Abstract
More than 70% of zoonotic diseases are wildlife associated putting wildlife professionals at increased risk of occupational exposure. In 2008 and 2018, the Arizona Department of Health Services surveyed Arizona wildlife professionals from multiple agencies to assess the risk of disease exposure, rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) history, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and zoonoses knowledge. In 2008, a 12-question survey was distributed at a state wildlife professional meeting using an anonymous email link. In 2018, a 20-question survey was distributed using an anonymous email link to wildlife agency employees. We received 164 and 81 complete responses in the 2008 and 2018 surveys, respectively. Bites from rabies reservoir or spillover species were higher in 2008 (42%) than in 2018 (16%). More respondents received PrEP in 2018 (53%) than in 2008 (45%). Among 43 respondents who performed necropsies or collected animal samples within the past 5 years (2014–2018), only 60% always wore latex or nitrile gloves, and 79% never wore a facemask. Respondents indicated lower awareness of certain zoonoses, including brucellosis (72%) and leptospirosis (60%). Results on zoonoses awareness and reasons for non-use of PPE highlighted targets for education to improve practices, including facilitation of PPE training to prevent future disease transmission.
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Change history
19 March 2020
The original version of the article unfortunately contained a typo error in second author name in the author group. The author name was incorrectly published as “Jesse Grewal” and the correct name is “Jessie Grewal”.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Anne Justice-Allen, Chasa O’Briean, Lisa Shender, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, David Bergman (USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services), Kenneth Komatsu, Sonya Shannon, Caleb Wiedeman, and the Arizona Department of Health Services, Brant Goode, John Gibbins, Jessica Rinsky, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Yue Qui and Arizona State University. This study was funded as part of normal routine activities by the Arizona Department of Health Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Tarrant, S., Grewal, J., Yaglom, H. et al. Zoonotic Disease Exposure Risk and Rabies Vaccination Among Wildlife Professionals. EcoHealth 17, 74–83 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-020-01469-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-020-01469-w