ANSWERS

1. What is a zoonotic disease (or zoonosis)?
   A disease of animals that is transmissible to man.
2. Protection against zoonoses calls for an awareness by all veterinary personnel of the potential hazards associated with the handling of animals (both alive and dead), animal secretions, faeces and gut contents and laboratory samples. Describe ways in which protection may be afforded.
   • The provision of education and training (display of local rules) - staff must never perform tasks in which they have not received adequate instruction.
   • The wearing of protective clothing - this must be appropriate to the procedures being performed.
   • Removal of protective clothing as soon as the work is completed - disposable protective clothing only to be worn for short-duration tasks of a simple nature.
   • The employment of good personal hygiene - always wash hands thoroughly, do not consume food or drink, smoke or apply cosmetics when working with animals.
   • The disposal of waste, used equipment and carcasses in the approved manner - every practice should have a safety manual detailing the protocol.
   • The enforcement of strict first aid protocol - any cuts or abrasions must be properly covered prior to commencing work with animals, and in the event of being bitten or scratched, wounds should be cleaned thoroughly, medical advice sought and the accident recorded.
   • The provision of an adequately ventilated environment - staff suffering from asthma must take special precautions.
3. All animal faeces are potentially hazardous, but special precautions must be taken when handling patients with diarrhoea. Why is this?
   Due to the severe risk of infection by Salmonella, Campylobacter and Cryptosporidium.
4. List 10 ways in which you would advise clients to protect against infection by zoonotic diseases.
   • Never allow animals to lick your face.
   • Use separate bowls and utensils for animal food and don't let pets lick plates. Clean animal bowls separately from human washing-up and allocate a specific pet cloth and tea-towel.
   • Ensure that cats and dogs are regularly treated against fleas and worms.
   • Always wash your hands after grooming, feeding or cleaning up animal faeces. If there are pets in the house, ensure that hands are washed prior to eating.
   • Pregnant women and young children should take extra care.
   • Always clean up dog faeces.
   • Clean out cat litter trays as soon as they are soiled, and prevent cats from soiling children's sandpits.
   • Ensure that very young children, the elderly or any person suffering from a depleted immune system are not exposed to zoonoses.
   • Wear protective clothing when cleaning up after animals or when bathing/grooming/administering medicines.
   • Ensure that any bites or scratches are thoroughly cleansed and medical advice sought.
5. List 10 zoonotic diseases and state the disease causing micro-organism/s of each.
   • Cat scratch fever - Pastuerella multocida (plus others).
   • Hydatid disease - Echinococcus granulosus.
   • Leptospirosis - L canicola/L icterohaemorrhagiae.
   • Psittacosis - Chlamydia psittaci.
   • Ringworm - Microsporum/trichophyton/epidermophyton.
   • Salmonellosis - Salmonella spp.
   • Sarcoptic mange - Sarcoptes scabiei.
   • Toxocariasis - Toxocara canis/cati.
   • Toxoplasmosis - Toxoplasma gondii.
   • Tularaemia - Pastuerella tularenis (from rabbits and hares).
6. List 6 countries in addition to the UK that are free from rabies.
   • Japan.
   • Iceland.
   • Norway.
   • Sweden.
   • Portugal.
   • Ireland.
7. What tissues are primarily targeted by the rhabdovirus responsible for the transmission of rabies?
   Those of the nervous system.
8. What is sylvatic rabies?
   The spread of rabies infection in wildlife.
9. What is urban rabies?
   The spread of rabies infection in domestic cats and dogs.
10. How is rabies transmitted?
    In saliva by biting.
11. What is the incubation period of rabies?
    2 Weeks - 4 Months (mean incubation time is 3 weeks).
12. What 3 factors determine the speed at which the clinical signs of rabies develop?
    • Site of infection (bites to the head or neck mean that the CNS is reached more rapidly).
    • Severity of the bite.
    • The dose of the virus.
13. List 4 ways in which toxoplasmosis may be transmitted to man.
    • By eating raw or undercooked meat.
    • By eating unwashed, uncooked vegetables and fruit.
    • From cat faeces/soil contaminated by cat faeces.
    • By drinking unpastuerised goat's milk/eating dairy products made from it.