Working with CATTLE

General Characteristics

Working with cattle provides not only the unique opportunity to be involved with these large ruminants in a biomedical or agricultural research setting, but also the prospect of distinctive risks associated with their large size, husbandry environment, and zoonotic diseases. Therefore, having informed and trained husbandry/research staff is imperative to reduce the potential risks, not only to the people themselves but also to the cattle involved in the procedures. This document provides a general overview of some of the common risks associated with working with cattle, however it is advised that those individuals who are approved to work with and will have exposure to these animals seek out more detailed information either from publications or the Office of Animal Resources (OAR) veterinarians.

GENERAL PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

1. Only trained and approved personnel should work with cattle,
2. Washing hands after handling animals or animal materials,
3. No eating or drinking in animal areas,
4. Avoid consumption of unpasteurized milk,
5. Proper personal protective attire to avoid contamination of street clothes, or wearing latex gloves if handling potentially infected or zoonotic material.

IMPORTANT HEALTH RISKS

Prevent Injury:

Due to the large size of these animals, increased risks are associated with handling and restraint of cattle when compared to other animal used in research. Specifically, physical injury to the research and husbandry staff may result from a kick or crushing injury from the cattle themselves. However, mechanical equipment may also be a source of physical injury if improperly used or monitored. Therefore, only trained and proficient personnel should handle mechanical equipment and the necessary precautions should be taken to avoid injury whether from the animal or equipment. Personnel are advised to work in pairs and not individually due to the potential for physical, debilitating trauma from the animals themselves. Proper attire is recommended to protect street clothes which generally include rubber boots and coveralls and these should be properly disinfected when leaving the animal area.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Enteric diseases:

Disease causing organisms: gastrointestinal bacteria Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. coli as well as protozoal agents Cryptosporidium and Giardia which can be associated with cattle. Infections in cattle may be subclinical and therefore animals may be spreading the organism while showing no sign of disease.

• Source: clinically affected animals or those showing no signs, mostly from fecal material so that the environment and animals may be contaminated
• Transmission: fecal/oral route
• Disease in humans: diarrhea, vomiting, fever and dehydration
• Prevention: wash hands often, do not eat in animal areas, avoid contact with your face and mouth when working with animals, proper handling of potentially infected feces (wearing gloves and protective clothing).

Rabies:

Disease-causing organism: Rabies virus, a rhabdovirus can infect almost any mammal. It is rare in the research environment but exposure of cattle to the virus may occur through infected wildlife such as raccoons or bats. Cattle may show neurologic disease or aggression that is usually associated with infection in other species, but usually the only sign in cattle may be choke. Therefore it is important to consider rabies infections in these animals.

• Source: The infected animal. The virus can be shed in the animal’s saliva for days to weeks before the clinical signs of rabies are present.
• Transmission: Contact with saliva, mucus membranes, or blood. Commonly transmitted through bites, or through contamination of a person’s open wound with saliva, blood, or tissue contact.
• Disease in humans: rabies in unvaccinated people is almost always fatal if untreated. Vaccinated individuals must still undergo prophylactic treatment if bitten by a rabies-positive animal or exposed to potential rabies infected animal material (such as saliva).
• Prevention: any animal showing signs of neurologic diseases should be considered potentially infected with rabies. Often times, cattle may only present with choke so care should be taken to minimize exposure to potentially infected saliva in these animals.

Brucellosis:

Disease causing organisms: a bacteria Brucella abortus, but other Brucella sp. may infect cattle as well. Signs in cattle are generally abortion storms in the herd. Organisms can be shed in the milk also.

• Source: cattle showing abortions as the most obvious sign
• Transmission: shed in the milk and reproductive tracts or aborted fetus
• Disease in humans: referred to as “undulant fever” resulting in flu-like symptoms which may recur
• Prevention: wash hands often, do not eat in animal areas, avoid contact with your face and mouth when working with animals, proper handling of potentially infected tissues or milk (wearing gloves and protective clothing), do not drink unpasteurized milk.

Leptospirosis:

Disease-causing organism: Leptospira sp., bacteria found in many animals but are most commonly associated with livestock and dogs. Transmission from laboratory rodents to people has been reported. Cattle may be infected with the organisms and may have no clinical signs, show mild to moderate clinical signs, and have abortion storms. Leptospira sp. can be shed in the milk and urine of infected animals.

• Source: rats, mice, voles, hedgehogs, gerbils, squirrels, rabbits, hamsters, reptiles, dogs, sheep, goats, horses, standing water. Cattle may be exposed to feed sources that are contaminated by infected wild animals.
• Transmission: Leptospira sp. are shed in the urine of infected animals. Direct contact with urine or tissues via skin abrasions or contact with mucous membranes has been reported. Transmission can also occur through inhalation of infectious droplet aerosols and by ingestion.
• Disease in humans: mild to severe flu-like symptoms (fever, headaches, rash, malaise). Death has been reported.
• Prevention: wash hands often, do not eat in animal areas, avoid contact with your face and mouth when working with animals, proper handling of potentially infected urine or milk (wearing gloves and protective clothing), do not drink unpasteurized milk.

Other:

Consumption of unpasteurized milk from cattle is strongly discouraged as many of the infectious agents mentioned above can be passed to humans by this route.

Please contact the Office of Animal Resources (OAR) for any additional information or concerns.