Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T03:49:25.400Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Shigellosis due to occupational contact with non-human primates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

F. M. Kennedy
Affiliation:
Health and Safety Executive, Belford House, 59 Belford Road, Edinburgh EH4 3UE
J. Astbury
Affiliation:
Public Health Medicine Department, Lothian Health Board, Edinburgh
J. R. Needham
Affiliation:
The Microbiology Laboratories, 56 Northumberland Road, North Harrow, Middlesex
T. Cheasty
Affiliation:
Division of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A small cluster of dysenteric illness, due to Shigella flexneri, was identified among technical assistants of a primate research unit. All of the affected individuals had been in regular contact with a colony of cynomolgus macaque monkeys, one of which was known to have suffered from acute haemorrhagic colitis in the preceding few weeks. Four monkeys were found to be excreting S. flexneri bacilli of identical antigen type (lb) to that isolated from the human cases. Investigation of working practices revealed the potential for inadvertent faecooral spread and the need to improve existing control methods. We conclude that this small outbreak of shigellosis represents a primate-associated occupational zoonosis. The risk may not be fully appreciated by handlers or their doctors.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

References

REFERENCES

1.Perkins, FT, Hartley, EG.Precautions against B virus infection. BMJ 1966: 899901.Google ScholarPubMed
2.Jindal, BR, Vinayak, VK, Chhuttani, PN.Intestinal parasitosis of rhesus monkeys (Maeaea mulatta) in health and disease. Bull Postgrad Inst Med Ed Res Chandigarh 1977; 11: 101–13.Google Scholar
3.Grunbaun, AS.Some experiments on enterica, scarlet fever and measles in the chimpanzee. BMJ 1904: i: 817–19Google Scholar
4.Cooper, JE, Needham, JR.An outbreak of shigellosis in laboratory marmosets and tamarins (family Callitrichidae). J Hyg 1976; 76: 415–24.Google Scholar
5.Needham, JR.The laboratory investigation of an outbreak of diarrhoea in Rhesus monkeys. J Inst Anim Tech 1975; 26: 1725.Google Scholar
6.Rewell, RE.Outbreak of Shigella schmilzii infection in man and apes. Lancet 1949: 256: 220–1.Google Scholar
7.Robinson, DT, Armstrong, EC, Carpenter, SP.Outbreak of dysentery due to contact with a pet monkey. BMJ 1965: i: 903–5.Google Scholar
8.Fox, JG.Transmissible drug resistance in Shigella and Salmonella isolated from pet monkeys and their owners. J Med Primatol 1975: 4: 165–71.Google ScholarPubMed
9.Needham, JR.Handbook of microbiological investigations for laboratory animal health. London: Academic Press, 1979: 115.Google Scholar
10.Lambert, H.Intestinal infections. Medicine International 1984: 2: 64–5.Google Scholar
11.Ross, PW, Peutherer, JF.Clinical microbiology. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. 1987.Google Scholar
12.Wilson, APR. Ridgway, GL, Satner, M, Boulous, PB, Brook, MG, Cook, GC.Toxic dilatation of the colon in shigellosis. BMJ 1990; 301: 1325–6.Google Scholar
13.Ghosh, HK.Laboratory-acquired shigellosis. BMJ 1982: 285: 695–6.Google Scholar
14.Dupont, HL, Levine, MM, Hornick, RB, Formal, SB.Inoculum size, shigellosis and implications for expected mode of transmission. J Infect Dis 1989: 159: 1126–8.Google ScholarPubMed
15.Cohen, D, Green, M. Block, C. et al. Reduction of transmission of shigellosis by control of houseflies (Musca domestica). Lancet 1991; 327: 993–7.Google Scholar
16.Cook, R.Hazards of handling simians. Lab anim handbook. London: Laboratory Animals Ltd. 1969; 9.Google Scholar
17.Richardson, JH.Basic considerations in assessing and preventing occupational infections in personnel working with non-human primates. J Med Primatol 1987: 16: 83–9.Google Scholar