vphj issue 2/2014
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VetPubHealth Journal ISSUE 2 IVSA Standing Committee on One Health May 2014
IVSA Standing Committee on One Health
meets Spring!
Editorial by Theofanis Liatis
Public Health within IPSF by Sheena Patel
Why donkey milk? by Nikoleta Makri
Anthrax: a potential threat of animals and human life by Arslan Mehboob
Working and therapeutic animals as potential carriers of bacterial pathogens by Tina Zitnik Oitzl, Mateja Naralockik
Table of Contents...
Think globally, act locally
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VetPubHealth Journal ISSUE 2 IVSA Standing Committee on One Health May 2014
Editorial...
The VetPubHealth Journal (VPHJ) Edition
Editors Team: Bastola Sirjan, Nakade Mangesh, Ntemka Katerina, Yablonovich Ilana Designer & Chief Editor: Liatis Theofanis
A publication of the Standing Committee on One Health (SCOH) of International Veterinary Students’ Association (IVSA)
https://www.facebook.com/thescoh [email protected] ©2014
Dear readers,
We are very glad that you welcomed the 1st VPHJ of SCOH in February 2014. Our goal
was achieved. Many articles from all over the world were published in order to give a taste
of Public/One Health throughout the world and of course vet’s role in it.
In this issue, you can find very interesting articles and a great article of Sheena Patel, the Chairperson
of Public Health of IPSF (International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation).
IVSA/SCOH is going to collaborate formally with IPSF and our pharmaceutical colleagues in order to
promote the interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of many joint sectors and especially
Antimicrobial Resistance.
I also would like to thank Sheena, as I was invited to write an article for IPSF’s journal.
Please guys, entertain yourselves!
Friendly,
Theofanis K. Liatis
Chief Editor
Veterinary Public Health Director of IVSA
Chairman of Standing Committee on One Health 2013/2014
VetPubHealth Journal ISSUE 2 IVSA Standing Committee on One Health May 2014
VetPubHealth Journal ISSUE 2 IVSA Standing Committee on One Health May 2014
PUBLIC HEALTH WITHIN IPSF
International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation
By Sheena Patel, IPSF Chairperson of Public Health 2013/2014
IPSF Collaboration
Hello everyone! My name is Sheena Patel
and I am the current Chairperson of
Public Health within International Phar-
maceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF). I
am currently a Pharmacy Student at
Wilkes University in United States of
America. I will be graduating school this
May, so VERY excited for this!! IPSF now
represents more than 350,000 pharmacy
students and recent graduates in 70
countries worldwide. IPSF is the leading
international advocacy organization of
pharmacy students promoting improved
public health through provision of infor-
mation, education, networking, and a
range of publication and professional
activities.
So my role is mostly focused on
Public Health. I help our members edu-
cate patients all over the world on seven
Public Health Campaigns. These seven
Projects have been selected based on
prevalence of each issue. The Public
Health Campaigns IPSF focuses on are
the Humanitarian Campaign, Medicine
Awareness Campaign, Anti-Counterfeit
Drug Campaign, Diabetes and Healthy
Living Campaign, HIV/AIDS Campaign,
Tobacco Awareness Campaign, and Anti-
Tuberculosis Campaign.
In the Humanitarian Campaign we
chose three international projects to
support, the Vampire Cup, PLAN, and
Books for Africa. The Vampire Cup is a
competition where countries all over the
world compete to raise the most num-
ber of units of blood. The country within
IPSF that raises the most number of units
of blood will win the Vampire Cup.
Books for Africa is where IPSF members
can donate Pharmacy textbooks to stu-
dents in Africa who may not have access
to these resources. PLAN aims to im-
prove the quality of life for deprived chil-
dren in developing countries. IPSF mem-
bers can support Plan’s efforts through
one-time donations, sponsoring a child,
or purchasing “gifts of hope.”
This year for the Medicine
Awareness Campaign we are focusing on
issues that are important to one of our
main external Public Health partners, the
World Health Organization. They have
felt that this year anti-microbial re-
sistance and non-medical use of prescrip-
tion drugs are an issue. So we have
asked our members through a ‘Mission
Impossible’ concept to educate patients
on how to prevent these two issues. The
members will create a video of them
carrying out this mission which we will
be showcased during our World Con-
gress held in Porto, Portugal this July/
August.
