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Z

ZOONOSES

Zoonoses are those diseases and infections that are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans (Table Z1). There is a long list of diseases, which vary from country to country, and includes plague, rabies, scrub typhus, Lyme disease and tularaemia.

Table Z1Major zoonoses in Australia
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Table Z1 Major zoonoses in Australia
Zoonosis Organism/s Animal host Mode of transmission
Q fever Coxiella burnetti Various wild and domestic animals

Inhaled dust

Animal contact

Unpasteurised milk
Leptospirosis Leptospira pomona Various domestic animals Infected urine contaminating cuts or sores
Brucellosis (undulant fever) Brucella abortus Cattle

Contamination of cuts or sores by animal tissues

Unpasteurised milk
Lyme disease Borrelia burgdorferi Marsupials (probable) Tick bites
Psittacosis Chlamydia psittaci Birds: parrots, pigeons, ducks, etc. Inhaled dust
Bovine tuberculosis Mycobacterium bovis Cattle Unpasteurised milk
Listerosis Listeria monocytogenes Various wild and domestic animals

Unpasteurised milk and cheese

Contaminated vegetables

Person to person
Plague Yersinia pestis Wild rodents Fleas

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Main present features Diagnosis Treatment
Fever, rigors, myalgia, headache, dry cough

PCR

Serology

 Doxycycline if endocarditis + clindamycin
Fever, myalgia, severe headache, macular rash, conjunctivitis

PCR

Serology ± culture

 Doxycycline or benzylpenicillin IV or IV ceftriaxone
Fever (undulant) sweats, myalgia, headache, lymphadeno-pathy

PCR

Blood culture

 Tetracycline + rifampicin or gentamicin
Fever, myalgia, arthritis, backache, doughnut-shaped rash

PCR

Serology

 Doxycycline or amoxycillin
Fever, myalgia, headache, dry cough

PCR

Serology

CXR

 Doxycycline or clarithromycin
Fever, sweats, weight loss, cough (as for human pulmonary TB) Culture As for pulmonary TB

Mild febrile illness (in most)

Meningo-encephalitis in susceptible (neonates, pregnant, elderly, etc)

PCR

Serology

 Amoxycillin
Fever, myalgia, headache, prostration, lymphadenitis (bubo) Smears, culture Doxycycline + streptomycin

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