Wildlife Diseases
WDC is endeavoring to provide the best information on zoonotic
disease available. So be sure to check back with us as this and other pages will
continue to grow in depth and breadth. We are grateful to Dr. Richard A. French
DVM. for the Northeastern Research Center for Wildlife Diseases of the Univ. of
Connecticut for permission in using information contained in his publication "Wildife
and Diseases: Biohazards Associated with Exposure to Animals". Published
in 1997. He is presently located at the Dept. of Pathobiology U-89 61 N. Eagleville
Rd. Storrs, CT 06269-3089. For more information on specific diseases click on
the hyperlinks listed below.
While we try to be accurate in the information contained on
this site, we cannot guarantee that all the information is perfectly accurate
as to source or transmission. Our site is meant for information awareness purposes.
We strongly suggest that specific questions pertaining to your situation be
discussed between your doctor and state health officials. I have included a
list of those resources at the bottom of the page. We also welcome any suggestions
for additions.
#General
Precautions for Diseased Animal Contact and High Risk Areas
#Diseases
of Wild Animals that are Transmissible to Man
Carcass Disposal Options
General Precautions
• Diseased wild animals often show changes in behavior.
They sometimes appear docile or react unusually to humans. Rabid wild and
domestic dogs can react aggressively. Use all available precautions with animals
that appear sick, are dying or exhibiting unusual behavior. Note animals found
outside their normal habitat or conditions as these are often the only sign
of disease. For example, note when normally nocturnal animals are seen during
the day or when domestic free-ranging pets behave unusually.
• Maintain a record (daily log) of all animal contact and disposition
whether or not disease is indicated.
General Precautions for Diseased Animal Contact
1. Wear protective clothing. Items like rubber or plastic gloves,
boots or aprons can lessen the risk of exposure for diseases transmitted by
blood, feces or saliva.
2. Clean animal holding and handling areas. Scrub tools, tables, reusable
gloves and equipment with water and soap or detergent. Rinse the area with
a disinfectant that contains bleach.
3. Don't eat or drink when handling high risk animals or materials. Wash
hands thoroughly after handling.
4. Dispose of animals properly. Eliminate sources of disease by incineration
or deep burial.
5. Notify your physician if you are in a high risk profession
for wildlife disease. As a precaution, your doctor may recommend that
a blood sample be drawn and frozen to provide baseline information. Information
you provide will enable your doctor to be more alert to signs and symptoms
of rarely occurring diseases.
6. Educate yourself. Know the clinical signs/symptoms and distributions of
wildlife-transmitted diseases. Not all diseases of wildlife are transmissible
to humans.
General Precautions for High Risk Areas
1 . Apply mosquito or tick repellents.
Be aware that some repellents are harmful to the skin.
2. Avoid tick-infested areas or high activity periods
of mosquitoes. Ticks are generally most numerous late spring to early
summer. Mosquitoes are most active during summer, early evening hours.
3. Wear protective clothing and equipment. For the
tick-bome Lyme disease, wear light-colored clothing and tape pants cuffs inside
of socks or high boot tops when in high risk areas. Equipment guards (safety
glasses, face shield, and masks) against air-borne transfer of microorganisms
that can cause hantavirus and histoplasmosis. (Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) regulates job-related activities regarding risk to wildlife-transmitted
diseases and may require certain clothes or equipment.)
4. Recognize early symptoms. Alert your physician of your possible
exposure. Many zoonoses are rare enough that medical professionals sometimes
overlook them.
5. Reduce host populations. Become involved in community or area-wide
efforts to control mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, rats or mice. Implement control
methods on your property.
6. Vaccinations. Vaccinate domestic animals against wildlife-transmitted
diseases like rabies and Lyme disease. Contact your physician for human vaccination
recommendations.
Vaccinations
Rabies: available to high risk individuals. Should be discussed with your
physician. Tetanus: maintain a current tetanus booster status
U of CT; Northeastern Research Center for Wildlife Diseases;
December 1997 5
(ANTHROPO-ZOONOSES) IN NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.:
TRANSMISSION MODE
| CONTACT TRANSMISSION
DERMATOMYCOSES
DERMATOPHILOSIS
SCHISTOSOMIASIS
TULAREMIA
RABIES
LYMPHOCYTIC CHORIOMENINGITIS
CAT SCRATCH DISEASE
LEPTOSPIROSIS
SCABIES
ANTHRAX
ERYSIPELAS
PASTERURELLOSIS
STAPHYLOCOCCOSIS
|
ARTHROPOD TRANSMISSION
MOSQUITO ENCEPHALITIS
West Nile Encephalitis
DIROFILARIASIS
TICK LYME BORRELIOSIS (new test for lyme disease)
Lyme Disease
ROCKY MT.SPOT.FEVER
BABESIOSIS (now found in Mass.)
EHRLICHIOSIS
TULAREMIA
NEW MYSTERY TICK DISEASE
FLEA VERSINIOSIS (Y. pestis)
MURINE TYPHUS
DIPYLIDIASIS
LOUSE - WILD TYPHUS SYLVATIC
EPIDEMIC TYPHUS
|
| ALIMENTARY TRANSMISSION
FECAL CONTAMINATION
Bird Droppings
Bayliscaris Procyonis (raccoon roundworm)
SALMONELLOSIS
GIARDIASIS
CRYTOSPORIDIOSIS
TOXOPLASMOSIS
TOXOCARIASIS
ECHINOCOCCOSIS
HEPATIC-CAPILLARIASIS
CAMPYLOBACTERIOSIS
SHIGELLOSIS
YERSINOSIS
Hanta Virus
|
SAPROZOONOSES
ERYSIPELAS CRYPTOCOCCOSIS
ANTHRAX CANDIDIASIS
BOTULISM HISTOPLASMOSIS
TETANUS MADUROMYCOSIS
LISTERIOSIS ZYGOMYCOSIS
SPOROTRICHOSIS
Protothecosis A
fungus that can infect humans. The question is can humans contract
this disease from animals that are infected?
ASPERGILLOSIS
|
|
RESPIRATORY TRANSMISSION
CHLAMYDIOSIS
ASPERGILLOSIS
|
Diseases unclear whether they are transmittable to Humans
Chronic Wasting Disease
|
U of CT; Northeastern Research Center for Wildlife Diseases; December 1997
Information listed on this page is the property of Dr. Richard
Frech and is presented here with his permission.
| Name |
Source |
Target |
| Neospora caninum: causes abortions in cattle |
Single cell parasite contained in dog feces. |
Cattle that eat feed infected with dog feces. (Reflections,
vol.9. No.1) |
Pox: a disease characterized by brown crusty tumors that typically
afflict the eyes but can be found over their whole body. West Palm Beach Fl.
recently had an outbreak there 7/99. Scientists say the disease is specific
to squirrels and is transmitted by mosquitos. The tumors usually cause the squirrel
to be blind and thus die a rather cruel death. There is no known cure. (see
article "Tumors Plague Squirrels in Florida" West Palm
Beach, Fla, AP-NY-06-19-99 1742EDT)
For further zoonotic info
Contact the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study,
College of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602;
Phone (706)542-1741.
Tufts Veterinary School
National Wildlife Health Center
Poisoning
"Poison on the Farm" by Jon Geller DVM in Mother
Earth News August/Sept 1999 pp. 66-68 Article covers a variety of poisonings
and their symptoms.
Duck Diseases
Bird
Disease Manual - Click "Buy from amazon.com" to order.
Questions or Comment? Click here
*
All correspondence becomes property of WDC.
 
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