Anti-Counterfeit Drugs Campaign
is self-explanatory in the fact that we
want to educate students and Pharma-
cists on counterfeit medications. This
year we are asking our members to
share a picture of themselves wearing
yellow t-shirts and forming the letter ‘X.’
They will include a small summary of
their activities with their picture. All of
this will be posted on a map under the
ACDC section of Public Health on the
IPSF website.
For each of our Awareness Cam-
paigns we did a different project. For
example for Diabetes and Healthy Living
Campaign we had members share pic-
tures from their Diabetes events on Fa-
cebook, while members wrote an essay
on discrimination for our HIV/AIDS
Campaign. In the Anti-Tuberculosis
Campaign, we are having members cre-
ate a poster on the importance of Tu-
berculosis to our patients and our mem-
bers. Finally for IPSF’s Tobacco Aware-
ness Campaign we are having members
create a short video on our fight against
Tobacco.
“I want to keep the mem-
bers active in Public
Health…”
As you can see we are very busy
within Public Health in IPSF. I want to
keep the members active in Public
Health not only to be involved in the
organization, but also be involved in pa-
tient care. A Pharmacists’ role is chang-
ing towards a more patient centered
treatment. At the center of this change is
Public Health. In order to help treat pa-
tients with medications Public Health is
needed. It provides the awareness aspect
as well as the patient interaction of Phar-
macist oriented care. This is just one
aspect that helps unify and strengthen
the role of the Pharmacist on a global
scale.
Thank you for taking the time to
read my summary of my role as IPSF
Chairperson of Public Health! I hope this
inspires you to get involved in Public
Health not only in IVSA, but also in your
local association!
“Public Health Rocks!”
VetPubHealth Journal ISSUE 2 IVSA Standing Committee on One Health May 2014
TUBERCULOSIS IN INDIA By Kelvin Momanyi, IVSA India
Zoonoses
Tuberculosis is a chronic disease of Human
being as well as animal species caused by bacteria of
the genus Mycobacterium. It is characterized by de-
velopment of tubercles in the organs of most spe-
cies. Bovine tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium
bovis and in humans by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Both the species have significant zoonotic Im-
portance.
History
Tuberculosis was first discovered by the Dr.
Robert Koch in the year 1882. He announced in
Berlin that cause of tuberculosis means the TB ba-
cillus. He declared publically about this virulent hu-
man infectious disease and explained about the eti-
ology of the tuberculosis through the presentation
of many microscope slides. During his announce-
ment in the Berlin, it was spreading very fastly in
the Europe and the Americas of which the death
ratio was one out of seven. His discovery about the
tuberculosis had opened a big door in front of the
people to get diagnosed and cured of tuberculosis.
Types of tuberculosis
The human type – M. tuberculosis
The bovine type – M. bovis
The avian type – M. avium
There is a fourth type that affects fish
Modes of infection
The routes by which tubercle bacilli gain en-
trance to the body are:
Respiration, Ingestion, Inoculation, Congenital, Gen-
ital – infection by way of genital tracts.
Geographical Distribution in India: India ac-
counts for 20% of the world’s TB cases and the dis-
ease infects 3 million people a year and kills over 3
lakh every year. In Jan 2012 things got even uglier
as India played host to an extremely dangerous ver-
sion of tuberculosis which experts termed Totally
Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (TDR-TB) – a disease
that afflicted 12 people in Mumbai. This new version
of TB was resistant to all forms of anti-TB drugs
and unlike earlier drug resistant versions like multi-
drug resistant (resistant to two drugs) and exten-
sively-drug resistant (resistant to four drugs). Not
only was it resistant to every known TB drug but it
had afflicted people in a densely populated city like
Mumbai where the potential for an outbreak was
immense.
Zoonotic Aspect M. bovis in India
Till 1916 Tuberculosis in cattle was consid-
ered very rare because
Indigenous cattle are naturally resistant
Low virulent tubercle bacilli isolated from indige-
nous cattle
Open air system where animals are housed
During 1980s, Indian council of Agriculture
Research (ICAR) started scheme they found preva-
lence of bovine TB in India varies from 1.6 to 16%
in cattle and 3 to 25% in buffaloes.
Proportion of human disease caused by M.
bovis show regional variation depending on the pres-
ence and extent of disease in cattle population, the
social and economic situation, standard of food hy-
giene besides application of preventive measures. Studies in United Kingdom and United States of
America confirm that by 1937, upto 25% of TB cas-
es in humans were due to M. bovis. The majority of
these cases were non-pulmonary TB with only 2.5%
pulmonary TB. A high rate of M. bovis infection is
commonly associated wih occupational exposure.
