Livestock diseases are classified into four major groups.
• Protozoan diseases.
• Bacterial diseases.
• Viral diseases.
• Nutritional diseases.
1. PROTOZOAN DISEASES
Diseases in this category include:
• East coast fever (ECF)
• Anaplasmosis
• Coccidiosis
• Trypanosomiasis (Nagana)
i) East Coast Fever
Animals attacked- mainly cattle Causal organismTheirelia parva- a protozoan transmitted by the brown ear tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus).
The disease is also called Theireliosis its incubation period is 15 days.
Symptoms
• Swollen lymph nodes.
• High temp-fever.
• Excess salivation.
• Lachrimation-a lot of tear production.
• Difficulties in breathing due to fluid accumulation in the lungs.
• Coughing.
• Sight impairment.
• Haemorrhages in the vulva and the mouth.
Control and Treatment
• Ticks should be controlled through dipping, spraying or hand dressing regularly.
• Farm should be fenced to keep out strange animals and also to confine animals within.
• Treatment using appropriate drugs.
ii) Anasplasmosis (Gall sickness)
Animals attacked – cattle, sheep, goats,
Causal organism-
Anaplasma marginale, a protozoan transmitted by the blue tick (Boophilus decolaratus)
It can also be transmitted through contaminated surgical equipments, bleeding and hypodermic needles.
The incubation period is 3-4 weeks
Symptoms
• Fever
• Constipation-hard dung
• Paleness in the gums, eyes and lips. An indication of anaemia.
• Milk flow into the udder ceases.
Control and Treatment
• Tick control
• Control of biting insects e.g. mosquitoes
• Injection using antibiotics
• Iron injection.
iii) Coccidiosis
Animals attacked- poultry, calves, young rabbits, kids, lambs.
Causal organism
A protozoan called Coccidia of the Eimeria species.Each species of the animal is affected by specific coccidia. Coccidia infects the lining of the alimentary canal.
Incubation period in poultry is about 7 days but in cattle, it may take up to 4 weeks.
Symptoms
• Diarrhoea
• Dysentery- blood in the dung
• Emaciation
• Ruffled feathers in birds
• Birds become dull with drooping wings
• Sudden death
Control and Treatment
• Use of preventive drugs e.g. Amprol and Furexol. These coccidiostats are mixed with feeds or water.
• Isolating infected animals
• Practising hygiene- wet, filthy and unhygienic animal surroundings should be removed
• Cattle from different farms should not drink from a common watering point.
• Overcrowding in poultry houses should be avoided.
iv) Trypanosomiasis (Nagana)
Animals affected- sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and horses.
Causal organism
– a protozoan of the Trypanosome spp transmitted by the tsetse flies.
Incubation period is1 -3 weeks
Symptoms
• Fever
• Animals become dull
• Loss of appetite
• General weakness of the body
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Lachrimation which leads to blindness
• Rough coat
• Swelling of parts of the belly
• Diarrhoea
• Reduced milk production
• Loss of hair at the tail end
• Anaemia
• Abortion may occur in pregnant females due to high temperature.
Control and Treatment
i) Use of trypanocidal drugs
ii) Effective control of the tse tse flies
iii) Confinement of game animals in game parks.
2. BACTERIAL DISEASES
They include the following
• Mastitis
• Foot rot
• Contagious abortion (Brucellosis)
• Scours
• Black quarter
• Anthrax
• Fowl typhoid
• Pneumonia
i) Mastitis
Animals affected- cattle sheep, goats, pigs, camels and horses.
Causal organism-
There are two types of mastitis
a) Streptococcal mastitis caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus agalactiae.
b) Staphylococcal mastitis caused by Staphylococcus urens.
Predisposing factors
a. Stage of lactation period- animals are likely to suffer from mastitis at the beginning and at the end of the lactation period.
b. Udder attachment- those animals with a large loosely hanging udders and long teats are more susceptible to mastitis infection
c. Incomplete milking – when milk is left in the teat canal, it acts as a culture medium for bacteria.
d. Mechanical injuries- wounds on the teats or udder allow micro organisms entry into the udder.
e. Poor sanitation-
f. Poor milking techniques- this may result in mechanical injury of the teats and weakening of the sphincter muscles of the teats
g. Age- older animals are more likely to be infected compared to younger animals.
