Zoonoses in veterinary practice

Correct answer: B. Dogs

Rabies is endemic in Georgia, and most human exposures (bites, scratches) involve dogs, including stray dogs. Wildlife such as foxes, jackals and wolves is a reservoir too. Birds do not carry rabies, and transmission from small rodents is very rare. Regular vaccination of dogs and cats is the most effective way to protect people.

Correct answer: B. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for about 15 minutes and seek medical care

WHO recommends washing a bite or scratch immediately and thoroughly with soap and water for about 15 minutes, then applying an antiseptic. This substantially reduces the risk of rabies. Medical staff decide on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and it should not be delayed while the animal is under observation.

Correct answer: B. 10 days

Dogs and cats only start shedding the virus in saliva a few days before clinical signs appear. If the animal stays healthy for 10 days, there was no virus in its saliva at the time of the bite, and WHO advises that PEP already started may be stopped. Local regulations also govern how observation is done.

Correct answer: B. Recommended for high-risk occupations, veterinarians included

WHO recommends pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for high-risk groups, including veterinarians and staff who work with animals. PrEP does not replace medical care after a bite, but it simplifies it: fewer vaccine doses are needed and rabies immunoglobulin is no longer required.

Correct answer: A. By eating raw offal of infected livestock (e.g. sheep)

The dog is the definitive host. It becomes infected by eating raw offal (liver, lungs) of an intermediate host, usually sheep or other livestock, that contains hydatid cysts. Prevention: no raw offal, and regular deworming with praziquantel. Cystic echinococcosis is a significant problem in people in Georgia too.

Correct answer: B. By swallowing parasite eggs from dog faeces (via hands, vegetables, water)

People are intermediate hosts. They are infected by eggs passed in an infected dog's faeces, which end up on fur, soil, vegetables and in water. Cysts grow over years, mainly in the liver and lungs. Handwashing after contact with dogs, washing vegetables well and regular deworming of dogs are the main protection. Eating meat does not transmit echinococcosis to people.

Correct answer: A. The animal's urine

Leptospires are shed in urine and enter through broken skin or mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, nose). Wear gloves when handling such a patient, plus goggles or a face shield where splashes are possible; disinfect urine-contaminated surfaces and keep the animal in isolation. Rodents and other animals are reservoirs, and the infection also spreads through contaminated water and soil.

Correct answer: B. Clean the box daily, preferably by someone else, or with gloves and handwashing afterwards

Toxoplasma oocysts shed in cat faeces become infectious only after 1–5 days, so cleaning the box daily greatly reduces the risk. Undercooked meat, unwashed vegetables and gardening without gloves are also important sources. Rehoming the cat is usually not necessary.

Correct answer: B. Wash the site and see a doctor immediately, naming the vaccine strain

Live brucellosis vaccines can infect people. The doctor chooses post-exposure prophylaxis by strain: RB51, for example, is resistant to rifampicin, so naming the strain matters. Brucellosis is endemic in livestock in Georgia, so unprotected contact with aborted foetuses, placentas and birth fluids is a risk for veterinarians too.

Correct answer: B. A fungus

Microsporum canis is a dermatophyte fungus and one of the most common causes of skin infection passed from animals to people. Despite the name "ringworm", no worm is involved. Spores survive in the environment for months, so the home or clinic needs treating along with the animal. Children and clinic staff are often infected.