Zoonotic Diseases
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Wildlife Center Classroom Series: Zoonotic Diseases Wednesday, July 8, 2015 Chapin Hardy, WCV: Good afternoon everyone and welcome to this month’s Wildlife Center Classroom Series! Chapin Hardy, WCV: As you may know, we admit injured, orphaned, and sick native Virginia wildlife from all over the state. Comment From Izzy Mr. Cup seems ready for class very alert :) so exciting Comment From Jakermo Who is that Chapin. The profile pix. Chapin Hardy, WCV: It's a former patient that was transferred to a wildlife rehabilitator a while back. Comment From Patti-Manassas Just made to check in for a bit! Hi all! Chapin Hardy, WCV: While a number of ailments can be quite obvious from the outside, many illnesses originate on the inside at the microscopic level. Chapin Hardy, WCV: Even though these illnesses are not visible to the human eye, they can cause major problems for both the animal patients and the humans who come in contact with them. Wildlife Center Classroom Series: Zoonotic Diseases Page 1 Chapin Hardy, WCV: Today we’re going to learn about zoonotic diseases! It’s gonna be sick! Chapin Hardy, WCV Comment From Mardie in Seattle Sick!!! Chapin Hardy, WCV: So let’s get started! So what is a zoonotic disease? Comment From Izzy Eww always looks more creepy under a microscope Comment From CarolinaGirl ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ One that can be transferred between animals and humans. Chapin Hardy, WCV: Bingo! Chapin Hardy, WCV: A zoonotic disease is a disease that can be passed between animals and humans. So animals can make people sick and people can make animals sick. Wildlife Center Classroom Series: Zoonotic Diseases Page 2 Comment From Lynda in AZ To what I read in the dictionary, zoonotic is a disease transferred from animal to human (although we're animals as well) Comment From Mardie in Seattle Don't bite your dog! Chapin Hardy, WCV: HA! Chapin Hardy, WCV: Zoonotic diseases can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi and are pretty common. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, for every 10 infectious diseases in humans, six of the diseases were spread from animals. Comment From CarolinaGirl ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ Wow! Comment From Susan Fort Am I supposed to be seeing picture or read the discussion? I'm sorry. Excuse me for interrupting. Chapin Hardy, WCV: Read the discussion and sometimes I will post a picture on the feed. The critter cam cameras will not be showing class. Just the moderated discussion. Chapin Hardy, WCV: There are more than 200 zoonotic diseases in the world ranging from rashes and other mild skin infections to more deadly illnesses such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (mad cow disease) and Ebola. Comment From Guest Would a tick bite infection be ac disease? Chapin Hardy, WCV: They can carry zoonotic disease, but not all ticks may be carrying a disease. Wildlife Center Classroom Series: Zoonotic Diseases Page 3 Chapin Hardy, WCV: As a teaching wildlife hospital, we at the Wildlife Center of Virginia are no strangers to the possible dangers of zoonotic diseases and encounter patients every year that may or do in fact have a zoonotic disease. Comment From Susan Fort like ringworm? Chapin Hardy, WCV: Oh! You are jumping ahead! I'll talk about that in just a few minutes! Y'all have your thinking caps on! Chapin Hardy, WCV: While we might be aware of what our patients may carry, sometimes the public is not as informed and can place themselves at risk for contracting these shared illnesses. Chapin Hardy, WCV: So by learning a little about the illnesses that can spread between wildlife and humans, we can protect ourselves but also wildlife. Chapin Hardy, WCV: Before writing this class and choosing diseases that I thought were interesting, I decided to ask Dr. Helen which diseases she felt were ones that people that come in contact with wildlife could possibly contract. Chapin Hardy, WCV: She listed off several, and I decided to go with some of the more commonly known zoonotic diseases and a few that have been seen here at the Center. Chapin Hardy, WCV: Our staff takes extreme caution to prevent any spread of disease between patients as well as ourselves through various protocols and good personal hygiene. Wildlife Center Classroom Series: Zoonotic Diseases Page 4 Chapin Hardy, WCV: This class is not meant to scare anyone away from nature or wildlife, but just to make you aware of what is out there and help keep you and animals safe! Chapin Hardy, WCV: And now without further ado, I’ll introduce our first disease. Comment From Lynda in AZ Malaria? Comment From Izzy Going with your photo Chapin... rabies seems likely Comment From Lynda in AZ Rabies? Chapin Hardy, WCV http://www.medicinenet.com/ringworm_pictures_slideshow/article.htm Chapin Hardy, WCV: Anyone know