TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 97. Zoonotic Infections A1 - Tainter, Christopher R. A2 - Cline, David M. A2 - Ma, O. John A2 - Cydulka, Rita K. A2 - Meckler, Garth D. A2 - Handel, Daniel A. A2 - Thomas, Stephen H. PY - 2012 T2 - Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine Manual, 7e AB - Zoonotic infections are a class of over 200 specific diseases and infections that are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans. Transmission may occur via direct contact with an infected animal or animal product, by ingestion of contaminated water or food products, by inhalation, or through arthropod vectors. Pets, farm animals, and common wildlife are the primary reservoirs. Arthropods, in particular ticks, are the primary vectors. These diseases may be caused by myriad organisms including bacteria (eg, Rickettsia, Borrelia), viruses, and parasites. The high morbidity and mortality rates often associated with these illnesses mandate their careful consideration in patients who present with fever, chills, myalgias, rash, and other nonspecific symptoms. In such cases, specific risk factors for zoonotic infection should be sought: exposure to animals; residence or recent travel in rural areas or underdeveloped countries; history of tick bites or exposure to tick habitat; dressing, skinning, or handling animal skins or raw flesh; animal bites or scratches; or ingestion of animal or dairy products. Worldwide, ticks are the most common vector of disease transmission. Unfortunately, many patients with tick-acquired infections do not recall a history of tick bite. Hence, clinical suspicion should remain high for patients in endemic areas. West Nile Virus infections are discussed in Chapter 91 “Disseminated Viral Infections.” SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=56275422 ER -