Brucellosis*
Bacteria

Genus Species Brucella (B. melitensis, B. abortus, B. suis, B. canis )
Host Range Infected animals (swine, cattle, goats, sheep, dogs)
Transmission Skin or mucous membrane contact with infected animals, their blood, tissue, and other body fluids
Symptoms High and protracted (extended) fever. Infection affects bone, heart, gallbladder, kidney, spleen, and causes highly disseminated lesions and abscess
Incubation 1-15 weeks
Fact Most commonly reported U.S. laboratory-associated bacterial infection in man
Treatment Antibiotic combination: streptomycina, tetracycline, and sulfonamides
Salmonellosis
Bacteria

Genus Species Salmonella (S. cholera-suis, S. enteriditis, S. typhymurium, S. typhi)
Host Range Domestic (dogs, cats, monkeys, rodents, laboratory rodents, rep-tiles [especially “turtles], chickens and fish) and herd animals” (cattle, chickens, pigs)
Transmission Direct contact as well as indirect consumption (eggs, food vehicles using eggs, etc.). Human to “human transmission also possible”
Symptoms Mild gastroenteritiis (diarrhea) to high fever, severe headache, and spleen enlargement. May lead to focal infection in any organ or tissue of the body)
Incubation 6 hours to 3 days
Fact Fatality rate of 5-10%
Treatment Antibiotic combination: chloramphenicol, neomycin, ampicillin
Shigellosis*
Bacteria

Genus Species All Shigella species
Host Range Captive non-human primates
Transmission Oral-fecal route
Symptoms Ranges from asymptomatic carrier to severe bacillary dysentery with high fevers, weakness, severe abdominal cramps, prostration, edema of the “face and neck, and diarrhea with blood, mucous and inflammatory” cells
Incubation Varies by species. 16 hours to 7 days.
Fact Highly infective. Low number of organisms capable of causing infection. Rate of “infection in imported monkeys can be high”
Treatment Intravenous fluids and electrolytes, Antibiotics: amoxicillin, “trimethoprin- sulfamethoxazole”
Leptospirosis
Bacteria

Genus Species Leptospira interrogans
Host Range Animal, human urine
Transmission Direct contact with urine of infected dogs, mice or rats. Indirect contact with urine “contaminated materials. Droplet transmission via” aerosols of urine
Symptoms Phase 1: headache, muscle ache, eye pain with bright lights, chills and fever. Phase 2: fever with stiffness of the neck and inflammation of the nerves to the eyes, brain, spinal column
Incubation 7-12 Days
Fact Leptospirosis associated with liver and kidney disease is “called Weil’s syndrome,” characterized by jaundice
Treatment Doxycycline and penicillin. Severely ill patients may need IV “fluids, antibiotics and dialysis”
Relapsing fever
Bacteria

Genus Species Borreliae spp. [B. recurrentis (louse- borne), B. hemsii (tick-borne)]
Host Range Animals
Transmission Tick-borne, blood transfusions
Symptoms Fever, headache and muscle pain that lasts 4-10 days and subsides. Afebrile period lasting 5-6 days followed by a recurrence of acute symptoms
Incubation 5-15 days
Fact Epidemic relapsing fever (transmitted by lice) is more severe than endemic relapsing fever (transmitted by ticks)
Treatment Tetracyclines, chloramphenicol
Tuberculosis
Bacteria

Genus Species Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Host Range Primarily humans, cattle, non-human primates, other animals (rodents)
Transmission Inhalation of aerosol droplets, contaminated equipment, bites
Symptoms Ranges from fever and fatigue to chronic pulmonary disease (fatal). Lungs, kidney, vasculature (affects all parts of body)
Incubation 2-5 weeks
Fact Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) is an infection resistant to at least two first-line anti- TB drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin
Treatment Isoniazid, rifampin, streptomycin, and ethambutol
Melioidosis*
Bacteria

