Download the Word doc

Characteristics
Morphology
Gram negative bacteria, coccobacilli or rods, 0.3-1.0 μm in diameter and 1.0-2.0 μm in length. They do not sporulate and are non-motile.
Disease

Infected bites or scratches from animals, usually cats and dogs, resulting in local cellulitis and can lead to absess.
Zoonosis
None.
Health Hazards
Host Range
Animals (dogs and cats), birds, ticks, lice, flies, cockroaches.
Modes of Transmission
Transmission occurs primarily by bites and scratches of infected animals, animal licks on injury site, respiratory droplets, and infected meat.
Signs and Symptoms 
Substantial local cellulitis, sometimes accompanied with low fever, appear. If this infection progresses, subcutaneous abscess, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, endocarditis, septic arthritis, pericarditis, brain abscess, liver abscess, renal abscess, bacteremia/septicaemia, conjunctivitis, and lymphangitis may develop.
Infectious Dose Unknown.
Incubation Period 
Less than 24 hours.
Medical Precautions/Treatment
Prophylaxis Antibiotics such as penicillin or derivative are given with clinical observation of infected bites.
Vaccines None.
Treatment
Give appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Surveillance Monitor for symptoms.
MSU Requirements Report any exposures
Laboratory Hazards
Laboratory Acquired Infections (LAIs)
2 cases have been reported.
 Sources
Infected bite wounds and abscesses, pus, bronchial secretion, CSF, and blood, cultures, frozen stocks, other samples described in IBC protocol.
Supplemental References
BMBL:
 https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html
Canada PSDS:
NIH Guidelines:
Risk Group & Containment Requirements
Risk Group 2

Agents that are associated with human disease which is rarely serious and for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are often available.
BSL2
For all procedures involving suspected or known infectious specimen or cultures.
ABSL2
For all procedures involving infected animals
Spill Procedures
Small
Notify others working in the lab. Remove PPE and don new PPE. Cover area of the spill with absorbent material and add fresh 1:10 bleach:water. Allow 20 munutes (or as directed) of contact time. After 20 minutes, cleanup and dispose of materials.
Large
  • Immediately notify all personnel in the lab and clear all personnel from the area. Remove any contaminated PPE/clothing and leave the lab. 
  • Secure the area by locking doors, posting signage and guarding the area to keep people out of the space. 
For assistance, contact MSU's Biosafety Officer (406-994-6733) or Safety and Risk Management (406-994-2711).
Exposure Procedures
Mucous membrane
Flush eyes, mouth, or nose for 5 minutes at eyewash station.
Other Exposures
Wash area with soap and water for 5 minutes.
Reporting
Immediately report incident to supervisor, complete a First Report of Injury form, and submit to Safety and Risk Management.
Medical Follow-up
During business hours: Bridger Occupational Health 3406 Laramie Drive. Weekdays 8am -6pm.  Weekends 9am-5pm
After business hours: Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room 915 Highland Blvd Bozeman, MT
Viability
Disinfection
Phenolic disinfectants, 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, iodophore, and peracetic acid.
Inactivation
Inactivated by moist heat (60 minutes at 121oC) and dry heat (1 hour at 160-170oC), UV, microwave, gamma radiation.
Survival Outside Host
May survive in air (5% after 45 min), in distilled water and ocean water (14 days at 4°C, less than 24 hours at 37°C), and in pig slurry (3 days at 4°C and 6 days at 37°C). It may also survive in blood. 
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Minimum PPE Requirements
Lab coat, disposable gloves, safety glasses, closed toed shoes, long pants
Additional Precautions
 Additioanl PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs and IBC Protocol.