Veterinarians working with infected herds show
high rate
VetPubHealth Journal ISSUE 2 IVSA Standing Committee on One Health May 2014
of tuberculin positivity (45.4%) and overt T.B.
(4.1%) although it is not established that such infec-
tion and disease is only due to M. bovis.
Zoonotic Aspect of M. tuberculosis in India
M. tuberculosis infects 3 million people a year and
kills over 3 lakh every year. But it is not distinguish-
able M. tuberculosis is alone responsible for this cas-
es.
Veterinary Public Health Measures for zoon-
otic TB
Routine testing and inspection of cattle even at
slaughterhouses
Detecting infected herds and removing them to reduce the spread of TB within herds.
Adopting control strategies to reduce transmis-
sion by: (i) Effective ventilation; (ii) Reduction of
group size; (iii) Minimizing contamination of feed,
grazing and water with respiratory secretions or
faeces by attention to hygienic practices, buildings
and equipments.
Promoting research on accurate diagnostic tests
and the potential role of other domestic and wild
animal species as disease reservoir.
Creating awareness in the community especially
farmers and those involved in slaughtering and
meat trading.
Public health precautions like pasteurization/ heat
treatment of milk that can reduce the danger of
TB particularly to infants.
Efficient surveillance system and co-ordination
between medical and veterinary professionals
through effective communication for contact trac-
ing and joint epidemiological investigations
Regular health check- up for occupational groups
at risk including examination for non-pulmonary
forms of TB such as lymphadenitis beside sputum
microscopy and chest radiology, if required. A co-ordinated strategy for developing and testing
of new vaccines for tuberculosis in man and ani-
mal.
Funding agencies need to be encouraged to spon-
sor regular workshops to facilitate collaborations
and achieve scientific consensus on research pri-
orities besides developing an E-mal discussion
groups and video conference.
VetPubHealth Journal ISSUE 2 IVSA Standing Committee on One Health May 2014
WHY DONKEY MILK? By Nikoleta Makri, IVSA Thessaly
Food Safety
Eventually Greek consumers can drink
Donkey milk, as the Ministry of Rural De-
velopment and Food published a new Decision on the require-
ments and conditions in order to be followed for the produc-
tion, processing and disposal of equine milk, creating the frame-
work for this new market. In order to understand the im-
portance of this, not as much as we suggest “new product” ,we
must have a look at the history of donkey milk. It is well known
that some of the most beautiful women of ancient times, partic-
ularly appreciate the beneficial qualities of donkey milk. Cleo-
patra, the Queen of Ancient Egypt, known for her stunning
beauty as well as the second wife of the Roman Emperor Nero,
Poppea Sabina took their daily baths in Asse’s milk. Studies
showed the presence of vitamins A1, B1, B2, C and E in large
quantities as well as a great rate of immunoglobulins, magnesi-
um, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and sodium in don-
key’s milk. Furthermore, donkey’s milk proteins provide re-
markable moisturizing and nourishing properties and it is gener-
ally believed that effaces facial wrinkles. Today, plenty products,
like soaps and moisturizers, are made of this kind of milk.
In addition to its cosmetic use, Hippocrates (460 – 370 BC) -
the father of medicine- prescribed asses’ milk for numerous
purposes, such as liver troubles, infectious diseases, fevers, ede-
ma, nose bleeds, poisonings, and wounds. Asse’s milk has found
to be the closest in the human breast milk and exhibited unique
nutritional characteristics because it contains more lactose and
less fat than cow’s milk. As a result of this advantage, it is given
in some cases to premature infants to ensure their proper
growth. The high content of lactose increases the absorption
rate of calcium, an important fact for the development and
maintenance of the human body and thus it can be used by el-
derly people with osteoporosis problems. The high content in
omega-3 makes it a functional food for human consumption,
even more for adults, where the risk for cardiovascular disease
increases. Compared with breast milk, donkey milk contains a
higher amount of essential fatty acids for the body. In addition,
it has a low-fat percentage, only 1%, while cow's milk has a fat
percentage of 3.9%, goat’s 3.5% and sheep’s 6%. It is worth-
mentioning that donkey milk can be a solution for people intol-
erant to cow's milk. Studies have been carried out on children
allergic to cow's milk; they have shown that Donkey's milk is
tolerated by most of them. Furthermore it has sweeter taste
which makes it more pleasant and well accepted, unlike -other
formulas or products, whose use among children allergic to
cow's milk is rightly compromised because of their bitter taste
and after-taste.
