A zoonosis is a disease transmitted from non-human vertebrates to humans. It appears likely that every vertebrate species carries one or more kinds of organisms that can be pathogenic to humans, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and ‘worms’. For some zoonoses, an invertebrate vector carries the pathogen from other animals to humans.

Some zoonoses are of particular concern. Although it is not a common disease, rabies can be contracted from most mammals, and it is invariably fatal. Baylisascaris procyonis, a roundworm whose host is raccoons, can be fatal if ingested by other animals including humans. Other zoonoses can also result in serious illness or death in humans, particularly in the very young, the elderly, and those with compromised immunity.

Rabies vector species (RVS’s) are species in which there is a ‘reservoir’ of rabies in the wild. RVS’s are defined by the relevant governmental agency; in North America RVS’s typically include skunks, foxes, raccoons, coyotes and bats. These species should NEVER be accepted into rehabilitation, unless any person who may possibly contact them has had pre-exposure vaccinations and has current antibody titre measurements.

The risk of contracting most zoonoses can be minimized with the use of excellent hygiene. Hands should be thoroughly washed immediately after handling animals, their waste, or anything touched by them or their waste. Animal bedding, substrate, utensils, etc. should be strictly segregated from household areas and/or thoroughly disinfected.

Some zoonoses are reportable -- that is, governmental jurisdictions may require that licensed health professionals (veterinarians and physicians) report the disease (in an animal or in a human) to the appropriate authority. The particulars depend on regulations of the relevant jurisdiction.

Rabies is a prime example of a reportable disease; West Nile Virus is another example that may be encountered in rehabilitating wildlife.

Requirements for reporting diseases do not generally distinguish whether an animal is domestic or wild. In most cases, rehabilitators should not attempt to treat any animal with a reportable disease.

An international organization overseeing animal epidemics is Office International des Epizooties. In 2002, there were 162 member countries. The OIE is mainly concerned with diseases that affect food animals (including invertebrates), but also with pathogens transmissible to humans. OIE maintains a list of diseases of concern, categorized by animal (vertebrates and invertebrates). Updates can be found through the multilingual OIE website, at http://www.oie.int/eng/en_index.htm

 

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