Workplace zoonoses

• Cause: Naturally occurring in soil. Infection occurs from contact with infected domestic and wild animals or animal products. Bacteria can survive for a long time as spores.
• Symptoms (dependent upon type): Generally, dark, painless sores within 7 days of exposure.
• Treatment: Can be treated with specific antibiotics. Considered very unlikely to occur in Western Australia.

• Cause: Can be spread by saliva, mucous or faeces from infected wild birds to poultry or other birds and animals. Direct or indirect contact with infected birds, whether alive or dead, can lead to human infection, however transmission between people is extremely rare.
• Symptoms: General flu-like symptoms ranging from mild through to severe illness that can be fatal. 
• Treatment: Antiviral drugs can be prescribed. 

Learn about avian influenza and simple ways to protect you and yourself at work.

• Cause: Bacterial infection found in cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, working dogs and domestic animals. Infection can spread through broken skin (including cuts or sores) when in contact with infected animal tissue, through ingestion of unpasteurised milk or dairy products from infected animals or by inhaling bacteria in dusty animal enclosures, abattoirs or laboratories.
• Symptoms: Flu-like illness including fever, headache, weakness, sweats, chills, weight loss, joint and muscle aches and pain.
• Treatment: Can be treated with specific antibiotics. Brucellosis is considered to be effectively eradicated in Western Australia. 

• Cause: Disease sporadically found in horses. Human infection results from close contact with infected horses and their blood, body fluids and tissue. Natural hosts of the virus are flying foxes which can pass the virus on to horses. 
• Symptoms: Initial symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, headache and tiredness and can lead to meningitis or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Infection can be fatal. 
• Treatment: No specific treatment is available. Considered unlikely to occur in Western Australia. 

• Cause: Most commonly found in rodents, pigs and cattle but sometimes occurs in sheep, dogs and cats. Usually contracted from the urine of infected animals or from contaminated water or soil with bacteria entering the body through cuts in skin or the linings of the eyes, nose or throat. Rats are the most common source of leptospirosis infection in humans and animals. 
• Symptoms: Flu-like with muscular pains, severe headaches and fever which may develop into chills, stiff neck, and light sensitivity. Symptoms usually ease within 10 days but can reoccur. Serious cases can cause vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), affect the kidneys, cause internal bleeding and in some instances, death.
• Treatment: Can be treated with specific antibiotics. No human vaccination program is currently available in Australia, however livestock vaccines are available which can reduce the risk to humans. 

• Cause: Bacterial infection usually transmitted from birds in the parrot family to humans. The bacteria can be found in other species of birds including poultry, pigeons, canaries and sea birds.
• Symptoms: Generally mild illness with common symptoms including fever and chills, headache, muscular aches and a dry cough. 
• Treatment: Can be treated with specific antibiotics. Occurs occasionally in Western Australia (less than 10 cases per year). 

Other zoonoses prevalent in the handling of or contact with animals, animal produce or waste products include Australian bat lyssavirus, hydatid disease, influenza A, orf disease and toxoplasmosis.

Japanese encephalitis virus is a rare but serious disease that is spread to humans and animals by infected mosquitos. It is a nationally notifiable disease and suspected infection must be reported. 

• Cause: Most commonly found in sheep, cattle, goats and some native wildlife such as bandicoots, kangaroos and wallabies as well as camels, cats and dogs. Infected animals generally show no signs of being sick. Infection usually occurs from inhaling aerosolised particles and dust contaminated with animal urine, faeces, milk or afterbirth and birth fluids of infected animals. It may also occur by drinking infected, unpasteurised milk and through contact with contaminated straw, wool, hair or hides. Bacteria that cause Q fever are very hardy and can survive in the environment for long periods of time. Q fever may be highly concentrated in animal tissue, especially placenta, and is resistant to disinfectants.
• Symptoms: Severe flu-like illness, although some infected people have few symptoms. Chronic infection can develop, mostly commonly presenting as endocarditis, a serious heart disorder. May also cause lesions of bone, tissues and organs with some people developing ongoing, long-term fatigue after the initial disease has resolved (Post Q Fever Fatigue Syndrome). Infection in pregnant women can cause miscarriage and premature birth. 
• Treatment: Can be treated with specific antibiotics. Vaccination for human protection is available. Given the severity of Q fever and the demonstrated effectiveness of vaccination, all at risk workplaces should establish a Q fever vaccination program to safeguard workers.