Therefore taking into account all the above, it could be said that
donkey milk is more nutritious and beneficial for the body than
the milk of a goat or cow. Is it however the same resistant in
pathogens or is a food most vulnerable? Latest research data
showed that it is a product with very low microbial load that
can be eaten without having undergone any heat treatment,
such as pasteurization. The lack of pasteurization constitutes
the immediate freezing after milking, while the transfer process
from the producer to the consumer, but also the storage re-
quire special attention to prevent contamination.
Eventually the donkey milk is not the super-product that will
magically meet all our nutritional deficiencies. But it is a valua-
ble food and a natural supplement, which within a relatively
balanced diet offers us something “extra” we are all looking for.
VetPubHealth Journal ISSUE 2 IVSA Standing Committee on One Health May 2014
ANTHRAX: A POTENT TRHEAT OF
ANIMALS & HUMAN LIFE By Arslan Mehboob,
Undergraduate student of the Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences of Lahore, Pakistan
Zoonoses
Introduction
Anthrax is the most fatal and zoonotic disease caused by a gram positive bacterium
bacillus anthracis. According to OIE (Office International des Epizootics). It is consid-
ered as A category notable disease. This should be reported to WHO (world health
organization) and OIE within 24 hours of its occurrence.
Etiology
It is caused by bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis.
Morphology of Causative Agent
Bacillus anthracis is a gram positive rod shaped aerobic non motile capsulated spore
forming bacteria having cell wall made up of peptidoglycan and a capsule around it.
This bacteria has plasmid encoded virulence factors; a capsule which resist in the phagocytosis. It
also has a plasmid named pXO2.The bacterium is characterized by having tripartite toxins having edema factor, lethal and protective
antigens. Mostly genotyping is done to perform epidemiological studies. This organism has capable of producing toxins that survive
in the environment for decades and remains active. The bacterium is capable of producing terminal endospores that are frequently
called as spores but it may not be confused with the spores of fungi. These spores can be found everywhere in the earth including
Antarctica. They can cause infection even when they come in contact with skin, inhaled or ingested. They rapidly activate and multi-
ply rapidly.
Spores of bacteria
Spores are much resistant to the extreme climatic conditions included in salting phenomenon of hides, standard disinfections and
temperature fluctuations. The spores are viable up to 60 years in the soil in the presence of organic matter. Soils acidic in nature
reduce the chances of survival for Bacillus anthracis. As spores are soil bore. They may cause infection about 60 year later of their
production .Disturbed grave sites are the major cause of spore transmission to the other areas.
Anthrax spores can be produced artificially in vitro. It does not spread directly by the contact instead it spreads through the fatal
spores. The spores can be transmitted either by clothes or contaminated shoes. The blood and secretions of affected animals also
have spores that become activated. It is a potent disease which is used as a chemical source of war head used by most of the coun-
tries. Although the culturing of bacillus anthracis is banned worldwide, a number of countries are culturing it as a potent source of
bio weapon. In powder form the culture of this organism is used as a biological weapon.
Anthrax is considered as category A disease by CDC (centers of disease control and prevention). Eating meat of the affected ani-
mals act as a source of pathogen entry into the body.
Epidemiology
Until the twentieth century thousands of animals and humans died each year from anthrax. The disease has worldwide distribution
and probably has origin from sub Saharan Africa. It is reported both in human as well as in veterinary sector. Prevalence areas vary
from the type of soil, the climatic conditions and most importantly the efforts which are being made to suppress its occurrence.
Anthrax Belts are the specific areas where anthrax is enzootic.
Morbidity and mortality rates
Most of its cases are sporadic and randomly occur in a population. Morbidity is about 1% but the mortality is 100%.Now a day's
many sudden deaths occurs without showing any clear cut signs. In tropics the organism remains in the soils where mostly frequent
outbreaks are reported. In some of the Saharan areas the disease mostly occurs in the summer months and attains its peak in heavy
rain fall months having devastating effects. Mostly predators are an inert carrier of the infection so majority of deaths occur in those
areas. In temperate areas sporadic infection usually occurs due to soil borne infections. Most common sources in the areas are the
pastures affected from tannery wastes and the contaminated bone meal. In this case number of animals infected and incidence of
outbreaks are small.