Symptoms
• Milk contains blood; pus, thick clots or turns watery.
• Udder and teats are swollen
• Animal rejects suckling or milking and also kicks due to pain
• Death of the infected area
• Milk has salty taste
Control and treatment
a. Infected area of the udder is emptied of milk and an antibiotic is instilled and left for 12 hours
b. After every milking use teat dip on every quarter
c. Strict cleanliness and use of disinfectants during milking.
d. Using the right milking technique
e. Dry cow therapy- this is the infusion of long acting antibiotics into the teat canal when drying off the cow.
f. Use of strip cup to detect mastitis. Infected cows should be milked last.
g. Separate udder clothes should be used for each animal.
h. Sharp objects should be removed from grazing and milking areas to prevent teat injuries.
i. Open wounds on the teats should be treated immediately.
ii) Fowl typhoid
Animals affected- poultry
Causal organism
– Bacterium called Salmonella gallinarum
Symptoms
• Birds are depressed
• Respiratory distress and birds are dull
• Drooping wings
• Combs and wattles become pale and shrunken due to anaemia.
• Greenish yellow diarrhoea
• Sudden death
Control and Treatment
a. All infected birds should be killed and properly disposed
b. Poultry house should be clean, dry and well ventilated.
c. Regular vaccination
d. Eggs for hatching and chicks should be obtained from reliable sources.
e. Sulphur drugs mixed with water or mash are used for treatment.
NB/ Furazolidone at the rate of 0.04% in mash for ten days treats the disease effectively.
iii) Foot rot (Foul – in- the – Foot)
Animals affected- all cloven animals e.g. cattle, goats, sheep (most Serious).
Causal organism
– caused by the following bacteria-Fusiformis necrophorus and Fusiformis nodosus
Predisposing factors
i) Filthy surroundings e.g. wet and muddy areas.
ii) Cracking of the hooves due to overgrowth.
Symptoms
• Animals foot become swollen
• Pus and rotten smell come out of the hoof
• Kneeling when grazing if front feet are affected
• Animals spend most of their time lying down when the hind feet are affected
• Emaciation due to lack of feeding.
Control and treatment
i) Provide clean environment i.e. avoid dampness and muddy conditions
ii) Practice regular foot examination and hoof trimming
iii) Practice a regular walk through a copper sulphate (Blue vitriol) footbath at 5-10% solution or Formalin at 2-5% solution.
iv) Wounds on the feet should be treated with antiseptics
v) Healthy sheep should be moved to dry clean areas.
vi) Separate healthy animals from sick ones.
iv) Contagious abortion
Its also called Brucellosis or Bang’s disease .
NB/ This is a contagious and infectious disease.
Causal organism
Cattle-Brucella abortus.
Pigs- Brucella suis.
Goats and sheep- Brucella malitensis
Milk from an infected animal should not be drunk.
Symptoms
i) Abortion or a pre-mature birth of the young
ii) During later stages of pregnancy if abortion occurs, placenta is retained.
iii) The cow may become barren while bulls have low libido and have inflamed testes.
iv) A yellowish brown, slimy, odourless discharge from the vulva may occur after abortion.
Control
• Culling infected animals
• Vaccination against the disease
• The attendant should avoid contaminating his hands with the aborted foetus
• Cleanliness to be observed
• A blood test should be carried out for all the breeding animals in order to detect the infected ones.
• Use of artificial insemination.
NB/ There is no effective treatment.
v) Scours
Animals affected- young one of cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats.Causal organismA bacterium called Escherichia coli.
Predisposing causes
i) Unhygienic conditions in the house of the young ones
ii) Overfeeding the calf with milk or feeding it with very cold milk
iii) Lack of colostrums
iv) Feeding young ones at irregular intervals
v) Absence of green fodder in the mothers diet which causes lack of vit A
Symptoms
• White or yellowish diarrhoea in calves
• Faeces have a pungent smell
• High temp
• Animal becomes restless
• Loss of appetite
• Sunken eyes
• Undigested milk and mucus with blood spots in faeces
• Sudden death if no treatment
vi) Black quarter
This is an acute disease, which is contagious.Animals affected- all ruminants
Causal organism
Bacteria called Clostridium chauvei, which enters the body through contaminated water and wounds.
