• Office of Research Integrity and Assurance

Working Safely With Animals

Arizona State University actively promotes the safe handling of animals used in research and teaching. This brochure introduces some of the risks associated with the handling of animals and describes the steps that should be taken to minimize them.

Risks in Handling Animals

The hazards associated with handling animals or their tissues can be divided into three categories:

1. Physical Injuries include bites and scratches inflicted by rodents, rabbits, cats, primates and other species. The key to preventing these types of injuries is proper training of research personnel by animal care staff of other qualified individuals.

2. Allergies are associated with respiratory or contact allergens such as animal dander or urine. All personnel should be aware that laboratory animals are sources of potential allergens. The best policy in most circumstances is to prevent exposure.

3. Zoonotic diseases are those that can be transmitted from animals to humans, and from humans to animals. Although zoonotic diseases are not common in modern animal facilities, their prevention and detection must be an important concern of all personnel who work with animals in the laboratory or the field. Remember that zoonotic diseases can be transmitted by tissues as well as by live animals.

Zoonotic Diseases

Humans are sometimes susceptible to infectious diseases carried by animals even when the animals themselves show few signs of illness. Microorganisms in the normal flora of a healthy animal may cause serious illness in persons who have had no previous exposure to the organism and lack protective immunity. persons who are immunosuppressed because of medication or underlying medical conditions may be at a higher risk of infection. Workers should be aware of these possibilities and take precautions to minimize the risk of infection. In the event that you do become ill with a fever or some other sign of infection, it is important to tell your physician that you work with animals.

Personal Hygiene and Protection

There are some common sense steps that can be taken to lessen the risk of infection when working with animals. These include not eating, drinking or applying cosmetics or contact lenses around animals or animal care areas; wearing gloves when handling animals or their tissues; taking care not to rub your face with contaminated hands or gloves; and washing your hands after each animal contact. Research personnel can protect themselves by limiting their use of needles and syringes, taking enough time to give injections properly, anesthetizing animals prior to inoculation with infectious agents, and using a two-person team to inoculate animals. Do not recap used needles! Discard them promptly in a biohazard "sharps" container. For procedures such as necropsies, begging changes, and tissue and fluid samplings, containment devices such as biological safety cabinets, full face respirators or other personal safety gear should be used as indicated. Consult your supervisor or the Animal Care Program (602/965-4385) if you feel you need additional training at any time!

What You Should Know

...About Bites, Scratches and Other Injuries
Contact the Student Health Center immediately if you are bitten or scratched by an animal, if you cut or scratch yourself on animal caging, or if you are experiencing unusual disease symptoms. The Student Health Center is open: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from 7:45 AM to 5 PM; and Tuesday and Thursday from 8:45 AM to 5 PM. After those hours, you may call 965-3349 and a doctor is on call and will advise you concerning your medical condition and proper course of action.

...If You Are Pregnant or Planning a Pregnancy
Toxoplasma is an infectious agent that is shed primarily in cat feces. it can infect unborn babies of women exposed during pregnancy who do not have immunity to the agent. Asymptomatic toxoplasma infection is common before child-bearing years, and many women have elevated antibody levels indicative of immunity. To help assess the level of immunity against this agent, serum samples can be tested. Cat feces should be avoided and gloves should be worn when working in areas potentially contaminated with cat feces. Thorough hand washing after handling any potential source of infection is also necessary. Working with hazardous agents and toxic chemicals is discouraged during pregnancy.

...If You Work with Non-Human Primates
Disease of non-human primates are often transmissible to humans and can be serious health hazards. Although there are several primate viruses that can cause disease in humans, Herpesvirus simiae (or B-virus) is of greatest concern. The B-Virus occurs naturally in macaque monkeys. Infection with B-Virus usually produces very mild disease in monkeys with no evidence of infection. Transmission to humans can occur via exposure to contaminated saliva, secretions, or tissues. The most likely route of transmission is bites and scratches. The virus may cause a fatal encephalitis in humans. Proper work practices markedly reduce the chances of human infection. When working with non-human primates:

• Bites or scratches inflicted by macaques or wounds caused by objects contaminated with their body fluids require immediate medical attention! Instructions for treating wounds and obtaining medical attention are posted in each primate area.

• Wear gloves, gown, mask and goggles.

• Exercise caution at all times, remembering that these are wild animals. They can and will bite, and are capable of transmitting several other diseases besides B-Virus.

• Work together with at least one other person when handling monkeys. Capturing, restraining, or otherwise handling non-sedated monkeys is not recommended. Such procedures should be accomplished using acceptable physical and chemical restraint methods.

Tuberculosis may be transmitted from human to non-human primates and rarely, from animals to humans. Non-human primates and individuals in contact with them must be TB tested on a regular schedule. Shigella, Campylobacter, and Salmonella cause bacterial dysentery in primates species and can cause similar problems in humans exposed to primate excrement. Parasites such as Entamoeba histolytica can also be transferred to humans and provide further reason for careful hand washing after exposure to primates.

Simian Immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a relative of the HIV virus, is found in the African Green Monkey and other African species. This virus infects several other non-human primate species and there is laboratory evidence that it may infect humans.

