MAJOR ZOONOSES OF RUMINANTS
*Those highlighted in yellow may be most important in a laboratory environment.
Wearing the recommended personal protective equipment will make the transmission of diseases less likely.
PATHOGEN
Brucella spp.
TRANSMISSION
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Q-Fever (Coxiella
burnetii)
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Contagious ecthyma,
“Orf”
( Pox virus)
Campylobacteriosis
(C. jejuni, C. fetus)
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ANIMAL DISEASE
aerosol
direct contact urine, semen or
by handling fetal membranes
highly infectious with only a few
organisms required to cause
infection
aerosol
resistant to most commonly
used disinfectants
highly infectious with only a few
organisms required to cause
infection


abortions, epididymitis in sheep
abortions, arthritis, spondylitis,
mastitis, orchitis in goats

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
usually asymptomatic
abortions in pregnant animals
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direct contact of animal or
fomites
virus may remain viable in
scabs for months

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usually young sheep/goats
opular, vesicular, pustular, crusty
lesions on lips mouth nostrils,
eyelids, ears, udder, teats
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direct contact, contaminated
water, or fecal-oral route

late-term abortions or very weak
neonates in sheep
metritis, placentitis leading to
septicemia and death
abortions, polyarthritis,
conjunctivitis, respiratory disease
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Chlamydophia

HUMAN DISEASE
inhalation, direct contact
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Colibacillosis

fecal-oral, direct contact

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“white diarrhea” in lambs
septicemia, neurologic signs,
ascites

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fever, chills, sweating, anorexia,
constipation, insomnia, headache
neurologic signs
fever, chills, anorexia, ocular pain
pneumonitis, gastroenteritis
caution especially for those that
are pregnant or
immunosuppressed, or have a
heart valve disease or
replacement
vesicle or pustule on hands, arms
axillary (regional)
lymphadenopathy
usually self-limiting, remission in
2-4 weeks
acute enteritis, bloody/mucoid
diarrhea, abdominal pain,
vomiting
headache, muscle and joint pain
abortions, polyarthritis,
conjunctivitis, respiratory disease
disease can progress to systemic
infection and death
profuse, watery/bloody/mucoid
diarrhea, abdominal pain,
vomiting, dehydration
urogenital infections
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PATHOGEN
TRANSMISSION
ANIMAL DISEASE
HUMAN DISEASE
Corynebacteria spp.
“Caseous
Lymphadenitis”
Cryptosporidium
parvum/bovis

fecal-oral, direct contact

abscessation of regional lymph
nodes

ulcer, lymphadenitis, tonsillitis

fecal-oral transmission
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diarrhea
can be asymptomatic
Leptospirosis

direct contact with urine,
contaminated water, aerosol

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diarrhea especially in young or
immunosupporessed animals
can be asymptomatic
fever, anorexia
jaundice, hemoglobinuria, anemia
abortion, infertility

Listeria

fecal-oral
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Mannheimia
hemolytica
(formerly Pasteurella
hemolytica)

inhalation, fecal-oral

encephalitis, septicemia
depression, paralysis of facial
muscles, profuse salivation,
strabismus
“Shipping Fever”, secondary
infection
purulent nasal discharge, cough,
diarrhea, malaise, hemorrhage
infection may resolve
asymptomatically or develop
severe icterus, fever, headache,
conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal
signs, gastrointestinal
hemorrhage
meningitis, septicemia, abortions
very severe in
immunocompromised individuals

bronchiectasis, bronchitis,
pneumonia
Sarcoptes scabei

usually infests face, ears,
forelimbs
vesicle or papule formation,
keratinization
alopecia with intense pruritus

usually infests face, ears,
forelimbs, torso
vesicle or papule formation,
keratinization
alopecia with intense pruritus

direct contact, fomites
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PATHOGEN
Spongiform
encephalopathies
(Scrapie, bovine BSE)
TRANSMISSION
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ANIMAL DISEASE
consumption or inoculation
of/with infected tissue
largest amount in the central
nervous system
may be present in colostrums,
bone marrow, peripheral, and
autonomic nervous tissue, and
lymphoid tissue (not present in
muscle)
organism is resistant to all
commonly use disinfectants
and to autoclaving

long incubation period (years)
followed by neurological
abnormalities
HUMAN DISEASE


scrapie not likely transmissible
but extreme caution should be
followed when handling infectious
tissues. BSE is transmissible.
long incubation period (years)
followed by neurological
abnormalities
Vesicular Stomatitis
(Rhabdovirus)

direct contact, insect vectors

mammary, interdigital, and oral
vesicles with fever


flu-like signs
vesicles in mouth, hands, feet
Tularemia (sheep)
(Francisella
tularensis)

direct contact, wound infection,
flea/tick vector

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
lymphadenopathy of head, neck
pneumonia
high mortality

lymphadenopathy, necrotic
ulceration
fever, conjunctivitis,
bronchopneumonia
Yersinia
pseudotuberculosis

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abortions, suppurative orchitis,
abscessation

fecal-oral
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Salmonellosis
(S. typhimurium,
dublin, newport etc)

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fecal-oral
direct contact
fomites
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abortion
acute and chronic enteritis
septicemia in young animals

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acute abdominal pain, fever,
vomiting, diarrhea
arthritis, iritis, nephritis
septicemia if
immunocompromised
severe diarrhea and debilitation
Increased severity in the very old,
the very young, and the
immunocompromised.
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* Toxoplasma and Echinococcus are transmitted by consumption of infected tissue, so are unlikely to be encountered in a
laboratory animal environment.
IMPORTANT
Many organisms may be present in large amounts of products of abortion. Thus, any aborting animal should be
reported to ULAR ASAP.
ALLERGENS OF SHEEP AND GOATS
Allergens related to sheep and goats are not very common, but can occur due to contact with wool, handling/ingestion of meat or
milk, or inhalation of allergens from animals.
References
Acha, PN and B Szyfres. 1989. Zoonoses and Communicable Diseases Common to Man and Animals. Pan American Health
Organization, Washington, D.C.
Committee on Occupational Health and Safety in Research Animals Facilities, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, Commission
of Life Sciences, National Research Council. 1997. Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research
Animals. National Academic Press, Washington, DC.
Smith, MC and DM Sherman. 1994. Goat Medicine. Lea & Febiger Publishing, Malvern, PA.
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