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Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases or communicable diseases arise from illnesses caused by fungi, viruses, protozoa, bacteria or parasites. These infections can be transmitted through body fluids, airborne inhalation and contaminated foods or objects.

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How is a non infectious disease different from a infectious disease?

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Infectious diseases are those diseases which are caused by infectious agents (which include microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa and virus, as well as some multicellular animals such as worms) and hence they are the ones which can spread from one person to another. Non-infectious diseases are those diseases that are not caused by infectious agents and do not spread from one person to another.

How can you rid of vaginal odor that is not caused by yeast infection or sexual disease and it's not that fishy smell its a strange odd smell?

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Try a vinegar & water douche, not scented (or call your doctor as you prolly recently saw him/her to know it's not an infection or std). NO NO NO Never, ever douche. More infections and funny smells are caused by douching than anything else. The odor is probably completely normal, everyone has their own specific odor. I have travelled all over the world and only in the USA can you buy douches, Brits don't even know the word and it is French for a shower.

What diseases do mosquitoes carry in North America?

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Yes. Especially the the invasive tiger mosquito which was brought to the US from china not too long ago.

They are much bigger than normal Mosquitos and have a striped pattern. These nasty bugs will even come out during the day.

What eats the macaw?

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CHINESE PEOPLE. Its the truth if u give chinese person anything i swear to god they will gobble it up in two bites. They eat whales, peoples poo, even monkey brains like the indians. That's whythere houses stink like crap. Thats why the all have apple products because they win it in the eating competions. And if u want to fight a chinese bullyuse ur bin as target practise so u get use to the smell and don't faint in the fight.

Can elephants get malaria?

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It may be possible for elephants to contract malaria, as there are over 200 different Plasmodium species. However, elephants are not susceptible to the same five Plasmodiumspecies that humans are.

Are mosquitoes born with diseases?

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That is a good question! Mosquitoes do not die from the diseases they carry. Otherwise the would not get chance to transmit the diseases they carry.

Can humans get mono from dogs?

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Mono is also called "the kissing disease." I don't know if you can get it from your dog or not but I would try not to kiss the dog on the mouth. They say that dogs have less germs in their mouths than people but they still have germs. Don't take the chance. Plus, have you seen where they lick? I love my dog but I draw the line somewhere.

What causes avian influenza?

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Definition

Avian influenza is flu infection in birds. The virus that causes the bird infectin can change (mutate) to infect humans. Such mutation could start a deadly worldwide epidemic.

Alternative Names

Bird flu; H5N1

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The first avian influenza virus to infect humans occurred in Hong Kong in 1997. The epidemic was linked to chickens and classified as avian influenza A (H5N1).

Human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) have since been reported in Asia, Africa, Europe, Indonesia, Vietnman, the Pacific, and the near East. Hundreds of people have become sick with this virus. Slightly more than 60% of those who became ill have died.

The more the avian flu virus spreads, the greater the chances of a worldwide outbreak in humans. There is a tremendous concern that H5N1 poses an enormous pandemic threat.

The following people have a higher risk for developing the bird flu:

  • Farmers and others who work with poultry
  • Travelers visiting affected countries
  • Those who touch an infected bird
  • Those who eat raw or undercooked poultry meat, eggs, or blood from infected birds

Health care workers and household contacts of patients with avian influenza may also be at an increased risk of the bird flu.

The avian flu virus (H5N1) has been shown to survive in the environment for long periods of time. Infection may be spread simply by touching contaminated surfaces. Birds who were infected with this flu can continue to release the virus in their feces and saliva for as long as 10 days.

Symptoms

Symptoms of avian flu infection in humans depend on the strain of virus.

Infection with the H5N1 virus in humans causes typical flu-like symptoms, which might include:

Signs and tests

If you think you have been exposed to avian influenza, call your health care provider before your visit. This will give the staff a chance to take proper precautions that will protect them and other patients during your office visit.

Tests to identify the avian flu exist but are not widely available. A test for diagnosing strains of bird flu in people suspected of having the virus gives preliminary results within 4 hours. Older tests took 2 to 3 days.

