Microbio/Epidemiology Questions!? Please explain!!?

Question

Hi, I am thinking about a hypothetical situation of epidemiology so that I can better understand some concepts. 

some horses had contaminated water and got ill (lets say from E. Coli), and I somehow got feces from the horse onto my hands, didn't wash my hands, and then consumed the feces particles and got sick. 

 

Would my disease be a zoonosis since it 'technically' came from a horse? 

Also, how would I describe the horse? I believe it is just a reservoir, but Im not sure. Could it be a vehicle and an etiologic agent? A combination of these terms?  I am confused by these terms and would love some explanation!!

 

Thank you for your help! I definitely want to learn these concepts. 

Answer 1

In a manner of speaking, it would be zoonosis via the oral-fecal route; in environmental health, virtually anything harmful that is consumed (injested orally) from another animal/being (i.e., feces) is classified as "fecal-oral". And since it is from animal to human, I believe it can also be considered zoonotic.

 

Many classes will give the example of the giardia being ingested. But the whole idea is that it's consumed, causes health issues, and then is typically excreted back out to cause problems in another being that consumes it (via contaminated water or food).

I had a professor once who gave the example of the Norovirus in contaminated water, and this also applies to the fecal-oral route.

 

As far as "carriers" and "vectors" go, I found a good explanation at this link:

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-carrier-and-a-vector

 

Vectors are essentially carriers who do not contract the disease--they remain entirely unaffected. Carriers on the other hand can become somewhat affected, but generally not show the classic symptoms of disease. To further complicate this, carriers can also be symptomatic or asymptomatic.