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Tularemia in pet rodents imported into British Columbia

The store that reported illness in the degu did not report illness in chinchillas. 6/12 chinchillas, 11/21 degus and 23/70 gerbils remained for ...

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Tularemia in pet rodents imported into British Columbia

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    1. Tularemia in Imported Hamsters

    Laura MacDougall, MSc Epidemiologist, BCCD

    2. Tularemia - Overview

    Bacterial zoonosis caused by Fransicella tularensis Multiple routes of infection Clinical signs and severity of illness depend on route of transmission and strain Type A and Type B

    3. Tularemia - Overview (2)

    F. tularensis biovar tularensis (type A) Highly virulent in humans and animals Most common biovar isolated in North America Typically associated with rabbits, muskrats, beavers F. tularensis biovar palaearctica (type B) Generally less virulent Most common biovar in Europe and Asia Typically associated with rodents or wet environments

    4. The Phone Call…

    Sept 29, 2004 Manitoba Health informs BCCDC….

    5. The Phone Call…

    Sept 29, 2004 Manitoba Health informs BCCDC….

    6. BC Public Health Concerns

    Dwarf hamster death at BC distributor? Did BC distributor sell any dwarf hamsters to local pet stores? Was there illness in other animals from the same shipment? Health of staff at BC pet distributor and BC pet stores?

    7. BC Public Health Concerns

    Dwarf hamster death at BC distributor? 63 dwarf hamsters arrived ill Separate cabinet in same stock room All died within 1 week of arrival Did BC distributor sell any dwarf hamsters to local pet stores? NO!!! BUT…..

    8. BC Public Health Concerns

    Was there illness in other animals from the same shipment? 12 chinchillas 18 degus 100 gerbils Shipped to: 13 BC pet stores 12 in one chain 2 ON locations, 3 AB, 1SK Degu Chinchilla Gerbil

    9. Enhanced Rodent Surveillance

    Obtained sales records with shipment dates and locations Questionnaire to affected retail stores Illness or mortality since Aug 25th General and shipment-specific Included in-store reports and customer reports Quarantined, euthanized and tested remaining rodents

    10. Enhanced Human Surveillance

    Questionnaire to staff of BC pet stores Integrated with rodent surveillance questionnaire Face-to-face interviews at BC Distributor Degree of exposure to dwarf hamsters Serology Employees of BC distributor Symptomatic individuals from BC pet stores that received shipments

    11. Results – Rodent Surveillance

    *The store that reported illness in the degu did not report illness in chinchillas. 6/12 chinchillas, 11/21 degus and 23/70 gerbils remained for testing - all negative by PCR

    12. Results – Human Surveillance

    BC Distributor 4 employees tested 1 with positive titre (1:128) Blood drawn 5 wks after arrival of dwarf hamsters Only person in contact with ill dwarf hamsters Question: current or previous infection? Retested at 6 months

    13. Results – Human Surveillance (2)

    BC Pet Stores Human illness reported at 4 stores 1 of these stores also reported an animal death from the suspect shipment Mild flu-like symptoms 1 individual with more severe sx: Bitten by hamster (not from suspect shipment) Headaches, sore throat, stuffy nose, vomiting, high fever, chills, body aches, swollen lips Tested for tularemia = negative

    14. BC Conclusions

    Rapid public health response Excellent cooperation with pet industry Interaction with veterinarians critical No evidence of spread from ill dwarf hamsters to others animals in shipment No evidence of human infection among pet store employees Asymptomatic infection at distributor?

    15. What happened in Manitoba?

    July 2004 Mouse infestation in breeding shed Poison used as control agent August 2004 Hamsters and guinea pigs begin dying ?? Poison Dwarf hamsters moved to another location Breeding shed sealed and decontaminated August / Sept Dwarf hamsters distributed to BC, Minnesota, MN October Breeder shut down

    16. Investigation - MN

    Sampling of animals (n=72) PCR positive animals included: Hamsters and dwarf hamsters 2 dogs, 1 rabbit – asymptomatic, +ve serology Other environmental swabs – positive Well water - negative At least one human case identified Field trapping studies of wild mice F. tularensis of different strain! Hypothesis – introduction from wild mice

    17. Discussion points

    Who takes ownership of a zoonotic disease issue? Public Health authorities? Animal authorities? MAFF? CFIA? Recommendations to Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) Rodent-proofing for breeders Disease prevention Record-keeping; disease tracking Consumer information

    18. Questions?

    19. Timeline of Public Health Actions

    Wed Sep 29 – notified by Manitoba Health Thu Sep 30 – contacted BC distributor Fri Oct 1 Contacted BC pet stores; communications docs prepared Enhanced human/animal surveillance Remaining animals isolated Sat/Sun Oct 2/3 Enhanced animal/human surv. continued Mon Oct 4 Euthanization/testing of BC animals from suspect shipment Received notification that Type B identified in Minnesota Letter to BC physicians

    20. Timeline of Public Health Actions

    Tues Oct 5 Letter to BC Vets Testing of BC rodents (AHC) Oct 6, 7 Preliminary negative results – BC animals Negative human surveillance results Fri Oct 8 All animal results negative Remaining animals in quarantine released Public update on website; no press release

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