PRINCIPLES OF ANIMAL DISEASES

Objective C: Animal Management

Animal Science II: AA 22

Non-Infectious Disease Causes• Faulty Nutrition:

• Ration is not balanced correctly

• Metabolic Disorder:• Not adequately digested

• Trauma: • Wounds or injuries

Faulty Nutrition: Examples

• Bloat:• Rapid fermentation (breakdown of carbohydrates by enzymes)

to much gas.• Bovine Pulmonary Emphysema:

• Feedlot problem: panting, coughing, difficulty breathing• Fescue Foot:

• Pasture problem: cattle grazing in a fescue pasture, the animal shifting from one hind foot to the other, sometimes with one in the air.

• Enterotoxemia (Overeating Disease):• Affects cattle/sheep on high-concentrate rations. Animal may

die in 1 to 24 hours.• Founder:

• Feedlot problem: Swelling of tissue that attaches the hoof to the foot.

Metabolic Disorder: Examples• Grass Tetany:

• Most often affects cows that are lactating, it is caused by a lack of magnesium.

• Hardware Disease:• Animal swallows metal objects that rupture the

reticulum wall of the ruminant stomach.• Nitrate Poisoning:

• Caused by the animal eating or drinking a product that has too much nitrogen in it.

• Poisonous Plants:• Animal eating a poisonous plant in a graze land

setting

Metabolic Disorder: Examples• Rumentitis (Liver Abscess Complex):

• Cattle on a high-concentrate rations. The soil and manure content levels plays a factor in the prevalence of this problem.

• White Muscle (Selenium Deficiency):• Common where the soil is lacking in selenium. The muscle turns a

white color.

Examples• Fescue Foot

Examples• White Muscle

Examples• Trauma

Non-Infectious Disease Causes• Toxic substances: poisonous plants materials such as

chemical, plants, snakes and spiders.• Congenital defects: birth defects

Cattle• Normal temperature: 101.5 F or 38.6 C• Pulse rate: 60-70 heartbeats per minute• Respiration rate: 10-30 breaths per minute

Cattle Diseases• Brucellosis: Causes abortion during last half of pregnancy, afterbirth retention

or sterility. It is a microorganism. Cattle that have brucellosis must be slaughtered and disposed of properly. Prevent by vaccinating breeding females, testing animals and purchasing from brucellosis free producers.

Treatment• There is no cure for brucellosis. Prevention is the best

method. Buying replacement cattle from a registered brucellosis-free herds.• We use 9-way

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)• Chronic degenerative disease that affects the central

nervous system of cattle.• Affects the following animals:

• Cattle, Deer, Elk, Cats, Sheep, Goats, Mink• Affects humans in the following forms:

• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)• Fatal Familial Insomnia• Kuru• Gertsmann-Straussler-Scheinker Syndrome

Treatment• No known cure. It is known that the incubation period is

2-8 years in an infected animal. It is also suspected that it cannot be transmitted to humans.

BSE

Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD)• Is a common disease throughout the U.S.. The disease is

appears as mild, acute, and chronic. BVD is spread by contact and it may be carried on a person’s shoes going from one herd to another. There is no-cure.

BVD

Treatment• Use a vaccination 1-3 weeks before weaning. Pregnant

cows should never be vaccinated.• We use 9-Way to prevent this disease

Blackleg• Is a disease caused by bacteria that grow only in the

absence of oxygen, usually grown in deep wounds. Can live in the soil. Young cattle are more susceptible then older cattle. Sudden death, lameness, swollen muscles and high fever are some symptoms.

Treatment• Massive doses of antibiotics and only if caught early

enough. Prevention is the key.

Scours• Found in young cattle. Calves older than 2 months rarely

get it. Sanitation is the key to preventing this disease. It is very important for the young calves to drink colostrum.

Treatment• Antibiotics and sulfa drugs. As stated before sanitation is

the best prevention method.

Leptospirosis• Usually caused by infected animal urinating on a feed

source. Normal transmission of the disease is from hogs to cattle and cattle to hogs. Sanitation is a good preventive measure. Keeping hogs away from cattle is another measure.

Treatment• Vaccination schedule is a must. There are 5 strains of

this disease. High doses of antibiotics is given when the symptoms appear. The females seem to recover and can be used for reproduction purposes after recovery.

