
that are affected by H5N1. However, you can minimize your risk by
avoiding:

• open-air markets
• contact with infected birds
• undercooked poultry
• Be sure to practice good hygiene and wash your hands regularly.

 The FDA has approved a vaccine designed to protect against the avian flu,
but the vaccine isn’t currently available to the public. Experts recommend
that the vaccine be used if H5N1 begins to spread among people.
Food and Mouth
disease
 Epidemiology of Food and Mouth
Disease
 Distribution of this disease is worldwide, with a
peak incidence in the summer and fall in
temperate climates and with no seasonal pattern
in the tropics.
 The largest population-based study of the
epidemiology of hand, foot, and mouth disease
was conducted in China to better inform vaccine
and other interventions.
 Males and females are affected with equal
frequency. Males are more likely to become
symptomatically ill.
 Hand-foot-and-mouth disease, as well as severe
disease complications, are more common among
infants and children younger than 5 years.
 HFMD is one of many infections that cause
mouth sores. Healthcare providers determine
whether the mouth sores are caused by HFMD
by considering the age of the patient, what
other symptoms are reported, and what the
mouth sores look like. Depending on how
severe the symptoms are, samples from the
throat or stool might be collected and sent to a
laboratory to test for the virus.
Causative Agents

 Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a rash

illness caused by viruses that belong to the
Enterovirus genus (group). This group of viruses
includes polioviruses, coxsackieviruses,
echoviruses, and enteroviruses.

 Incubationperiod
 Symptoms usually appear 3–6 days after
exposure.
Mode of Transmission
 HFMD is spread from person to person by
direct contact with the viruses that cause this
disease.
 These viruses are found in the nose and throat
secretions (such as saliva, sputum, or mucus
from the nose), fluid in blisters, and stool of
infected persons.
 The viruses can also be spread when infected
persons touch objects (such as toys) and
surfaces that are then touched by others.
 Factors that can be used
to prevent the disease
 Pathological
 There is no antiviral agent specific for the etiologic
agents. Ensure adequate fluid intake to prevent
dehydration. Cold liquids are generally preferable.
 Amantadine and quinacrine, both translation
inhibitors, and ribavirin, a replication inhibitor, are also
being investigated as treatment options.

 Non-Pathological
 Washing hands often with soap and water, especially after
changing diapers and using the toilet.
 Disinfecting dirty surfaces and soiled items, including toys.
First wash the items with soap and water, then disinfect them
with a bleach solution (made by following the directions on
the bleach container).
 Avoiding close contact such as kissing, hugging, or sharing
eating utensils or cups with people who have HFMD..
 Possible health needs of
Disease
 In most cases, the infection
will go away without
treatment in seven to 10
days. However, your doctor
may recommend certain
treatments to help ease
symptoms until the disease
has run its course. These can
include:
 prescription or over-the-
counter topical ointments to
soothe blisters and rashes
 pain medication, such as
acetaminophen or
ibuprofen, to relieve
headaches
 medicated syrups or lozenges
to ease painful sore throats
 You can try the following
home remedies to help make
blisters less bothersome:
 Suck on ice or popsicles.
 Eat ice cream or sherbet.
 Drink cold beverages.
 Avoid citrus fruits, fruit drinks,
and soda.
 Avoid spicy or salty foods.
 Swishing warm salt water
around in the mouth may
also help relieve the pain
associated with mouth blisters
and throat sores. Do this
several times a day or as
often as needed
 Effectiveness Healthcare and
Goverment
• Through the Regional Event Based Surveillance System, WHO
monitors HFMD in the region to detect outbreaks and other
significant events. However, the WHO Western Pacific
Regional Office will no longer produce the bi-weekly
Western Pacific Region Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Surveillance Summary.
 Creutzfeldt-
Jacob Disease
(aka Mad Cow)
 Epidemiology
 Mad cow is a “fatal neurodegenerative disease in
cattle.”
 BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) is an
interesting disease from a medical standpoint because
of the causative agent, prions (pronounced pree-ons).
A prion is an infectious protein that is similar to a virus,
but it's not a virus.
 Unlike viruses, prions aren't alive, so they can't be killed
with the usual disinfectants. The body does not mount
a typical viral immune attack against prions, either.
Prion proteins can be denatured, but only at extremely
high temperatures or with very strong chemicals. Either
way, these treatments are not consistent with animal
life, so they are not an option.
Causative Agents

 Diseases caused by prions are referred to as

TSEs, short for Transmissible Spongiform
Encephalopathies.
 In general, TSEs are fatal and progressively affect
the central nervous system. The brain of an animal
infected by prions will develop tiny holes that make
it appear much like a sponge..
 Can Humans Catch Mad Cow
Disease?

 Technically, people cannot catch BSE

because it is a bovine disease. However,
there is a human version called
Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (CJD), but it’s
very rare. In particular, it is "variant CJD,"
and while it's not entirely understood
whether or not it's linked to eating
infected meat, there have only been a
handful of incidents in the U.S.
Mode of Transmission
 Themost common mode of infection is
from feeding cows contaminated feed,
particularly feed that contains animal
proteins (from sheep or
cows). Researchers are still
studying modes of transmission and
exploring if genetics plays a role in an
individual animals susceptibility to (or
protection from) acquiring this disease.
 Factors that can be used
to prevent the disease
 Thereis no cure for vCJD. Treatment includes
managing the symptoms that occur as the
disease gets worse.
Effectiveness Healthcare and
Goverment
 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is doing many
things to keep the food in the U.S. safe for both people
and cows. Since August 1997, the FDA has not allowed
most parts from cows and certain other animals to be used
to make food that is fed to cows. This protects healthy
cows from getting BSE by making sure that the food they
eat is not contaminated with the abnormal prion.
 The FDA also works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) to keep cows in the U.S. healthy and free of
BSE. The USDA prevents high-risk cows and cow products
from entering the U.S. from other countries. The USDA also
makes sure that high-risk cow parts, such as the brains and
spinal cords, and cows that are unable to walk or that
show other signs of disease are not used to make food for
people.