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African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious viral disease of swine, for which there is no treatment or vaccine. Although ASF has never found its way to North America, the results of an outbreak would be devastating to the U.S. swine industry. Clinical signs for ASF can occur within 5 to 15 days after exposure and include skin discoloration, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing and abortions. For more information, click
here.
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Anthrax is a disease caused by a spore-forming bacterium that affects many species of mammals, including humans. Cattle, sheep, goats, and horses are the livestock species most commonly affected. Anthrax spores are extremely resistant and can survive in the environment for year. They are usually reactivated by climatic changes, such as heavy rain and drought. Clinical signs include fever, depression, muscle tremors, staggering, incoordination, difficulty breathing, incoordination, bloody discharge from body orifices, and sudden death. Early treatment with antimicrobials may be effective, but prevention through vaccination is the best way to control disease in endemic areas. Suspect cases should always be evaluated by a licensed veterinarian.
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Avian influenza (AI) is an infectious viral disease of birds, capable of decimating entire flocks. Clinical signs include depression, decreased feed and water intake, diarrhea, sinusitis, blood tinged oral and nasal discharge, and sudden death. Affected flocks in the U.S. are usually depopulated to prevent the spread of disease. Vaccination in the U.S. is prohibited except with permission from a state veterinarian. AI is also capable infecting pigs, horses and humans. Click here for more detailed information.
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Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in cattle caused by an infectious protein known as a prion. BSE is spread to cattle by feeding them infected tissue from BSE-infected cattle. Clinical signs in cattle include hind limb ataxia, aggression, hypersensitivity to stimuli, and tremors. The disease is always fatal following the onset of clinical signs. Other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies include scrapie in sheep and goats, chronic wasting disease in deer, elk and moose, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.
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Brucellosis, also known as "Bang's disease," is a highly infectious bacterial disease of mammals and is transmittable to humans. Affected domestic species include cattle, goats, sheep, swine and dogs. Bison can serve as a reservoir for the disease. Clinical signs include weight loss, abortions, infertility and lameness. Not all infected animals will show visible signs of the disease, but they will continue to spread the disease as carrier animals. Vaccination is an important tool in the control, management and elimination of brucellosis. The vaccine must be administered an accredited veterinarian.
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Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in cervids caused by an infectious protein known as a prion. It is transmitted between cervids by direct contact and environmental contamination. Clinical signs can include weight loss, ataxia, teeth grinding, head tremors, and excessive salivation. CWD is always fatal following the onset of clinical signs. While no evidence of zoonosis has been shown, the zoonotic potential of CWD has not been ruled out.
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Classical swine fever (CSF), also known as "hog cholera," is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and feral swine. Currently not found in the U.S., it does occur in other parts of the world. Infected pigs may not show signs of disease. Clinical signs can include high fever, lack of appetite, intermittent constipation followed by diarrhea, conjunctivitis and discoloration of the ears, abdomen or inner thighs. Younger pigs may have incoordination, weakness and convulsions. In breeding herds, the disease may affect reproductive performance through abortions, still-born or weak piglets. CSF does not affect humans.
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Contagious equine metritis (CEM) is a venereal disease in horses. Clinical signs in mares include vaginal discharge, abortion and infertility. Infected stallions typically show no clinical signs. Both stallions and mares can become chronic carriers of CEM and be sources of infection for future outbreaks. The disease is highly transmissible through artificial insemination or natural mating. CEM-positive animals are typically quarantined and treated by disinfecting the external genitalia and administering local and/or systemic antibiotics.
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Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) is a severe neurological disease in horses. The virus is transmitted to horses by mosquitos. Clinical signs can include fever, altered mentation, hypersensitivity, circling, head pressing, ataxia and paralysis. There is no specific treatment for EEE, but there are several effective vaccines available for use in horses.
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Equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is a neurological disease of horses. The virus causes respiratory and reproductive disorders. It is unknown what causes some horses to develop the neurological form of disease. Clinical signs can include fever, nasal discharge, hindquarter weakness, incoordination and urine dribbling. There is no specific treatment for EHM besides supportive care. It is currently unknown if vaccination against EHV-1 helps to prevent EHM.
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Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a viral disease that affects all equine species. EIA is spread through insect vectors. Although most infected horses show no clinical signs, some may have fever, depression, weight loss, and edema. There is no vaccine or treatment for the disease. All infected horses become carriers and are infected for life. EIA-positive horses must be permanently isolated from other equids or destroyed. For more information, click
here.