what this lovely infection is? Comment From Izzy ringworm Comment From Guest ringworm? Wildlife Center Classroom Series: Zoonotic Diseases Page 5 Comment From CarolinaGirl ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ Ring Worm. Comment From Susan Fort ringworm Comment From Regina, IL ringworm? Comment From Kathe in Falls Church, VA Ringworm!! Comment From Brenda from Virginia Ringworm? Comment From Lynda in AZ Lymes? from tick bites. Comment From Dave in Missouri Ringworm? Comment From BarbG ringworm Comment From Dani Ringworm? Comment From CK in Pa Ringworm! Comment From Janeinstpete Blood poisoning or cellulitis. I've had it. Chapin Hardy, WCV: It’s ringworm! Chapin Hardy, WCV: Each year there are more than 3 million recorded cases a year in the United States and it is very common. Contrary to what the name of this implies, ringworm or Tinea corporis isn’t an actual worm at all. Wildlife Center Classroom Series: Zoonotic Diseases Page 6 Chapin Hardy, WCV: Originally it was thought that one contracted ringworm from worms, and the medical term Tinea is actually Latin for “growing worm”. In reality, it’s a highly contagious, fungal skin infection. Chapin Hardy, WCV: Ringworm is caused by fungi that belong to the group called dermatophytes. Chapin Hardy, WCV: Dermatophytes are fungi/ organisms that need keratin in order to grow. So in terms of wildlife and us, that means hair, nails, and skin. Chapin Hardy, WCV: So that also means that mammals, birds, and reptiles can contract and spread ringworm, though most frequently it comes from mammals. Comment From Dani That's neat, I never knew that! Chapin Hardy, WCV: When the fungus grows, it creates a red ring of small blisters or a red ring of scaly skin that expands as the infection spreads. Chapin Hardy, WCV: But here's what it looks like under the microscope! Wildlife Center Classroom Series: Zoonotic Diseases Page 7 Chapin Hardy, WCV Ringworm under a microscope http://www.medicinenet.com/ringworm_pictures_slideshow/article.htm Chapin Hardy, WCV: While ring worm is fairly distinctive, misdiagnosing it and treating it improperly (for example using a topical steroid cream), can actually cause the infection to become worse. Comment From Susan Fort You can see it with a black light if your facility has one, right? Chapin Hardy, WCV: We don't have a black light for ringworm. Actually in order to properly diagnose ringworm, skin scrapings are taken and examined under a microscope. However, in many cases the distinctive red circle is a pretty good indication. Chapin Hardy, WCV: Oh and by the way, there isn’t just one type of ringworm. The most common form of ringworm is Tinea corporis or body ringworm. There also Tinea barbae (beard), Tinea pedi (foot/athelete’s foot), and Tinea capitis (scalp). Chapin Hardy, WCV: I'll spare you the "lovely" photos. Wildlife Center Classroom Series: Zoonotic Diseases Page 8 Chapin Hardy, WCV: For humans, many over the counter anti-fungal or drying creams can be used. If the infection doesn’t improve with topical creams in about four weeks, we can also be prescribed oral medications. Comment From Dani haha Comment From Kathe in Falls Church, VA Athelete's foot is a type of ringworm? I never knew that! Chapin Hardy, WCV: Yep! Chapin Hardy, WCV: When it comes to our patients, treatments can differ somewhat. Chapin Hardy, WCV: We take special precautions to prevent any spreading of disease between patients as well as humans. When a patient arrives with a contagious skin disease (or any contagious disease), they are placed in the Center’s isolation room. Then they are treated until the infection is cured. Comment From Mary E in NC Thanks, Chapin! Comment From Lynda in AZ I never knew that athlete's foot was a type of ringworm. Chapin Hardy, WCV: In some cases where the patients are smaller, we can easily treat the infection with an oral anti-fungal tablet such as fluconazole (Diflucan). This oral medication has to be given for many weeks. Chapin Hardy, WCV: Topical creams aren’t the best form of treatment since they need consistent application and require a lot more hands-on interaction, which can be quite stressful for wildlife. Plus they can lick it. Wildlife Center Classroom Series: Zoonotic Diseases Page 9 Chapin Hardy, WCV: Another treatment is multiple lime-sulfur baths over the course of several weeks. During the sulfur baths, the animal is usually anesthetized. Comment From Susan Fort Do dogs and cats get the same kind that you usually find in the wild animals? Chapin Hardy, WCV: Yep! Comment From CarolinaGirl ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ Wasn't it Pink Tag that had a lovely bath for ringworm? Chapin Hardy, WCV: Ah! Yes! For those of you following our six Black Bear cubs, you might remember that two of the cubs white tag [#15-0503] and pink tag [#15-0504] had ringworm skin lesions and one other cub orange tag [#15-0458] had some hair loss.