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Policy and Procedures: BIOSAFETY
Purpose: To minimize the risk of introducing an infectious disease, or any other biohazard, into the
animal population at the zoo.
File Number: 17
Last Reviewed: September 26, 2008
Pertains To: All employees, part time and temporary staff, contract workers, volunteers, interns and coop students (collectively referred to as “STAFF”)
Note: The following information focuses on the issue of biologically hazardous conditions that can exist
between animals. Disease transmission between humans and animals is outlined under Jungle Cat
World’s ZOONOTIC DISEASES Policy and Procedures.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Biosafety is defined here as the application of knowledge, techniques and equipment to prevent animal
and environmental exposure to potentially infectious agents or biohazards. A biological hazard
(biohazard) is any microorganism, cell culture or endoparasite (such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa,
fungi, etc.) that can cause infection, allergy and toxicity or otherwise, create a hazard to animal health.
Pathogen transmission can occur directly into a living body via skin contact (absorption), inhalation, cuts,
puncture wounds or indirectly through ingestion of contaminated materials, food or drink. Such infections
and diseases can be minimized with appropriate recognition of the problem and training of personnel to
limit the spread of infectious organisms.
Jungle Cat World recognizes that to establish biosecurity for the animals at the zoo involves:
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General safety of the animals in our care, including managing unknown animals entering the
grounds.
Cleanliness and proper disinfection of personnel and equipment to prevent spread of
possible infectious agents to other areas and other animals.
Careful quarantining (isolation) of newly acquired and/or sick animals from all other
individuals in the zoo.
HYGIENE AND DISEASE CONTROL
Staff are the primary defense against disease transmission and should receive sufficient training for this
role. They should assume that all cages are infected and that pathogens are readily transmissible
between enclosures. Following a few simple routines on a daily basis can go a long way in preventing
disease transfer.
Certain precautions should be taken to reduce the risk of spreading diseases. Disease can be
transferred from different sites through several vectors including footwear, equipment, vehicles, and
specimens. Hygiene and disease control are controlled to a large extent by proper cleaning, disinfecting,
and/or sterilizing.
Cleaning involves the physical removal of organic and inorganic debris from items. Cleaning will not
remove pathogens from the items, but it is a necessary step that allows the disinfecting agent to come
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into direct contact with pathogens on the actual surfaces of an item. Cleaning is important before
disinfecting or sterilizing because most agents are inactivated by organic debris.
Disinfecting an item by washing it with a proper chemical agent will reduce the bacteria load or
pathogens to a point where they will not serve as a source of infection, but will continue to persist at low
levels on the item.
Sterilization through the use of heat, chemicals, or radiation will remove all life from an item.
DISINFECTION
The principal means for disinfecting hands is by washing with soap and water. However, in most cases,
Sodium Hypochlorite is required for thorough disinfection. Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach) kills most
pathogens; disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and fungi. A strong oxidizer, bleach damages nucleic
acids (DNA/RNA), lipids and fatty acids associated with the cell membrane and destroys the cellular
activity of structural and functional proteins. Bacteria and viruses generally do not become resistant to
the powerful oxidizing action of bleach when used at recommended dilutions.
When preparing bleach solutions for use note that:
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Bleach solutions gradually lose strength, and freshly diluted solutions must therefore be
prepared daily;
Clear water should be used because organic matter destroys chlorine;
1:10 bleach solution is caustic. Avoid direct contact with skin and eyes;
Bleach solutions give off chlorine. Prepare them in a well ventilated area;
Use plastic containers for mixing and storing bleach solutions as metal containers are corroded
rapidly and also affect the bleach.
There are two different dilutions of bleach used for disinfection:
1:10 Bleach Solution (which contains 0.5% chlorine concentration). This is a strong disinfectant that is
used to disinfect:
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Excreta
Bodies
Spills of blood/body fluids
Vehicles and tires
To prepare 1:10 bleach solution add one volume of household bleach (e.g. 1 litre) to nine volumes
of clean water (e.g. 9 litres). For spills (the decontamination of blood or body fluid), use 1:10 chlorine
solution to inactivate pathogens before soaking up the fluid with absorbent materials. These absorbent
materials must then be incinerated.