Listeriosis• Caused by a germ. Is spread from animal to animal by

contaminated feed and water. Sometimes caused by breeding. The symptoms will show 4-14 days before death.

Treatment• There is no vaccine for this disease. Sanitation is the best

control method.

Lumpy Jaw• Is a chronic disease and seldom causes the animal to die

but it is an economic loss because the affected body parts are condemned.

Treatment• Surgical operation by a veterinarian to loosen jaw bones.

To prevent lumpy jaw ensure that there is no metal objects inside the hay.

Pinkeye• Is a disease carried by insects that affects the eye of

cattle. Can cause blindness if left untreated.

Treatment• Move animal into a dark area.• High doses of antibiotics and sulfa drugs to the affected

areas.• 9-way prevents

Shipping Fever• Complex with many symptoms such as closed eyes,

fever, coughing, diarrhea, or discharge from the nose and is more common in young cattle during times of stress such as shipping.

Treatment• High doses of antibiotics and sulfa drugs.

• 9 way

Mastitis • Bacterial infection that causes inflammation in mammary

glands. More common in dairy industry. Prevent through sanitation and proper milking procedures.

Trichomoniasis• A venereal disease spread among cattle.• Affects the bulls gentiles but does not show signs of the

disease. It is spread directly to the females that show the symptoms. The females can spread it to the bulls if they are not infected.

• It can be spread by artificial insemination if using infected semen.

Trichomoniasis• No treatment for the bulls-send to slaughter.• No vaccination for this disease.

• 9 way

Campylobacteriosis or Vibriosis• This disease effects the intestinal and venereal form.• It leads to infertility and abortions. • The intestinal form has little effect on cattle.

Campylobacteriosis or Vibriosis• Keep infected bulls from breeding.• Can cause a drop in fertility by 40%.• Vaccinate 30 days prior to breeding season.

• 9 way

Swine• Normal temperature: 102.6 F or 39.2 C• Pulse rate: 60-80 heartbeats per minute• Respiration: 8-13 breaths per minute

Clostridial Diarrhea• Same disease that causes necrotic enteritis in poultry.• It affects the intestinal lining of young piglets.• Death occurs within a day and a half after the symptoms

occur. It mimics scours.• Antibiotics are given to the sow before farrowing and

nursing begins.

Clostridial Diarrhea

Exudative Epidermitis (Greasy Pig Disease)• Caused by a common bacterium that lives on the skin of

the animal. It enters the animal’s body through broken skin.

• Reddish areas that appear around the eyes, behind the ears, or under the legs.

Greasy Pig Disease

Treatment• Antibiotics in the early stages.• Later was with mild soap and water 3 to 4 times a day.• Control lice and manage the sanitation

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)• Prevention is the best method of controlling disease.

There is no effective treatment.• Viral disease that causes the following:• Symptoms include the following:

• Late term fetal death• Abortion• Weak pigs• Respiratory problems

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)

Treatment• Following good management practices to control disease

will help reduce the incidence of PRRS in a producer’s herd.

Pseudorabies• Caused by a virus that has symptoms of fever, vomiting,

convulsions, tremors, and causes sudden death in young pigs within 24 hours of the appearance of the symptoms.

Pseudorabies

Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE)• Caused by a very contagious virus that has the symptoms

of vomiting, diarrhea, with white, yellow, and green feces. It kills almost 100% of the baby pigs infected.

• There is no cure for the disease.• Drugs and vaccines are not effective in controlling and

treating TGE

Transmissible Gastroenteritis

Mycoplasmal Pneumonia• Chronic disease that causes coughing in young pigs.

Reduces feed intake and causes reduced gains. Death loss is low. Prevention includes vaccination and sanitation.

Other Swine Diseases• There are many other swine diseases:

• Cholera (Now eradicated in the US)• Swine Dysentery (scours): bacterial disease, recommended

treatment is the use of one of the several recommended drugs in te drinking water

• Leptospirosis• MMA• Mycoplasmal pneumonia• SMEDI

• (Stillbirth, mummification, embryonic death, infertility)

Nutritional Problems with Pigs• Anemia: Is a condition with a lack of iron in the diet.• Hypoglycemia: Is a condition with a lack of sugar in the

diet.• Shivering, weakness, unsteady gait, dullness, and loss of appetite.