Your doctor might also perform the following tests:

Other tests may be done to look at the functions of your heart, kidneys, and liver.

Treatment

Different types of avian flu virus may cause different symptoms. Therefore, treatment may vary.

In general, treatment with the antiviral medication oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) may make the disease less severe if you start taking the medicine within 48 hours after your symptoms start.

Oseltamivir may also be prescribed for persons who live in the same house as those diagnosed with avian flu.

The virus that causes human avian flu appears to be resistant to the antiviral medicines amantadine and rimantadine. Therefore these medications should not be used if an H5N1 outbreak occurs.

People with severe infection may need to be placed on a breathing machine. Experts recommend that persons diagnosed with avian flu be put in isolation.

Doctors recommend that people get an influenza (flu) shot to reduce the chance of an avian flu virus mixing with a human flu virus, which would create a new virus that may easily spread.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a vaccine to protect humans from the avian flu. Experts say the vaccine could be used if the current H5N1 virus starts spreading between people.

Expectations (prognosis)

The outlook depends on the severity of infection and the type of avian influenza virus that caused it. Death is possible.

ComplicationsCalling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you develop flu-like symptoms within 10 days of handling infected birds or traveling to an area with a known avian flu outbreak.

Prevention

At this time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has no recommendations against travel to the countries affected by H5N1 .

However, travelers should avoid visits to live-bird markets in areas with an avian flu outbreak. People who work with birds who might be infected should use protective clothing and special breathing masks. Avoiding undercooked or uncooked meat reduces the risk of exposure to avian flu and other foodborne diseases.

Current information regarding avian flu is available at www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/current.htm.

References

Treanor JJ. Influenza viruses, including avian influence and swine influenza. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap 165.

US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves First U.S. Vaccine for Humans Against the Avian Influenza Virus H5N1. Rockville, MD: National Press Office; April 17, 2007. Release P07-68

Levin S. Zoonoses. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 349.

Hayden FG. Influenza. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 387.

Ferri FF. Avian influenza. In: Ferri FF, ed. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:section 1.

Reviewed By

Review Date: 02/01/2011

Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

How is the avian flu transmitted?

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Asked by Wiki User

birds get bird flu by getting diseases from ship countries such as china.

birds get bird flu from transported birds, so your birds catch the disease

How do people get infected with malaria?

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Malaria is caused by the microscopic single -celled protozoan called Plasmodium , and is the deadliest organism on the planet. When a person with active malaria is bitten by the Anopheles mosquito, the mosquito injests the Plasmodium larvae with the blood meal. The larvae travel to the midgut of the mosquito, where they change form. When the mosquito bites UNinfected person, the plasmodium is injected into their bloodstream through the mosquito's saliva. The larvae are in the person's bloodstream , and transform again. Next they invade the blood cells, where they multiply over and over, bursting the blood cells and spreading even more larvae into the blood stream. The infection causes high fevers, and severe anemia, possibly leading to death. Another mosquito bites this person and spreads it to yet a third person.

( i think I left out a side-trip into the human liver somewhere, but you get the idea!)

Do all kinds of mosquitoes carry disease germs?

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Mosquitoes are typically smaller than a shirt button, but they can pose big health risks. More than 200 species are found throughout North America, some of which can transmit West Nile virus and other viruses that cause encephalitis, or swelling of the brain.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 19,500 cases of West Nile have been reported in the United States, including more than 750 deaths, since the virus was first identified in New York in 1999. Serious symptoms of West Nile virus can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, convulsions, vision loss and paralysis; and the disease can even be fatal.

Furthermore, mosquitoes cause major health problems internationally by carrying and transmitting infectious agents that cause diseases such as malaria, elephantiasis, and yellow and dengue fevers.

"Not only are mosquitoes dangerous, but they're also annoying, ranking among the most frequently encountered pests in American homes," says Frank Meek, entomologist and Technical Director for Orkin, Inc. "It is important to protect yourself and your family against mosquitoes, especially in summer and early fall, when populations are most prevalent."

Fortunately, 90 percent of Americans realize that mosquitoes are capable of spreading disease and adversely impacting health, according to a recent survey released by Orkin, Inc. Armed with this knowledge, homeowners should proactively follow these tips to help protect against mosquito populations thriving in and around their homes:

• When outdoors, apply an EPA-approved insect repellant on clothing and exposed skin.

