Physical injuries can occur through accidents in any workplace and the animal facility or research laboratory is no exception. Physical injuries are commonly the result of improper techniques in lifting.

Physical injuries inflicted directly by animals are most likely to be serious when using larger animals- non-human primates, for instance. Everyone should make sure they are properly trained in the handling of any animal they are required to handle during the course of their work at the Health Center. Please refer to information on animal bites if you receive any bite from any animal at the Health Center. For information on bites from nonhuman primates, please read Non-Human Primate Specific Occupational Health and Safety Risks.

What Is Cryptosporidiosis?

Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite can infect mammals, birds, reptiles, and even fish. It belongs to a larger group of parasites that are collectively called “coccidia.” Cryptosporidium is a common cause of human diarrhea, although it is less common than diarrhea caused by human viruses. Large outbreaks of Cryptosporidiosis have occurred in cities when the city water supply has become contaminated. Cryptosporidiosis is especially common in the young, both in animals and in man. Most infected people recover without treatment but C. parvum can cause especially severe disease in people that have weakened immune systems or who are positive for HIV.

Routes of Infection

People and animals are infected with C. parvum when they allow fecal material from an infected person or animal to enter their mouth. The organism reproduces rapidly in the intestine, and the feces of infected animals and humans are highly infectious. The disease is diagnosed by finding oocysts in the feces of patient. The oocysts are highly resistant to disinfectants. Infected feces from wild or domestic animals may cause ponds, lakes, and reservoirs to become contaminated.

Two to ten days after ingesting the organism, a watery diarrhea may develop, often accompanied by cramping, nausea, and malaise. Healthy individuals generally recover in three to 14 days without any treatment. In people whose immune systems are compromised, the diarrhea can be much worse, and the organism can sometimes invade organs other than the intestine.

Risks

Most human cases have occurred as a result of accidental contamination of urban water supplies. Those who care for infected animals or humans are also at increased risk of being infected. Infection is most likely to be present in young animals with diarrhea. Any young animal with diarrhea, be they a mammal, a reptile, or a bird, should be considered potentially infectious. The animal most likely to be infected is a calf less than one year old who has diarrhea.

Prevention

The single most effective preventive measure that you could take to protect yourself would be thorough, regular hand washing with soap and warm water after handling animals with diarrhea. Good ways to infect yourself would be to eat or drink in the animal facility, or to fail to wash your hands before eating, drinking or smoking after working with animals.

If you work with young animals with diarrhea, and you develop a severe watery diarrhea, you should report the illness to your supervisor and consult with a physician at Employee Health Service (860-679-2893). An accurate diagnosis can be made by a microscopic examination of feces.

What Is Cat Scratch Disease?

Cat Scratch Disease (CSD) is caused by the bite or scratch of a cat infected with Bartonella henselae. It is found in all parts of the world, but the infection occurs more often in the fall and winter. In the United States, about 22,000 cases of CSD are diagnosed annually. There is no evidence that fleas spread the disease from cats to humans. Bartonella henselae does not make a cat appear sick and the cat may carry the agent for months.

Routes of Infection

Humans become infected when a cat infected with B. henselae bites or scratches them. A blister or small bump often develops several days after the scratch or bite and generally is not painful. Lymph nodes close to the blister or bum begins to swell which then become warm and red. This then progresses to include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, headache, rash, sore throat, and overall ill feeling.

Risks

CSD is not contagious, but people can become infected if an animal’s saliva comes in contact with broken skin or an eye. Having one episode of CSD usually makes people immune for the rest of their lives.

Prevention

Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling cats will reduce the risk of acquiring CSD.

Your Potential Risks

Based on the species you are working with, you should be aware of the following potential health risks:

• Asthma and Allergy in Animal Handlers
• Bites and Scratches
• Campylobacter
• Cat Scratch Disease
• Cryptosporidiosis
• Enteric Pathogenic Bacteria
• Giardiasis
• Physical Injury
• Preventing Asthma in Animal Handlers
• Toxoplasmosis

 

What You Should Do

1. Be knowledgeable about the potential for developing allergies and/or asthma due to animal handling- especially if you are already allergic.