Symptoms
• Lameness in animals
• Affected parts of the body become swollen immediately
• High temperature-fever
• The animal breathes heavily and fast
• The animal is dull and losses appetite
• There is grunting and grinding of teeth
• Sudden death
• Blood oozes from the anus and nose
• Animal stops chewing the cud
• If the cut muscles are cut they appear darkControl
i) Affected animals may be treated with antibiotics e.g. penicillin, oxytetracycline and sulphathiazole.
ii) Vaccination using black quarter vaccine
iii) The carcass should be buried deep or burnt completely.
vii) Anthrax
This is an acute infectious and notifiable disease.
Animals affected- cattle, sheep, goats, man, and wild animals.
Causal organism
Bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. Animals get anthrax through
• Grazing in infected pastures as the bacteria is found in the soil.
• Bites by insects
• Open wounds
• Bone meal from infected animals.
The bacterium is capable of forming spores outside the animal body.
Symptoms
• Extensive bloating of the stomach after death.
• Fever
• Blood stains in the faeces and milk
• In pigs the throat swells and this may cause death due to suffocation
• Carcasses of an anthrax attack lack rigor mortis i.e. the carcass is not stiff as in other animals.
• In the dead animal, a tar -like watery blood comes off the orifices e.g. nose, anus and mouth. Blood does not clot quickly.
Control
• Treatment of wounds.
• Giving large doses of anti-anthrax serum for curative treatment
• The carcass must not be opened
• Vaccination using Blanthax in areas where the disease is prevalent
• Imposing quarantine in case of disease outbreak.
• Dead animal must be disposed off properly by burning or deep burying.
viii) Pneumonia
This is an infectious lung fever.
Animals affected- calves, kid, lambs, piglets and poultry.
Causal organism
Bacterium called Mycoplasma mycoides. Dust or worms in the lungs could cause the disease.
Predisposing causes
• Poor ventilation
• Lack of enough oxygen
• Overcrowding
• Age- young animals are more prone to the disease
• Effects of diarrhoea and other illnesses
• Dampness and chilliness.
Symptoms
i) The animal becomes dull and reluctant to move
ii) Loss of appetite
iii) There is a rough hair coat
iv) Emaciation
v) Animal breathes rapidly
vi) Abnormal lung sounds i.e. bubbling
vii) If the chest is pressed the animal starts coughing
viii) Fluctuating temperatures
ix) Nasal mucous discharge.
Control and treatment
i) Young animals should be kept in warm pens.
ii) Use of antibiotics
iii) Isolating the infected animals
iv) Proper sanitation
3. VIRAL DISEASES
i) Rinderpest
This is a highly contagious and infectious disease. It’s notifiable.Animals affected- cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and wild animals with cloven hoofs.
Causal organismVirus
Incubation period – 3-8 days
Symptoms
• High temperature
• Staring coat
• Discharges in the mouth and nose
• Diarrhoea and dysentery
• Mucous membranes of the mouth and nose become red and they develop ulcers.
• Emaciation
• Grinding of the teeth
• Death in 2-10 days after incubation.Control
• Vaccination annually
• Culling the infected animals
• Notify the authorities in case of an outbreak
• Quarantine in case of the disease
• Separate sick animals from healthy ones.
ii) Foot and Mouth Disease
It is a highly contagious and infectious disease. It is notifiable.
Animals affected- cattle sheep, goats, some wild animals.
Causal organism
Virus types A, C, and D
The virus can be transmitted by contaminated litter, feet, garbage and infected saliva.
Symptoms
• Sharp rise in temperature lasting only for a few hours
• Blisters or wounds appear on the mouth and feet.
• The tongue, lips and gums are inflamed. This makes eating difficult
• Lameness due to lesions between the skin and hoof
• There is profuse salivation
• Vesicles may appear on teats and udders
• The animal becomes weak and thin very fast
• There is drop in milk production
Control
• Vaccination every six months
• Quarantine in case of outbreak
• Culling
• Use of disinfectants on wounds.
iii) Newcastle Disease
It’s a notifiable disease, very contagious and highly infectious disease. Animals affected- poultry especially three months to one year.
Causal organism
Virus
Symptoms
• Birds have difficulty in breathing
• Beaks remain wide open and the necks are strained
• The bird is dull
• The bird stands with eyes closed all the time
• Loss of appetite
• Nasal discharges, which force the birds to shake heads to clear.
