ZOONOSES AND THE ROLE OF THE WILDLIFE VETERINARIAN
Veterinarians working with Australian mammals should be aware of the potential for zoonotic disease transmission and should be aware of the pathogens that may be present in animals with which they work.
Veterinarians have reporting responsibilities and play an important role in improving awareness of zoonoses associated with wildlife and in encouraging practices that minimise the risk of disease transmission.Some zoonoses are notifiable to government authorities when identified in animals. Veterinarians should consult both national and state/territory lists of notifiable diseases to ensure they meet mandatory reporting requirements. Many major zoonoses are notifiable to public health authorities when diagnosed in people.
Doctors are aware of common zoonoses associated with domestic animals, but may be less familiar with those carried by wildlife. There is a recognised need for promotion of awareness and management of zoonoses by doctors and they may not ask questions relating to wildlife exposure when investigating illness with non-specific signs (Warwick and Corning 2013). Delays in diagnosis and appropriate treatment may be avoided if patients are aware of the risk and alert doctors themselves. Veterinarians’ knowledge of zoonotic diseases associated with wildlife can be a valuable resource for medical professionals.
1.1 Zoonoses risk minimisation practices
Table 16.1 lists work practices that minimise the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. Each organisation or work place whose workers engage in repeated or close contact with Australian mammals, whether free-ranging or in care, should develop guidelines that inform people of the zoonotic risks and outline safe work practices to avoid infection. It is important to recognise that many zoonotic diseases may be acquired from healthy carrier animals, so minimum practices such as hand washing should be applied in every situation.
Additional preventative practices should be applied for specific identified disease risks and when working around sick animals (Reiss and Woods 2011; AVA 2017). Occupational exposure to potential wildlife-associated zoonoses most frequently involves exposure to animal faeces and body fluids and receiving scratches or bites (Garland-Lewis et al. 2017). Having PPE stocked and readily available, having specific PPE kits for use during necropsies and in remote field settings and having zoonotic disease safety reviews were identified as significant factors in promoting zoonotic risk reduction behaviour among wildlife professionals (Bosch et al. 2013).Table 16.1. Zoonoses risk minimisation practices
Personal hygiene practices and use of PPE
• Wash hands after handling animals and before eating or drinking
• Cover cuts and abrasions with a waterproof dressing
• Wear gloves if there is risk of contact with body fluids, faeces or animal tissues
• Wear protective clothing and personal insect repellent if there is risk of insect vector transmission
• Use protective clothing such as overalls or apron, long sleeves, protective gloves and mask, eye protection or face shield when conducting a necropsy
• Wear an N95 mask where there is an identified airborne infection risk
• Shower after working with animals
• Wash and disinfect any PPE that will be reused
• Report exposure to Australian mammals when seeking prompt medical advice for wounds or illness
Additional human health protection measures
• Vaccination if at risk of identified disease (e.g. Q fever or ABLV)
• Post-exposure prophylaxis (ABLV)
• Regular screening for exposure to identified disease risks (e.g. tuberculosis in pinnipeds)
Animal management practices
• Prevent contact between domestic animals and native mammals in human care where possible
• Use appropriate restraint (physical or chemical) when handling Australian mammals to avoid bites and scratches
• Isolate potentially infective or sick animals and avoid or reduce contact with them
• Ensure proper disposal of animal waste products, carcasses and bedding
• Disinfect animal bags, cages, feeding utensils etc.
• Seek veterinary investigation of unexplained wildlife illnesses and deaths
2.