1:100 Bleach Solution (which contains 0.05% chlorine concentration). More diluted solutions are not
effective. This solution is used to disinfect:
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Surfaces
Medical equipment
Bedding
Reusable protective clothing before it is laundered
To prepare 1:100 bleach solution add one volume of 1:10 bleach solution (e.g. 1 litre) to nine volumes of
clean water (e.g. 9 litres). Apply or soak for 1 minute. The solution must subsequently be removed, as it
is caustic and may damage equipment. This may be done by wiping the disinfected item with clean
water.
Freezing is not an effective way to kill microbes, including bacteria, yeasts and moulds. Although
pathogens don’t multiply in the freezer, certain species can survive the freezing process by going into
‘hibernation’ or forming resistant cells (eg, spores) and up to 70% may ‘come back to life’ again as the
item begins to thaw. Salmonella have been known to survive for 7 years at –23°C in ice cream and
Campylobacter can survive freezing if the initial contamination levels are high. Also, freezing does not
affect toxins left by certain bacteria (eg, staphylococcal enterotoxin and botulinum toxins).
QUARANTINE
Animals acquired by the zoo that are staying either temporarily (such as a breeding loan) or permanently
(such as an animal that will be on display for educational purposes only) must be kept in the zoo’s
designated quarantine area for a minimum of 30 days. During this period, staff will monitor the animal’s
health on a daily basis. Signs of illness that would require an assessment of health by a veterinarian
includes:
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Obviously poor and/or deteriorating coat/skin condition
Abnormal posture
Lethargy
Ocular discharge/eyes closed
Diarrhea
Obvious weight loss or dehydration
Inability to eat or drink
Dyspnea
Bleeding from gastrointestinal or respiratory tract
Neurological signs, such as circling, head tilt, partial paresis, seizures
Animals already living at the zoo that display any of the above symptoms require immediate examination
by a veterinarian, whom will determine whether or not the animal needs to be quarantined. If it is
necessary for the animal to be moved into isolation, the animal’s enclosure must be cleaned and
disinfected immediately. Daily monitoring of any other individuals that were cohabitating with the sick
animal is required for a 30-day period.
Due to the isolation of many of the enclosures in the zoo, these enclosures may be deemed as suitable
quarantine sites. Any equipment used in the care of the animals (ie. scrub brush, rake, etc) must be
disinfected before being used again elsewhere.
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(ph) 905-983-5015 • (fax) 905-983-9858
www.junglecatworld.com • [email protected]
ANIMAL FOOD AND WATER HYGIENE
The following protocols are necessary to manage the possible risks of the animals ingesting potentially
harmful contaminated food or water:
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The commissary area must be kept cleaned and food preparation areas disinfected.
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The storage and processing of meat (eg- chicken, deer, etc.) must be confined to the large walkin freezer and the meat preparation area. Meat is not be stored with other food items, such as
fruits and vegetables, or prepared in any area where such food items are processed, such as
the small refrigerated room in the commissary area.
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Food that is not consumed by one animal cannot be removed and then fed to another animal.
Any food that is not eaten and/or expired must be composted.
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Water dishes that cannot be removed from an enclosure and cleaned thoroughly in the
commissary, such as the large drinking bowls for the large felids, require individual scrub
brushes. Using a single brush to clean numerous dishes is not acceptable. When a brush is not
available at an enclosure, another brush can be used after it has been disinfected with a 1:100
bleach solution.
PROGRAM ANIMALS
Any animal being used for hands-on educational purposes, including on-site activities and outreach,
require full and complete vaccinations.
During outreach presentations, no other animals are allowed to come into close contact with the
program animals from the zoo. If the presentation is for an event where other animals will be present,
such as a dog show, the organizer must guarantee that they have a policy in place that requires all
participating animals to be vaccinated and free of any transmittable diseases.
WORKING ANIMALS WITH VISITORS
Recognizing the importance and need of working animals for disabled persons, such animals will be
granted access into the zoo under the following conditions:
 That the owner can show proof that the animal has been fully and completely vaccinated or
show proof of affiliation with a credible organization that supplied or trained the animal, such as
the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), that can vouch for its good health and
behaviour.
 The animal is kept on a tether of some sort, such as a leash or harness.
