Zoonotic Disease Prevention Flashcards
7 cards from real AAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Zoonotic Disease Prevention flashcards as text
Which ectoparasite carried by therapy animals poses the greatest direct zoonotic risk of transmitting Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) to clients in endemic U.S. regions?
Answer: Deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis)
Ixodes scapularis (black-legged or deer tick) is the primary vector for Borrelia burgdorferi in the eastern U.S. and can transfer from animal fur to human skin during contact.
A therapy animal program operates in a region with documented plague (Yersinia pestis) activity in wildlife. Which AAT animal type carries the highest risk of flea-mediated plague transmission?
Answer: Domestic cats allowed to roam outdoors before visits
Cats that roam outdoors can hunt infected rodents and bring plague-infected fleas into contact with humans, making them the highest-risk animal in plague-endemic regions.
Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci) is a zoonotic concern when birds are used in AAT. Through which route is it primarily transmitted to humans?
Answer: Inhalation of dried fecal matter or respiratory secretions
Psittacosis is transmitted through inhalation of aerosolized dried droppings or nasal secretions from infected psittacine birds.
An AAT coordinator is evaluating whether to allow a recently adopted stray dog to join the therapy program after a 6-month training period. What zoonotic screening step is MOST critical before the dog's first visit?
Answer: A comprehensive veterinary wellness exam with fecal parasite testing and updated vaccinations
Stray dogs have unknown exposure histories and may harbor multiple zoonotic pathogens, making thorough veterinary screening with fecal testing and vaccinations essential before any patient contact.
When an AAT handler sanitizes equipment such as a therapy dog's harness and leash between visits to different patient populations, which agent is recommended for killing most bacterial pathogens on non-porous surfaces?
Answer: Diluted bleach solution (1:10 ratio) or EPA-registered disinfectant
EPA-registered disinfectants or a 1:10 bleach solution are proven to eliminate most bacterial pathogens on non-porous surfaces like metal and plastic fittings.
Which of the following statements about Capnocytophaga canimorsus and therapy dogs is accurate?
Answer: It is a bacterium found in dog saliva that can cause fatal sepsis in asplenic or immunocompromised individuals
Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a gram-negative bacterium in normal dog oral flora that can cause overwhelming sepsis in asplenic patients and other immunocompromised individuals even after minor contact.
A therapy animal program is drafting a zoonotic disease education document for client families. Which core message is MOST important to include about hand hygiene after animal contact?
Answer: Hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after every animal interaction
Soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the gold standard for removing a broad range of zoonotic pathogens including those resistant to alcohol-based sanitizers.