SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT


NAME: Pasteurella spp.

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Pasteurellosis (Pasteurelia multocida), Shipping fever (P. haemolytica), P. pneumotropica, P. aerogenes, P. sallinavum.

CHARACTERISTICS:
Non-spore forming, nonmotile, bipolar, gram negative coccobacilli; aerobic; 1.4 mm by 0.4 mm in size.

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Localized infection such as cellulitis and abscess; onset less than 24 hours after animal bite or scratch; progress to osteomyelitis and arthritis in some individuals; less common forms chronic pulmonary infections, bacteremia and septicemia.

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; normal flora in many domestic animals (especially cats and dogs); rate of colonization of animals is higher during the cold seasons.

HOST RANGE: Domestic and wild animals; humans are accidental hosts.


INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Primarily by animal bite or scratch (especially from cats and dogs); inhalation of aerosols; wound contamination from infected tissues; mechanical transmission by fleas, flies and cockroaches.

INCUBATION PERIOD: Symptoms less than 24 hours after an animal bite.

COMMUNICABILITY: Communicable during period of active disease.

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Cats, dogs; wild animals; birds (fowl).


ZOONOSIS: Yes, by animal bite or scratch.


VECTORS: Fleas, flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes.

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to penicillin G and its derivatives (ampicillin, carbenicillin, piperacillin), tetracycline.

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to most disinfectants; 1% sodium hypochlorite (20% commercial bleach), 2% glutaraldehyde, 70% ethanol.

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivated at 55o C for 15 minutes; unstable at low pH.

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Blood remains infectious for 10 days under ambient conditions-, infectious tissues survive up to 3 days in sunshine; survives in water at room temperature up to 5 days.

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms.

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Wound cleaning, debridement and irrigation. Antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin-clavulanate; alternatives - penicillin V, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin.

IMMUNIZATION: None available.

PROPHYLAXIS: None.

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Two case were reported associated with laboratory animals up to 1976.

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Lesion material (exudate and sputum); blood.

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parental inoculation; exposure to infectious aerosols.

SPECIAL HAZARDS: Naturally and experimentally infected animals pose a risk for laboratory and animal care personnel.

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment, equipment and facilities for activities involving clinical specimens and cultures of all species except P. multocida type B. For P. multocida type B, biosafety level 3 practices, containment equipment and facilities for activities involving clinical specimens and cultures. P. multocida type B is very virulent and can cause severe disease in cattle.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat- gloves and gown with ties in the back, tight wrist when working with infectious materials.

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Heavy protective gloves and face shields to protect from infectious droplets or tissues fragments.

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite (20% commercial bleach) starting at the perimeter and working towards center; allow sufficient contact time (30 min.) before clean up.

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration.

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labeled.

Date prepared: October 11, 1997 Prepared by: Canadian Office of Biosafety Information edited by the Colorado State University Office of Biosafety- June 16, 1998.

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