Disease
Covering
all the diseases that affect both wildlife and livestock is beyond
the scope of this tutorial. However, it is important to recognize
that disease occurs in both domestic and wild animals and landowners
are often faced with the challenge of dealing with it.
Each disease
has specific measures for prevention and control. Contact your local
veterinarian for preventive measures that apply to your particular
geographic region.
Anthrax
Anthrax, a disease of mammals and humans, is caused by a spore-forming
bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax is a naturally occurring
disease with worldwide distribution. It is a zoonotic disease, meaning
it may spread from animals to humans. All mammals appear to be susceptible
to anthrax to some degree, but ruminants such as cattle, sheep,
and goats are the most susceptible and commonly affected, followed
by horses, and then swine.
Brucellosis
Brucellosis is a contagious disease of animals that also affects
humans. The disease is also known as Bang’s Disease. In humans,
it’s known as Undulant Fever. Brucellosis is one of the most
serious diseases of livestock, considering the damage done by the
infection in animals. Decreased milk production, weight loss, loss
of young, infertility, and lameness are some of the affects on animals.
The disease is caused by a group of bacteria known specifically
as the genus Brucella. Efforts to eradicate brucellosis is underway
in all States, and most States are already classified as swine and/or
cattle brucellosis free because they have eliminated the disease.
The incidence
of swine brucellosis is very low. Brucellosis in sheep and goats
is also not a major problemin the United States, due to eradication
efforts. Brucellosis may also occur in dogs, horses chickens and
certain wildlife.
Chronic
Wasting Disease
Chronic Wasting Disease is a progressive, fatal, neurological disease
found in a small percentage of cervids (deer and elk). CWD belongs
to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
(TSEs). CWD was first described clinically as a wasting syndrome
in captive deer held in a Colorado wildlife research facility in
1967. CWD was detected in free-ranging deer and elk in northern
Colorado and adjacent sections of southeast Wyoming in the mid-1980s.
Since then, CWD has also been found in captive herds in South Dakota,
Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Montana and Saskatchewan,
Canada. CWD has also been found in free-ranging deer in South Dakota,
New Mexico, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Saskatchewan.
Hantavirus
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly disease transmitted
by infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva. The contaminated
excreta from infected rodents are thought to be the source of virus
for aerosol and direct (animal bite) transmission to other rodents
and humans. Humans can contract the disease when they breathe in
aerosolized virus. HPS was first recognized in 1993 and has since
been identified throughout the United States. Although rare, HPS
is potentially deadly.
Rabies
Rabies is a deadly, yet preventable disease of all species of mammals,
including humans, caused by a virus. The virus infects the central
nervous system, causing an encephalitis and ultimately death. Rabies
is generally transmitted by the saliva of infected animals. Most
exposures occur through the bite of a rabid animal. In addition,
infection can occur when infective saliva, from rabid animals, comes
in contact with open wounds, cuts, abrasions, scratches, or mucous
membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth).
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease of both animals and humans.
It is caused by three specific types of bacteria that are part of
the Mycobacterium group: Mycobacterium bovis, M. avium, and M. tuberculosis.
The disease can infect all warm blooded vertebrates. The most common
mode of transmission is through respiration. Invisible droplets
(aerosols) containing TB bacteria may be exhaled or coughed out
of infected animals and then inhaled by susceptible animals or humans.
The risk of infection increases in enclosed areas, such as barns,
for both humans and livestock.
Vesicular
stomatitis
Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a viral disease characterized by fever,
vesicles, and subsequent blisters. The vesicles form on the mouth,
tongue, lips, feet, teats, and mammary glands of affective animals.
These vesicles or blisters tend to be large and very painful. VS
affects a wide range of hosts. It primarily affects cattle, horses,
and swine. This disease occasionally affects sheep and goats. Many
species of wild animals, including deer, bobcats, goats, raccoons,
and monkeys, have been affected. Humans can also become infected
with vesicular stomatitis when handling affected animals.
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