Reportable Wildlife Disease

Regulation effective as of 09/18/2025

 Explanation of regulation: KRS 150.015 charges the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources with the duty to protect, preserve and conserve the fish and wildlife resources of the Commonwealth.  KRS 150.025 (1)(h) allows the Department to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of KRS Chapter 150.  Because of the impact of certain diseases found in livestock and poultry to the native fish and wildlife populations, the Department believes it is necessary to establish a listing of all reportable diseases which can be transmitted to fish and wildlife and set out the conditions under which the diseases shall be reported. This administrative regulation establishes a comprehensive list of reportable diseases and the conditions under which the diseases shall be reported.

 Diseases to be reported.

    (1) The following diseases and conditions shall be immediately reported to the KDFWR Wildlife Veterinarian:

    (a) Algal toxicosis;

    (b) Anaplasmosis;

    (c) Anthrax;

    (d) Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Chytridiomycosis);

    (e) Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Chytridiomycosis);

    (f) Bluetongue;

    (g) Botulism;

    (h) Brucellosis;

    (i) Canine Distemper Virus;

    (j) Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD);

    (k) Clostridium piliforme (Tyzzer's Disease);

    (l) Duck virus enteritis (Duck Plague);

    (m) Echinococcus spp. (Echinococcosis);

    (n) Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease;

    (o) Hantaviruses;

    (p) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza;

    (q) Histomoniasis (Blackhead disease);

    (r) Lead Toxicosis;

    (s) Leptospira interogans ssp. (Leptospirosis);

    (t) Mycoplasma gallisepticum;

    (u) Mycoplasma agassizii;

    (v) Mycotoxicosis (aflatoxins and fusariotoxins);

    (w) Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Snake fungal disease);

    (x) Paratuberculosis (Johne's disease);

    (y) Plague (Yersinia pestis);

    (z) Pseudogymnoascus destructans (White-nose Syndrome);

    (aa) Pseudorabies;

    (bb) Rabies;

    (cc) Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus;

    (dd) Ranavirus;

    (ee) Salmonellosis (Salmonella enterica, all serovars);

    (ff) SARS-CoV-2;

    (gg) Sarcoptes scabiei (Sarcoptic Mange);

    (hh) Theileriosis;

    (ii) Trichinellosis;

    (jj) Tuberculosis;

    (kk) Tularemia;

    (ll) Virulent Newcastle Disease;

    (mm) Vesicular Stomatitis;

    (nn) West Nile Virus (WNV);

    (oo) Any additional diseases or conditions list by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Listed Diseases including the Terrestrial Animal and Aquatic Animal disease list; and

    (pp) Any disease or condition listed in the United Stated Department of Agriculture National List of Reportable Animal Diseases (NLRAD),

    (2) Conditions of any etiology that meet any of the following criteria shall be reported immediately:

    (a) Chemical poisoning in wildlife and fish involving anticoagulant rodenticides, heavy metals, and pesticides.

    (b) Encephalitis or other central nervous system disease;

    (c) Unusual morbidity or mortality event in free-ranging wildlife, captive wildlife, and fish; or

    (d) Highly infectious conditions of any etiology, known or unknown.


WORLD ORGANIZATION OF ANIMAL HEALTH

If you found an injured animal, contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. A licensed rehabilitator can evaluate and treat an animal to release back into a natural habitat. If you have found an injured deer, contact the county's regional biologist.

Article 1.3.1
The following are included within the category of diseases, infections, and infestations of multiple species:
  • Anthrax
  • Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever
  • Equine encephalomyelitis (Eastern)
  • Heartwater
  • Infection with Aujeszky's disease virus
  • Infection with bluetongue virus
  • Infection with Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis and Brucella suis
  • Infection with Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)
  • Infection with Echinococcus granulosus
  • Infection with Echinococcus multilocularis
  • Infection with epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus
  • Infection with foot and mouth disease virus
  • Infection with Leishmania spp. (Leishmaniosis)
  • Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
  • Infection with rabies virus
  • Infection with Rift Valley fever virus
  • Infection with rinderpest virus
  • Infection with Trichinella spp.
  • Infection with Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma simiae and Trypanosoma vivax
  • Infection with Trypanosoma evansi (Surra)
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax)
  • Old World screwworm (Chrysomya bezziana)
  • Paratuberculosis
  • Tularemia
  • West Nile fever.


Article 1.3.2.

The following are included within the category of diseases, infections and infestations of apinae:

  • Infection of honey bees with Melissococcus plutonius (European foulbrood)
  • Infection of honey bees with Paenibacillus larvae (American foulbrood)
  • Infestation of honey bees with Acarapis woodi
  • Infestation of honey bees with Tropilaelaps spp.
  • Infestation of honey bees with Varroa spp. (Varroosis)
  • Infestation with Aethina tumida (Small hive beetle).

Article 1.3.3.
The following are included within the category of diseases and infections of aves:
  • Avian chlamydiosis
  • Avian infectious bronchitis
  • Avian infectious laryngotracheitis
  • Duck virus hepatitis
  • Fowl typhoid
  • Infection with high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses
  • Infection of birds other than poultry, including wild birds, with influenza A viruses of high pathogenicity
  • Infection of domestic and captive wild birds with low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses having proven natural transmission to humans associated with severe consequences
  • Infection with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (Avian mycoplasmosis)
  • Infection with Mycoplasma synoviae (Avian mycoplasmosis)
  • Infection with Newcastle disease virus
  • Infectious bursal disease (Gumboro disease)
  • Pullorum disease
  • Turkey rhinotracheitis.