All persons working with non-human primates or their tissues must participate in the Occupational Health program for Animal Users to minimally include an annual tuberculosis test. Call 965-3349 to schedule an Animal Handlers Medical Screening appointment with Student Health Services.

A training video is available that has a strong emphasis on proper use of personal protective equipment combined with understanding nonhuman primate behavior, and the general principals are applicable to any program that houses nonhuman primates. The video for working with non-human primates is highly recommended for anyone performing this type of work.  The training video can be viewed at http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/olaw/TrainingVideos.htm#primate

...If You Work with Cats
All cats at ASU have been vaccinated against rabies. Some cat parasites are potential risks to those handling infected animals. Examples include some immature forms of roundworms and tapeworms, and manage mites. A fungus disease of cat skin called "ringworm" is also readily transmitted to humans, and allergies to these species are a common problem.

Cat scratch disease is a zoonotic infection characterized by inflammation of regional lymph nodes following a cat scratch. While the prognosis is usually excellent and the disease in most cases is self-limiting, an examination by a physician is recommended.

Women of child-bearing years may be at risk of contacting Toxoplasma from cat feces. For more information, see "What You Should Know If You Are Pregnant or Planning a Pregnancy," above.

...If You Work with Rabbits
Rabbits are a common source of human allergies. In addition, rabbit skin mites such as Cheyletiella parasitovorax can cause transient rashes in humans. If you handle wild rabbits or their tissues, see "If You Work with Wild Animals in the Field," below.

...If You Work with Reptiles or Amphibians
Salmonella is frequently harbored by turtles, other reptiles and amphibians. Oral transmission to humans can cause diarrhea, and can be avoided by wearing gloves and careful hand washing. Venomous snakes may be handled only by individuals who have been pre-approved by the Animal Care and use Committee.

...If You Work with Rodents
Allergies are common among personnel who work with rodents (e.g. mice, rats, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters). If you already are sensitized to rodent dander, or if you become sensitized, you should report this to the Student Health Center.

Contact with rodents requires awareness of diseases such as dwarf tapeworm, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM), salmonellosis and ringworm. To protect against these agents, care should be taken to limit direct and aerosol exposure to soiled begging containing feces and urine. Gloves and masks limit exposure to soiled bedding and help prevent transmission of diseases such as ringworm and fur mites.

If you will handle wild rodents or their tissues, see "...If You Work with Wild Animals in the Field," below.

...If You Work with Wild Animals in the Field
Many bat species can transmit rabies, and personnel working with bats are advised to have a pre-exposure rabies vaccination. Rabies also can be transmitted to humans by skunks, raccoons, foxes, wolves, coyotes, and other carnivores. Anyone whose work involves a risk of bites from these animals should consider immunization against rabies, which is available through the Student Health Center. Call 965-3349 for an appointment to discuss pre-exposure immunization. All bite or scratch wounds involving wild animals require prompt medical evaluation and treatment.

Uncommon but serious risks associated with using wild rodents include Hantavirus, bubonic plague and leptospirosis. Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) appear to be the principal reservoir for a new strain of Hantavirus that is pathogenic to humans. The likelihood of infection with hantavirus appears to be low, but the fatality rate exceeds 50%. Researchers who will be exposed to the blood, tissues, feces, or urine of deer mice should follow the "Guidelines for Handling Animal Reservoirs of Hantavirus: Field Research Practices for ASU," available from the Department of Animal Care Technologies (DACT) at 965-4385.

Wild birds can be infected by zoonotic diseases, such as psittacosis and avian tuberculosis. Wild rabbits can transmit tularemia to those exposed to fresh tissues. When working with these species, workers should be informed of these possible risks and trained in ways to minimize them.

Ticks can transmit several diseases, including Lyme Disease. Common antibiotics usually cure Lyme Disease if given within the first few weeks of infection, but if treatment is delayed the disease can lead to arthritic, cardiac, or neurological problems, which are more difficult to cure. To prevent tick bites, wear full-length pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors in tick-infested areas. Tuck your shirt into your pants, and pant legs into your boots or socks. A tick repellent may also be used on clothing and skin. Inspect yourself often and promptly remove any embedded ticks with forceps or fingers protected by tissue. If you experience a delayed, donut-shaped, red discoloration around a tick bite, or joint pain, fever, chills, headache or malaise after being bitten by a tick, immediately contact the Student Health Center (965-3349).

For additional information about minimizing these and other health risks in the field, see the campus " Field Research Safety Guidelines" Brochure," available from Risk Management at (965-1823).

Revised: Dec. 1998

Adapted with permission from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of California, Berkeley.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
Stephen Massia, Chair
Mail Code: 1103
(480) 965-2448

IACUC Administrative Support
Office of Research Integrity and Assurance
Mail Code: 1103
(480) 965-4387
(480) 965-7772 (FAX)

IACUC Committee Roster - Meeting Schedule

Campus Health Services
Arizona State University
800 S. Normal Lane
Tempe, AZ 85287
Mail Code: 2104
(480) 965-3346

Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S)
Mail Code: 5505
(480) 965-1823