Mandy Paterson Principal Scientist

HELPING ANIMALS • ENLIGHTENING PEOPLE • CHANGING LIVES

Zoonosis: the facts,

dispelling myths and

protecting ourselves

Zoonoses

• Diseases transmitted animals to humans

• Direct or indirect (through an insect)

• Animal carers at greater risk

• Saliva, blood, excretions, secretions

• Healthy animals can still transmit disease

Zoonoses prevention

• Good personal hygiene

• Using PPE when necessary

• Prompt recognition of disease/potential

• Prompt diagnosis and treatment

• Appropriate handling of animals

• Cleaning of environment

• Vaccinations where applicable

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• There is no one meaning for the term PPE

• Appropriate PPE varies with situation, e.g. with mode of disease transmission, virulence, animal involved, etc.

• Ensure have necessary PPE available.

Australian Bat Lyssa Virus (ABLV)

Bats Humans

Signs:

Maybe none, or

Muscular weakness

Difficulty flying

Neurological signs (<20%)

Aggression

Depression

Found on ground

Away from roost trees

Secrete virus in:

Saliva

Neural tissue

Become infected through:

Bite or scratch

Saliva or neural tissue

contacts mucous

membranes or broken skin

Signs:

Serious condition

Delirium, convulsions,

paralysis & death

Not from urine, faeces

or blood, or flying bats

overhead

ABLV: some facts

Occurs in Australia only

May occur in all bat species

Incidence in free-flying Bats <1%

↑ incidence in sick, traumatised or orphaned

(recently reported as high as 6.7%)

Incidence in bats with neurological signs: ≈ 33%

May be increasing - may be artefact of testing

No survey to check its existence in other mammals

ABLV: some facts

• ABLV is a notifiable disease (human and animals)

• Human exposure is notifiable in QLD

• 2 horses confirmed with ABLV

• 2 adults and 1 child died from ABLV

• No person has died who has received post-exposure prophylaxis

Public perceptions & risks

• High public awareness of ABLV and bats

• High awareness not to handle bats

BUT

• 20% indicated would handle injured bat

• 17% indicated would use bare hands

• 14% indicated would ignore minor scratches

• Young males at greatest risk of handling bats

ABLV and pets

• Domestic pets may be exposed to ABLV and could pose a health risk to humans

• Australian Government assumes this potential is true

• Rabies vac thought to work for pets

• No treatment once clinical signs develop

ABLV and pets

AUSVETPLAN 2009 recommends testing of a bat following exposure to a domestic animal

Options for vets/ pet owner:

- Vaccinate pet

- Observe under formal or informal quarantine

- Euthanase pet

Carer: no legal obligation for euthanasia bat

Carer: moral obligation to provide good advice to pet owner

Disease prevention

• No un-vaccinated person should ever interact with a bat

• Careful handling of all bats

• Great personal hygiene & cover cuts/broken skin etc.

• Wearing appropriate PPE

- Puncture proof gloves

- Neoprene gauntlets

- Face shield

https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/forms-and-

resources/videos/safe-bat-handling

Dispelling myths

• Even if vaccinated, if bitten or scratched you must seek medical help as you may need further vaccinations

• Bites and scratches do not have to draw blood to be dangerous

• Even if the bat appears well it may have ABLV

• Even dead bats may be contagious

ABLV: potential exposure

Category I

Touching,

feeding, licks

to intact skin

Category II or III

Nibbling of skin, scratches, abrasions, bites,

contamination of mucous membranes with

saliva, licks on broken skin

No prophylaxis if

history accurate

Previously immunised

2 doses of IM vaccine

on day 0 and 3

HRIG not needed

Not previously immunised

HRIG once on day 0

4 doses on IM vaccine on

day 0, 3, 7 & 14

If continuing to handle

bats then continue with

routine vaccinations

Hendra

Bats

Secrete virus in:

Urine

Faeces

Saliva

Birthing fluid

Ingest virus in:

Contaminated food

Inhale virus from:

Contaminated

environment

From another horse:

Infectious body

fluids

Close contact with horse:

Secretions

Excretions

Tissue

Blood

Horses

No signs

of illness Incubation: 5-16 days

Shed Virus: before signs appear

Signs: Vague, rapid onset, fever,

↑ HR, ↑ RR, discomfort,

neurological signs, nasal

discharge

Incubation: 5-21 days

Signs: Flu-like symptoms

> 50% Fatality

Horses Humans