Introduction
Purdue University's animal care and use program and its animal facilities are accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC). AAALAC-I is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs.
Both research and non-research animals have the potential to cause injury, transmit zoonotic disease, and/or cause allergic reactions to those who have contact. This can be either direct contact from handling an animal or just from being in close proximity, i.e., working or passing through an animal housing room. The program applies to personnel (staff members or qualified students) who in the conduct of their work in research, testing and teaching have direct contact with vertebrate animals including their tissues, body fluids, wastes and/or indirect animal aerosol exposure. Personnel who have these types of exposures need to be provided with the appropriate awareness training. Understanding routes of disease transmission, disease or allergy signs and symptoms, personal protective equipment, waste handling, and emergency contact information is very important.
In many cases a preventative annual physical examination is necessary for animal handling personnel. To accomplish this Purdue University has the Animal Exposure Occupational Health Program. Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) will be administrating this program. The first step is to re-enroll individuals into this program. Purdue University staff and students listed on the Purdue Animal Care and Use Committee (PACUC) protocols will have an opportunity to complete an Animal Exposure Risk Assessment and if circumstances warrant, a physical examination by an occupational health provider. Because this program is not mandatory, individuals have the option of declining this service. Completion and submission of the Animal Exposure Risk Assessment is required before an employee can opt out of the program. Please contact PFW EHS to begin the process if you are on a PACUC protocol.
Occupational Animal Exposure
- Both research and non-research animals have the potential to cause injury, transmit zoonotic disease, and/or cause allergic reaction to those who have contact.
- These animal hazards can occur by either direct contact from handling an animal or just by being in close proximity, i.e., working or passing through an animal housing room.
Animal Exposure
- Staff members who have indirect but close proximity exposure to animals need to be provided with the appropriate awareness training. Employees who have potential for animal exposure are those that maintain equipment, and building services staff assigned to animal housing buildings.
- Understanding routes of disease transmission, disease or allergy signs and symptoms, personal protective equipment (PPE), waste handling, and emergency contacts is very important. Your job tasks will determine your potential exposure, i.e., working on a ventilation system will have a greater exposure potential then emptying the trash. EHS can provide you with a risk assessment before your exposure to the potential hazard.
Animal Allergies
- An allergen is a substance, usually a protein that can cause your immune system to react as if you are being infected with a cold virus. Cats, rabbits, mice, rats, birds, and guinea pigs are the most frequently implicated allergy causing species.
- Exposure to animal related allergens (fur, saliva, hair, dander, and protein from urine) may occur by inhaling contaminates or by direct contact.
- Allergies develop after you have been exposed to foreign proteins. Example: after being exposed to an animal protein found in rat urine you can become sensitized (your body is ready to fight this reoccurring foreign protein). Scenario: you enter a room housing rats just like you have done many, many times before but this time your immune system recognizes the rat urine protein as an invader and is prepared for battle. Special cells called "mast cells" release chemical defense agents that have been stored up just for this occasion (notably histamine). This release of defense chemicals is what causes the hives, sneezing, nasal drainage, and shortness of breath. All people are capable of having an allergic reaction, some more so than others.
Allergy Signs and Symptoms
- Allergy symptoms include rhinitis (runny nose and sneezing similar to hay fever), conjunctivitis (irritation and tearing of the eyes), asthma, and/or dermatitis (skin reactions).
- Some people react quickly and begin having temporary symptoms within 10 -15 minutes after exposure. Others can have a delayed reaction starting several hours after exposure. There are some people, due to their genetic composition, who react by developing more severe allergy related diseases like asthma or dermatitis. Allergic reactions are implicated if symptoms are reduced or stop after leaving the workplace.
Personal Protective Equipment
- Minimize the risk of development of animal allergies or zoonotic disease by working in well-ventilated areas, using good hygiene practices (proper hand washing technique), using personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, and wearing N-95 rated dust masks, and laboratory coats or coveralls.
- PPE is the last barrier between you and the hazard. Make sure your selection fits properly and is appropriate for the job task. A typical selection of PPE includes outerwear, latex or nitrile gloves, closed-toe shoes, and perhaps a N-95 dust and vapor mask.
- EHS can recommend specific types of PPE.
Zoonotic Diseases
Many diseases can be transmitted between animals and people. These are called zoonoses. Pregnant workers can be at very high risk for certain animal diseases. Awareness, common sense, PPE, and avoidance will protect against and prevent most of these diseases.
- Rabies: a fatal central nervous system attaching virus transmitted from infected mammal saliva.
- Toxoplasmosis: a protozoan infection causing mono like symptoms in adults and horrible birth defects in the fetus.
- Leptosprirosis: a bacterial infection caused from contact with infected animal urine that causes sudden onset of headache, chills, and other flu like symptoms.
- Ascariasis: round worm infection, can cause serious problems for internal organs.
- Psitticosis: an acute chlamydial (intracellular bacteria) disease that causes fever, headache, myalgia, and pneumonia-like respiratory illness. Associated with inhaling feather dust and dried bird droppings.
- Q Fever: an airborne rickettsial (organisms smaller than bacteria) that causes chills and fever in adults and horrible birth defects for the fetus. Associated with sheep.
