Updated/Latest Infectious Diseases of Concern to Captive and Free Ranging Wildlife in North America Test Bank Comprehensive Examination Questions and Answers Study Guide for Wildlife Diseases Veterinary Pathology Epidemiology Zoonotic Infections Disease S

Infectious Disease Manual

Infectious Diseases of Concern to
Captive and Free Ranging Wildlife in
North America

An official publication of the
American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Animal Health and Welfare Committee




Updated April 2020
Edited by
Paige Brock, DVM, DACZM, cVMA
Gretchen Cole, DVM, DACZM, DECZM (ZHM)
and
Richard Sim, DVM, DACZM

,Introduction:
This publication was designed as a starting reference poin for information on the
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infectious diseases tha affec zoo and wild animal species captively housed or
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free-ranging in North America. This volume complements a similar dynamic and
routinely-updated version tha exists for the same populations in Europe. While
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each shee has been peer-reviewed, often by a topic expert, these fac sheets are no
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intended to be used as an exclusive source of information, bu rather provide quick
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reference of basic disease properties and concerns. These fac sheets also highligh
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diagnostics, laboratories, specialists, and treatmen recommendations for clinicians,
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pathologists, and wildlife biologists tha encounter an infectious disease.
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This compendium acts as a common resource and poin of information for this discipline.
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I is importan to remember tha these fac sheets are no to replace state or federal
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regulations. As such, they are no legally enforceable documents or required
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standards of care.

, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Infectious Disease Manual
ACANTHAMOEBIASIS
Animal Transmission Clinical Severity Treatment Prevention Zoonotic
Group(s) Signs and Control
Affected
-Primates -Source: soil, -Cutaneous -Asymptomatic in Pentamidine - Difficul J -No directly J




-Dogs water lesions immunecompeten J isethionate; due to transmitted
-Sheep -Gains entry -Sinusitis individuals Sulfadiazine; ubiquitous -Can cause
-Cattle via: breaks in -Pneumonitis Flucytosine; nature of disease in
-Horses skin; -Neurologic -Frequently fatal in Fluconazole; the humans
-Kangaroos respiratory signs immunocompromised Itraconazole organism
-Birds tract; corneal -Fever individuals Amphotericin - Limi J




-Reptiles surface; -Nausea B; exposure
-Amphibians hematogenous -Vomiting Azithromycin to dust,
-Fish spread to central soil, and
-Invertebrates nervous system water

Fac Shee compiled by: Laurie Gage
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Sheet completed on: April 14, 2011; updated 19 March 2013.
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Fact Sheet Reviewed by: Kimberly Rainwater, Ariana Finkelstein
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Susceptible animal groups: Primates, dogs, sheep, cattle, horses, kangaroos, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish,
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invertebrates.
Causative organism: Opportunistic protozoan parasites, Acanthamoeba spp. (A. castellanii, A. culbertsoni, A.
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hatchetti, A. healyi, A. polyphaga, A. rhysodes, A. astronyxis, A. divionensis)
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Zoonotic potential: May infect cornea of contact lens wearers and cause disseminated infection in
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immunocompromised individuals. J




Distribution: Ubiquitous worldwide. It may be found in soil; fresh and brackish water; bottled mineral water;
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cooling towers of electric and nuclear power plants; heating, ventilating, and air conditioning units, humidifiers;
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Jacuzzi tubs; hydrotherapypools in hospitals; dental irrigation units; dialysis machines; dust in the air; bacterial,
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fungal , and mammalian cell cultures; contact lenses and ophthalmic saline flush; aural discharge; pulmonary
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secretions; feces. J




Incubation period: 1 day to 2 weeks J J J J J J




Clinical signs: Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis: depression, nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever, lethargy,
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cerebellar ataxia, visual disturbances, hemiparesis, cranial nerve deficits, seizures, and coma. Cutaneous lesions:
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ulcers, nodules, and subcutaneous abscesses. Respiratory: sinusitis and pneumonitis. Acanthamoeba keratitis
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(reported in humans only): ocular pain, photophobia, corneal ulceration, loss of visual acuity, and blindness.
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Post mortem, gross, or histologic findings:
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Gross Findings: multifocal encephalomalacia and cerebral hemorrhage; nodular necrosis in the liver, kidney, lung,
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pancreas; multifocal granulomatous pneumonia; cutaneous granulomas
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Histologic Findings: Focal areas of necrosis and granulomatous inflammation in affected tissues; necrotizing
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vasculitis; [resence of cysts (12-16 um diameter) and trophozoites (14-40 um diameter) in affected tissues
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Diagnosis: Direct observation of amoebae in tissues stained with hematoxylin-eosin; indirect immunofluorescence
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staining using rabbit anti-amoeba sera; polymerase chain reaction to detect amoeba DNA
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in tissue and cerebrospinal fluid samples; computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging
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Material required for laboratory analysis: Serum, cerebrospinal fluid, formalin-fixed tissue samples, fresh tissue
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samples for culture (culture should only be done by accredited laboratories with the proper safety equipment)
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, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Infectious Disease Manual
ACANTHAMOEBIASIS

Relevant diagnostic laboratories:
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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Treatment: Pentamidine isethionate, sulfadiazine and other sulfa drugs, flucytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole,
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amphotericin B, and azithromycin. J J J




Prevention and control: Limit exposure to airborne soil particles that may carry cysts to the respiratory system;
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prevent exposure ofopen wounds to contaminated soil or water; preventative measures are especially important for
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immunocompromised individuals. J




Suggested disinfectant for housing facilities: Chlorhexidine, isopropyl alcohol (20%), hydrogen peroxide
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Notification Not required J J




Measures required under the Animal Disease Surveillance Plan None required
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Measures required for introducing animals to infected animal None required
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Conditions for restoring disease-free status after an outbreak: It is not possible due to ubiquitous nature of this
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organism.
Experts who may be consulted Centers for Disease Control
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References:
1. Mehlhorn, H. 2008. Encyclopedia of Parasitology Volume 1, 3rd Ed. Springer-Verlag, New York. Pp: 2.
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2. Schuster, F.L., and G.S. Visvesvara. 2004. Amebae and ciliated protozoa as causal agents of waterborne
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zoonotic disease. Vet. Parasitol. 126: 91-120. J J J J J




3. Rutala, W.A., D.J. Weber, and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices AdvisoryCommittee. 2008.
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Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008.
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http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/guidelines/Disinfection_Nov_2008.pdf. Accessed 14 April 2011. J J J J




4. Visvesvara, G.S., H. Moura, and F L. Schuster. 2007. Pathogenic and opportunistic free-living amoebae:
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Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, Naegleria fowleri, and Sappinia diploidea. FEMS Immunol.J J J J J J J J J J J




Med. Microbiol. 50: 1-26. J J J