other than rabies what other deiseses can a taxidermist get skinning dead animals
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Rick,
There is a wealth of way cool diseases one can catch from handling mammals and birds during post mortem examination (like vets in autopsies) or in Taxidermy. (This is totally aside from all the potential damage one can do while using the wide array of chemicals of various kinds used for preservation, degreasing, bleaching, foreground work etc etc.
The most comprehensive list of diseases I am aware of is somewhat old but the citation Irvin, A. D. and J. E. Cooper. 1972. Possible health hazards associated with the collection and handling of Post-mortem zoological material. Mammalogy Review, 2:43 to 53. This citation lists 22 common diseases, and gives recommendations for handling specimens.
This citation should be able to be found in any large university library system, but in most states even local libraries will request and obtain xerox copies of most articles for a few, perhaps 10 cents a page.
Other citations that are very relevant include
Kannemeyer, S. X and N. Schaefer. 1986 Safety in the Museum and Workshop. Part 1; Toxic chemical hazards Part 2 hazards associated with the handling and dissection of Post-mortem animal carcases with an Appendix listng chemicals and dangers, symptoms etc Found in the South African Museums Association Bulletin 17(2): 41 through 60 and 74 through 89. ( agreat reference)
Cooper, J. E. et al. Taxidermists guide to practical hygeine in the working environment. Guild of Taxidermist Newsletter No. 1, 10 through 15,
Habicht, G. S., G. S. Beck and J. L. Benach. 1987 Lyme Disease. Scientific American 127, July 1987
Hangey, G. 1983. Occupational health hazards to preparators. 1983 National Conference of Preparators and Technicians, Museum of Victoria, Australia. Paper presented at the conference.
Rau, R. 1980 Occupational Health hazards for Zoological Preparators. South African Museums Association Bulletin 14, 13 through 16.
The Center for Occupational Hazards has a large list of brochures which describe various damaging chemicals potentially handled by the taxidermist. Their address 5 Beekman Stree, New York, New York, 10038
The diseases include not only those which are within the animal proper, but also those contained within the surface parasites - ticks, fleas, lice etc. Black Plague is spread by flees, Lyme disease by ticks, as well as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (also a Ricettsial organism), Tuberculosis, Typhus Fever (Flying squirrels are a reservoir for this disease), parrot fever, etc. Also, the contents of the alimentary tract is a possible cite of infection - many water systems are infected by excretions of muskrats and beavers. Mange - see other reference in list. Even brand new diseases may be added - West nile encephalitis is creeping westward from New York, todays paper verifies that it has passed into the Philadelphia area by autopsy of two crows.
Recommendations - have the rabies vaccines, keep up with tetanus shots, have the lyme disease series of vaccinations, and use great care in handling dead and decaying carcasses. I have handled roughly 18,000 carcasses of birds, mammals, herps and fish. I only got one infection so far, and that was from a sliver of wood.
I again apologize to Ken and all, for the length of the message - and I didn't even get to the story I attempt to end all my messages with. I have to go pick up my daughter for an extracurricular cource on reproductive genetics held at college, and she is only in 11 th grade.
The Taxidermologist
Rick, in answering your question on what other diseases you can contract during your taxidermy experiences....NOTHING if you're careful! Use precaution and common sense and you will be A-okay. Don't let Stephen scare you like that! And MOST animals we mount aren't yet "decaying", so no worry there.
And Steeeeeeeephen, you are starting to sound like the snob you told me you didn't want to sound like! Now....I'M off to pick up MY daughter from 2nd grade...SHE was "leader of the day" today, and SHE'S only SEVEN! LOL! You ARE going to add that story later on aren't you Steve?!
I enjoy your postings! Please keep them coming. Your contributions are always welcome and interesting. I remember your letter from Breakthrough Issue 13 (1986) on "Museum Study Skin Preparation". Even then, I had to reduce the type size to fit the entire letter in the magazine.
My daughter's in the 11th grade, too, but she's way too cool to be driven around to her extracurricular activities by her dad!
A zoonosis is a disease or pathogen that can be transmitted between humans and non-human animals. There's a lot of info online for you to muddle through.
LOL, Couldn't help myself, Stephen. "Flees" are misspelled and West nile should have a capital "N". But I'm just a "common man" so I may well be misinformed. "As ye sew, so shall you reap."
You and your daughter are just too SMART for us