• During prime mosquito-biting hours of dusk to dawn, wear long sleeves and pants in addition to repellant, or consider staying indoors.

• Make sure screens on windows and doors fit tightly and have no holes.

• Remember, mosquitoes only need a thimbleful of water to breed and survive, so eliminate breeding sites by emptying standing water from objects around the home, including flowerpots, buckets, tire swings and children's wading pools. Change the water in pet dishes and birdbaths regularly.

Controlling mosquito populations can be difficult, but professional help is available through Orkin, the only national pest control provider offering treatment services against these dangerous pests.

What are the symptoms of parvo virus?

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Fever, depression, lethargy, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, loss of appetite. Parvo strikes very fast. If you have a puppy or dog with the above symptoms, it is a medical emergency. Parvo can kill in 24-72 hours.

If you are human your cheeks go bright red.

What color is a hookworm?

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I just read that they are pinkish-white in color.

What do you do when your cat has the flu?

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how young is your kitten?and how bad do you think the cold is? if it is just a little cold you might be able to fix your little baby up at home but if not and if your kiten is whizing and has mucus coming from the nose and runny eyes you need to take it to the vet.and if your kitten is younger then 3 weeks you have to keep a very close eye on it to make sure it feeds and is not getting anyworse if it does take it striaght to the vet.

and if it is older like a month in age and up it would be easier to take care of by puting a thing called "upper respiratory remedy" i get the kind for ferrets because i own ferrets aswell as cats but you could probably get it at petsmart. all you have to do is dab alittle on its chest and a very small amont right above its little nose you should porbaly put it on the bedding and not directly on the kitten if it is younger then 3 weeks i would recommend taking it to the vet first but this should help it has helped alot of kittens my family has rescued.

i hope your little baby gets better all the best.

What are the symptoms of cat flu do kittens get it?

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Yes, cats and kittens can most definitely get the flu - it can be pretty serious sometimes and fatal in kittens. Symptoms can include sneezing, runny eyes and nose and loss of appetite. A trip to the vet is highly recommmended if you suspect your pet has cat flu. It's worth noting that humans can't catch flu from cats and vice verse. There's plenty of help and information on cat flu and cat colds at http://www.CatFlu.biz

Are vaccines needed for kittens?

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Absolutely! It is incredibly important to vaccinate kittens as it helps boost their immune system and protect them against several diseases.

Kittens need two initial vaccinations - one at eight or nine weeks old, and the second one two weeks after that, usually at twelve weeks old.

The main diseases that kittens are vaccinated against are:

  • Feline Infectious Enteritis (FIe) - Also called Panleukopenia. This is highly contagious and easily picked up. This virus can survive in the environment for a long period of time and can carried on clothes, shoes and litter trays. The symptoms of this disease are kittens or cats appear to be overly tired, depression, lack of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea which can cause dehydration. A kitten can quickly die from dehydration. It can damage the immune system, and kittens and cats can take many weeks to recover.
  • Feline Calcivirus (FCV) - A strain of the common cold. Another highly contagious virus. Symptoms include fever, conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, sneezing, and mouth ulcers.
  • Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR) - Otherwise known as Cat Flu. Cat flu is incredibly common, and is fatal to kittens if not treated quickly. The symptoms of cat flu are runny eyes and nose, sneezing, high temperature, conjunctivitis, salivation, mouth ulcers, or even pneumonia. Many cats, once recovered become carriers and carry the virus all their lives. Flu can flare up in times of stress or when the cat has a compromised immune system.

Other vaccinations that are recommended but not compulsory:

  • Feline Chlamydia. This has similar symptoms to Cat Flu. Kittens may also develop some respiratory difficulty as well as having the discharge from the eye which is associated with chlamydia. The signs of this disease start in one eye and quickly spread to the other eye. Without treatment these signs can last for months, even years. Chlamydia can also infect the genital tracts of cats.
  • Feline Leukaemia (FeLV) - This vaccination can have some worrying and sometimes severe side effects, but this is rare. This damages the immune system and is spread via bodily fluids, usually through via grooming, fighting or sexual activity. An infected female cat can pass the disease on to her unborn kittens in the womb or via her milk once they are born. Because FeLV suppresses the immune system, the cat is susceptible to many diseases which can be fatal as the cat is unable to them off effectively.