- In many labs research animals are infected with biohazardous agents. Does this mean you will be infected by entering a research facility? No, especially if you follow simple precautions.
Animal Exposure Do's
- Get permission to enter a research area from the Principal Investigator or lab personnel. Respect warning signs like biohazard and radiation stickers.
- Utilize the appropriate PPE. If you do not know what type of PPE to use, contact the Biosafety Officer at Purdue EHS for recommendations.
- Discard used PPE properly and wash your hands properly. Hand washing is a very simple step that is extremely important in preventing disease transmission.
- Leave everything in a research area as you found it (lights, locks, temperature, etc.).
Animal Exposure Don'ts
- Do not touch research animals. Some of the research animals are very expensive costing thousands of dollars apiece and are very sensitive to temperature changes and can catch disease from you.
- Do not handle animal waste or bedding without the appropriate PPE.
- Do not take animal soiled PPE or work clothes home. You don't want to exposure your family to animal allergens or biohazards.
- Do not enter animal areas where you are not authorized to go. Having a master key does not authorize you to go into certain animal housing areas. Always check with lab staff first.
Reporting
- Report suspect allergic reactions or zoonotic illness to your Supervisor and to EHS (Biosafety Officer). If you have signs and symptoms of an animal exposure related allergy let us know and we will send you a risk assessment form to complete.
What is Q Fever?
Ruminants such as sheep, goats, and cattle can present a significant risk to animal handlers for exposure to a highly transmittable disease causing organism known as Coxiella burnetii . In pregnant ruminants, Coxiella burnetii builds up to enormous numbers in certain tissues and fluids, i.e., the uterus or womb, the placenta, the mammary glands or udders, birth fluids, and milk. This rickettsial organism is extremely resistant to drying and can survive many months in the environment. As few as ten Coxiella burnetii microbes can cause an acute infection called Q Fever. Individuals acquire this infection by inhaling aerosols and contaminated dusts generated by animals or animal products. Animal handlers, farm workers, students, and visitors must be made aware of the potential disease development that could result from exposure to the placenta, amniotic fluids, milk, and feces from birthing ruminants.
What are the signs and symptoms of Q Fever?
Individuals can be infected with Q Fever unknowingly, or mistake their symptoms for the flu. Often, it is impossible to diagnose without laboratory tests. Q Fever strikes as a sudden illness, affecting a large number of people in the same workplace. Common signs and symptoms include:
- sudden onset of high fever
- headache
- malaise and fatigue
- nausea and/or vomiting
- chills and sweating
- general feeling of sickness and loss of appetite
More serious complications can affect the immune-compromised, individuals with heart abnormalities, and pregnant human females, i.e., endocarditis and miscarriage or premature birth. Person to person transmission occurs rarely, but contaminated clothing can transmit the organism. Individuals should notify their physician or their occupational health provider if signs and symptoms of Q Fever arise.
How can Q Fever be prevented?
Personal Protective Equipment such as OB Sleeved gloves, nitrile gloves, N-95 dust mask, and protective outerwear should be available for individuals exposed to ruminants, especially during birthing procedures. Hands should always be washed with a disinfectant soap immediately after contact with the animals, tissues, or wastes.
Surfaces contaminated by ruminant birthing fluids and tissues can be decontaminated with a 1 to 10 bleach and water solution. Contaminated bedding can be composted and tissues can be incinerated or buried. Take care not to produce dust when cleaning and/or decontaminating. If dust production in unavoidable, the use of a properly fitting N-95 dust mask is suggested.
Be aware of the sources of Q Fever; especially fluids and tissues from pregnant ruminants. Only allow authorized individuals who have been made aware of the potential biohazards to enter the ruminant housing and birthing area.
Animal Exposure Occupational Health Program
Both research and non-research animals have the potential to cause injury, transmit zoonotic disease like Q Fever, and/or cause allergic reaction to those who have contact. This can be either direct contact from handling an animal or just from being in close proximity, i.e., working or passing through an animal housing room. In many cases a preventative annual physical examination is necessary for animal handling personnel. To accomplish this Purdue University has the Animal Exposure Occupational Health Program.
Ruminant Standard Operation Procedure
- In the laboratory setting, handlers of female ruminants should work under BSL2 conditions.
- Q Fever awareness training for staff, students, and visitors who have contact with ruminants, especially potentially pregnant human females and individuals with heart conditions.
- Personal Protective Equipment should be available for individuals exposed to ruminants, especially during birthing procedures, i.e., OB Sleeved gloves, nitrile gloves, protective outerwear.
- Hands should always be washed with disinfectant soap immediately after contact with the animals, tissues, or wastes.
- Dust reduction methods for cleaning should be utilized.
- Surfaces that come in contact with amniotic fluids can be decontaminated with a 1 to 10 ratio of household bleach with water.
- Placental tissue and contaminated bedding should be appropriately disposed so that it does not present a hazard or releasing Coxiella organisms into the environment, i.e., incineration, burying, or composting.
- Only authorized individuals should be allowed in the animal housing and birthing area.
