Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines

4.6 CATEGORIES OF PATHOGENS
As a general precaution, the risk group for agents should be raised when manipulation may result in the production of infectious droplets and aerosols. Agents of similar pathogenic characteristics not included in these lists should be considered in the same risk category. It must also be understood that this is not a complete list - many agents are referred to in the literature by a variety of names and before assuming that an unlisted organism is classified in Risk Group 1, its characteristics, and pathogenicity must be verified in consultation with the Office of Laboratory Security, Health Canada.

4.6.1 RISK GROUP 1 AGENTS: REQUIRING CONTAINMENT LEVEL 1
Risk Group 1 (low individual and community risk)
This group includes those microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites, which are unlikely to cause disease in healthy workers or animals.
4.6.2 RISK GROUP 2 AGENTS: REQUIRING CONTAINMENT
LEVEL 2
Risk Group 2 (moderate individual risk, limited community risk)
A pathogen that can cause human or animal disease but under normal circumstances, is unlikely to be a serious hazard to healthy laboratory workers, the community, livestock, or the environment. Laboratory exposures rarely cause infection leading to serious disease; effective treatment and preventive measures are available and the risk of spread is limited.
Risk Group 2 Bacteria, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma

Actinobacillus - all species
Actinomyces pyogenes (C. pyogenes)
Bacillus cereus
Bartonella bacilliformis, B. henselae, B. quintana, B. elizabethae
Bordetella pertussis, B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica
Borrelia recurrentis and B. burgdorferi
Campylobacter spp. (C. coli, C . fetus, C. jejuni)
Chlamydia pneumoniae, C. psittaci (non-avian strians), C. trachomatis,
Clostridium botulinum, Cl. chauvoei, Cl. difficile, Cl. haemolyticum,
Cl. histolyticum, Cl. novyi, Cl. perfringens, Cl. septicum,
Cl. sordellii, Cl. tetani
Corynebacterium diphtheriae, C. haemolyticum,
C. pseudotuberculosis, C. pyogenes (A. pyogenes)
Edwardsiella tarda
Erysipelothrix rusiopathae (insidiosa)
Escherichia coli enterotoxigenic/invasive/hemorrhagic strains
Francisella tularensis Type B, (biovar palaearctica), F. novocida
Fusobacterium necrophorum
Haemophilus influenzae, H. ducreyi
Helicobacter pylori
Legionella spp.
Leptospira interrogans - all serovars
Listeria monocytogenes
Mycobacteria - all species (except M. tuberculosis, and M. bovis (non-BCG strain), which are in Risk Group 3)
Mycoplasma pneumoniae, M. hominis Neisseria gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis
Nocardia asteroides, N. brasiliensis
Pasteurella, all species (except P. multocida type B in Level 3)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Salmonella enterica (S. choleraesuis)
Salmonella enterica serovar arizonae (Arizona hinshawii)
Salmonella enterica ser. gallinarum-pullorum (S. gallinarum-pullorum)
Salmonella enterica ser. meleagridis (S. meleagridis)
Salmonella enterica ser. paratyphi B (S. paratyphi B) (Schottmulleri)
Salmonella enterica ser. typhi (S. typhi)
Salmonella enterica ser. typhimurium (S. typhimurium)
Shigella boydii, S. dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. sonnei
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptobacillus moniliformis
Streptococcus spp. (Lancefield Groups A, B, C, D, G)
Treponema carateum, T. pallidum (including pertenue), T. vincentii
Ureaplasma urealyticum
Vibrio cholerae (incl. El Tor), V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus
Yersinia enterocolitica, Y. pseudotuberculosis

Risk Group 2 Fungi

Cryptococcaceae

Candida albicans

Cryptococcus neoformans
Moniliaceae

Aspergillus flavus

Aspergillus fumigatus

Epidermophyton floccosum

Microsporum spp.

Sporothrix schenckii

Trichophyton spp.

Risk Group 2 Viruses

*Arthropod-borne viruses are identified with an asterisk. Only those viruses which may be associated with human or animal disease have been included in this list. Agents listed in this group may be present in blood, CSF, central nervous system and other tissues, and infected arthropods, depending on the agent and the stage of infection.

