Potential Occurrences of Foreign Animal Diseases in Wildlife Angie Dement Extension Associate for Veterinary Medicine Texas AgriLife Extension Service Texas A&M System College Station, TX

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 Effects of 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) 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 wild cloven-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 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 ?