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Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hooved livestock including cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and deer. The disease does not affect horses, dogs or cats. The disease spreads quickly and causes significant economic losses to livestock producers. Clinical signs can include fever, excessive salivation, anorexia, depression, lameness and blisters on the tongue and lips, in and around the mouth, on the mammary glands and around the hooves. The mortality rate of FMD is low, but it causes significant production losses. FMD is not related to Hand, Foot and Mouth disease in humans.
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Fowl typhoid is an important disease in poultry that is caused by Salmonella Gallinarum. Fowl typhoid can be transmitted from mother to offspring, through ingestion and through insect vectors. Clinical signs include sudden death of hatchlings, loss of appetite, ruffled feathers, dehydration, depress, diarrhea and blindness. Fowl typhoid has been eradicated from commercial poultry flocks in the U.S., but still occurs in some backyard flocks.
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Johne’s disease, also known as paratuberculosis, is a contagious, chronic and usually fatal infection that affects ruminants. Johne's is caused by a hardy bacteria related to the agents of leprosy and tuberculosis. Transmission occurs from an infected mother to her offspring or through direct or indirect contact with an infected animal. Clinical signs include severe weight loss and diarrhea with a normal appetite. Several weeks after the onset of diarrhea, a soft swelling may occur under the jaw due to protein loss. Death typically follows within a few weeks of clinical signs. Vaccination can help decrease the severity of clinical signs, but it does not prevent infection or reduce shedding of the bacteria. Clinical signs can appear within 5 months to 15 years after infection.
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Piroplasmosis is a disease infecting horses, donkeys, mules and zebras. Although it is primarily transmitted to horses by ticks, this bloodborne disease has been spread mechanically from animal to animal by contaminated needles. Infections can be acute or chronic. Clinical signs in the acute form can include fever, anemia, jaundiced mucous membranes, swollen abdomen and labored breathing. It may also cause roughened hair coats, constipation and colic. Clinical signs in the chronic form include poor appetite, exercise intolerance, weight loss, and transient fever. There is no effective treatment for clearing the organism, however, treatment can reduce clinical signs.
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Pseudorabies is a virus that causes neurological and respiratory disease in swine with the potential to decimate entire herds. Although primarily found in swine, pseudorabies has been transmitted occasionally to cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, cats and other animals. Transmission can occur from nose-to-nose contact, ingesting contaminated feed or drinking water, sexual contact and contact with infected placentas. Clinical signs vary by species, but in swine, clinical signs can include abnormal gait, self-mutilation and convulsions. In younger animals, the chance of sudden death is high. There is no treatment for pseudorabies, but vaccines are available and recommended for use in breeding herds.
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Psittacosis is an infectious disease, transmissible from birds to humans through inhalation of infectious dust or airborne materials such as feathers or feces. Clinical signs in birds can include sleepiness, shivering, weight loss, difficulty breathing and diarrhea. For humans, clinical signs can include fever, chills, cough, weakness, muscle or chest pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, sweating and abnormal intolerance to light. Psittacosis is treatable. There is no vaccine available for prevention.
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Psoroptic mange is a debilitating skin disease in cattle and sheep caused by the Psoroptes mite. These mites live in the ear, backs, and flanks of affected animals. If left untreated, the disease can cause weight loss, crusted lesions, damaged hides, and hair loss. Psoroptic mange is spread through direct contact. Transmission between species is rare. Psoroptic mange can be treated with various antiparasitic drugs.
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Pullorum is an important disease in poultry caused by Salmonella Pullorum. Clinical signs are most apparent in young birds and include depression, anorexia, ruffled feathers, difficulty breathing, and diarrhea. Decreased egg production and hatchability may be seen in birds with or without clinical signs. Mortality rates can be as high as 100%. Pullorum has been eradicated from commercial poultry flocks in the U.S., but still occurs in some backyard flocks.
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Rabies is an infectious, fatal disease that affects the central nervous system in mammals. Any human or animal that is bitten by wildlife is at potential risk of being exposed. Rabies is transmitted through exposure to saliva in bite wounds, open cuts or mucous membranes. There are three variants of rabies clinical signs; a wild animal may appear docile and not afraid of humans or appear vicious and attack without provocation. There is no treatment for rabies. Vaccination is highly effective for prevention in domestic species.
