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• Infection is the colonization of an individual by microorganisms; they invade, establish, and multiply within the host, causing disease.
• Contagion is the transmission of disease from one individual to another.
• Colonization is the presence of a microorganism on or in a host, with growth and multiplication.
• Contamination is the introduction of a microorganism into an area where they are not naturally occurring.
• Notifiable diseases must be reported legally to DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs).
• Fomites are inanimate objects or materials that can carry disease-producing organisms.
• Zoonotic diseases are transmissible between animals and humans.

Viruses

• Viruses are very small, measured in nanometers.
• Viruses cannot reproduce without a host cell.
• Viruses usually infect only one or two host species, making them species-specific.
• Viruses are microscopic and can only be seen with an electron microscope.
• Viruses cannot reproduce outside a host cell, determining which systems (e.g., respiratory or gastrointestinal) they infect.
• Vaccine-preventable viral diseases include: FELV, Herpes, Rabies, Distemper, canine hepatitis, canine influenza, Kennel cough, Feline coronavirus (FIP), Parvo, RHD Rabbit haemorrhagic disease, and Myxomatosis in rabbits.
• Viruses don't respond to antibiotics.
• Using the proper disinfectant is the best approach, however enveloped viruses are stronger by disrupting the spines.
• Viruses have nucleic acid in the middle, surrounded by a protein capsid.
• Enveloped viruses have a fusion protein to help them bind to a receptor cell, making them easier to spread.

Viral Replication

• Viruses only bind to cells with the right receptor; for example, the influenza virus attaches to ciliated epithelium cells in the respiratory tract.
• Viruses replicate within specific cells and species and will not reproduce if they are in the wrong cells or animal.
• The nucleus acid is the DNA, the envelope is the protein capsid.
• Viruses attach to and trick a cell into engulfing it, once inside the protein capsid breaks down releasing virus into the cell.
• Once inside they reproduce, then burst and die which releases the virus into the body to repeat the same replication pattern.
• Incubation period is a delay between viral replication and clinical signs.
• Viruses have DNA (ribonucleic acid) and a protein capsid and a host in order to replicate, and trick the cell.
• Once the cell accepts the virus, it commands it to regenerate DNA until it bursts and spreads into other cells.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FqlTsIU22s explains it.
• The lytic cycle happens when the infected cell reproduces the virus and bursts to find new cells to infect.
• The lysogenic cycle happens when a virus tricks a cell and the hidden virus reproduces along with the cell.
• The mitosis process in the lysogenic cycle results in multiple cells being infected at the same time.

Bacterial Cells

• Cell Membrane/Plasma Membrane- Controls passage in and out of the cell and movement of nutrients.
• Mesosomes- Increases surface area for respiration.
• Cytoplasm- Gel-like fluid inside the cell containing nutrients, waste, and enzymes.
• Ribosomes- Sites of protein synthesis that make proteins.
• Plasmids- Contain genetic material and allows for replication.
• Chromosome- Contains DNA to determine function and heredity.
• Flagella- Helps it move at up to 100 μm/s.
• Capsules and Slime Layers- Shield against phagocytosis.
• Cell Wall- Gives structure and protection.
• Pili (Fimbriae)- Helps attach onto other surfaces and bacteria..
• Storage Granules- Reserve materials like nutrients.
• Nucleus - Contains DNA

Bacteria

• Bacteria are single-celled organisms.
• Classified by shape which include cocci, bacilli, and spiral.
• Bacteria are classified by staining characteristics, position of flagella, and oxygen requirements.
• Bacteria are bigger than viruses and can be seen under a scope, can use stains to see the bacteria and positions of the flagella.
• The shape and physiology of bacteria present in infections used to identify species and thus determine suitable treatments.
• Bacteria can be gram positive that absorb with a purple stain or negative which will be pink.
• Binary fission is when a cell splits in two creating two identical cells (Mitosis, reproduction via asexual reproduction)
• Aerobic bacteria replication requires oxygen
• Anaerobic bacteria replication is without oxygen

Conjugation

• During conjugation (passing over of information), bacteria cells pass genetic info via the plasmid.
• Antimicrobial resistance happens if the cell knows how to survive the antibiotics, giving information to others for survival.
• Plasmids carry antibiotic resistance genes and result in genetic advantage.
• Animal 1 with bacterial infection then gets antibiotics.
• MRSA - Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus is staphylococcus and is resistant to call drugs.
• Antibiotic resistance occurs through genetic info via the passed over plasmid.
• Some bacteria remember the antibiotic and pass information to resist to the next bacterial cell via conjugation.