2. Consider using a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator- even if you do not have any symptoms. These respirators have been shown to reduce the chance of developing laboratory animal allergies. In order to use a respirator, you must have a fit test through the Environmental Health & Safety.

3. Know proper handling techniques of cats. Only trained personnel should handle cats. Handling and restraint training can be scheduled through the Center for Comparative Medicine.

4. Gloves and long-sleeved apparel should be worn at all times when working with cats. Minimize wearing protective clothing, such as lab coats, outside of animal areas and laboratories.

5. Keep transport carriers out of labs/offices/public areas.

6. Use disposable supplies whenever possible. Sanitize laboratory and surgical areas after animal work.

7. Always wash your hands after coming in contact with cats or their saliva, urine, blood, feces, and/or bedding materials. This is the primary method of preventing laboratory acquired infections associated with the use of cats- even if you use gloves.

What Is Psittacosis?

Psittacosis is an infectious disease in humans that has a mild, non-specific flu-like symptoms. It refers to any infection or disease caused by the organisms Chlamydia psittaci, one of several microorganisms in the genus Chlamydia. Parrot disease, ornithosis, and chlamydiosis are other names for psittacosis. Birds typically have a latent infection and can shed the organism either intermittently or continuously for weeks or months.

Routes of Infection

Humans become infected by breathing in the organism when the urine, respiratory secretion, or dried feces of infected birds become aerosolized (i.e., dispersed in the air as very fine droplets or dust particles). Other sources of exposure include mouth-to-beak contact, a bite from an infected bird, and handling the plumage and tissues of infected birds. Person-to-person transmission of the disease is rare. People who have the disease will generally present within 4 to 15 days after exposure with fever, chills, cough, weakness or fatigue, muscle and chest pain, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, sweating, and an abnormal intolerance to light. Psittacosis is primarily a lung disease, but it can involve several organs and, rarely, can be fatal.

Risks

Psittacosis is an occupational health hazard for people whose work brings them into contact with birds.

Prevention

Preventive measures include feeding birds properly, avoiding overcrowding, adequate ventilation systems, and clean caging.

What Is Newcastle Disease?

Newcastle Disease is a contagious and fatal viral disease affecting most species of birds. Clinical signs are extremely variable depending on the strain of virus, species and age of bird, concurrent disease, and preexisting immunity. It is caused by a Rubulavirus. Death rate can be close to 100 percent in unvaccinated poultry flocks.

Routes of Infection

Infection results from direct contact between healthy birds and the bodily discharges of infected birds. The disease is transmitted through infected bird’ droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth, and eyes. It spreads rapidly among birds kept in confinement.

Risks

In humans, Newcastle disease is rare and presents a mild to moderate and sometimes painful conjunctivitis as a result of an individual rubbing their eyes after having handled infective material. Very rarely does it present with respiratory symptoms as a result of having inhaled dust from infected material.

Treatment

There is no treatment for Newcastle disease. There is vaccination in use for prevention of this disease.

What Are the Enteric Bacteria of Concern?

The intestines of all animals, including commonly used laboratory animals, are colonized by a large number of microbes most of which are harmless. Others are harmless in normal individuals but can produce disease in the very young, those with weakened immune systems, or in a new host that has no prior experience with the microbe. Some bacteria are much more pathogenic and can produce disease in normal individuals on a regular basis. The following are a few of the enteric bacteria most often associated with disease in humans:

• Campylobacter jejuni
• Escherichia coli (pathogenic strains)
• Salmonella species
• Shigella species

Routes of Infection

The transmission of all these organisms to man is by the fecal-oral route. Material contaminated by the feces of animals must be put directly into the person’s mouth. Animals may also transmit these diseases to people. In order to become infected, the human must place material from the animal’s feces directly in his or her mouth. People do this when they fail to wash their hands after handling animals.