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Rinderpest, also known as cattle plague, is a highly contagious, viral disease of cattle and bison. The disease was declared globally eradicated in 2011, but prior to its eradication, rinderpest was devastating to livestock industries due its high mortality rate in naïve herds. Clinical signs can include fever, depression, decreased appetite and milk production, necrotic oral and genital lesions, diarrhea and nasal discharge. In young and newborn cattle, high fever and necrotic lesions are followed by sudden death. The disease is transmitted through direct contact with infected animals or their bodily fluid.
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Scabies, also known as sarcoptic mange, is a highly contagious disease in cattle and sheep caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. Transmission occurs from infected animals to naïve animals by direct contact or contaminated fomites. Clinical signs include intense pruritus (itching), papules and crusts on the skin, skin thickening, and hair loss. Scabies can be treated with various antiparasitic drugs.
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Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. The disease is spread from ewes to their offspring and through direct contact with infected animals. Clinical signs, which can occur from two to five years after exposure, include temperament changes, scratching, rubbing, loss of coordination, weakness, weight loss, biting of feet and limbs, hopping like a rabbit and high stepping of the forelegs. There is no treatment or vaccine for scrapie. The best way to prevent infection is through genetic selection, strict management protocols and biosecurity measures.
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Senecavirus A is a virus that affects swine. The clinical signs can include blisters on the snout, lips, and feet, and it can cause lameness. The morbidity and mortality in swine can be variable, however, the disease looks similar to Foot and Mouth Disease. Senecavirus A is not a human health risk.
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Trichomoniasis (Trich) is a highly contagious venereal disease of cattle that causes infertility and fetal death. Cows and bulls affected with Trich show no other clinical signs. There are no safe treatments or highly effective vaccines. The best methods to prevent infection include testing before breeding or buying virgin bulls.
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Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious bacterial disease of importance in cattle and humans. Other mammals can also be infected. TB is spread by inhaling aerosolized droplets or ingesting contaminated food, milk or water. Early clinical signs are difficult to diagnose. Later stages include emaciation, lethargy, weakness, anorexia, low-grade fever and pneumonia with a chronic, moist cough. Vaccines have not yet proven to be effective in all cases. The best prevention is testing for the disease and culling infected cattle.
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Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) is a severe neurological disease in horses. The causative agent, a viral complex containing Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus, is transmitted to horses by mosquitos. Clinical signs include fever, tachycardia, altered mentation, ataxia, paralysis, diarrhea and colic. In severe cases, death can shortly follow the onset of neurological signs. VEE has not be found in the U.S. since 1971.
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Vesicular exanthema is an acute, highly infectious disease of swine, causing fevers and blisters on the snout and feet. The disease is transmitted through direct contact with lesions on infected animals and by feeding uncooked garbage to swine. There is no vaccine for vesicular exanthema, nor is there any known treatment. Good sanitation, disinfection and feeding practices are the best methods to prevent the disease.
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Vesicular stomatitis is a viral disease that primarily affects horses, ruminants, and swine. The disease is thought to be spread by insect vectors, direct contact with infected animals, and contaminated fomites. Clinical signs can include blister, erosions and vesicles on the lips, tongue, gums, teats and hooves. The disease is rarely fatal, but does result in production losses. Vaccination is not available in the U.S. Good biosecurity measures, disinfection and insect control are the best methods to prevent the disease. For more information, click
here.
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Virulent Newcastle disease (vND), formerly known as Exotic Newcastle disease, is a disease affecting poultry. Clinical signs can include anorexia, lethargy, conjunctival edema, white to green diarrhea, head and neck edema, cyanosis and neurological signs. Mortality rates can be very high, with death occurring with or without the presence of clinical signs.
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West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus that causes severe neurological disease in horses. Birds and humans are also susceptible to the virus. Clinical signs in horses can include fever, incoordination, generalized weakness, drooping lips, teeth grinding and inability to rise. There is no specific treatment for WNV, but there are several effective vaccines available for use in horses. For more information, click
here.
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Western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) is a severe neurological disease in horses. The causative agent, a viral complex containing western equine encephalomyelitis virus, is transmitted to horses by mosquitos. Clinical signs can include fever, altered mentation, hypersensitivity, circling, head pressing, ataxia and paralysis. There is no specific treatment for WEE, but there are several effective vaccines available for use in horses.