- Individuals should notify their physician or their occupational health provider if signs and symptoms of Q Fever arise.
- Animal handling staff should participate in the Animal Exposure Occupational Health Program (Contact PFW EHS).
If there any questions concerning this SOP contact Heather Boudreau of the Purdue Animal Care and Use Committee (PACUC).
An animal bite or exposure is defined as having one's skin pierced or abraded by animal teeth or claws, or by coming in contact with animal saliva or tissue on abraded skin, eyes, or mucus membranes. Bites and scratches are potentially dangerous not only from the physical damage but also for the potential of contracting zoonotic disease or allergic reactions.
To protect from animal bites and scratches, employees should utilize sedation, anesthesia or a restraining device when possible. They should also use the proper animal handling procedures for the species. Also, be aware of the animals comfort zone and how far it can reach out to bite or scratch.
Since animals can bite through latex gloves, employees should use a thicker over-gloves when appropriate. Employees should also consider using a two-person team for complex procedures.
Animal Bite Related Diseases
- Pasteurellosis: The most common bite-associated infection is caused by a bacterium called Pasteurella . Most cats and dogs-even healthy ones-naturally carry this organism in their mouths. When an animal bites a person, these bacteria can enter the wound and start an infection. The first signs of pasteurellosis usually occur within 2 to 12 hours of the bite and include pain, reddening, and swelling of the area around the site of the bite. Pasteurellosis can progress quickly, spreading through the body from the bitten area. Untreated, this infection can lead to severe complications. Bites to the hand need special attention; if pasteurellosis develops in the tissues of the hand, the bacteria can infect tendons or even bones and sometimes cause permanent damage if appropriate medical care is not administered promptly.
- Rat-Bite Fever: Rat-bite fever is caused by Streptobacillus monilformis or Spirillum mino; these organisms are in the respiratory tracts and mouths of rodents, especially rats. Most human infections are the result of a bite wound. Symptoms include chills, fever, malaise, headache and muscle pain. A rash can develop along with painful joints, abscesses, endocarditis, pneumonia, hepatitis pyelonephritis, and enteritis.
- Rabies: Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. Domestic animals account for less than 10% of the reported rabies cases, with cats, cattle, and dogs most often reported rabid.
Rabies virus infects the central nervous system, causing encephalopathy and ultimately death. Early symptoms of rabies in humans are nonspecific, consisting of fever, headache, and general malaise. As the disease progresses, neurological symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation (foaming at the mouth), difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia. Death usually occurs within days of the onset of symptoms.
Animal Bite Monitoring
Potential exposure to serious zoonotic diseases, such as rabies, is monitored by the Indiana State Department of Health, and by the Purdue Animal Exposure Occupational Health Program (AEOHP). Animal bites are a state reportable health event. The Indiana State Department of Health "Animal Bite Report - Report of Rabies Prophylaxis" form must be completed by the health care provider. You must also complete the First Report of Injury form.
Bite Prevention: Laboratory
- Species specific animal handling techniques are taught by the Laboratory Animal Program veterinary staff and the animal facility management staff.
- Rabies prevention post bite steps do not apply to laboratory rodents, i.e., rats, mice, rabbits, or hamsters.
- If possible, direct handling of wild animals or any animals suspected of being infected should be avoided by using tongs, bite gloves, squeeze cages, shields, or other protective equipment.
- Animals known to be aggressive should always be handled by a minimum of two people.
Bite Prevention: Non-Laboratory
- Do not approach or try to pet or handle strange dogs, cats, squirrels, raccoons, possums, bats, or other wild animals.
- Avoid injured animals or animals that are behaving oddly, (staggering or nocturnal animal sighted during the day).
- Report animals that are demonstrating odd behavior to the local animal control officer.
Post Bite Procedures
- Bite incidents may require that the animal be quarantined, especially if the animal's vaccination history is unknown. If possible, confine the animal to prevent any further injuries and to allow quarantine or immediate rabies testing. It is important to have the name and address of the animal's owner so that EHS can conduct follow-up procedures. If ownership is unknown, record the address where the bite occurred so the local animal control officer can begin a search.
- If the bite breaks the skin, treat it as a minor wound. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, apply an antibiotic cream, and cover it with a clean bandage. If the bite creates a deep puncture or the skin is badly torn and bleeding, apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
- Seek medical attention right away for any animal bite or injury. Based on the information gathered, a post exposure prophylaxis recommendation will be developed by the health care provider.
- Immediately report the incident to the facility animal care supervisor, Laboratory Animal Program, EHS, and the Principal Investigator.
Animal Exposure Occupational Health Program
Both research and non-research animals have the potential to cause bite or scratch injury, transmit zoonotic diseases, and/or cause allergic reaction to those who have contact. Zoonotic diseases and animal allergies can occur from either direct contact from handling an animal or being in close proximity, i.e., working or passing through an animal housing room. In many cases a preventative annual physical examination is necessary for animal handling personnel. To accomplish this Purdue University has the Animal Exposure Occupational Health Program.
Questions
If you have questions concerning animal bites, contact PFW EHS or Purdue's PACUC Staff.
