Biosecurity Abstracts
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Introduction to SARS-CoV-2 Patty Klein MS, VMD, DACPV, DACVPM USDA Forest Service Full Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 viral pathogen, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is thought to have evolved from a beta coronavirus in an Asian horseshoe bat. Asymptomatic and clinically infected humans can shed virus and may pose a threat to wildlife. Chiroptera, mustelids, felids, and canids are the key taxa of interestbased on reports of natural infections in farmed mink, zoo tigers/lions, and pet dogs/cats. This lecture reviews the current science on cross-species susceptibility based on the host’s ACE2 cell receptors, concerns for potential ‘reverse’ zoonotic transmission to wildlife, availability of animal testing, and impacts to the wildlife rehabilitation community. |
How to Approach SARS-CoV-2
in Wildlife Rehabilitation Patty Klein MS, VMD, DACPV, DACVPM USDA Forest Service John Huckabee, DVM Unaffiliated Full Abstract
Wildlife rehabilitators should have general biosecurity practices in place to reduce or prevent introduction and spread of transmissible diseases in their facilities, including proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and disinfection protocols. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, precautionary measures must be employed to reduce the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 exposure to mammals in care. The Hierarchy of Control (HOC) risk mitigation process is used to minimize exposure to hazards by establishing risk-specific elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, and PPE controls. We discuss use of this tool to develop practical SARS-CoV-2 risk mitigation measures in wildlife rehabilitation. |