Sporulation

• Does NOT reproduce, instead it forms a protective mechanism/response to survive.
• Bacteria spores are very resistant to cold, heat, and disinfectants.
• Equipment must be sterilized above 120 degrees.
• Bacteria diseases include lepto, KC, Salmonela, campylobacter, Lyme disease (Borrelia), TB, Meningoccus, Pneumococcus, Ecoli, Teunis, Brucella, bacterial pneumonia, Cat bite bacteria (bartonella).
• Transmission of cat bite bacteria is through saliva.

Bacterial & Fungal Infections

• Chlamydia is a bacterial disease.
• Cats can get chlamydia in its eyes, and humans can get it from cats.
• Kennel cough has bacterial (bordetella bronchiseptica) and viral (parainfluenza) infections.
• The animal will get rid of it itself if it is viral, if it bacterial we have to swab and give antibiotics.
• Fungi is either classified into moulds or yeasts.
• Moulds- Multicellular, aerobic, produces spore, infections are aspergilliosis/ringworm.
• Yeasts- Unicellular, either aerobic/anaerobic, needs produced moisture, produced by budding.
• Parasitic organisms feed off living organisms.
• Saprophytic organisms feed off died or decaying matter.
• Moulds (dermatophytes) can reproduce both asexually and sexually.
• During asexual reproduction, fragmentation is when separated mould will grow while sporulation creates microscopic spores.
• During sexual reproduction, mating types create reproductive cells.
• Spores of mould spread by blowing on them.
• When a cell grows it is BUDDING which is how it is reproduced.
• Agar plates can be then be used to grow fungi.
• Specialized selective media is required for growth such as Sabourauds agar, changing from yellow to red in the presence of fungi.
• A woods lamp is also used to identify different fungal infections however false negatives may occur.
• For diagnosis, hair pluck/swab/tape strip/coat brushing/skin scrape.
• Suspected ringworm can use woods lamp, using blue/green light will see lesions or ringworm for Microsprum canis (50% of the time).
• Testing with Sabourauds agar plate which could turn red if fungi present.

Protozoa & Mycoplasma & Immune System

• Protozoa simple single celled eukaryotic organisms divide through mitosis and are either divide by mitosis, divide by mitosis, divide by mitosis.
• Giardia is zoonotic and causes diarrhea.
• Toxoplasma is also zoonotic but dangerous for pregnant women, being shed through cat feces.
• Toxoplasma and Giardia are free living and reproduce with or without a host, toxoplasma is often spread through faeces,
• Mycoplasma are tiny, they includes mycoplasma felis, M. Cynos (dogs) and mycoplasma haemofelis.
• Mycoplasma felis causes diseases affecting the red blood cells and spread from fleas and ticks.
• M. Cynos causes respiratory infections.
• Prions cause mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) BSE which effects affect the neurological system.

Immune System

• Immunity is the bodies' ability to protect itself against infectious diseases and substances.
• There are three levels of immunity: Physical, Innate and Acquired which is gained.
• Physical Barriers - Skin, nasal hairs
• Cilia is in the respiratory tract
• Innate Immunity has chemical barriers which include enzymes found in tears and saliva.
• Cellular defense of the innate immune system includes Phagocytosis.
• Acquired/adaptive immunity has both Active which is natural or a vaccination.
• Acquired/adaptive immunity has both Passive which is maternal or artificial
• Cilia are tiny hairs found on cells to move trapped particles and mucus out of the lungs like a bredcrumb to make you cough it up.
• Phago means eat/engulf.
• Acquired and active refers to when the body produces antibodies.
• Covid or parvo makes the body able to destroy it better/quicker.
• Passive - putting antibodies that have been made somewhere else into the animals body.
• These antibodies could be from the placenta or the colostrum.
• So maternal antibodies last up to 8 weeks which is why we have the vaccination window.
• Colostrum in dogs is the milk produced after birth, it's rich in nutrients, antibodies, and other immune components for infections, and is consumed within 24 hours.
• Passive is when immunity is put within a animal, i.e snake bite anti toxin jab is ONLY for that bite, it will not work again.
• Active acquired immunity is split into: Humoral, Cell Mediated.
• Humoral responses where antibodies are produced such as exposure to a vaccine or naturally from mother to offspring.
• Cell mediated response where lymphocytes kill cells they don't recognise - natural
• Humoral - produces anti bodies for the diseases, what our vaccines do.
• Cell mediated – kills the cells that aren't natural, so it knows how to kill the diseases.

