You can mark your card on zoonotic perils
You can mark your card on zoonotic perils
By Hannah Velten
FARMERS and those working with livestock can obtain a free medical card to help inform doctors about human health dangers presented by zoonotic diseases.
Produced by the Womens Food and Farming Union (WFU) in association with Schering-Plough Animal Health, the cards were launched at five regional seminars to mark Zoonoses Awareness Week.
The card highlights common zoonoses, typical routes of transmission, human illness symptoms and protective measures that can be taken.
Speaking at the meeting held in Staffs, Marina Morgan from the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, said that better information about zoonoses can lead to doctors making early diagnosis and giving correct treatments. This could prevent serious and potentially life-threatening situations.
"The first human symptoms of cattle-associated leptospirosis often include flu-like illness, headache, conjunctivitis and pain in the calf muscles. As these are symptoms of common illnesses, GPs may not realise the need for blood tests to diagnose leptospirosis," she said.
When the disease goes undiagnosed, some cases can develop into jaundice, kidney failure or meningitis.
According to Brian Preece, of the Vet Lab Agency, Exeter, leptospirosis is of particular concern to dairy farmers working in herringbone parlours, as the bacteria can be spread by direct or indirect contact with urine of infected cows.
"Bacterial leptospires can enter the body through mucus membranes, broken or water-softened skin. Although farmers cannot practically wear masks when milking, cuts should be covered with waterproof dressings and gloves worn when handling placentas," he said.
Abortion, weak calves, poor conception rates, returns to service, and temporary agalactia are symptoms of infection, yet the disease may remain unseen in herds.
To comply with COSH* regulations, the risk of leptospiroses transmission to humans must be assessed, said Mr Preece.
"As leptospires can survive in watercourses, recent flooding may have spread infection to previously clear herds and because of expanding dairy herds infection may be bought-in."
Effective diagnosis involves testing bulk tank samples or taking blood samples from a representative number of cows in the herd, said Mr Preece. These services are being offered free of charge through the Bovine Leptospirosis Information and Screening Service (BLISS), operated by Schering-Plough Animal Health.
Antibiotic treatment will remove infection from the cows kidneys, but a vaccination programme will protect against infection in a clean herd and give long-term control of the disease in infected herds, said Mr Preece.
The medical card, aimed at those working with farm animals, will be available at veterinary practices, doctors surgeries, WFU branches and agricultural shows. Cards can also be obtained by e-mail from judith.cox@spcorp.com (01895-626285).
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ZOONOSES CARD
* Aimed at farm workers.
* Gps aid to diagnose zoonoses.
* Risk of leptospirosis infection.
ZOONOSES CARD
• Aimed at farm workers.
• GPs aid to diagnose zoonoses.
• Risk of leptospirosis infection.