Animal Disease

control and prevention

– AG 1105

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Disease
Disease is an alteration of
the body or body organs
which interrupts or disturbs
the body’s function.

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Healthy Animals
Grow faster and produce
more profit for their owners
Some diseases are mild,
others may be severe and
cause rapid death
HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI
Labuduwa
Sick animals
Usually display outward
signs of illness
Animal may be droopy, go
off feed and water, be
restless, have a dull haircoat
HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI
Labuduwa
Classification and causes of animal
diseases
Causes of animal diseases
Etiology is the study of disease causes. A
disease often results from a combination of
two or more causes:
(1) the indirect or predisposing factors (Stress)
which may lower the animal’s resistance and
(2) the direct or determining factors which
produce the actual disease

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Predisposing causes (“stress” factors).
Ex. chilling, poor ventilation, overcrowding,
inadequate feeding and watering space,
overmedication, etc.

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Direct causes of disease are:
(1) bacteria, (2) viruses, (3) parasites, (4)
fungi, (5) nutritional deficiencies, (6)
chemical poisons, and (7) unknown causes,
etc

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Classification of Disease

Nutritiona
Poisoning
l disorders
Congenita
Parasites
l diseases

Infectious
Cancer
diseases

Metabolic Animal Allergies

disorders Diseases

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Infectious diseases
Caused by microorganisms that invade the
animal’s body
Usually contagious diseases that the animal
can pass to another animal
Bacteria
Virus
Fungi
Protozoa, atc

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Parasites
Parasites are organisms that have to live on
or in other organisms, such as animals, in
order to survive.
External parasites
Internal parasites
Blood parasites

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Poisoning
Animals can be poisoned by chemicals
(such as insecticides and dips), poisonous
plants and fungal toxins.
They can also be poisoned when bitten by
snakes, scorpions and spiders.

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Nutritional disorders
Lack of enough food or lack of a particular
part of the food (such as phosphorus) can
also cause disease.
Malnourished animals may develop other
diseases because they are weak.

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Metabolic diseases
Metabolic diseases are an upset in the
normal functioning of the animal (that is not
caused by infection, poisoning or feed
deficiencies) and usually result from
intensive animal production.
An example is milk fever in highly-
productive dairy cows.

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Congenital diseases
In some cases animals can be born with a disease.
Some of these may be inherited (passed on from
the parents).
This is rare, and inherited diseases are usually
seen at birth.
An example is congenital hydrocephalus, which is
a swelling of the brain caused by fluid, and can be
clearly seen as a swelling of the head.

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Cancer
Cancer occurs when some of the cells in the body
grow in a way that is different from normal.
Illness occurs because of the pressure of the
growth on other parts of the body and the fact that
affected parts of the body cannot function
normally.
Cancer can also cause signs such as fever and loss
of condition.
In some instances viruses can cause cancer.

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa
Allergies
Some diseases are caused by allergies,
which is when the body's own immune
system attacks part of the body.

HMWN Abeyrathna/ ATI

Labuduwa