Infection Control

• Sterilisation involves completely destroying all microorganisms, using heat, chemicals, or radiation.
• Disinfection reduces or eliminates harmful microorganisms (excluding spores) on surfaces/equipment using chemical agents/heat.
• A fomite is an inanimate object (e.g., bedding) that can carry and spread infectious agents.
• Biological vectors are living organisms (e.g., fleas) that transmit pathogens actively by hosting and allowing the pathogen to multiply before transmission .
• Mechanical vectors are organisms (e.g., flies) that passively carry pathogens on their body surfaces without the pathogen multiplying.
• Zoonosis can transfer from animal to human.
• A reportable disease must be reported to APHA or DEFRA if a confirmed case is present (e.g., salmonella).
• A notifiable disease must be reported if suspected (e.g., Rabies, foot and mouth in cows, bird flu, TB).
• Zoonotic diseases (can transfer from animal to human) includes tb, ringworm(fungal), salmonella, giardia, lepto, leishmania, Brucella, campylobacter, ecoli, lymes, mites, toxoplasma (protozoa), rabies.
• Transboundary Diseases - highly contagious or transmissible, epidemic diseases.
• COVID- 19 is a transboundary disease along with economic and public health consequences/zoonotic.
• Fomites include food bowls, pens, and uniforms.
• Biological vectors diseases inside their body, such as mosquitos with malaria, and ticks with Lyme disease.
• Mechanical vectors carry diseases on their body, such as flies landing on faeces.

Disinfectant

• For any disinfectant to work effectively, remove organic material first with a detergent.
• Bacterial spores are the hardest to destroy using detergents disinfectants are used to get rid of pathogens (bacteria/virus etc).
• Detergents clean organic material (food, blood, faeces etc), wash before disinfectant.
• Cidal will kill bacteria while static stops it from being able to reproduce.
• Alcohols: Isopropyl alcohol (70%) used for disinfecting small equipment or skin before injections.
• Biguanide/Chlorhexidine: Hibiscrub Used hand washing and presurgical skin preparation.
• Halogens: Use Chlorine to clean floors or Iodine can be used as surgical antiseptic for the skin.
• Iodized or Halogenated tertiary amines: Vetaclean Parvo Advance Used for disinfecting high-risk areas.
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: F10 Disinfectant anigene Commonly used for cleaning surfaces, surgical equipment, and animal housing.
• Oxidizing Agents: Hydrogen peroxide based products like hydrogen peroxide Used for cleaning endoscopes/instruments
• Phenols: Trigene, Dettol, Jeyes Fluid Use/disinfect outdoor areas or large animal housing.
• Aldehydes: Parvocide, Formaldegyde, Vetcide Used sterilizing surgical instruments that cannot withstand autoclaving.
• Disinfectants vary depending on the task at hand, for low-risk office, and for high risk theatre select the right for the job.
• Dilutions are important to using the solution correct to ensure optimum disinfection to avoid resistance - always prep solution immediately and use it
• Dilution calculation is a 1:100 concentrated to a 1:200 dilution where 1 part is disinfection to 100 water instead of 200 water.
• Convert 5L into mls, so 1000 mls per 1L.

Antiseptics

• It is best to use an iodine antiseptic clean due to it being less irritant, use 1:10 for skin, 1:100 eye surface, 1:50 dilution around skin and contact time is 2 minutes.
• Irritant antiseptic solutions like Hibi scrub needs to be removed or it wont work, if there is blood or eye goo.
• To remain safe: keep out of reach of children and animals, Use of PPE is recommended, store away safely.
• Barrier nursing involves isolation procedures along with taking care of each patient to prevent spread.

Isolation Wards

• Isolation is the physical separation of a patient with a transmissible infectious disease, those immunocompromised (protective isolation).
• Must be a Self-sufficient, separated facility that take into account the doors and construction material of kennels.
• Dispose as much equipment after use – mops, consumables, bowls into HAZARDOUS clinical WASTE.
• Hazardous waste is orange bag.

Effective Cleaning

• Dispose of all equipment ideally, soak for 12 hours in a disinfectant and boil if appropriate (gowns).
• Disinfect all surfaces, leave to soak for 12 hours, rinse and air dry.
• Review cleaning products with daily/weekly check sheets with clinical based nursing and evidence.
• https://www.vettimes.co.uk/article/using-clinical-audits-as-tools-for-positive-change-in-practice/
• Bartonella henselae is responsible for causing what cat scratch fever.
• Dispose of offensive urine in the yellow/black stripe which bin.