Nutritional Problems with Pigs Continued• Parakeratosis: lack of zinc in the diet.

• Ricketts: lack of calcium, phosphorus, or vitamin D in the diet.

Poultry Diseases

Aortic Rupture• An artery in male turkeys between the age of 8 to 20

weeks. The artery ruptures and the young toms bleed to death internally.

• The exact cause is unknown.• Treatment

• Prevented by feeding a lower-energy diet and by using a continuous feeding of tranquilizers at a low level.

Aortic Rupture

Avian Pox (Fowl Pox)• Is caused by a virus and has symptoms of yellow cankers

in the mouth and eyes, scabs around the head.• Symptoms also include reduced weight gain and egg production.• Treatment is prevented by vaccinations• No treatment in acute cases

Blackhead

• Is caused by a protozoan parasite. It affects both chickens and turkeys; but serious in turkeys.

• Symptoms:• Droopiness, darkening of the head, yellow diarrhea.• Treatment:

• Brooding on wire or slatted floors• Never house these birds together• Low level antibiotic feed continuously through the water

supply

Bluecomb• Is caused by a virus that affects all ages of turkeys. • Symptoms:

• Droopiness, dehydration, gaseous, diarrhea• Treatment

• Sanitation • Antibiotics and molasses in at low levels continuously in the water

supply.

Bluecomb

Botulism (Food Poisoning)• Is a result of the bird eating decaying material that

contains the toxin (bacteria).• Symptoms:

• Weakness, trembling, paralysis, closed eyes• Treatment:

• Water supply must be clean• Antitoxins may assist in saving birds if they are isolated away from

the flock.

Newcastle Disease

• Is caused by a virus and the symptoms include the following:• Gasping for air• Sneezing• Breathing difficulties• Tremors• Paralysis

• Treatment:• Sanitation and

vaccination program is the key.

• There is no cure for the disease.

Newcastle

Coccidiosis • Caused by protozoan parasites and has symptoms of

bloody diarrhea, weight loss, and droopiness.• Affects numerous livestock species• Affects birds 3-8 weeks of age• Treat and prevent with drugs called coccidiostats

Aspergillosis (Brooder Pneumonia)• Caused by fungus or mold and includes symptoms of loss

of appetite, gasping, sleepiness, convulsions and death• Prevented by using mold free litter• No effective treatment

Other Poultry Diseases

• Cholera

• Erysipelas• Affects turkeys 4-7

months. First symptoms are a few dead birds in the flock.

Sheep and Goats• Normal temperature: 100.9-103.9 F Sheep• Normal temperature: 101.7-105.3 F Goats• Pulse rate: 70-80 beats per minute• Respiration rate: 12-20 breaths per minute

Blue Tongue• Mainly a Western U.S. disease, which affects the tongue

of sheep and goats.• Symptoms:

• Blue tongue, which causes a lack of appetite• Treatment: vaccinate at the time of shearing and lambs at 3 ½

months of age. No treatment or cure.

Blue Tongue

Scrapie• Affects the central nervous system. It is a brain disease

also known as: Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE)

• Early symptoms:• Change in behavior• Scratching or rubbing against fixed objects• There is no treatment and no cure

Scrapie

Foot Rot• Extremely contagious bacterial disease that causes

lameness• Weight loss due to limited mobility is a major concern• Treat with a footbath solution• Prevention includes sanitation and regular hoof trimming. This

disease found in all livestock animals.

Sore Mouth • Zoonotic disease• Prevented by vaccination

Other Sheep and Goat Diseases

• Foot Scald• Bumblefoot• Lamb dysentery• Mastitis• Naval• Vibriosis• Tetanus

• Nutritional Problems• Impaction• Constipation and Pinning• Milk Fever (Calcium)• Night Blindness• Ketosis (Pregnancy)

• Twins or triplets growing to fast for the mother in the last trimester. Use glycol shot 4 x daily.

Treatments• Prevention is the best way to control disease.• Vaccination Schedule• New feeder cattle should be vaccinated as soon as they

come off the truck at the farm• In poultry, flock treatments using medicine in the water, by

sprays or dusts and cause less stress than individual bird vaccinations and should be used if possible

• Bio-Security Measures• Cleanliness• Quarantine sick animals• Avoid exposure to animals• Isolate new animals for a period of (30 days)

Treatments Continued• Sanitation and good health management practices are

important because some of the diseases mentioned have no cures.

Internal Parasites• Roundworms: stomach worms, ascarids, pin worms,

bloodworms, lungworms.• Tapeworms: broad tapeworm, beef or pork tapeworm.• Flukes: liver flukes• Barber pole worms• Protozoa: Coccidia

Life Cycle of Internal Parasites

1. Important to understand the typical life cycle to effectively control internal parasites

1. Adult females lays eggs inside the host animal that pass out of the animal in feces

2. Eggs hatch and larvae climb onto blades of grass

3. Animals ingests larvae when grass is consumed

4. Larvae develop into adult parasites n host organ; stomach, lungs, intestines, etc. Adult larvae deprive animals of nutrients and/or blood

Controlling Internal Parasites

1. The most effective method of control is prevention1. Control methods

1. Chemical: substances used to kill parasites. Administered orally or topically

1. Problems with resistance to chemicals can occur

2. Test individual animals using a fecal egg count to determine if they are above the threshold for internal parasites

3. Treat animals with parasite issues

4. Use the same de-wormer (anthelmintic) until it is no longer effective

5. Sheep and goat industry have major resistance issues. The Barber Pole Worm is a major internal parasite that causes blood loss, anemia and death.

2. Mechanical: complete or partial removal of the parasite. Example: removing or breaking-up manure contaminated with internal parasites.

Controlling Internal Parasites Continued1. Biological: non-chemical methods of controlling

parasites. Example: feeding forages such as lespedeza hay that contains higher levels of tannins that kill parasites.

2. Cultural/Environmental: modifies the growing environment of the parasite. Example: pasture rotation

Major Problems and Recommendations for Controlling Internal Parasites

1. Other that death, the most costly result of internal parasites in cattle, swine, and poultry is weight loss or reduced gains

2. The major internal parasites of poultry are several types of worms and coccidia

3. Roundworms cause the most damage of any internal parasites for hogs

4. Deworming pregnant sows and gilts about a week before farrowing kills the worms and prevents baby pigs from getting worms from their mother’s manure

5. The major external parasites of swine are lice and mites

Internal Parasites

Lungworms affecting the lungs and lungworms

Flukes

External Parasites Identification and Control

• Common External Parasites• Ticks- blood suckers• Lice-blood suckers and biting• Mites-causes mange• Blowfly-screwworms in larval stage• Heel fly-cattle grub• Horn fly-smallest blood sucking species• Other flies: house, horse, and stable

Controlling External Parasites

1. The most effective method of control is prevention

2. Control Methods1. Chemical: most common method of controlling external parasites

1. Systemic insecticides absorbed through the animal’s skin are commonly used

2. Oral ingestion also used to control some external parasites

2. Mechanical

3. Biological

4. Cultural/Environmental

Major Problems and Recommendations for Controlling External Parasites

1. Most external parasites of birds or poultry lower production by sucking blood

2. The external parasite causing the greatest financial loss in beef cattle is the larva of the HEEL FLY or cattle grubs because they lower the rate of gain and damage the hides and meat

3. The major external parasites of swine are lice and mites

4. Mites, bedbugs and fowl ticks hide in cracks and crevices in poultry houses during daylight and those places must be sprayed with approved chemicals during daylight to kill those external parasites.

External Parasites

TicksLice

Cattle Grub (Heel Fly)

Major problems continued• The major internal parasites of poultry are several types of

worms.• Roundworms cause the most damage of any internal

parasites for swine.

Controlling Parasites• The most effective method of control is prevention.• Chemicals are the most common method of controlling

external parasites.• Systemic insecticides that spread throughout the animals

body is most effective way to treat the heel fly.

Controlling Parasites continued• Deworming pregnant sows and gilts a week prior to

farrowing kills the worms and prevents the piglets from getting worms from their mother’s manure.

• Problems with deworming is that it can cause worms that are immune to the chemicals in the deworming medicine.