3667 Concession 6, Orono, Ontario, L0B 1M0, Canada
(ph) 905-983-5015 • (fax) 905-983-9858
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BEHAVIOURAL ENRICHMENT
The Animal Care Committee must approve any behavioural enrichment activities to ensure that novel
objects introduced into an enclosure is safe and appropriate.
HAVELBERG PET CEMETERY
Though located on the same property as the zoo, the pet cemetery is fenced off and gated. Access is
restricted to visitors that have their animals buried there.
When dead animals arrive to be interred, they must be kept at all times in a completely enclosed
container or sealed plastic bag. The cemetery has its own tools, including shovels and a wheelbarrow.
Zoo equipment should never be used.
HAVELBERG DOG ACADEMY
The movement of zoo animals in and out of the facility is carefully planned and monitored. The
exception is the dog kennel on the premises that offers canine obedience and boarding services for the
public. Some of the zoo animals, such as the primates, share the same building. Though they are kept
separated by a wall, Jungle Cat World recognizes that the regular movement of domestic dogs in and
out of the zoo increases the risk of the zoo animals contracting a disease. It is thus absolutely necessary
that:
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Dog owners must show proof that their pet has been vaccinated
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Enclosures housing zoo animals in the building must be cleaned with different equipment than
that used for the dog kennels. These tools, like the squeegee, must be labelled accordingly.
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Alternate clothing and footwear, than that used to clean the dog kennels, must be worn. Rubber
boots should be used when possible, due to the ease of cleaning and disinfecting. Canvas or
leather boots/shoes are more difficult to disinfect completely and should only be worn when
rubber boots are unavailable. These items should be labelled accordingly.
HANDLING WILD ANIMALS
Jungle Cat World’s education program, in particular, Safari Zoo Camp, encourages participants to
search for and study wild animals in their natural habitat. Though discouraged, some animals such as
frogs and snakes may be handled for close examination. When handling herps in the field, even when
found at the zoo, precautions should be taken to minimize the risk of spreading pathogens. Hands
should be thoroughly washed before working with any animals in the zoo.
Particular caution should be taken when dealing with mammals. Wild foxes, skunks, raccoons,
groundhogs, and bats are rabies vector species and can carry the virus without showing any of the
typical symptoms. Signs of illness can include apparent neurological disorder, dragging rear legs,
3667 Concession 6, Orono, Ontario, L0B 1M0, Canada
(ph) 905-983-5015 • (fax) 905-983-9858
www.junglecatworld.com • [email protected]
excessive drooling, scruffy fur and/or any discharge from the eyes and nose. These symptoms could
also be signs of parvovirus or distemper in raccoons and foxes.
Avoid any exposure, such as coming into contact with the animal's saliva from a bite or handling a dead
specimen and getting bodily fluid in any open wounds, in your eyes, nose or mouth. Wear and use
protective equipment.
REFERENCES
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Peter Klose, Director, Safari Zoo Camp
Amphibian Husbandry Resource Guide, Edition 1.1: Hygiene and Disease Control: Field and
Captivity (A publication of AZA’s Amphibian Taxon Advisory Group, 2008)
http://www.aza.org/ConScience/Documents/Chapter2_Hygiene_DiseaseControl.pdf
 Areas Rehabbers Klub
http://www.arkofva.com/rabiesvector.html
 National Wildlife Health Center: Collection, Preservation and Mailing of Amphibians for
Diagnostic Examinations
http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/amphibian_research_procedures/specimen_collection.jsp
 New Zealand Food Safety Authority
http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consumers/food-safety-topics/foodborne-illnesses/freezing-thawing/fact-sheetfrozen-foods4_6.htm - P10_1410
 RIMSAT (Remote Intelligent Management Support and Training)- Biologic Hazards
http://www.rimsat.com/rimsat/WP2_Resources/Bio_hazards.doc
 The Facts About Bleach
http://www.factsaboutbleach.com/
 World Health Organization: Collecting, preserving and shipping specimens for the diagnosis of
avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection- Guide for field operations- Disinfection
http://www.who.int/entity/csr/resources/publications/surveillance/Annex7.pdf
3667 Concession 6, Orono, Ontario, L0B 1M0, Canada
(ph) 905-983-5015 • (fax) 905-983-9858
www.junglecatworld.com • [email protected]