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David Bannister  
#1 Posted : 12 November 2009 10:25:19(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David Bannister
Any animal care experts out there?

I need to know what (if any) specific health issues can arise from working with rodents and non-venomous reptiles in a college environment. No birds, cattle, sheep, horses to worry about.

Thank you in advance.

Stuff
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Phil W  
#2 Posted : 12 November 2009 12:01:44(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Phil W
I would think that leptorpirosis, transmitted through rat urine would be something to consider.

PhilW
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Safety Smurf  
#3 Posted : 12 November 2009 12:05:43(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Safety Smurf
Have these been bred under laboratory conditions? I don't know but would investigate as to whether this would have any impact on the disease risk.
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Phil W  
#4 Posted : 12 November 2009 12:25:05(UTC)
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Phil W
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David Bannister  
#5 Posted : 12 November 2009 12:26:19(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David Bannister
Thanks both. Some are bred in-house, some purchased from local suppliers. They are not bred under nor kept in "lab conditions"

The activity is related to animal care rather than for experimentation so these animals may well carry diseases, hence my question.

There appears to have been a rather uninformed decision on use of PPE and I want to understand what hazards may be present so that I can assist in the risk assessment and any subsequent controls etc.
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johnld  
#6 Posted : 12 November 2009 12:28:26(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
johnld
In addition to leptorpirosis you also need to consider that there is a known problem of allergies when handling rodents. Its worth checking out the HSE website on animal allergies.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/laboratory.htm

You don’t say why you are using the animals.

IF you are causing them any harm or distress you may need to consider if you are triggering the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

http://scienceandresearc....gov.uk/animal-research/
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Safety Smurf  
#7 Posted : 12 November 2009 12:35:13(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Safety Smurf
Some of the PPE considerations would have to be based on infections/diseases caused by bites/scratching and urine / feaces.
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johnld  
#8 Posted : 12 November 2009 12:42:54(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
johnld
I should have added that the Animal Welfare Act will also impact on the use of animals

www.rspca.org.uk/servlet...g=animalwelfareactadvice

www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/act...df/ukpga_20060045_en.pdf
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Safety Smurf  
#9 Posted : 12 November 2009 12:48:09(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Safety Smurf
Forgot to mention that male rabbits can 'cast' quite a considerable distance and people have been known to be hit the face.
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jwk  
#10 Posted : 12 November 2009 12:51:13(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jwk
Do we get hantavirus in the UK? I know north american mice carry it and that it can be fatal, but I don't know if we get it over here,

John
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jwk  
#11 Posted : 12 November 2009 12:52:22(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jwk
And there's just the general stuff about bites, tetanus and so on,

John
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Jeni D  
#12 Posted : 12 November 2009 14:05:03(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Jeni D
The DEFRA website may be worth a look.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/...atoz/zoonoses/common.htm

Presumably if they are not lab animals you do not need to worry about animals rights activists.
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Kath  
#13 Posted : 12 November 2009 16:23:15(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Kath
Salmonella from the reptiles too

Kath
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Kath  
#14 Posted : 12 November 2009 16:25:15(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Kath
Oops also forgot to say that reptiles can get ticks too - so you can get various diseases from the tick i.e. Lyme disease.

Hope that helps

Kath
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David Bannister  
#15 Posted : 12 November 2009 16:40:23(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David Bannister
Great responses. Thanks to all.
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blodwyn  
#16 Posted : 16 November 2009 13:40:32(UTC)
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blodwyn
Reptiles also can have salmonella - care needs to be taken when handling them and washing their tanks and vivariums. As they are at college no young or old people to worry about but immunosupressed need to be careful. Many also harbour large numbers of protozoal organisms, which may infest humans, and cause a range of infections - so scrupulous hygiene if there are any open cuts or wounds or person is scratched. Few reptiles get ticks unless they come from the wild which is unlikely.

Whilst all mentioned have their own little specialist 'infections' a policy of good hygiene, reporting even small cuts so first aid can clean them properly and it sounds daft but showing students how to wash their hands properly is a good idea - the industrial soap manufacturers are a good bet here.
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