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Bovine TB is an infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). Bovine TB primarily affects cattle, however, other animals may become infected. M. bovis causes a disease that can be transmitted between wildlife populations and food animals (e.g., cattle). Disease due to M. bovis in animals typically presents in the lungs but may also occur in the intestines or other parts of the body.
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Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal neurologic disease that affects deer, elk and other members of the deer family. It is caused by a prion, a type of protein that attacks the brain and nervous system. There is currently no known cure for CWD. Highly contagious, the disease has spread extensively among deer and elk populations across North America over the past two decades.
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Hemorrhagic Disease (HD) is either caused by the epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) or the bluetongue disease virus (BTV). Both viruses are transmitted by small, biting midges (also known as gnats or "no see-ums") whose populations peak in summers with a lot of early rainfall followed by dry weather, creating ideal environmental conditions for their reproduction. Affected deer often develop a fever and seek out water to drink and cool off, which is why many deer with hemorrhagic disease are found dead near streams or ponds. HD is fatal to some deer, whereas others develop antibodies which are passed on to their offspring. Reports of HD suspect cases begin in late summer, then rapidly diminish within a couple of weeks of the first hard frost, which kills the midges.
Meningeal worm is caused by the roundworm (nematode) Parelaphostrongylus tenius. White-tailed deer are the natural hosts for the meningeal worm. The intermediate host of meningeal worm is one of several species of snail or slug. Animals become infected when they ingest infected snails or slugs, likely by accident.
A contagious and deadly viral swine disease affecting domestic and feral swine of all ages. It cannot be transmitted to people, and properly prepared pork products are safe to eat. Although it is not a direct threat to human health, its deadly nature in swine could result in pork product shortages, disruptions to trade, and economic impacts. There is no treatment or vaccine so the best way to protect pigs is by prevention.
Caused by the paramyxovirus, canine distemper is a highly infectious disease that targets the respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems of infected animals. It poses a threat to various wildlife species, including foxes, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, and mink, as well as domestic dogs. While canine distemper can strike at any time throughout the year, juvenile wildlife, especially gray foxes, raccoons, and skunks, are highly vulnerable to the disease during late winter and spring.
Canine heartworm is a disease that affects domestic dogs, coyotes, black bears, and red and gray foxes. The disease is caused by a parasitic nematode (roundworm) called Dirofilaria immitis. The worms are transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. In the southeastern U.S., coyotes and domestic dogs are the most frequently affected.
A highly contagious disease of pigs caused by a virus. Although the United States has been free of this disease for more than 40 years, the virus is present in the Caribbean and South America, raising concern for its potential introduction here.
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Commonly referred to as the small fox tapeworm or fox tapeworm, utilizes a canid-rodent lifecycle. Canids, such as red and gray foxes, coyotes, and domestic dogs serve as definitive hosts in the parasite's life cycle. This is a zoonotic tapeworm that can infect humans as well as many other non-target hosts with notably high mortality rates among non-canid infected hosts.
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Rabies, an acute infection caused by a virus, poses a threat to all mammals, including humans, pets, and livestock. In North America, the majority of cases, around 90%, occur in wildlife, with raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes being the most common carriers, often referred to as rabies vector species. In Kentucky, raccoons, skunks, and bats serve as the primary vectors for the disease. Rapidly progressing through the central nervous system and brain of infected animals, rabies becomes fatal once visible symtoms occur. The period of infection from symptom onset, known as the incubation period, varies greatly among wildlife species, typically ranging from 2-3 months but potentially extending from 1 week to 1 year.
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHDV2) is a highly contaigous fatal disease in rabbits. It is classified as a foreign animal disease in the United States and is reportable to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
An infectious disease caused by the bacteria Brucella suis (B. suis). It produces chronic inflammatory lesions in the reproductive organs that lead to abortions, infertility, and birth of weak piglets. The disease can also attack joints, leading to lameness.
An upper respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses (IAV). Symptoms of infection may include difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, and weight loss, resulting in economic losses to producers. Although most swine IAVs don't affect humans, sporadic cases have been found in people who have contact with sick pigs.
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A fungal disease that affects...
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is an infectious disease caused by a group of influenza A viruses. These viruses naturally occur in wild waterfowl and shorebirds, but they can infect other wild and domestic bird species, as well as mammals, including humans. The viruses are often classified into two categories: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) based on the severity of the disease they cause.
Avian pox is caused by a virus that causes visible nodules and lesions (warts) on unfeathered parts of birds (such as the head and legs). Hunters sometimes report seeing it on turkeys, but it can occur on many different species of birds. The disease is spread by mosquitos (and possibly other biting flies), through direct contact with infected birds, and through environmental contamination (such as infection of food or stagnant water sources). It is more common in warm, humid parts of the country.
A newly emergent fungal pathogen of salamanders and newts. First identified in the Netherlands, the fungus has caused significant declines of salamander populations in Europe, with 96% mortality in populations of fire salamanders. The fungus, which is native to Asia, is believed to have been introduced to Europe through the importation of exotic salamanders that act as reservoirs. The disease is not yet present in North American, but could be devastating to native species. North American salamanders, including some members of the Salamandridae and Plethodotidae appeared highly susceptible to Bsal in experimental studies and experienced rapid mortality.