What Are Zoonotic Diseases?

Details

• Personal Author:
  Douphrate D ; Roman-Muniz N
• Description:
  Those working in close contact with dairy cattle may be exposed to a variety of microorganisms that can cause disease. Some of these microorganisms can affect both humans and non-human animal species. A disease that can be transmitted between humans and other animal species is called a zoonotic disease or zoonosis. Zoonotic diseases can be acquired by people directly from animals, from instruments and equipment used on animals or from the environment. Humans can be exposed to zoonotic organisms when bodily fluids from infected animals come in contact with our mucous membranes and non-intact skin. Contaminated bodily fluids can be aerosolized, ingested or injected via needles or other sharp objects. Although many have grown up around livestock and feel that their immune systems are up to the challenge, it is important to understand that zoonotic diseases have the potential of affecting anyone. While individuals from urban backgrounds may be naïve to zoonotic organisms on the dairy farm and be more susceptible to some diseases, even seasoned employees can contract zoonoses while working with dairy livestock. Symptoms of zoonotic diseases in humans will vary greatly according to the disease in question, level of exposure, the person's immune status, stress level and other personal factors. Some zoonotic diseases will cause similar effects in people as in cattle, while others will produce varying degree and severity of disease in different species. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Animals Body Fluids Cattle Communicable Diseases Dairy Products Livestock Microbiology Needlestick Injuries Occupational Health Safety

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• Keywords:
  Animal Handlers Body Fluids Cattle Industry Dairy Products Disease Transmission Infection Prevention Infectious Diseases Microorganisms Needlestick Injuries Pathogens Safety Practices Zoonoses

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• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Lay Publication
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052234
• Citation:
  Prog Dairyman 2014 May; :1-2
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  Colorado State University - Ft. Collins
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20030915
• Source Full Name:
  The Progressive Dairyman
• End Date:
  20270914
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:82a372d06015b1fd5046049948cb4c5379a28a3afa715998f4c8b52fe9d2f5d3ecbe0243f0b01e2a514a622b9700b979da726e4ce9e61411d6ba78cccb360944
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211792/cdc_211792_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 110.40 KB ]