Potential Occurrences of Foreign Animal Diseases in Wildlife

Angie DementExtension Associate for Veterinary Medicine

Texas AgriLife Extension ServiceTexas A&M System

College Station, TX 77843http://aevm.tamu.edu

U.S. Threatened by Potential Occurrences of FEAD Foreign Animal Diseases

Not currently present in U.S. Accidental, intentional (bioterrorism) risks for entry

Emerging Animal Diseases A new disease or a new form of an old disease Natural, accidental or intentional risks of emergence Commerce, mutation, environmental reasons

Types of Occurrences

Natural

Accidental

Intentional (Bioterrorist Act)

Devastating Effectsof Animal Diseases Economic impacts Sociologic impacts Emotional impacts Political impacts

First Line of Defense

Biosecurity Livestock owners Early detection and reporting

Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)

1-800-550-8242

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Foot and Mouth Disease

Highly contagious virus Spreads rapidly People not affected

Devastating Emotionally Economically Sociologically Politically

Susceptible domestic and wildcloven-hoofed livestock Cattle Sheep Goats Domestic and feral swine Deer Llamas

Transmission Aerosol

wind Mechanical

people, vehicles, animals Biological

movement of infected animals uncooked or undercooked meat products

If an outbreak occurs – “Big and Bad” Restrictions Quarantines Eradication (Depopulation)

Slaughter of animals Proper disposal

FMD Outbreak in 2001 in Great Britain

Delayed response 10,472 farms depopulated 4 million destroyed to stop disease 2.5 million “humanely” slaughtered Over $13 billion

Increased risks for entry Travelers Meat products Garbage Bioterrorist

Mad Cow Disease

Not contagious

Reduced risks of entry and spread

USDA regulations Feed bans Slaughter bans Import bans

Classical Swine Fever (Hog Cholera)

Also known as Hog Cholera Affects swine and javelina Reportable Viral disease Eradicated from the U.S. in 1978

Routes of exit Semen Blood Saliva Feces Meat

Routes of entry Ingestion Mucous membranes Broken skin In-utero

Acute form Fever Lethargic Off feed Purplish discoloration of skin

Ears Legs Abdomen

Death in 10-21 days 100% mortality in piglets

Chronic form Unpredictable appetite Fever Diarrhea for up to 1 month Secondary pneumonia May recover only to relapse and die Recovery possible 30-70% mortality

Prenatal form Sows

Transient fever Loss of appetite

Piglets Persistently infected

100% mortality Death in 6-12 months

Mummified fetuses Stillbirths

Fences to separate domestic and feral pigs Properly cook waste food before feeding to

pigs Quarantine new pigs for at least 30 days Maintain good biosecurity practices

Anthrax

Reportable Bacterial disease Worldwide distribution Endemic to U.S.

triangle of Uvalde, Ozona, Eagle Pass, TX Affects numerous animal species Primarily domestic and wild livestock Zoonotic

Bacterium - Bacillus anthracis

vegetative bacteria in animal

spore bacteria in environment

Vegetative bacteria leave dead animal via hemorrhagic exudates mouth, nose, anus and vulva contain large numbers of bacteria

Spores contaminate soil spores remain viable for decades

Incubation period is 1-20 days

Infections apparent after 3-7 days

Diagnosis

Ruminants: Sudden death Staggering Trembling Dyspnea Fever

Respiratory distress Convulsions Abortions Bloody discharge FATAL

Pigs: Sudden death Mild, chronic infections Fever Swelling Enlarged lymph nodes Usually recover

Dead animals: Sudden death – blood poisoning Rigor mortis absent Rapid decomposition – extreme bloat Dark blood Enlarged spleen Non-clotting blood

People: Wound infections – carbuncles

Burn carcass and bedding Don’t open carcass

spores will not develop without oxygen bacteria will decompose within a few days

Vaccination of herd required Quarantine of herd required for 10 days

after vaccination

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD)

Endemic Viral Reportable Wide spread in white-tail deer Not contagious No vaccine

Incubation period 5-10 days Viremic for 2 mos

Biological transmission Biting midges Some gnats Some mosquitoes

3 Forms Peracute

Fever, anorexia, respiratory distress, swelling of tongue and conjunctiva, and die rapidly (8-36 hours)

Acute Extensive hemorrhages, salivation, nasal

discharge, ulcers and high mortality Chronic

Lameness (crawling on knees), ulcers, emaciation, but do recover

Cases found in late summer early autumn Usually dies down with first good cold front

Biosecurity

For all diseases implement and maintain biosecurity practices

Questions?