• Birds stagger in motion
• Watery yellow diarrhoea
• The birds have their beaks and wings down
Control
1. Quarantine
2. Culling
3. Cleaning and disinfecting the houses before bringing in new stock
4. Vaccination during the first six weeks and two to three months later
iv) Fowl pox
Animals affected- all poultry
Causal organism
Virus
Predisposing factors
• Presence of wounds
• Presence of mosquitoes, ticks, lice and other biting insects that spread the disease.
Symptoms
• Lesions on the combs and wattles
• Lesions on legs, vent, feet and under the wings.
• Lose of appetite hence emaciation and death
• Difficulty in breathing and swallowing.
• A watery discharge from the eyes in the early stages of the disease
• The bird become dull
Control
1. Remove all infected birds and kill them
2. Vaccinate remaining healthy birds.
4. NUTRITIONAL DISEASES
i) Milk Fever
This is a non infectious disease. Animals affected-cows, goats, and pigs that have recently given birth.
Cause
This is due to loss of calcium and phosphorous through milk secretion. There is also an increase in the level of magnesium and sugar in the blood.
Symptoms
• Dullness
• Muscular twitching causing the animal to tremble
• Staggering as the animal moves
• Animal falls down and becomes unconscious
• The animal lies down on its side and the whole body stiffens
• Body functions such as urination, defecation and milk secretion stop.
• Sudden death if the animal is not treated immediately
• Stomach contents are drawn into the mouth
• Complete loss of appetite
Control
i) Treatment
Intravenous injection of soluble calcium salt in form of calcium borogluconate 60gms. Dissolved in 500cc of water that is boiled and cooled
ii) Nursing care
The sick animal should be kept in a comfortable position. Fresh water should be given. Mechanical removal of urine speeds up recovery.
Prevention
• Partial milking of cows with past cases of milk fever is done for the first ten days
• Providing sufficient amounts of calcium and phosphorous in the diet
• High doses of vit D and parathyroid extractions
NB/ the animal suffering from milk fever should never be given medicine through the mouth because,
1. It will not be able to swallow the medicine
2. The medicine may get into the lungs thereby promoting lung fever speeding up death.
ii) Bloat
Animals affected- mainly cattle and sheep. Goats may also be affected
Causes
-Accumulation of gases as a result of food fermentation in the rumen. This is
caused by:
• Obstruction of the oesophagus due to bulky food particles such as potatoes, carrots etc
• Abnormal pressure exerted on the oesophagus by a swelling in the wall of the chest
• Indigestion caused by accumulation of gases due to paralysis of the rumen and the valve at its entrance. This may be due to the animal eating poisonous herbs or due to sudden change of feeds especially soft green forage, which is taken in large quantiti es.
E.g. Beans, cabbage leaves, lush grass Lucerne etc
Symptoms
• The left side of the abdomen is excessively distended.
• Death may occur within hours due to too much pressure exerted on blood vessels, lungs and heart.
Control
Feed ruminants with dry roughage during the wet season.
Treatment
This involves the release of accumulated gases through.
• Manual means. – Exercising the animal and rubbing its abdomen with both hands
• Surgical means- this is though piercing the abdominal wall directly over the blown up part of the rumen using trocar and cannula. A stomach pump can also be used to eject the excess gases through the oesophagus.
• Chemical –this can be done through,
1. Drenching of the animal using suitable oils such as turpentine oil mixed with vegetable oil
2. Administering Epsom salt to clear the rumen contents. Drenching does this.
3. Administration of methyl silicone as an injection directly into the rumen. This prevents the frothy type of bloat.
Parturition in Goats (kidding)
Gestation period is 150 days or 143-153 days. Nannies carrying twins kid a
few days earlier.
• Put nannies in a dry place under a shade or shelter to prevent kids from
wet, cold and exposure to intensive heat that can cause death of kids..
• Keep nanny and another female to avoid nervousness at kidding time.
• Do not disturb the animal.
• Seek for professional help if mulpresentation occurs or kidding delays
for 3 hours.
• If placenta is retained, move the goat out with the others for physical
exercise. This activates expulsion.
Kidding Signs
(i) Under firms and teats enlarge.
(ii) The muscles at either side of the tail slacken or relax.
(iii) Restlessness; pawing the ground, rise up, lie down frequently.
(iv) Separate itself from the rest of the flock.
(v) A clear discharge from the vulva
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