Genus Species Burkholderia pseudomallei ( formerly Pseudomonas pseudomallei )
Host Range Equines, especially horses and mules; humans are accidental hosts
Transmission Transmitted by inhaling dust contaminated by the bacteria and when contaminated soil comes in contact with abraded skin
Symptoms Cholera-like symptoms (fever, chills, prostration). Skin lesions, swollen lymph glands, abscesses septicemia or pneumonia
Incubation 2-4 days
Fact Relatively uncommon disease for humans, but when left untreated, has 95% fatality rate
Treatment Chloramphenicol, doxycycline, sulfisoxazole, or cotrimoxazole. IV chloramphenicol for bacteremia
Tularemia*
Bacteria

Genus Species Francisella tularensis
Host Range Isolated from 100 species of wild animals (e.g., rabbits, skunk), 9 domestic mammals, 25 species of birds, frogs, and reptiles
Transmission Arthropods, direct or indirect contact, ingestion of contaminated meats, inhalation of dust, materials contaminated with urine, feces or tissues, bites and scratches
Symptoms High fever, chills, headache, focal ulcers, swollen lymph nodes
Incubation 1-10 days
Fact Bacterium formerly known as Pasteurella tularensis
Treatment Streptomycin, tetracycline
Herpesvirus
Virus

Genus Species Herpesvirus Type 1 (fever blister, cold sore) and Type 2 (genital herpes), Herpesvirus hominis, Herpes simiae (Herpes B)
Host Range Human, non-human primates
Transmission Produce latent infections in host and frequently shed without overt lesions
Symptoms Frequently asymptomatic. May have vesicular lesions, neurological or flu- like symptoms
Incubation 5 days to 1 month
Fact Herpes simiae is 100% fatal if untreated; Herpes Types 1 and 2 are not fatal but cause chronic infection from recurrences
Treatment Acyclovir or valcyclovir will arrest the virus but will not eliminate virus from the host
Poxvirus*
Virus

Genus Species Monkeypox, vaccinia, cowpox, buffalopox, cantagalo, and aracatuba viruses
Host Range Non-human primates, swine, cattle, horses, birds
Transmission Direct skin contact with lesions on infected animals
Symptoms Localized lesions, rash, fever, sore throat, malaise, encephalitis
Incubation Generally: 5-10 days after infection
Fact Poxviruses are the largest and most complex viruses
Treatment smallpox vaccine, cidofovir, and vaccinia immune globulin (VIG)
Rabies Virus
Virus

Genus Species Rhabdoviridae, genus Lyssavirus
Host Range Natural reservoir: bats. All mammals: wild animals (raccoons, rodents, foxes, etc.) “domestic animals (dogs, cats) and” humans
Transmission Animal bite, contact with infected saliva or tissue
Symptoms Headache, fever, malaise, nervousness, dilation of pupils, salivation, excessive perspiration, insomnia, paralysis of throat “muscles, inability to swallow, convulsions, seizures, generalized” paralysis and death
Incubation 3-8 weeks
Fact Untreated, the fatality rate is 100%; Post- exposure treatment is effective until day 6 post- infection
Treatment Antirabies vaccine before clinical onset of symptoms; post-exposure treatment “with rabies immune globulin & vaccine”
Viral Hemorrhagic Fever*
Virus

Genus Species Multiple species: Filoviridae ; Ebola virus, Lassa virus, Marburg virus
Host Range Humans, non-human primates (Cynomolgous monkeys)
Transmission Contact with blood and body fluids of infected animals
Symptoms Severe fever, sore throat, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, hemorrhage and death
Incubation 2-21 days (5-12 days in most cases)
Fact 50-90% fatality rate for Ebola virus; 25% mortality rate for Marburg virus; 15-20% mortality for Lassa fever virus
Treatment No vaccines; Treatment directed at maintaining renal function, electrolyte “balance and combating hemorrhage and” shock
Arboviral infections*
Virus

