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SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Vesicular stomatitis virus
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: VSV, Vesicular stomatitis fever.
CHARACTERISTICS: Rhabdoviridae; envelope with 10 nm spikes, bullet-shaped virion 70 x 175 nm, ssRNA.
SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Headache, fever, retrobulbar pain on motion of eyes, malaise, nausea, pain in the limbs
and back; possible vesicular lesions in mouth, lips and hands; leukopenia; recovery may be prolonged and death
is unknown.
EPIDEMIOLOGY: North and South America. Related viruses in genus present in Asia, Africa; primarily affecting
people handling dairy cattle and secondarily beef cattle and horses.
HOST RANGE: Cattle, horses, pigs, deer, humans.
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Unknown
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Probably arthropod-borne via the bite of an infective sandfly, mosquito or blackfly;
by direct contact with infected animals (vesicular fluid, saliva) or their environment; exposure to infectious
aerosols has resulted in many lab-acquired infections.
INCUBATION PERIOD: Up to 6 days, usually 3-4 days.
COMMUNICABILITY: Virus is infective in blood 24 hours before and after onset of fever.
SECTION III - DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Cattle
ZOONOSIS: Yes by direct contact with infected animals or by insect vector.
VECTORS: Possibly sandflies, mosquitoes, blackflies.
SECTION IV - VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: N/A
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to disinfectants - 1% sodium hypochlorite (20% commercial bleach),
70% ethanol, 2% glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde.
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivated on exposure to UV, heat and lipid solvents.
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Inactivated in sunlight and does not survive for long periods out of host unless
protected in cool dark areas.
SECTION V - MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by virus isolation, serology.
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: No specific treatment (self-limiting disease); topical steroids may reduce pain and
swelling.
IMMUNIZATION: Not available for use in humans.
PROPHYLAXIS: None
SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Documented hazard to personnel handling infected livestock, tissues and
virulent isolates; 46 reported lab associated infections; seroconversion and illness rates are high.
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Vesicular fluid, tissues, and blood of infected animals; blood and throat secretions
of humans.
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Exposure to infectious aerosols and droplets; direct contact with skin and mucous membranes;
accidental parenteral inoculation.
SPECIAL HAZARDS: Handling infected livestock is a documented hazard.
SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 3 practices, containment equipment and facilities for the manipulation
of virulent isolates; laboratory adapted strains of demonstrated low virulence pose a lower risk.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Gloves and respiratory protection are recommended for the handling of infected animals
and tissues.
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None
SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towel and
apply 1% sodium hypochlorite (20% commercial bleach), starting at perimeter and working towards the center; allow
sufficient contact time before clean up (30 min.).
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate before disposal; incineration, steam sterilization, chemical disinfection.
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labeled.
Date prepared: October 11, 1997 Prepared by-. Canadian Office of Biosafety Information edited b the Colorado State
University Office of Biosafety- June 16, 1998.
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