Article 1.3.4.
The following are included within the category of diseases and infections of bovinae:

  • Bovine anaplasmosis
  • Bovine babesiosis
  • Bovine genital campylobacteriosis
  • Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
  • Enzootic bovine leukosis
  • Haemorrhagic septicaemia (Pasteurella multocida serotypes 6:b and 6:e)
  • Infection with bovine pestiviruses (Bovine viral diarrhoea)
  • Infection with lumpy skin disease virus
  • Infection with Mycoplasmamycoides subsp. mycoides (Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia)
  • Infection with Theileria annulata, Theileria orientalis and Theileria parva
  • Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis
  • Trichomonosis.

Article 1.3.5.
The following are included within the category of diseases and infections of equidae:

  • Dourine
  • Equine encephalomyelitis (Western)
  • Equine infectious anaemia
  • Infection with African horse sickness virus
  • Infection with Burkholderia mallei (Glanders)
  • Infection with equid herpesvirus-1 (Equine rhinopneumonitis)
  • Infection with equine arteritis virus
  • Infection with equine influenza virus
  • Infection with Taylorella equigenitalis (Contagious equine metritis)
  • Infection with Theileria equi and Babesia caballi (Equine piroplasmosis)
  • Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis.

Article 1.3.6.
The following are included within the category of diseases and infections of leporidae:

  • Infection with pathogenic rabbit lagoviruses (Rabbit haemorrhagic disease)
  • Myxomatosis.

Article 1.3.7.
The following are included within the category of diseases and infections of caprinae:

  • Caprine arthritis/encephalitis
  • Contagious agalactia
  • Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia
  • Infection with Chlamydia abortus (Enzootic abortion of ewes, ovine chlamydiosis)
  • Infection with peste des petits ruminants virus
  • Infection with Theilerialestoquardi, Theilerialuwenshuni and Theileriauilenbergi
  • Maedi–visna
  • Nairobi sheep disease
  • Ovine epididymitis (Brucella ovis)
  • Salmonellosis (S. abortusovis)
  • Scrapie
  • Sheep pox and goat pox.

Article 1.3.8.
The following are included within the category of diseases and infections of suidae:

  • Infection with African swine fever virus
  • Infection with classical swine fever virus
  • Infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus
  • Infection with Taenia solium (Porcine cysticercosis)
  • Nipah virus encephalitis
  • Transmissible gastroenteritis.

Article 1.3.9.
The following are included within the category of diseases and infections of camelidae:

  • Infection with Camelpox virus
  • Infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.

Bird watchers and other wildlife enthusiasts can take certain precautions to reduce the risk of spreading HPAI while pursuing their outdoor activities.

Avoid Sick or Dead Wildlife

  • Avoid direct contact with wildlife that appear unhealthy or were found dead. 
  • Keep pets away from sick or dead wildlife.
  • Report sick or dead wildlife to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

Practice Good Hygiene
  • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after outdoor activities, especially if there has been any contact with birds or bird habitats. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if soap and water are not readily available.
  • Wear disposable gloves if handling equipment that may have come into contact with bird droppings or other potentially contaminated surfaces.
  • Clean off shoes if they came into contact with waterfowl feces. Wash hands thoroughly afterwards with soap and warm water.
  • Clothes and shoes worn outdoors or in other areas frequented by waterfowl should not be worn around pet birds, backyard flocks, or livestock. Have dedicated clothes and shoes to wear around your animals that are not worn anywhere else.
Avoid Feeding Wildlife

When wildlife gathers in areas abundant with food, the risk of disease transmission rises. Animals that would normally be scattered are brought together, making it easier for pathogens (such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites) to spread. Refrain from feeding wildlife to help prevent disease transmission.

Properly Dispose of Waste
When wildlife gathers where food is abundant, the risk of disease transmission increases. Dispose of waste, including food scraps, in designated bins to avoid attracting and unnaturally clustering birds and other wildlife.

 

Article 1.3.1.
The following diseases of fish are listed diseases:
  • Infection with Aphanomycesinvadans (epizootic ulcerative syndrome)
  • Infection with epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus
  • Infection with Gyrodactylus salaris
  • Infection with HPR-deleted or HPR0 infectious salmon anaemia virus
  • Infection with infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus
  • Infection with koi herpesvirus
  • Infection with Megalocytivirus pagrus 1
  • Infection with salmonid alphavirus
  • Infection with spring viraemia of carp virus
  • Infection with tilapia lake virus
  • Infection with viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus.

Article 1.3.2.
The following diseases of molluscs are listed diseases:
  • Infection with abalone herpesvirus
  • Infection with Bonamia ostreae
  • Infection with Bonamia exitiosa
  • Infection with Marteilia refringens
  • Infection with Perkinsus marinus
  • Infection with Perkinsus olseni
  • Infection with Xenohaliotis californiensis.

Article 1.3.3.
The following diseases of crustaceans are listed diseases:
  • Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease
  • Infection with Aphanomyces astaci (crayfish plague)
  • Infection with decapod iridescent virus 1
  • Infection with Hepatobacter penaei (necrotising hepatopancreatitis)
  • Infection with infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus
  • Infection with infectious myonecrosis virus
  • Infection with Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (white tail disease)
  • Infection with Taura syndrome virus
  • Infection with white spot syndrome virus
  • Infection with yellow head virus genotype 1.

Article 1.3.4.
  • The following diseases of amphibians are listed diseases:
  • Infection with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
  • Infection with Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans
  • Infection with Ranavirus species.


USDA ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE