The Battle Against

Disease

4-H Veterinary Science

Extension Veterinary Medicine
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Texas A&M System
http://aevm.tamu.edu
Objectives
 Discuss the history of disease control
 Discuss infectious disease control
 Discuss non-infectious disease control
 Describe the roles of the government
agencies that deal with disease control
 Discuss practices to foster health and well-
being of animals
History
 Problems change with time
 Brucellosis
 Tuberculosis
 Foot and mouth disease

 Types of disease
 Emerging diseases
 Endemic diseases
 Foreign diseases
Infectious Diseases
 Infectious disease
 Caused by a pathogen that can invade (infect)
and then multiply in a susceptible animal
 Pathogens
 Bacteria
 Protozoa
 Viruses
 Fungi
 Rickettsia
 In short
 These organisms enter the body of
susceptible animals and cause an illness in
that animal
 Concern
 Movement of animals introduces these
pathogens into susceptible populations

 US constantly on look out

 TAHC
 USDA-APHIS
 USDA-VS
Non-Infectious Diseases
 Non-infectious disease
 Caused by toxins (chemical poisoning) or by
malfunctioning of the body (as nutritional
disorders)

 Result of environmental or behavioral

changes
 In domestic populations
 Infectious problems reduced
 Disease

 Non-infectious problems increased

 Cancer

 Heart disease

 Control
 Eat healthier foods
 Smoke less
 Get more exercise
Agency Roles
 Both state and federal agencies involved
 Animals
 State
 Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)

 Federal
 USDA-APHIS

 People
 State
 Texas Department of State Health Services

 Federal
 United States Department of Health and Human

Services
 Zoonotic
 Disease that is shared between animals and
people
 Rabies
 West nile virus
 Anthrax

 Animal and human agencies work together in

disease outbreaks
 Sentinel animals
 See problems in these animals before see in
people
Health and Well-Being
 Preventive health management
 Vaccinate
 Biosecurity
 Cooperation between state and federal
agencies
 Preventive measures
 Identify reservoirs through surveillance
 Prevent exposure
 Develop immunity
 Provide good nutrition
 Provide adequate physical activity
 Develop optimum environmental conditions
 Develop selection and breeding programs