VetPubHealth Journal ISSUE 2 IVSA Standing Committee on One Health May 2014
Use in Bioterrorism
In United States in 2001, White House officials received a letter having a white powder. The letter was written to US Presi-
dent. Forensic experts later found that the envelope was full of spores of anthrax. It was used as a threat and active biological
agent. In early 2010 in Cagayan province of Philippines, about 400 people got infection by consuming the meat which was previ-
ously infected with anthrax spores. The disease ended with great morbidity and two people died.
Routes of transmission
There are three major routes of its transmission, principal off which is inhalation. Other routes include are oral and cutaneous.
Spores play most active role in transmission of disease and enter the body through inhalation. After getting entry into the body
the organism is surrounded by macrophages. The organism is resistant to phagocytosis due to the availability of poly D glutam-
ic acid capsule
Forms of disease
Inhalation anthrax
Inhalation anthrax is also named as Woolsorter's disease or Ragpicker's disease. These professions were more associated with
the disease occurrence. The use of animal skin and horns for production of different articles was a potential source of suscepti-
bility.
Gastrointestinal anthrax
Gastrointestinal type of disease in human is caused when spores are ingested in the body. Initially there is GIT disturbance,
bloody vomit and inflammation of whole tract. Lesions occur more on the intestine where necrosis also occur. The spores
actively propagate and produce toxins that frequently go in the blood and condition becomes worse. The case fatality of this
form is 25 % to 60%. It is treatable but rarest form of the disease. In United States only two cases were reported. The first one
being reported in 1942 and the second case reported in 2010 in Philippines.
Cutaneous Anthrax
In human beings the cutaneous form of this infection is characterized by formation of boil like lesion that eventually converts
into a black centered scar tissue. In general in 2 to 5 days a black colored eschar appears on the skin that resembles with black
mold. In the beginning the eschar is painless with intense itching. Unlike bruises or other infections of skin, the typical lesion of
anthrax has no pain. Cutaneous anthrax is caused when skin comes in contact with infective spores. Spores may enter in the
body through cuts in the skin. This form is most commonly present in those people who are involved in animal skins and hides
handling. It is not a lethal form as infection is only limited to a specific area. In cutaneous form there is no entry of edema fac-
tor, lethal factor and protective antigen form. If untreated about 20% of cases may die due to toxemia.
Cutaneous anthrax can occur in the veterinarians dealing with the carcasses for the postmortem examinations. Major areas
affected are neck and fore arm regions. Initially infection starts with the formation of a papule which swells and within 1-2 days
it bursts that later converts into necrotic ulcer with a central scar of black colour. There is also swelling of regional lymph
nodes.
Vaccination and treatment protocol
US CDC center of disease control and prevention department suggest that persons having exposed to bacillus anthracis as Bio
Weapon must be vaccinated as early as possible. However vaccination prior to attack is not recommended in these groups. In
human populations, post exposure vaccination is done by inactivated vaccine at 0, 2 and 4 week interval along with the combi-
nation of antibiotics for 3 doses. Doxycycline or ciprofloxacin may be an ideal choice in this case .the drugs of choice are Peni-
cillin and doxycycline. These antibiotics are only effective to the germinated Bacillus and are inactive against the spores of dis-
ease. The safety and efficacy of vaccine is not been studied in pregnant women and children, therefore it is not recommended
to use the vaccine in these groups. The duration of protection provided by the vaccine is also unknown. However it is believed
that the protection remains for 12 months. If subsequent exposures occur, repeated vaccination is recommanded.immediate
washing is recommended in case of cutaneous infections. In GIT and Cutaneous forms, there is no recommendation in post-
exposure prophylaxis. Because of the severity in GIT form maximum emphasis is put on post exposure vaccination along with
regular antibiotic therapy to reduce the risk of spore formation and to subside the disease.
