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
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.
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.
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.
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 |
ARTHROPOD TRANSMISSION MOSQUITO ENCEPHALITIS TICK LYME BORRELIOSIS (new test for lyme disease)
FLEA VERSINIOSIS (Y. pestis) LOUSE - WILD TYPHUS SYLVATIC
EPIDEMIC TYPHUS |
| ALIMENTARY TRANSMISSION
FECAL CONTAMINATION Bayliscaris Procyonis (raccoon roundworm) |
SAPROZOONOSES
|
|
RESPIRATORY TRANSMISSION
|
Diseases unclear whether they are transmittable to Humans |
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.
National Wildlife Health Center
"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.
Bird Disease Manual - Click "Buy from amazon.com" to order.
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