Adenoviridae

Adenoviruses, all serotypes
Arenaviridae

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (laboratory-adapted strains)

Tacaribe virus complex: Tamiami, Tacaribe, Pichinde
Bunyaviridae*

Genus Bunyavirus

Bunyamwera and related viruses

California encephalitis group, including LaCrosse, Lumbo and snowshoe hare
Genus Phlebovirus

All species except Rift Valley fever virus (see Table 1)
Caliciviridae - all isolates (including Hepatitis E & Norwalk)
Coronaviridae

Human coronavirus, all strains

Transmissible gastroenteritis virus of swine

Hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus of swine

Mouse hepatitis virus

Bovine coronavirus

Feline infectious peritonitis virus

Avian infectious bronchitis virus

Canine, Rat and Rabbit coronaviruses
Flaviviridae*

Yellow fever virus (17D vaccine strain)

Dengue virus (serotypes 1,2,3,4)

Kunjin virus
Hepadnaviridae

Hepatitis B virus, includes Delta agen
Herpesviridae

Alphaherpesvirinae

Genus Simplexvirus: all isolates, including HHV 1 and HHV 2,
except Herpes B virus which is in Risk Group 4

Genus Varicellovirus: all isolates, including varicella/zoster virus
(HHV 3) and pseudorabies virus (see Table 1)
Betaherpesvirinae

Genus Cytomegalovirus: all isolates including CMV (HHV 5)

Genus Muromegalovirus: all isolates
Gammaherpesvirinae

Genus Lymphocryptovirus: Epstein Barr Virus (HHV 4) and EB-like isolates

Genus Rhadinovirus: all isolates (except H. ateles and H. saimiri, see Risk Group 3)

Genus Thetalymphocryptovirus: all isolates
Unassigned Herpesviruses: includes HHV 6 (human á-lymphotrophic virus), HHV 7, HHV 8, etc.
Orthomyxoviridae

Genus Influenzavirus:

Influenza virus type A, all isolates

Influenza virus type B, all isolates

Influenza virus type C, all isolates
Papovaviridae

Genus Papillomavirus: all isolates

Genus Polyomavirus: all isolates
Paramyxoviridae

Genus Paramyxovirus: all isolates

Genus Pneumovirus: all isolates

Genus Morbillivirus: all isolates (except Rinderpest-see Table 1)
Parvoviridae

Genus Parvovirus: all isolates
Picornaviridae

Genus Aphthovirus - See Table 1

Genus Cardiovirus - all isolates

Genus Enterovirus - all isolates (see Table 1 for restrictions)

Genus Hepatovirus - all isolates (Hepatitis A)

Genus Rhinovirus - all isolates

Poxviridae (see Table 1 for restrictions)

Chordopoxvirinae (poxviruses of vertebrates)

Genus Capripoxvirus

Genus Molluscipoxvirus

Genus Yatapoxvirus

Genus Avipoxvirus - all isolates

Genus Leporipoxvirus - all isolates

Genus Orthopoxvirinae - all isolates (except Variola and Monkeypox in Level 4)

Genus Parapoxvirus: all isolates

vGenus Suipoxvirus: Swinepox (see Table 1 for restrictions)

All other ungrouped poxviruses of vertebrates
Reoviridae

Genus Orbivirus - all isolates (see Table 1 for restrictions)

Genus Orthoreovirus, types 1, 2 and 3

Genus Rotavirus - all isolates
Retroviridae

Oncovirinae
Genus Oncornavirus C

Subgenus Oncornavirus C avian - all isolates

Subgenus Oncornavirus C mammalian - all isolates except HTLV-I, HTLV-II

Genus Oncornavirus B - all isolates

Lentivirinae - all isolates except HIV-I, HIV-II

Spumavirinae - all isolates
Rhabdoviridae

Genus Vesiculovirus (see Table 1 for restrictions) (All laboratory adapted strains)

Genus Lyssavirus: Rabies virus (Fixed Virus)
Togaviridae

Genus Alphavirus*

Semliki forest virus

Sindbis

O'Nyong-Nyong

Ross river virus

Venezuelan equine encephalitis (Strain TC-83 only, no animal inoculation, see Table 1)

Genus Rubivirus

Rubella virus

Genus Pestivirus

Hepatitis C virus

Bovine diarrhoea virus

Border disease virus

Genus Arterivirus

Equine arteritis virus
Unclassified viruses

Toroviridae

Other Hepatitis Viruses

Borna disease virus

Astro viruses

Chronic infectious neuropathic agents (CHINAs):
Scrapie, BSE (except Kuru, CJD, see Risk Group 3)

Risk Group 2 Parasites
Infective stages of the following parasites have caused laboratory infections by ingestion, skin or mucosal penetration or accidental injection. Preparations of these parasites known to be free of infective stages do not require this level of containment.
Risk Group 2

Protozoa

Babesia microti
Babesia divergens
Balantidium coli
Cryptosporidium spp.
Entamoeba histolytica
Giardia spp. (mammalian)
Leishmania spp. (mammalian)
Naegleria fowleri
Plasmodium spp. (human or simian)
Pneumocystis carinii
Toxoplasma gondii
Trypanosoma brucei, T. cruzi