Genus Species Multiple species: Togaviridae, Flaviviridae, Bunyaviridae, Arenaviridae
Host Range Ticks, insects, infected animals (deer, birds, rodents, etc.)
Transmission Ticks, insects, blood transfusion
Symptoms Various: viremia, lymphadenapothy leading to systemic infection. Can involve CNS (encephalitis), skin/bone marrow/blood vessels (hemorrhagic fevers)
Incubation Multiple Ranges; 14-25 days (Avg. 18 days) post infection
Fact Causes: Rift Valley fever, Denque fever, Yellow fever; Sandfly (Hantavirus) fever; Omsk hemorrhagic fever, and West Nile virus infections
Treatment No vaccines for most (except yellow fever virus), no known antivirals; supportive treatment only
Viral Hepatitis
Virus

Genus Species Hepatitis A, B, C, D (delta), E, F, G
Host Range Humans, non-human primates (chimpanzee, wooly monkey, gorilla, “Celebes ape, some marmosets”
Transmission Close contact with infected animals or materials
Symptoms Fever, anorexia, vague abdominal discomfort, nausea and vomiting, sometimes arthralgias and rash, “often progressing to jaundice; fever may be absent or mild”
Incubation 3-6 weeks
Fact Hepatitis A has no carrier state; Hepatitis B 20% chronic; “Hepatitis C 85% chronic”
Treatment Vaccines for Hepatitis A and B only. Treatment with alpha “inter-feron and intra-venous immuno-” globulins (HBIG)
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM)
Virus

Genus Species Multiple arenaviruses
Host Range Rodents (hamsters, mice, guinea pigs), monkeys and humans
Transmission Infected mice excrete virus in saliva, urine and feces; man infected through inhalation of aerosolized particles of (urine, feces or saliva) contaminated with virus
Symptoms Biphasic febrile illness, mild influenza like illness or occasionally meningeal or meningoencephalomyelitic symptoms, transverse myelitis
Incubation 15-21 days
Fact 46 documented laboratory-acquired cases with 5 deaths; cases also reported arising from contaminated cell lines
Treatment No specific treatment; anti-inflammatory drugs may be useful; No known vaccines
Vesicular Stomatitis*
Virus

Genus Species Multiple strains of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) Rhabdoviridiae
Host Range Bovine, equine, porcine animals.
Transmission Probably arthropod-borne via the bite of an infected sandfly, mosquito or blackfly; by direct contact with infected animals (vesicular fluid, saliva)
Symptoms Infuenza-like illness, malaise, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting
Incubation 24-48 hours
Fact Documented hazard to personnel (45 laboratory-acquired infections before 1980) handling infected livestock, tissues and virulent isolates
Treatment Virus is self-limiting and illness is short in duration. (3-6 days)
Sub-viral Agents and Related Diseases (i.e., Scrapie)*
non-RNA/DNA Infectious Protein Virus- like particle

Genus Species Transmissable Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE): BSE and vCJD (vCreutzfeld- Jacob Disease)
Host Range Adult sheep goats, and cows can infect humans
Transmission Ingestion or handling of brain tissue or unfixed brain cells from infected animals
Symptoms Degeneration of the nervous system, severe variable alteration of the grey matter of the brain
Incubation 2-5 years
Fact The agent responsible for TSE’s is smaller than the smallest known virus and has not been completely characterized
Treatment There are no known treatments or vaccines for these TSE’s
Amoebic Dysentery
Parasite (protozoa)

Genus Species Entamoeba histolytica
Host Range Monkeys can readily transmit the agent to humans
Transmission Food, water, fomites, insects. Fecal-oral route. Cyst is resistant to drying
Symptoms

Frequent passage of feces/stool, loose stools and vomiting. Variations depending on parasites. Can be frequent urge with high or low volume of stool, with or without some associated mucus and even blood
Incubation 2 days to several months to even years
Fact Harmless amoebas can live in the intestines for years without causing symptoms. Attacks can last from a few days to weeks
Treatment Antiamebic drugs (Iodoquinol, metronidazole) and antibiotics to treat associated bacterial infections
Giardiasis
Giardiasis

Genus Species Giardia lamblia
Host Range Dogs, monkeys
Transmission Drinking contaminated water, person-to-person “contact, eating contaminated food, and” direct contact with infected animals
Symptoms Ranges from asymptomatic to nausea, fatigue, anorexia, severe diarrhea and high fever
Incubation 3-25 days
Fact Most common waterborne diarrheal disease in humans
Treatment Quinacrine hydrochloride, “metronidazole, tinidazole,” albendazole and furazolidone
Balantadidiasis
Parasite (protozoa)