Risks

The highest risk is associated with young animals with diarrhea. Good ways to infect yourself would be to eat or drink in the animal facility or to fail to wash your hands before eating, drinking, or smoking after working with animals.

Prevention

The single most effective preventive measure that you could take to protect yourself would be thorough, regular hand washing with soap and warm water after handling animals, especially young animals with diarrhea. If you work with young animals with diarrhea, and you develop intestinal signs, you should report the illness to your supervisor and consult with a physician at Employee Health Services (860-679-2893).

General Information

All animals are capable of inflicting bites and scratches. Smaller animals (rodents and rabbits) generally deliver minor wounds. Larger species (cats and dogs) are capable of inflicting larger wounds. Bites and scratches from nonhuman primates are capable of inflicting severe wounds.

All bites and scratches can expose individuals to biologic hazards which may be transmitted through saliva, secretions, and/or blood. These injuries may be preventable if individuals are trained in the use of proper animal handling techniques and using appropriate personal protective equipment, especially face/eye protection and hand protection. Animals known to be aggressive should be handled by at least two individuals.

General Animal Bite/Scratch Management

Bites or scratches should be immediately washed with soap (preferably an antiseptic soap, such as chlorhexidene-Nolvasan® or Betadine®-povidone iodine) and running water. Bites or scratches that result in bleeding should be thoroughly scrubbed as above for at least 15 minutes. After cleansing, a topical disinfectant and bandage should be used on the wound to protect it. Individuals should notify their supervisor. Depending on the severity of the wound, individuals should seek medical treatment by reporting to the Employee Health Service or Emergency Room.

Bites/Scratches from Rodents

Laboratory rodents are purchased from laboratories which exclude zoonotic agents. For this reason, there is usually limited concern for disease from research rodents. Exceptions would include animals which have been inoculated with biohazardous material (e.g., LCMV) during the course of the research being performed with the animal. There is always concern about a secondary bacterial infection that may occur. Common skin and intestinal bacteria present on the individual or the animal can infect the bite or scratch wound and cause these secondary infections. The wound should have the above first aid procedures performed and medical treatment should be sought for severe or infected wounds and wounds from animals that have been exposed to a biohazardous material.

Bites/Scratches from Rabbits

Laboratory rabbits contain few infectious pathogens. Rabbits, in particular, can inflict scratches with their strong hind legs. As with bites from rodents, there is a concern for secondary bacterial infection from the bite or scratch or from animals that have been inoculated with a biohazardous material. The would should have the above first aid procedures performed and medical treatment should be sought for severe or infected wounds and wounds from animals that have been exposed to a biohazardous material.

Bites/Scratches from Cats

If an individual has been bitten by a cat, the attending veterinarian must be notified as well as the individual’s supervisor. The veterinarian will have to determine if the cat in question has any potential for transmitting rabies which may result in the cat being placed under quarantine and observation for a time period specified by the attending veterinarian. Rabies vaccination is available to personnel who handle cats through the Employee Health Service. Personnel who may be pregnant should contact EHS for counseling regarding precautions to prevent Toxoplasmosis; this infectious organism can cause severe disease in unborn babies. There may be a concern for cat scratch disease; individuals should contact the attending veterinarian and Employee Health Service.

Bites/Scratches from Non-human Primates

Bites and scratches from NHP cause the most concern as they pose a real potential for exposure to zoonotic disease, although transmission of zoonotic disease is rare. Serious injury from bites and scratches can occur. Due to the serious zoonotic potential of Cercopithecine herpes virus 1 (Herpes B virus) infection, all individuals who will be using NHPs must attend special training from the attending veterinarian prior to working with these animals. In addition, all personnel who work with NHPs must have an annual TB test.

All areas which house NHP contain a bite/scratch/exposure first aid kit. The individual should know where these kits are located and retrieve it if any exposure from a NHP occurs.

