Pathogens

Copyright 2011. PEER.tamu.edu

Think about it:

What sicknesses have
you had?
Can you name an
infectious disease that
causes people or animals
to die?
What is an infectious
disease that has been in
the news recently?

Epidemiology

The branch of medical science dealing with the

transmission and control of disease.
There are human physicians that study
epidemiology and also veterinarians that study
animal epidemiology. Both of these types of
epidemiologists also deal with diseases that are
transmitted from humans to animals and from
animals to humans.

Infectious
Diseases are
Caused by
Pathogens
Whats a
pathogen?

What are Pathogens?

Pathogens are microbes (microscopic living
organisms) or other agents that cause
diseases.
Example: Foot and mouth disease is a
highly contagious disease of cattle, swine,
and other cloven-hoofed animals.
It is caused by a viral pathogen called
picornavirus.
It causes blisters in the mouths and
hooves of animals.

Not all microbes are pathogens

There are many types of microbes that are
actually beneficial to animals.
Examples include the symbiotic bacteria found
in the digestive system of cattle and horses that
help them digest cellulose in roughage.
There can be one trillion or more microbes in 1
ounce of rumen fluid from a cow!*

Common Types of Pathogens

Viruses

Bacteria
Fungi

Prions

Protozoa

A Closer Look at the types of Pathogens:

Bacteria
Bacteria are single celled
organisms that are prokaryotic.
There are countless numbers of
bacteria on the Earth but less
than 1% of them cause
diseases.
Bacterial infections make an
animal noticeably sick.
Bacteria reproduce rapidly and
many give off toxins which
damage body tissue.
Bacteria are shaped like
cocci (spheres), bacilli
(rods), or spirilla (spirals).

Bacteria
Symptoms of bacterial infections
depend on the type of bacteria
but can include fever, pain,
swelling, vomiting, diarrhea,
formation of pus, and even
abortion.
Body fluids can be sampled and
cultured to grow and identify the
bacterial pathogen.
Antibiotics are the usual
treatment for bacterial infections,
but treatment can vary.
Bacteria adapt quickly and may
become resistant to antibiotics.

Strangles in horses is caused by

Streptococcus equi bacteria

A positive culture for Streptococcus bacteria

A broad spectrum antibiotic

Common Bacterial Diseases

Disease

Body System

Symptoms

Examples

Dermatitis

Skin

Inflammation, pruritus (itching)

skin lesions (bumps, blisters, scales,
crusts)

Staphylococcus aureus

Pyoderma

Skin

Purulent exudate (pus) from skin

lesions

Staphylococcus intermedius

Keratocunjunctivitis

Eye

Inflammation of cornea and

conjunctiva , pain, sensitivity to
sunlight, tears, squinting

Pinkeye is common name

Staphylococcus aureus

Otitis Externa

Ear

Inflammation of external ear canal

with reddening, drainage and itching

Staphylococcus

Rhinitis and Sinusitis

Respiratory

Inflammation of the membranes of

the nasal passages and sinuses.
Mucus nasal discharge, open-mouth
breathing, sneezing.

Strangles in horses caused by

Streptococcus equi

Pneumonia

Respiratory

Deep cough and difficulty breathing

Staphylococcus aureus, including

methicillin-resistant S. aureus
(MRSA), Streptococcus species

Gastroenteritis

Digestive

Inflammation of stomach and

intestines, excessive salivation,
vomiting, diarrhea, straining,
abdominal pain.

Salmonellosis, colibacillosis,
eneterotoxemia

Metritis

Reproductive

Inflammation of uterus. Purulent

vaginal discharge, abortion,
premature birth.

Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)

Abortion

Reproductive

Premature birth (expelling) of fetus

by pregnant female.

