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 MICE, RATS:
·
Zoonotic
disease potentials:
·
Lymphocytic
choriomeningitis: An
arenavirus commonly can naturally infect lab mice. Athymic, SCID, and other immunodeficient mice can pose a
special risk of harboring silent, chronic infections and present a hazard to
personnel. Now rare in laboratory
animal facilities, LCM has been eliminated from most vendors through breeding
and viral screening of their colonies.
Mice and hamsters are the only animals known to develop latent
infection; spread of LCM among animals via contaminated tumors and cell lines
can also occur. Transmission: Contact with tissues including tumor, feces, urine,
and aerosolization of all of the above; Disease in people: Flu-like symptoms, mild to severe. Neurologic symptoms may develop in
about half of adults infected.
LCMV is emerging as a fetal teratogen.
·
Leptospirosis: Leptospira
spp. bacteria found in many animals but are most commonly associated with
livestock and dogs. Transmission from laboratory rodents to people has been reported.
Reservoir/source of infection to people: Rats, mice, voles, hedgehogs, gerbils,
squirrels, rabbits, hamsters, reptiles, dogs, sheep, goats, horses, standing
water. Transmission: Leptospires are shed in the urine of infected
animals. Direct contact with urine or tissues via skin abrasions or contact
with mucous membranes has been reported. Transmission can also occur through
inhalation of infectious droplet aerosols and by ingestion. Disease in people: Flu-like
symptoms, mild to severe. Death has been reported.
·
Rat bite fever: This is caused by the bite of a rat infected with Streptobacillus
moniliformis or Spirillum minus.
Strep. Commercial suppliers of
rats have eliminated moniliformis. Transmission: Bite of infected rat. Disease in people: Fever, lymphadenopathy, swelling at site of wound.
Incubation period usually 1-3 days but may be up to 6 weeks. May cause
arthritis in untreated patients.
·
Ringworm:
fungal skin infections
·
Tetanus booster every 10
years.
·
Wear protective gloves
when handling the animals. Wash
hands thoroughly upon completion of tasks with animals/glove removal.
·
Injuries:
· Immediately wash area thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes.
· Control any bleeding and cover with protective dressing (bandage, etc.).
· 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 ER.
· Report injuries to your supervisor and on the UW ORS (Online Reporting System).
·
Illness: If you develop
signs or symptoms that you think may be related to your work with these 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.
·
Allergies:
·
The major sources of rat
allergen exposure appear to be from the urine and saliva. The major mouse allergen is found in
the urine. If your 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 685-1026. Precautions and methods of control to
prevent exposure to animal allergenic substances 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 be reviewed with personnel.
The Employee Health Clinic is
located on the ground floor of the Hall Health Building. Phone: (206) 685-1026.