Genus Species Balantidium coli
Host Range Monkeys, pigs, and other nonhuman primates readily transmitted to humans
Transmission Direct contact with feces, person-to-person transmission
Symptoms Ranges from asymptomatic to severe diarrhea
Incubation 4-5 days
Fact Cysts survive for long periods in the environment
Treatment Tetracycline, Iodoquinol, metronidazole
Malaria
Parasite (protozoa)

Genus Species Plasmodium species: P. falciparum “P. vivax P. ovale P. malariae”
Host Range Anopheles mosquito
Transmission Mosquito bite
Symptoms Fever, chills sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, anemia, bloody stools, jaundice, convulsion, coma
Incubation 10 days to 4 weeks after infection; symptoms then cycle every 48 days
Fact A malaria vaccine has been developed and is being tested in Africa. Results are promising
Treatment Chloroquine, primaquine phosphate, Malorone
Toxoplasmosis
Parasite (protozoa)

Genus Species Toxoplasma gondii
Host Range Amazing lack of host specificity. Primates, “carnivores (felines), rodents, birds, undulates”
Transmission Consuming under-cooked infected meats; ingestion “of oocysts in milk, food or water; inhalation of oocysts;-contact with soil” containing contaminated cat feces;
Symptoms Localized lymphadenopathy accompanied with fever, sore throat, rash, pneumonitis, myocarditis, and encephalitis
Incubation 10-23 days following “ingestion of contaminated meats, or” inhalation of aerosols
Fact Affects one third of the human race. “Especially infective to immunosupressed individuals”
Treatment Sulfonomides (sulfadiazene, “sulfamerazine, sulfamethazine), pyrimethamine”
Ascariasis (Roundworm)
Nematode

Genus Species Multiple Ascaris species (A. lumbricoides, A. suum )
Host Range Pigs; Humans are the definitive host
Transmission Ingestion of contaminated food or water
Symptoms Lung damage, intestinal symptoms
Incubation 4 to 8 weeks
Fact Ascaris lumbricoidesis the “largest and, globally, the most widespread of all human intestinal” roundworms
Treatment Pyrantel pamoate, mebendazole, surgery for removal in lung tissue
Visceral Larval Migrans (VLM)
Nematode

Genus Species Nematodes of the Toxocara genus (T. canis, T. felis )
Host Range Dogs, cats
Transmission Ingestion of eggs through direct contact with feces or contaminated materials
Symptoms Fever, cough, wheezing, itching/irritation associated with migration of nematodes into tissues. Ocular migration may cause blindness
Incubation 4 to 7 weeks
Fact More than 80% of all puppies in the U.S. are infected with this nematode
Treatment Usually a self-limiting disease–treatment only given in severe cases (glucocorticoids and bronchodilators for pulmonary disease)
Strongyloidiasis
Nematode

Genus Species Strongyloides stercoralis
Host Range Dogs, cats, monkeys
Transmission Careless handling of contaminated fecal materials
Symptoms Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rash. Less commonly, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and cough. Severe infection can cause severe tissue damage, systemic damage of various tissues in the body and potential death
Incubation skin 7 hours; lung 1 week; intestines 2 wks; average 4-21 days
Fact The parasite penetrates the skin and migrates to the lungs. Then it travels up to the mouth and is swallowed into the intestinal tract
Treatment Ivermectin with Albendazole as the alternative
Trichinosis
Nematode

Genus Species Trichinella spiralis
Host Range Generally pigs or cattle
Transmission Eating undercooked flesh of animals infected with the larvae
Symptoms Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, neurological disorders, possible cardiac involvement
Incubation Abdominal symptoms: 1- 2 days. “Further symptoms 2-8” weeks after infection
Fact Over 100 species of animals may be a host of this parasite
Treatment Thiabendazole (Mintezol), Albendazole “(Albenza), Mebendazole” (Vermox), Prednisone

*Images were obtained from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 08/2008