Brucellosis, leptospirosis and

camphylobacteriosis (vibriosis)

Mastitis

Reproductive

Inflammation of mammary gland or

udder tissue. Swollen, warm and
painful mammary glands.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and

many other bacteria

Anthrax

Skin, Digestive, Respiratory

Sudden death in cattle

Varied in humans depending on
exposure method

Bacillus anthracis is reportable

disease responsible for outbreaks
in cattle. Zoonotic, possible
bioterrorism agent

Prions
A prion is an infectious particle
(not a cell) made from an
abnormally folded protein found
on the surfaces of nerve cells.
Prions are highly resistant to
heat, radiation, and disinfectants.
The best known prion forms holes
in brain tissue, making the brain
look like Swiss cheese.
The prion causes mad-cow
disease and may cause some
forms of Alzheimer's Disease.
Click here for PEER curriculum on proteins

Ribbon diagram
of prion*

Viruses
A virus consists of a piece of
genetic material (RNA) housed
within a protective coat. Viruses
are not cells.
The virus reproduces by
hijacking the cell of another
organism (host) and getting the
host cell to reproduce more
viruses.
Most viruses cause disease and
are specific as to which type of
cell they will attack.
Rabies Virus

Viruses
Symptoms of viral diseases are varied
and related to the types of tissues that
are infected. Viral diseases are
commonly associated with infections of
the skin, blood, liver, uterus, fetus,
brain, lungs, stomach, and intestines.
Diagnosis is done by virus isolation,
ELISA* and PCR* testing. A decrease in
lymphocytes on a CBC can also indicate
a viral infection.
Treatments are mainly supportive in
nature. This can include administering
fever reducers and allowing the animal
to rest. Antiviral medications are being
developed, but many are cost
prohibitive. Antibiotics kill bacteria and
have no effect on viruses.

*See slide notes for more information

Horses can be infected by at least

four different papilloma viruses
that cause warts

Common Viral Diseases

Disease

Body System

Symptoms

Examples

Hepatitis

General-many
organs involved

Vary from slight fever to

death

Infectious canine
hepatitiscanine adenovirus 1

Anemia

Blood

Fever, weight loss,

abortion, low iron level in
blood

Equine infectious
anemia-equine
infectious anemia virus

Warts

Skin

Fibrous tumors of the skin

an mucous membranes

Papilloma virus

Pox

Skin

Skin lesions-bumps,
blisters, pustules, and
crusts

Cowpox

Pneumonia

Respiratory

Labored or flank
breathing, hard deep
cough, fever, leukocytosis

Bovine Respiratory
Disease (BRD)Mannheimia
haemolytica
There are MANY viruses
that cause Pneumonia

Abortion

Reproductive

Loss of fetus

Equine
Rhinopneumonitisequine herpesvirus 1

Meningitis and
encephalitis

Nervous

Invfammation of the brain

covering causing
blindness, paralysis,
wobbling, seizures, coma
and delirium

Encephalomyelitis,
distemper, parvovirus,
swine pseudorabies

Rabies

Nervous

Throat paralysis, behavior

change, change in bark
(dog), aggression in later
stages, lack of fear

Rabies virus
Typically fatal

Protozoa
Protozoa are unicellular microbes
that can be parasites or predators
of other microbes. Many are motile. Protozoa found in human stool
sample

Most need a moist environment to

live and many are transmitted
through water.
Infections of small numbers of
protozoa are common, they are
seen quite often on microscopic
fecal examinations with the animal
showing no evidence of diseases.
Infected animals are recognized as
carrier animals and as possible
sources of infection for susceptible
animals.

Giardia

Protozoa
Symptoms vary considerably depending
on the protozoa involved but often
include intestinal disorders such as
diarrhea, weight loss, and anorexia.
Some protozoa cause fever, flu-like
symptoms, or anemia.

Direct fecal smear stained to detect

Cryptosporidium sp., a protozoan
parasite. (Source: CDC)

Diagnosis is conducted through

examination of blood, feces, or urine
for the presence of the microscopic
organisms. ELISA and PCR tests can
also be done.
Many antiprotozoal agents are available
for treatment of protozoal infections.
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasite
that causes disease in humans and
animals

Protozoal Diseases
Disease

Body System

Symptoms

Examples

Giardiasis

Digestive

abdominal cramps, watery

diarrhea, vomiting, flatus
(gas), and fever

Giardia lamblia
Affects animals and
humans

Coccidiosis

Digestive

Thin, watery feces with

considerable amounts of
intestinal mucosa and blood

Coccidia Eimeria and

Isospora, affects
animals and humans

Tricnomoniasis

Reproductive

venereal disease
characterized primarily by
early fetal death and
infertility

Tritrichomonas
Affects animals and
humans

Hexamitiasis

Digestive

Watery diarrhea, dry

unkempt feathers,
listlessness, and rapid
weight loss despite the fact
that the birds continue to
eat

Hexamita meleagridis
in turkeys and other
fowl

Toxoplasmosis

Multiple Systems

Cough, fever, loss of

appetite, and lethargy. Can
be passed to fetus
(congenital). Congenital
toxoplasmosis can damage
the baby's eyes, nervous
system, skin, and ears.