If an individual is bitten or scratched by a NHP, the area should be immediately scrubbed and cleansed with a mixture of soap and irrigation solution for 15 to 20 minutes. Exposures to the eyes, nose, and mucous membranes should immediately be irrigated with the sterile eye solution in the first aid kit immediately and then find an eye wash station to continue irrigation for 15 to 20 minutes. The individual’s supervisor and the attending veterinarian should be informed. The employee then must visit EHS or the emergency room for a wound culture, a blood sample, and other immediate care as necessary. The first aid kit will have a bag labeled “Employee Health/Emergency Department” which you must bring with you; this includes sterile swabs, culture and serum tubes, a protocol for further evaluation, a signs and symptoms of infection sheet, and a form for sample submission to the Georgia State University Viral Immunology Center. More detailed information from CCM can be found under Non-Human Primate Specific Occupational Health and Safety Risks.

What Is Avian Tuberculosis?

Avian tuberculosis is a chronic wasting disease caused by infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium avium that can affect a wider range of bird species and may affect mammalian species (including humans, though the serotypes affecting humans have generally been different to those isolated from poultry). Avian TB occurs worldwide but most frequently occurring in the Northern Hemisphere in the temperate zone.

Routes of Infection

Infection results from ingestion of material contaminated with feces of infected birds or other animals. The feces of infected birds can contain very large numbers of the bacteria. M. avium can persist in the environment for many years. Spread from contaminated environments can take place mechanically on shoes and equipment. Ingestion of infected carcasses can also spread the infection. Eggs are not considered to play a significant role in the source of infection.

Risks

M. avium infection can be dangerous in humans with compromised immune systems.

General Information

Allergic reactions to animals are among the most common conditions that affect individuals who have contact with laboratory animals. One survey demonstrated that 75 percent of all institutions with laboratory animals had workers who had contact with animals having allergic symptoms. Workers exposed to laboratory animals can be categorized into several risk groups:

Risk Group	History	Risk of Allergic Reactions to Laboratory Animals	Comment
Normal	No evidence of allergic disease	~ 10%	90% will never develop symptoms in site of repeated animal contact
Atopic	Pre-existing allergic disease	Up to 73%	Workers who become sensitized will eventually develop symptoms on exposure
Asymptomatic	IgE Ab to allergenic animal proteins	Up to 100%	Risk of developing allergic symptoms or rhinitis, asthma, or contact uticaria with continued exposure is high
Symptomatic	Clinical symptoms on exposure to allergenic animal proteins	100%	33% with chest symptoms; 10% of group might develop occupational asthma; even minimal exposure can lead to permanent impairment

Symptoms

Allergic individuals can display a variety of symptoms: allergic rhinitis (runny nose and sneezing); allergic conjunctivitis (irritation and tearing of the eyes); asthma (wheezing and shortness of breath); contact dermatitis (red, bumpy rash), or rarely anaphylaxis (ranging from mild generalized urticarial reactions to profound life-threatening reactions).

Prevention

Individuals who work with laboratory animals should be aware of the signs and symptoms of allergies and asthma. If you work with animals and start to develop any symptoms, you should report to Employee Health Services for counseling and appropriate treatment. The presence of pre-existing allergic conditions in a person (e.g., hay fever) might increase the likelihood of developing asthma in the occupational setting during exposure to laboratory animals.

The most effective way to minimize your exposure to allergens is to control your work practices. The following are steps you should take:

1. Do not wear your street clothes when working with animals; always wear dedicated, protective clothing (e.g., scrubs and lab coats)

2. If you already have allergies, wear an approved NIOSH certified N95 respirator when working with laboratory animals. Remember that, in order to wear a respiratory, you must be fit-tested by the Environmental Health & Safety.

3. Keep cages and your work area clean. The less exposure you have to animal dander and urine, the better.

4. Always wear gloves and long-sleeved lab coats when handling the animals.

5. Wash your hands after contact with the animals.

6. When possible, perform animal manipulations in a biosafety cabinet. A clean bench will not protect you- its function is to protect the animals you are working with.

If your job requires you to be exposed to something to which you are allergic, you should discuss this situation with your physician- what effect the allergy may be on your future health. Some workers are so severely affected that only a change in career will control their allergies.