Vaccinating kittens and cats against these major infectious diseases is a necessity to the health of your pet. The vaccine protects your own pet and prevents it from being a carrier of disease and spreading infection.

Can gorillas catch malaria?

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Yes, there are some scientists looking into it, but they found a disease inside a mountain gorilla's immune system and he has all the symtoms but the gorilla acts fine. They know that if a perso got it, they would die immediatly. So yes.

What infection is transmitted by a mosquito bite?

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A bite of a mosquito can possibly transfer a number of parasites to humans and they are the Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae. A person bitten by a mosquito infected with any of these parasites can contract a fatal disease called malaria.

What does a hookworm do?

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Hookworm is one of the main internal parasites of puppies, kittens, dogs and cats. The others are coccidia, roundworm, whipworm,and tapeworm.

Hookworm infection is very serious for the following reasons:

  • Hookworms live on the blood of the host, thus depriving it of necessary nutrients
  • Hookworms can be transmitted to unborn puppies
  • Hookworm is a zoonotic parasite - they can infect humans

There are 4 hookworm species in the United States and Canada. A. braziliense, Uncinaria stenocephala, Ancylostoma caninum, and A. tubaeforme. A. tubaeforme bothers cats, A.braziliense and Uncinaria stenocephala bother both dogs and cats, and A. caninum lives in dogs. A. braziliense occurs only in the warmer temperatures of the south, while the others occur both in the south and the north. Uncinaria stenocephala causes the least problems to pets; and Ancylostoma caninum is the worst, mainly settling in the small intestine of dogs. Both A.caninum and A. tubaeforme can cause severe anemia, however, hookworm infection is not as common in cats as it is in dogs, and is usually less severe.

How does my pet get hookworm?

Hookworms are very tiny (about 1/8 inch), and have several ways of entering a new host as a larvae.

  • The hookworm may penetrate the skin of the host wherever the pet touches infected ground. This may cause rashes and cysts at the point of entry.
  • If your pet walks on contaminated soil, the larvae can attach itself to the feet and your pet ingests them when it is licking and cleaning itself.
  • Hookworm larvae may be present in soil or on leaves, sticks, etc that a pet eats while digging or playing
  • The larvae may be ingested by a pet while hunting and eating prey that is infected or has hookworm larvae on it.
  • Hookworm can enter puppies through their mother
    • If the mother dog is infected, there may be larvae all around and on her. Also, pregnancy hormones cause the larvae that have formed cysts to wake up and migrate to the unborn puppies and the mammary glands.

      Some puppies will be born infected and some will become infected while drinking colostrum from their mother's teat. Some will be infected from larvae in the litter box. Puppies born infected may be shedding eggs in their stool within 2 weeks of birth.

What is the life cycle of the Hookworm and how to they eat?

The hookworm is so serious because of its life cycle and feeding method.

After arriving inside the host, the larvae develop six sharp teeth and travel to the small intestine. Some will settle there, but others burrow through and migrate to the lung tissue. Those that reach the lungs will develop into adults, burrow back out into the trachea. Then they're coughed up to be swallowed again and travel back to the intestine.

Some of the larvae go dormant while burrowing through organ walls and form cysts. Most eventually emerge to complete their migration.

The adults that live in the small intestine hang onto the wall with their teeth and drink the hosts blood. (Other species of worms simply absorb the hosts' digested food through their skin.) They spend their lives drinking the blood and mating. The active worms leave bite marks that continue to seep blood where they've been. When the female produces eggs, the eggs are released into the intestinal contents to be passed out with the stool.

The eggs hatch in the environment and develop through three larval stages before they're ready to infect a new host. The eggs and larvae will die if exposed to the sun and drying out.

The typical life cycle - from the time your pet ingests the original larvae to the adult worm shedding eggs - is three weeks. Your pet may keep reinfesting itself by licking in the eggs while it's grooming; or your child may pick up the eggs on their hands while petting the dog or cat.