Toxoplasma gondii
Zoonotic, affects
animals and humans

Babesiosis

Circulatory

Fever, anemia, sudden

cardiac death
Malaria-like (Malaria is a
protozoal disease)

Babesia microti in
dogs transmitted by
ticks

Fungi
A single or multi-cellular
microbe that can infect
various tissues in animals.
Symptoms can include skin
lesions, hair loss and
respiratory or digestive
system disorders.
Many antifungal drugs are
available and can be used
systemically as well as
orally.
Microsporum-the fungus that causes ringworm.

Fungi
Diagnosis of fungal infections may be
done by examination of skin lesions,
fungal culture, biopsies, skin
immunologic tests, or by blood tests.
Treatment of skin lesions in the patient
usually includes a combination of antifungal drugs, topical medications and
anti-fungal medicated shampoos for
animals with skin lesions.
A horse with a severe case of ringworm,
which is cause by a fungus

Systemic fungal diseases can be

serious and result in severe tissue
damage.

Treatment includes bathing with

a medicated shampoo

Fungal Diseases
Disease

System

Symptom

Examples

Dermatophytosis or
Ringworm

Skin

Circular skin lesions with

hair loss, itching, pruritus
may or may not be
present

Microsporum canis in
dogs

Dermatophilosis or
Rain Gall/Rain Rot

Skin

Lumpy, crusty, lesions

covered with hair that
can be pulled off

Dermatophilus
congolensis has a
variety of hosts-cattle,
sheep, goats, and horses
are affected most
frequently; and pigs,
dogs, and cats rarely

Aspergillosis

Respiratory

Fever, cough, chest pain

or breathlessness

Aspergillus fumigatus in
many species. Type of
mold.

Candidiasis or Yeast
Infection

Skin, Respiratory,
Digestive

Signs can be variable.

Diarrhea and listlesses
can be observed. Lesions
of the skin and mucosae
are generally single or
multiple, raised, circular,
white masses covered
with scabs.

Candida albicans in many

species.

Coccidiosis

Digestive

Diarrhea, dehydration,
hemorrhaging,

Eimeria and Isospora in

cattle, sheep, goats,
pigs, poultry, and rabbits

Quick Check #1:

1. What is a pathogen?
2. Name five kinds of pathogens.
3. How are these five kinds of pathogens
alike?
4. How are these five kinds of pathogens
different?

How Are Pathogens Spread?

Pathogens can enter the
body through air, food,
water, sexual
interactions, skin
contact, blood
transfusions, etc.

Pathogen

The bodys reaction to an

infection can vary from a
mild discomfort to death.
For more on the immune
system, click here

Species Specificity
I can transmit
Brucellosis

We can transmit lots

of infectious agents
including arena
viruses and hantavirus.

I can transmit
Ebola virus!

Some infectious
diseases of animals
can be transferred
to humans.
These are called
zoonotic diseases.
All mammals can
transmit rabies but
raccoons and
skunks are the
most common
carriers.

Think about it:

Where Do Pathogens Hide When
Not Infecting People and
Animals?
The soil
Bodies of water
Surfaces like farm equipment
The skin of people and animals
In the air
In body fluids

Where are
those
pathogens?

Do you know the difference

between infectious and
contagious?
Infectious: pathogen can invade
the body
Contagious: pathogen can be
spread from one animal to
another.
An animal that has
a contagious condition
will probably have to
be isolated from other
animals until it is
determined that it is
no longer contagious.

Quick Check #2
1. How can pathogens get in the body to
cause infection?
2. What is an infectious disease that can
be transmitted from an animal to a
human called?
3. Where are pathogens commonly found?
4. Whats the difference between being
infectious and being contagious?

Different infectious diseases

require different approaches for
prevention and control.
But for any disease, there are
three key steps for dealing
with it.