VetPubHealth Journal ISSUE 2 IVSA Standing Committee on One Health May 2014
WORKING AND THERAPEUTIC ANIMALS AS PO-
TENTIAL CARRIERS OF BACTERIAL PATHOGENS
By Tina Zitnik Oitzl, Mateja Naralockik
IVSA Slovenia
Zoonoses
Therapeutic and working animals have become very important in various human activities. However, certain requirements
should be fulfilled. Besides having the adequate temperament, the animals must be completely healthy and must not carry
infectious transmissible to humans. We have to pay attention to microorganisms which colonise skin, fur, apparent mucosa
and digestive system. Animals that are colonised with microorganisms can be a potential threat to people, especially as mostly
therapeutic and working animals come in contact with immune-compromised people. On the other hand, these patients are
potential source for animal colonisation. The purpose of our study was to find out the state of colonisation of therapeutic
and working animals with bacteria that cause hospital infections. We studied three bacterial species which are the most im-
portant agents of nosocomial infections and are difficult to treat with antibiotics: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA), E. coli with extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and Clostridium difficile (CD). We examined 84 animals: 14
therapeutic horses and 70 working dogs (48 therapeutic dogs, 17 rescue dogs and 5 dogs that live with therapeutic animals).
Control group consisted of 28 animals (18 dogs and 10 horses). Our goal was to ensure safety of people that come in close
contact with therapeutic and working animals, their owners and lastly these animals alone.
In genus Staphylococcus are coagulase negative and positive species. The latter are clinically more important. S. aureus causes
hospital and community associated infections which often gain resistance for antibiotics (HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA), and lately
livestock associated MRSA (LA-MRSA). The S. intermedius group (S. intermedius, S. delphini, S. pseudintermedius) are isolated in
animals, the latter in dogs and cats rather than S. aureus. Staphylococci colonise skin and mucosa and cause pyodermatitis,
otits externa, inflammation of genitourinary tract, respiratory system and surgical wounds, often as a secondary infection.
Escherichia coli is a part of intestinal micro flora. Strains are classified as enterotoxic, enteropathogenic, enteroinvasive, en-
teroaggregative and enterohaemorrhagic. Resistance is acquired horizontally from other intestinal micro flora species or
caused by beta-lactamase enzymes. E. coli causes infections of genitourinary and respiratory system, sepsis, abscesses, perito-
nitis etc.
Clostridium difficile is sporogenic bacteria and a part of intestinal micro flora. Enterotoxigenic strains cause infection when in-
testinal micro flora is altered. Clinical manifestation is diarrhoea, haemorrhagic colitis, pseudo membrane colitis or even gut
perforation.
VetPubHealth Journal ISSUE 2 IVSA Standing Committee on One Health May 2014
We collected nasal swabs to determine the presence of coagulase-positive staphylococci and their resistance to methicillin.
We examined rectal swabs or faeces to determine the presence of E. coli with extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)
and the presence of anareobic bacterium C. difficile. MRSA was not isolated from any canine or equine sample. However, co-
agulase-positive staphylococci (S. pseudintermedius, S. aureus, S. intermedius and S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans) were isolated
from 21 samples. Low resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, aminoglycosides and macrolides was determined for these iso-
lates. Three faecal samples of dogs were positive for E. coli ESBL/AmpC (4.3%) and one for C. difficile (1.4%). All equine faecal
samples were negative for both bacteria.
According to the available literature, no study on colonisation of therapeutic animals regarding zoonotic bacteria has been
performed in Slovenia up to date. Therefore, the available data is insufficient. Taking into account results of this study and the
literature data from other countries, we prepared basic guidelines for microbiological control of therapeutic animals in par-
ticular, as they are often exposed to and colonised with the agents of nosocomial infections and can therefore become the
source of human infections.
We do not require regularly testing on presence of zoonotic bacteria in working animals. However, we do recommend some
general and specific guidelines to be taken in account. Hand hygiene of owners, hospital staff and patients is in first place for it
can prevent many infections. Therapeutic animals should be well groomed, healthy, without wounds, injuries or skin diseases.
They must be regularly vaccinated against rabies (vaccination against some other infectious diseases is also recommended)
and receive antiparasitic treatment. In case of contact with person who is positive on potentially zoonotic bacteria should be
tested. If the results are positive, that animal is not allowed to visit patients until two consecutive samples in one week inter-
val are negative. Animals should not visit risky patients like the one with insufficient immune system, intensive care patients,
oncologic patients or those in quarantine. If those patients expressly want to be visited, it should be at the end of predicted
visit time. Animals are not allowed to jump on patients’ bed or lick them and patients should not shake their paws. We
strongly advise not to feed animals with raw meat, especially chicken and beef. Animals should be regularly veterinary exam-
ined, properly socialized and have good temperament. Cats are less appropriate because they are of higher risk for gastroin-
testinal diseases and dermatophitosis transmission and also their character is less predictable.
VetPubHealth Journal ISSUE 2 IVSA Standing Committee on One Health May 2014