How do I know if my pet is infected? Are there symptoms?

The best way to assure yourself that your pet is hookworm free is to have your veterinarian check a stool sample on an annual basis. They'll also check for any other parasites.

Some symptoms of heavy infestations are severe anemia with pale muceous membranes and gums. Some pets may become weak, suffer weight loss or have black, tarry stools. Adults get bloody diarrhea, cramping, vomiting and weight loss, in addition to anemia. The pet may or may not have diarrhea. If hookworms are common in the area, pets may show signs of skin disease from the larvae burrowing through the skin as the pet lays on the ground.

Hookworm infection is frequently fatal to young puppies who need all of their red blood cells for rapid growth and really can't spare any for the worms. Puppies may look healthy at birth, but be deadly sick within two weeks. A badly infected puppy may need a transfusion and iron supplements to keep it alive, as well as treatment to rid it of the worms.

How is it treated?

There are several products available to deworm pets. Your veterinarian is familiar with all of the deworming products and will recommend the one that he/she feels is best for your particular pet. You will probably be asked to repeat the treatment in 2 to 3 weeks, because the treatment can only kill the worms that are in the intestinal tract. Any worms that are still encysted or migrating through the pet's body won't be affected.

If the mother didn't receive treatment before pregnancy, the puppies will need repeated treatments to rid them of the infection. This should be started as early as 2 weeks after birth and may continue up to 3 months. Kittens do not get prenatal infection, so the treatment may start at three weeks old and continue up to 9 weeks. The mothers should be treated at the same time as the babies to prevent recurrence and further environmental contamination.

It cannot be stressed enough that it's important to treat the females before the pregnancy starts. Preventing the hookworm from ever infecting the puppies is easier, cheaper and safer than deworming them afterward. Many puppies don't have their first exam until they are 12 weeks old. This means that the families of these pets may already be contaminated with hookworm from handling and petting.

If your pet is on a heartworm prevention medication, it is being treated for hookworms on a monthly basis. This also serves as protection for the families of these pets. In addition, cleaning up the stools daily and having your veterinarian check for hookworm eggs every few months should prevent any infestation from becoming too severe. information and pictures from whitneysvet.com

What are the heath risks associated with mouse feces?

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Deer Mouse urine and droppings can carry the hanta virus which is potentially very dangerous. It is an important distinction that Hantavirus can not be found in the droppings of regular house mice. Deer mice can be identified by their larger ears, and their droppings are rough and peppercorn shaped, where a house mouse dropping is smooth and resembles a grain of rice. Deer mice are rare in an urban setting, primarily residing in the country. Hantavirus has an incubation time of 2-4 weeks in humans, before symptoms of infection occur. These symptoms can be split into five phases: * Febrile phase: Symptoms include fever, chills, malaise, headaches, nausea, abdominal and back pain, respiratory problems such as the ones common in the influenza virus, as well as gastro-intestinal problems. These symptoms normally occur for 3-7days. * Hypotensive phase: This occurs when the blood platelet levels drop and symptoms can lead to tachycardia and hypoxemia. This phase can last for 2 days. * Oliguric phase: This phase lasts for 3-7 days and is characterised by the onset of renal failure and proteinuria occurs. * Diuretic phase: This is characterized by diuresis of 3-6L per day, which can last for a couple of days up to weeks. * Convalescent phase: This is normally when recovery occurs and symptoms begin to improve. == Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva. Humans can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus. HPS was first recognized in 1993 and has since been identified throughout the United States. Although rare, HPS is potentially deadly. Rodent control in and around the home remains the primary strategy for preventing hantavirus infection. These symptoms, which are very similar to HFRS, include tachycardia and tachypnoea. Such conditions can lead to a cardiopulmonary phase, where cardiovascular shock can occur, and hospitalization of the patient is required.

How do hookworms move?

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Flatworms are the simplest of worms. Small flatworms release a mucus that they use their cilia (small bristles) to move around on. Larger flatworms can swim by contracting the sides of their bodies. Some even have suckers that can attach to other moving objects.