Three Key Steps

reak the cycle of transmission
ill the infectious agent
ncrease host resistance

Do you have some ideas on how to do these three things?

Vaccination
Vaccination acts to increase the
hosts resistance to a pathogen.
Vaccination is the administration of
a material that stimulates adaptive
immunity to a disease.
Although it is not possible to devise
precise schedules for each vaccine,
certain principles are common to all
methods of active immunization.

 Newborn animals are passively

protected by maternal antibodies.
If stimulation of immunity is
necessary at this stage, the
mother may be vaccinated during
late pregnancy.
Because the exact time of loss of
maternal immunity cannot be
predicted, young animals are
often vaccinated at least twice to
ensure successful immunization.

Newborn animals acquire

immunity from nursing colostrum,
or the first milk produced by the
mother.

 The interval between vaccine doses depends on an

animals immunologic memory. The duration of this
memory depends on factors such as the nature of
the antigen, the use of live or dead organisms, and
the route of administration.
Modern vaccines may induce immunity that persists
for an animals lifetime. Other vaccines may require
boosting only once every 2-3 years.
Some vaccines, like Bordatella in dogs, are
recommended to be given every 6 months.

 Annual revaccination has been

the rule because this approach
is administratively simple and
has the advantage of ensuring
that an animal is regularly seen
by a veterinarian. It is likely
that this is more than sufficient
for most vaccines.

The veterinarian in
a local area will be
most informed on
protocols for
vaccination.
PLEASE NOTE: Sample schedule only. Check with your local
veterinarian for a complete schedule for your area.

Some Current Research

Over-use of antibiotics has led to some bacteria
developing resistance. This is a big problem.
Scientists search for antibiotics that can replace
current ones to which bacteria have evolved
resistance.

Click here for more on antibiotic resistance

Delivery of nanoparticles to cells

to kill drug-resistant bacteria
Nanoparticles are sized between 1 and
100 nanometers. Nanoparticles are
100 times smaller than bacteria.
Antibiotics bound with nanoparticles
may be used one day to treat
infections, especially those that are
drug resistant.
One study will allow nanoparticles to
be engineered as small machines that
will carry large numbers of antibiotic
molecules to a single bacterial cell,
then release and kill the cell.

Artists rendition of nanoparticles

One New Strategy

Many bacteria have genes
that can make products like
toxins or even antibiotics
against other bacteria.
Forcing bacteria to grow
with another kind of bacteria
might cause them to start
secreting a new antibiotic to
kill off the competition.
This new antibiotic could be
used to kill resistant
bacteria.

Staphylococcus aureus, cultured on an agar

plate for drug sensitivity test

Simple Dissolvable Patch for Vaccines

Scientists have created a
dissolvable patch that is currently
being tested which will deliver
vaccine into the skin painlessly.
Microscopic needles made from a
special blend of vinyl and freezedried vaccine can be pressed against
the skin causing the needles to
dissolve in the bodys fluids.
This eliminates risk of shared
needles and it can be easily
administered by health care
officials.

Edible Vaccines in Food

Many studies are currently being done
to modify plants to contain vaccines.
Plant-based edible vaccines would be
safer, cheaper, and could be grown
or freeze-dried and shipped
anywhere.
Vaccines delivered in food trigger a
two-way immune response.
Oral vaccines initiate a systemic and
mucosal immunity, which fights
infections in places where germs first
attack the body: in the mucous
membranes of the nose, mouth,
lungs, gut, and genitals.

Using Plants to Make Vaccines

Plants can be genetically modified to
produce vaccines as they grow.
The process of growing the vaccine in a
plant is about three times faster, and
can cut costs by about 75 percent,
compared to conventional methods.

Quick Check #3
1. What are the three key steps for dealing
with infectious disease?
2. What is the purpose of vaccination?
3. What are some considerations when
designing a vaccination protocol?
4. What are some current areas of
research concerning vaccination and
treatment of infectious diseases?

Activity Time:
Model on Disease Spread
ACHOO!

References:
Veterinary Assistant Handbook
Floron C. Fairies, Jr.
Instructional Material Service
Texas A&M University
First Edition
Merck Veterinary Manual
http://www.merckvetmanual.com