All
personnel working with animals, their tissues, or working in areas where
animals are housed must complete an Animal Use Medical Screening Form every 3
years. This is a program to
identify and provide follow up for individuals who may be at greater risk for
contracting zoonoses. This form
can be downloaded at:
http://depts.washington.edu/compmed/iacuc/iacucforms/index.html
Persons working with GUINEA PIGS, HAMSTERS AND GERBILS:
á
Zoonotic disease
potentials:
á
Lymphocytic
choriomeningitis: This arenavirus naturally infects
hamsters and guinea pigs. Rare in
laboratory animal facilities. Mice
and hamsters are the only animals known to develop latent infection. Transmission: Contact
with tissues including tumor, feces, urine, and aerosolization of all of the
above. Disease in people: Flu-like symptoms, mild to severe.
á
Leptospirosis: gerbils
and hamsters are reservoir hosts.
Transmission: direct contact with urine or tissues of
infected animals, inhalation of infectious droplet aerosols and ingestion. Disease in people: fever
with sudden onset, headache, chill myalgia, and conjunctival suffusion.
á
Yersiniosis:
occasional reports of lab guinea pig infection. Transmission: fecal-oral. Disease in people: a
gastroenterocolitis syndrome-fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
á
Salmonellosis: transmission
is through the oral/fecal route, directly or indirectly. Incubation period: 6-72 hrs. Symptoms include sudden onset of
diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and low-grade fever.
á
Mongolian gerbils: zoonoses are rarely attributable to gerbils and the
only risks in that regard would appear to be the Hymenolepis tapeworm and
Salmonella infections.
á
Tetanus Booster every 10
years.
á
Protective gloves should
be worn when working with these animals.
Hands should be thoroughly washed upon completion of tasks with the
animal/glove removal.
á
Injuries:
á Immediately
wash area thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes.
á Control
any bleeding and cover with protective dressing (bandage, etc.).
á For
any injuries, needlestick/sharps injury or for signs/symptoms of wound
infection such as redness, swelling or pain, contact the Employee Health Clinic
at Hall Health at 685-1026. After
hours or if the clinic is unavailable, go to the UWMC Emergency Department.
á Report
injuries on the UW OARS on-line reporting system accessed through the EH&S
website.
á
Illness: If you develop
signs or symptoms that you think may be related to your work with animals
and/or research work, contact the Employee Health Clinic at 685-1026. If you see your own provider, inform
him/her that you work with these animals and any other pertinent information
regarding your research work.
á
Allergies:
á
Allergic components in
dander, fur, salvia, and urine in guinea pigs. But urine is the major source of allergen. Allergic sensitivity has been reported
in gerbils. If you have suspected
allergy symptoms, such as, runny nose and sneezing (allergic rhinitis),
irritation and tearing of eyes (allergic conjunctivitis), asthma or skin rash
(atopic dermatitis), contact the Employee Health Clinic at Hall Health,
685-1026. Precautions and methods
of control to prevent exposure to animal allergenic can be found in the NIOSH
ALERT, "Preventing Asthma in Animal Handlers". This document can be downloaded at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/animalrt.html
to make available to personnel.