Don't be a Fomite!
Principles of Disease Transmission in Shelters
Erin Henry, VMD
Swanson Intern in Shelter Medicine
Cornell University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Outline
• Why is disease transmission important for
•
•
you to know about in a shelter environment?
Principles of disease transmission.
How some of the most common shelter
diseases are transmitted
Why do I need to know about disease
transmission in shelters?!
• Because YOU can help!
•
Prevention and control of disease outbreaks.
• Because it will help keep your pets at home
safe too!
What determines whether or not a
disease is “successfully” transmitted?
• Many factors
o “Susceptibility” of the
potential host
o Infectivity of the
infectious agent
o Route of exposure
Modes of Disease Transmission
Horizontal
Transmission
Vertical Transmission
Transmission
In Utero
Transmammary
Transmission
Indirect
Transmission
Transmission
During Delivery
Direct
Transmission
Droplet
Transmission
Airborne
Transmission
Vector
Transmission
Fomite/
Environmental
Transmission
Direct Contact
Transmission
Direct Transmission:
Direct contact transmission
Transmission via body surface to body surface
contact.
Direct Transmission:
Droplet transmission
When small infectious droplets travel a short
distance from the infectious animal and come
into contact with a susceptible animal's
mucous membranes.
Droplet Transmission (cont.)
“Dude! Cover
your mouth!”
“Grosssss!
You spit on
us!”
“ACHOO!”
Indirect Transmission:
Airborne transmission
Infectious disease particles that remain
suspended in the air for prolonged periods of
time, and are capable of traveling long
distances.
Indirect transmission:
Vector transmission
When a disease passes through another species
before infecting another animal (of the same
or different species.
Indirect transmission
Environmental/fomite transmission
When a susceptible animal comes into contact
with a contaminated environment or a
FOMITE!
“AHHHHHHHH,
FOMITES!!!”
“What’s a
fomite???”
The shelter world is full of fomites...
A fomite is any object capable of carrying
infectious organisms from one individual and
transferring it to another.
...and YOU can be one too!
But how does this apply?
Canine Kennel Cough
Complex
What do you think is the
most common mode of
transmission?
a) direct contact
b) indirect-airborne
c) indirect- fomites
d) indirect- vectors
e) vertical transmission
Canine Parvovirus
What do you think is
the most common
mode of transmission?
a) direct contact
b) indirect-airborne
c) indirect- fomites
d) indirect- vectors
e) vertical transmission
Feline Panleukopenia
What do you think is
the most common
mode of transmission?
a) direct contact
b) indirect-airborne
c) indirect- fomites
d) indirect- vectors
e) vertical transmission
Feline upper respiratory
tract diseases
What do you think is
the most common
mode of transmission?
a) direct contact
b) indirect-airborne
c) indirect- fomites
d) indirect- vectors
e) vertical transmission
Dermatophytosis
What do you think is
the most common
mode of transmission?
a) direct contact
b) indirect-airborne
c) indirect- fomites
d) indirect- vectors
e) vertical transmission
Take-Home Messages
•
•
•
Factors influencing
transmission
o Animals’ statuses,
infectivity of the agent!
Shelter set-up will often
determine the most
likely mode of
transmission for diseases
in your shelter!
Modes of transmission
o Fomites, fomites,
FOMITES!
Any questions?
References:
Appel LD and Barr SC. 2009. “Canine Parvovirus and Coronavirus.” in Infectious Disease
Management in Shelters. eds. L Miller and K Hurley, 197-208. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell.
Baldwin CJ. 2009. “Canine Kennel Cough Complex.” in Infectious Disease Management in Shelters.
eds. L Miller and K Hurley, 147-160. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell.
Foley J and Bannasch M. 2004. “Infectious Diseases of Dogs and Cats.” in Shelter Medicine for
Veterinarians and Staff. eds L Miller and S Zawistowski, 235-284. Ames, IA: Blackwell
Publishing.
Hurley KF and Miller L. 2009. “Introduction to Disease Management in Animal Shelters.” in
Infectious Disease Management in Animal Shelters. eds L Miller and K Hurley, 5-16. Ames, IA:
Wiley-Blackwell
Moriello KA and Newbury S. 2009. “Dermatophytosis”. in Infectious Disease Management in
Shelters. eds. L Miller and K Hurley, 243-273. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell.
Scarlett JM. 2009. “Feline Upper Respiratory Disease.” in Infectious Disease Management in Shelters.
eds. L Miller and K Hurley, 125-146. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell.
Spindel M. “Infection Control for Home Based Foster Care.” ASPCAPro. www.ASPCAPro.org
Tuzio H. 2009. “Feline Panleukopenia.” in Infectious Disease Management in Shelters. eds. L Miller
and K Hurley, 183-195. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell.