Livestock Disease Tables

Understanding and preventing diseases that can effect your livestock is essential for identifying potential threats. Listed below is an overview of common diseases organized by species.

Poultry

INFECTIOUS
DISEASE

POULTRY
AFFECTED CAUSE SYMPTOMS TREATMENT PREVENTION Brooder pneumonia Young chicken and turkeys especially Fungus: Aspergillus fumigatus Rapid breathing, labored, depression None Strict sanitation in brooder equipment Blackhead or histommoniasis Turkeys especially Protozoa: Histoma meleagridis Listless, ruffled feathers, dark blue head Carbasone, nitarsone, dimetridazole, ipronidazole, acidified copper sulfate, plus others Strict sanitation; rotate ground; keep other birds away Botulism Lembunich Ducks Bacteria: Clostridium botulinum (toxin) Sudden death None Sanitation Coccidiosis All species Coccidia, one or more variety for each species of bird Bloody droppings in chickens

Amprolium, sulfonamides; get the current recommendations

Sanitation Duck plague All species Herpes virus Sudden death Keep wild fowl away from flock, and vaccination Fowl cholera All Bacteria: Pasteurella multocida Rapid death Sulfaquinoxaline, tetracycline Vaccination Fowl pox Chickens, turkeys Virus Poxlike sores on unfeathered areas of body None Vaccination, in areas where disease is a problem Viral hepatitis of ducks (DVH) Ducks under 7 weeks Picornavirus Sudden death None Rat and wild duck control; strict iso- lation of young ducks; vaccination of adult breeder stock from older birds Hemorrhagic enteritis of turkeys Ducks under 7 weeks Group II adenovirus Sudden onset, bloody diarrhea None Vaccination (given in drinking water) enteritis of turkeys Infectious bronchitis Chickens Coronavirus Coughing, tearing None Good nursing, vaccination Infectious coryza Chickens Bacterium: Hemophilus gallinarum Facial swelling may close eyes, discharge Erythromycin Buy replacement from clean flock; a bacterin is available Infectious laryngotracheitis Chickens Virus Gasping, coughing with hock extended None Vaccination Influenza All Virus Signs are those of a cold None Reportable disease (Note: Avian flu–especially the H5N1 strain, which has become such a concern lately–falls into this category, but so far is limited to Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.) Infectious serositis, “new duck disease” All Bacteria: Pasteurella antipestifer Eye and nose discharge Sulfaquinoxaline, penicillin, steratomycin Bacterin available Newcastle disease Primarily ducks Virus Coughing, sneezing, with nervous system involved in severe cases None Vaccination Pullorum disease Chickens, turkeys, ducks Bacteria: Salmonella pullorum Symptoms inyoung poultry: listless, whitish diarrhea, do noteat None Control by testing of breeding flocks; eradication program; vaccination Pullorum disease Chickens Virus. One of the first cancers proven to be caused by a virus Paralysis, some- times only depression None Vaccination

Rabbits

INFECTIOUS
DISEASE CAUSE SYMPTOMS TREATMENT PREVENTION VIRAL DISEASES Infectious myxomatosis Virus; poxvirus Milky eye discharge; ear edema; nasal discharge None None BACTERIAL DISEASES Pasteurellosis, “Snuffles” Pasteurella multocida Thin, purulent nose and eye discharge None Recovered animals may become carriers Abscesses Abscess on any part of body None Mastitis (Bluebreasts) Staphylococci, Streptococci Hot, swollen mammary glands Penicillin variants Good sanitation Treponematosis, vent disease Spirochete: Treponema cuniculi Scabs and/or loss of fur in genital region Penicillin var., entire herd Do not use affected ani- mals for breeders Hutch burn, urine burn Wide range of possible organisms Similar parts affected as vent disease Antibiotic ointment; apply to affected parts Keep hutches clean and dry Enterotoxemia Clostridium spiroforme Sudden death Onset usually too rapid to treat Avoid diets too low in fiber Mucoid enteropathy Unknown Constipation None Oral fluids to overcome dehydration Tyzzer’s disease Bacillus piliformis Severe diarrhea None None PARASITIC DISEASES Coccidiosis: hepatic and intestinal Coccidia Young rabbits may be off feed, dull Sulfaquinoxoline in feed or water Good sanitation; avoid fecal contamination Ear mites Infestation Scratching at ear Clean ear withperox- ide, then use ear mite medicine Good sanitary practices MISCELLANEOUS CONDITIONS Wet dewlap (moist dermatitis) Various Inflammation of the dewlap Clip affected area-use antiseptic powder Useautomaticdewdrop valves; elevatedrinking dishes Hair chewing Perhaps low-fiber diet Chewing of fur Change to higher fiber diet High-fiber diet, e.g., good quality hay Hairballs Swallowing fur Indigestion, gagging None High fiber diet–mineral oil, etc. of no value Heat Exhaustion Overexposure to bright sunlight Heavy panting, elevated body temperature, and extreme lassitude Immerse severely affected rabbits in cold water Construct hutches to allow for good ventila- tion. Provide cold water and sprinkle hutches in hot weather. Sore hocks (ulcerative pododermatitis) Direct contact with wire mesh, especially in heavy breeds where there is an accumulation of urine-soaked feces. Raw, weeping sores on hind legs Difficult to treat. Affected animals should be culled. Keep hutches clean Malocclusion An inherited characteristic Failure of teeth to grind against each other, especially the incisors or front teeth. Affected teeth should be clipped off. Affected animals should not be used as breeders.

Sheep

INFECTIOUS
DISEASE CAUSE SYMPTOMS TREATMENT PREVENTION METABOLIC DISEASES Those caused by feed intake or stresses affecting all the body systems due to conditions such as lambing Grass staggers, grass tetany, hypomagne- semic tetany Low intake of magnesium; suddenly placing animals on lush pasture in the spring Erratic behavior after being put on lush pasture None Magnesium supplements to fertilize pastures; feed dry hay before turning out Parturient paresis Unknown Sudden onset 6-10 weeks prior to lambing, especially in heavy ewes: muscle tremors; stilted gait; down; death Calcium solution I.V. or under skin Good dietary management Photosensitization Light colored skin that has a hyperactive reaction to sunlight Reddening and fluid (edema) in the skin. Graze at night; steroids Affected animals should not be used as breeders Somebreedsofsheep(SouthdownsandCorriedales)haveadefectexistinginlivermetabolismthatpreventssubstancesthatpredis- posetheanimaltophotosensitizationfrombeingeliminatedintheusualway.Sheepofthesebreedsshowingthistraitshouldnotbe used asbreeders. White muscle disease Selenium deficiency Stiff gait, arched back unable to rise Selenium injections Selenium supplement in feed Pregnancy toxemia, ovine ketosis Any factor that disrupts feed intake in fat ewes carrying twins late in pregnancy Nervous signs, inability to get on their feet; coma Propylene glycol, steroids induce abortions, glucose Induce exercise; feed away from shelter; avoid stressful situations wherepossible INFECTIOUS BACTERIAL DISEASES Tetanus Bacteria: Clostridium tetani Often follows surgical procedures in early life; “saw-horse” appearance. None Administer tetanus antitoxin; later give toxoid Overeating disease Clostridium types C, D Sudden death, especially in weaned lambs on full feed No effective treatment Bacterin to those on full feed VIRAL DISEASES Bluetongue Bluetongue virus spread by biting flies Difficult breathing; reddening of muzzle, lips, ears; ulcer, erosions of mouth None Vaccine in affected areas only OPP (ovine progressive pneumonia) Retrovirus Very slowly progressing disease in mature animals; slow, wasting disease None Test and slaughter program; isolate lambs at birth, and feed milk from known-negative ewes Sore mouth, contagious ecthyma Poxvirus Lesions on lips, sometimes feet. None Recovered sheep highly resistant; vaccine available Scrapie (Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy) Prion (structure smaller than a virus) Loss of wool, intense itching, altered gait; loss of condition in sheep usually over 2 years None Test and slaughter “Black disease” (infectious necrotic hepatitis) Clostridium novyi Sudden death; toxin produced by organism, together with liver flukes, which have already damaged the liver. None Toxoid (vaccine) in fluke region Mastitis Often Streptococcus or Staphylococcus species Hot, swollen udder; Abnormal secretion None Antibiotics; hot packs; frequent stripping Strawberry foot rot Fungus (actinomycete): Dermatophilus congalensis Sores in lower leg Penicillin variants Self-limiting Scours Escherichia coli Profuse diarrhea in newborn Fluids to combat dehydration; antitoxemia drugs, antibiotics Dip navels in iodine; strict sanitation in lambing pens Joint ill Erysipelothis rhusiopathiae Swollen joints and some- times navel Penicillin variants Dip navels, strict clean- liness when castrating or docking PARASITIC DISEASES There are a wide range of parasites that affect sheep. Some invade various parts of the digestive tract while lungworms settle in the lungs.

Goats

INFECTIOUS
DISEASE CAUSE SYMPTOMS TREATMENT PREVENTION CAE (caprine arthri- tis and encephalitis) Lentivirus Encephalitis in young goats, arthritis in adults None Butazolidin in arthritic form; remove kids from doe immediately after birth and feed pasteurized colostrum Abscesses Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosi Abscess formation around head and neck. None Urinary calculi (esp. in petwethers) Metabolic imbalance Urinate with difficulty or not at all Surgery to create artificial opening Feed diet with calcium-phosphorus ratio of2:1;addammonium chloride to diets;keep magnesium levellow Mastitis Several different bacteria Abnormal milk ranging from watery to bloody Variety of antibiotic preparations infused into udder; may need to run antibiotic sensitivity test to determine the best choice Strict sanitation during the milking process; clean bedding and in general clean environment Goatsaresubjecttomuchthesamerangeofdiseasesasaresheep.Themanagementofthevariousconditionsfollowsthelinesfol- lowed insheep.

Pigs

INFECTIOUS
DISEASE CAUSE SYMPTOMS TREATMENT PREVENTION Metabolic and nutritional iron deficiency Milk naturally deficient in iron Symptoms of anemia None Administer iron to newborn by injection; keep sod in pen Hypoglycemia Any factor that limits piglets’ milk intake, especially during first week of life Low body temperature; listless; unresponsive Give glucose intraperitoneally Be sure sow has enough milk; that all piglets are getting their share; keep warm and dry MMA or Mastitis- metritusagalactia syndrome (lactation failure in sows) Not understood at this time, a complex interaction of many factors Piglets show signs of starvation; piglets depressed; increased temperatures; sows listless; refuse to let piglets nurse Corticosteroids and broadspectrum antibiotics Good management practices; place piglets on foster sow if available BACTERIA, SPIROCHETES, AND VIRUSES Bacterial brucellosis (a disease transmis- sible to man, especially when handling infected carcasses at slaughter) Brucella suis Abortion: temporary or permanent sterility: lameness None Test and slaughter Atrophic rhinitis A complex disease with many contributing factors Twisted snout may be end result Several drugs effective including trimethoprim, tylocin, and tetracycline Keeping a closed herd; good sanitation Enteric colibacillosis Escherichia coli Profuse watery diarrhea in young pigs Restore fluid level; antibiotics as determined by sensitivity, previous experience Avoid chilling and dampness; vaccinations of sows to increase level of necessary antibodies Enteritis Clostridium perfringens, Type C Bloody diarrhea in piglets, 1-5 days None

Vaccination of pregnant sows is of some value to increase value of colostrum in affording protection

Edema Escherichia coli Disease of young pigs 5-14 days after weaning; rapid death; wobbly; paddling of legs; head twist Antibiotics may help Gradual change of feedfromcreepfeedto weaningration Erysipelas Erysipelothrix rhusipathiae Several different forms of this disease: (1) sudden death; high temperature, walking stiffly or remain lying down; (2) may show skin discolorations as “diamond skin disease”; (3) arthritis; (4) heart valve involvement Penicillin variants Vaccination Leptospirosis (may act as reservoir to cause infection in man) Leptospira pomona Abortions; being off feed; listlessness None Vaccinations Mycoplasma pneumonia
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Coughing, mild pneumonia; greatest problems: poor feed utilization and growth rate Tylocin, Tetracycline Establishment of disease-free herds Pleuropneumonia Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae May be very severe with sudden deaths, especially in young pigs; extremely difficult breathing; high fatality rate Several antibiotics have been suggested, including Tylocin and Trimethoprim

All-in, all-out management (all pigs in a group introduced simultaneously into area where they will be raised and later removed simultaneously)

Salmonellosis Salmonella cholerasuis Nursing pigs have diarrhea but die from septicemia;olderpigshavebloody diarrhea Some antibiotics may be of value, but no drastic changes may be seen Intensive clean-up after outbreaks Swine dysentery Treponema hyodysenteriae (a spirochete) A mucous, bloody diarrhea is the most common symptom Do antibiotic sensitivity test and determine best antibiotic, which might include bacitracin, lincomycin, and others Good sanitation; treatment of carrier pigs Tuberculosis (a disease transmissable from animal to man) Mycobacterium species. Pigs are susceptible to three types: cattle, bird, and man Lymph gland involvement: a wasting disease None Good management (e.g. cleanliness, good ventilation) VIRUSES Hog cholera (no longer present in USA), now more properly called “classical swine fever” (CSF) DNA virus Lethargy; off feed; high temperature Hyperimmune serum Vaccinations not always effective; worldwide test-and-slaughter policy in effect for any animals that test positive Pseudorabies, “mad itch” Herpes virus. The pig acts as a reservoir for the virus, which is highly fatal in other species such as cattle and sheep In piglets, may see fever, trembling, convulsions; symptoms become progressively less severe as pig grows older None Bring in replacements from disease-free herds; segregation; isolation
Swine influenza, hog flu Type A influenza virus Rapidly spread throughout entire herd; high temperature; off feed; coughing; prostration None Good management with a stress-free environment TGE (transmissible gastroenteritis) Coronavirus Vomiting followed by profuse, watery diarrhea; highly fatal in very young pigs, much less so in older pigs None Vaccinations PARASITESThosewormsaffectingthestomachandintestinaltractofpigscanbecontrolledbythesametypesofmedicationsusedin otherspecies.Therearesomewormspeculiartoswinethatshouldbementioned. Kidney worm infestation Stephanurus dentatus Pigs tend to be “poor doers”; economic loss from contamination of affected organs and tissues None Maintain clean environtment; rotate stock to keep herd young through “gilts-only” breeding program. Trichinosis Trichanella spiralis Primarily a public health problem where insufficiently cooked, infected meat is eaten
None Garbage containing pork should be cooked at 212° F for 30 min- utes before being fed to swine, or not feed at all

Calves

INFECTIOUS
DISEASE CAUSE SYMPTOMS TREATMENT PREVENTION Colibacillosis Escherichia coli Diarrhea; dehydration; weakness; death Electrolytes, fluids, antibiotics Buy calves from reputable sources; avoid stress; keep isolated; draft-free, well ventilated housing (calf hutch excellent) Pneumonia Various bacteria and viruses Cough; difficulty breathing; off feed; fever Fluids, antibiotics