AAT - Certified Animal-Assisted Therapy Zoonotic Disease Prevention Questions and Answers

Question 1

An AAT professional is preparing for a visit to a hospital's pediatric unit. The day before the visit, the therapy dog is fed a raw meat diet, which is a regular part of its meals. According to established AAI guidelines for mitigating zoonotic risks, what is the primary concern with this practice?

Accepted Answer

Raw meat diets can increase the risk of the animal shedding pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli, which can be transmitted to vulnerable clients.

Answer

Many AAI organizations and healthcare facilities prohibit feeding raw diets to therapy animals due to the increased risk of shedding harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli. [14] These pathogens can be transmitted to humans, posing a significant risk, especially to immunocompromised individuals often encountered in healthcare settings.

Question 2

What is widely considered the single most effective and crucial practice for handlers and clients to prevent the transmission of zoonotic diseases in an AAT setting?

Accepted Answer

Performing thorough and consistent hand hygiene.

Answer

While all options are important components of a comprehensive safety plan, thorough hand hygiene for both the handler and the client before and after interaction is the most critical and effective measure to prevent the spread of zoonotic pathogens. [5, 7] Many diseases are spread through hand-to-mouth contact after touching an animal or a contaminated surface.

Question 3

A handler is working with a client in a rehabilitation center. The client has a small, bandaged wound on their forearm. Which of the following is the most appropriate action to ensure safety from zoonotic transmission?

Accepted Answer

Position the animal so it interacts with the client's other arm and ensure the animal does not have direct contact with the wound or bandage.

Answer

Therapy animals should not have direct or indirect contact with open wounds, bandages, or medical devices. [10, 19] The safest course of action is to facilitate the interaction in a way that avoids the compromised area, such as having the client pet the animal with their uninjured hand, while still allowing the therapeutic session to proceed.

Question 4

Which of the following is a common zoonotic intestinal parasite that poses a risk in AAT settings and is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, making routine screening and prevention critical for therapy animals?

Accepted Answer

Giardia

Answer

Giardia is a protozoan parasite that can infect both animals and humans and is a known zoonotic risk. [8, 20] It is transmitted through the ingestion of cysts shed in feces. The other options are serious viral diseases but are not considered zoonotic (transmissible to humans).

Question 5

A therapy dog has a mild case of diarrhea on the morning of a scheduled visit to a long-term care facility but is otherwise acting normally. What is the most responsible decision for the AAT handler to make?

Accepted Answer

Cancel the visit and consult with a veterinarian before resuming any AAT activities.

Answer

A therapy animal must be in excellent health to participate in visits. Symptoms of illness, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or skin lesions, require the handler to cancel the visit immediately. [5] This is crucial to prevent the potential spread of infectious agents to vulnerable populations and to ensure the animal's own welfare.

(AAT) Certified Animal-Assisted Therapy Practice Test

(AAT) Certified Animal-Assisted Therapy Practice Test

AAT - Certified Animal-Assisted Therapy Zoonotic Disease Prevention Questions and Answers