Helminths
Nematodes -

Ancylostoma duodenale
Angiostrongylus spp.
Ascaris spp.
Brugia spp.
Loa loa
Necator americanus
Onchocerca volvulus
Strongyloides spp.
Toxocara canis
Trichinella spp.
Trichuris trichiura
Wuchereria bancrofti

Cestodes

Echinococcus (gravid segments)
Hymenolepis diminuta
Hymenolepis nana (human origin)
Taenia saginata
Taenia solium

Trematodes

Clonorchis sinensis
Fasciola hepatica
Opisthorchis spp.
Paragonimus westermani
Schistosoma haematobium
Schistosoma japonicum
Schistosoma mansoni

4.6.3 RISK GROUP 3 AGENTS: REQUIRING CONTAINMENT LEVEL 3
Risk Group 3 (high individual risk, low community risk)
A pathogen that usually causes serious human or animal disease, or which can result in serious economic consequences but does not ordinarily spread by casual contact from one individual to another, or that can be treated by antimicrobial or antiparasitic agents.
Risk Group 3

Bacteria, Chlamydia, Rickettsia
Bacillus anthracis
Brucella - all species
Burkolderia (Pseudomonas) mallei; B. pseudomallei
Chlamydia psittaci - avian strains only
Coxiella burnetii
Francisella tularensis, type A (biovar tularensis)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis; M. bovis (non-BCG strains)
Pasteurella multocida, type B
Rickettsia - all species (also see Table 1)
Yersinia pestis

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(Note: Preparation of smears and primary culture of M. tuberculosis may be performed at Level 2 physical containment using containment Level 3 operational requirements. All other manipulations of M. tuberculosis require containment Level 3 physical and operational requirements.)

Risk Group 3 Fungi

Moniliaceae
Ajellomyces dermatitidis (Blastomyces dermatitidis)
Coccidioides immitis
Ajellomyces capsulatum (Histoplasma capsulatum including var. duboisii)
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Risk Group 3 Viruses

Arthropod-borne viruses are identified with an asterisk.

Arenaviridae

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, neurotropic strains
Bunyaviridae

Unclassified Bunyavirus

Hantaan, Korean haemorrhagic fever and epidemic
nephrosis viruses including virus responsible for Hantavirus
pulmonary syndrome)

Rift Valley fever virus
Flaviviridae*

Yellow fever virus (Wild type)

St. Louis encephalitis virus

Japanese encephalitis virus

Murray Valley encephalitis virus

Powassan
Herpesviridae

Gammaherpesvirinae

Genus Rhadinovirus: Herpesvirus ateles; Herpesvirus saimiri
Retroviridae

Oncovirinae
Genus Oncornavirus C

Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (see note below)
Genus Oncornavirus D

Mason-Pfizer monkey virus

Viruses from non-human primates

Lentivirinae

Human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV - all isolates) (see note below)
Rhabdoviridae

Genus Vesiculovirus (see Table 1 for restrictions) (wild type strains)

Genus Lyssavirus

Rabies virus (Street virus)
Togaviridae

Genus Alphavirus*

Eastern equine encephalitis virus
Chikungunya
Venezuelan equine encephalitis (except Strain TC-83)
Western equine encephalitis

Unclassified Viruses

Chronic infectious neuropathic agents (CHINAs): Kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob agent (level of precautions depends on the nature of the manipulations and the amount of sera, bio/necropsy materials handled).

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Note:Laboratories engaging primary isolation and identification of HTLV or HIV may perform these activities in containment level 2 laboratories (physical requirements) using containment level 3 operational requirements. All research and production activities require containment level 3 physical and operational requirements.

Risk Group 3 Parasites

None

4.6.4 RISK GROUP 4 AGENTS: REQUIRING CONTAINMENT LEVEL 4

Risk Group 4 (high individual risk, high community risk)

A pathogen that usually produces very serious human animal disease, often untreatable, and may be readily transmitted from one individual to another, or from animal to human or vice-versa directly or indirectly, or casual contact.

Risk Group 4 Bacteria

None

Risk Group 4 Fungi

None

Risk Group 4 Viruses
Arthropod-borne viruses are identified with an asterisk.

Arenaviridae

Lassa, Junin, Machupo viruses, Sabia, Guanarito
Bunyaviridae*

Genus Nairovirus

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
Filoviridae

Marburg virus

Ebola virus
Flaviviridae*

Tick-borne encephalitis complex, including -
Russian Spring-Summer Encephalitis

Kyasanur forest virus

Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus
Herpesviridae

Alphaherpesvirinae

Genus Simplexvirus: Herpes B virus (Monkey virus)
Poxviridae

Genus Orthopoxvirinae

Variola

Monkeypox 

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