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Home Rehabilitation Wildlife Care Medical Care Diseases


	Diseases
	Diseases of Birds
	Diseases of Mammals
	Diseases of Reptiles & Amphibians

Discussion	Bacterial	Fungal	Viral	Parasitic
Contagion	Websites	Journals	Textbooks

Discussion

A pathogen is an organism that causes disease. Pathogens may be bacteria, viruses, prions (such as the causative agent of 'mad cow disease') fungi, or unicellular or multicellular parasites.

A disease that is caused by a pathogenic organism affects performance of the animal's vital functions, and usually gives diagnostic symptoms. An infectious disease in one that is communicable, liable to be transmitted to other animals. A non-infectious disease affects only one animal and is not transmissible.

The infectious diseases of wildlife are numerous, and can affect local groups or entire populations. Some diseases can infect any species of animal (e.g. Salmonella), while others are specific to only small number of host species (e.g. squirrel pox). A number of diseases are zoonotic: they are transmissible from animal to human (e.g. anthrax, rabies, salmonella). Some diseases are reverse zoonotic: they are transmissible from human to animal (e.g. Mycobacteria tuberculosis can infect deer, dogs and elephants, and cause cutaneous granulomas in birds).

Bacterial Diseases

Bacteria can be transmitted via inhalation of contaminated matter (e.g. M. tuberculosis), secretions (e.g. M. gallisepticum, an avian conjunctivitis), ingesting of feces or foods/water contaminated with feces (e.g. E. coli), ingesting contaminated soil (e.g. B. anthracis, which causes anthrax), direct contact with an infected animal (e.g. Listeria monocytogenes) and scratches/bites (e.g. Pasteurella multocida, prevalent in the mouths of cats).

Fungal Diseases

Fungal infections can be contracted via inhalation of spores (e.g. aspergillosis) or by contact (e.g. candidiasis). Some organisms, like Candida, occur normally in animals, and disease occurs only when the organisms multiply rapidly because the animal is stressed, malnourished, ill, or treated with antibacterial medications (antibiotics). Affected birds can infect other birds (e.g. parents feeding their young; affected prey ingested by avian predator).

Viral Diseases

Viruses can be spread via blood or the bites of insects (e.g. rabies, West Nile virus,), ingesting scabs with active virus (e.g. avian pox), and via feces and/or respiratory discharges (e.g. paramyxovirus, herpes virus).

Parasitic Diseases

Parasites are usually contracted when an animal ingests contaminated feces or food, water or soil that has been contaminated with feces. Some of the more common parasites that infect wildlife include:

Cestodes (e.g. tapeworm) are segmented flatworms that live in the intestines of the host. Animals are infected when they ingest infected earthworms or other prey, or fleas, or feces contaminated with eggs or segments.
Nematodes (e.g. threadworms, roundworms, gapeworms) infect animals that ingest infected prey or feces.
Protozoa infect animals that ingest eggs via contaminated food, water and substrates. There are many taxa that include common pathogens such as trichomonas, coccidia and giardia.

Contagion

Contagion is a grave concern in the rehabilitation setting, where infectious diseases can spread like wildfire. It is crucial that newly admitted animals be quarantined and that their feeding implements, dishes, syringes, bedding, housing, pools, and other equipment not be used for other animals. Excellent sanitation, sterilization and husbandry protocols are an absolute necessity. A newly admitted animal should be examined, tested (fecal tests, mouth/throat swabs, and blood tests when indicated), treated, monitored, and given a clean bill of health before it is introduced to other animals.

Non-infected animals that are recovering from injuries, emaciation, illnesses, etc. or that are stressed are in a weakened state, and thus are susceptible to pathogens. Young animals in particular, who have little immunity and are perhaps weakened by malnutrition, must be protected from infection with pathogens.

Not all diseases are obvious initially. A non-symptomatic animal that is harbouring rabies and that has not been isolated will jeopardize the lives of animals and rehabilitator alike. In wildlife rehabilitation, we must, for the sakes of animals, volunteers, family members and ourselves, always err on the side of caution.

To learn more about wildlife diseases, choose a topic from the following selections, or from the right-hand menu.

Websites

The Australian Veterinary Association

Scope: A long list of links to diseases, sorted by animal:
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.farmwide.com.au/nff/vetasscn/fullurl.htm

The Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Center

Scope: CCWHC offers excellent and wide-ranging information, in three languages.
Online Volumes:
URL: http://wildlife.usask.ca/

C.L. Davis DVM Foundation

Scope: The Gross Morbid Anatomy of Diseases of Animals
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.afip.org/CLDavis/GrossCourse01/zoo.htm

DOXYS

Scope: Doctorsﾒ Assistance Systems Veterinary page offers information on wildlife diseases (bacterial, viral and parasitic) and links to international sites.
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.growing.com/doxys/animal.html

The Federation of American Scientists

Scope: Animal and wildlife diseases of global significance
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.fas.org/ahead/disease/index.html

Karolinska Institute

Scope: For an encyclopaedic listing of animal diseases, mainly pertaining to companion and domestic animals, but with some links to wildlife, see the Karolinska Institute site
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.mic.ki.se/Diseases/c22.html

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Scope: A searchable site with information on many common wildlife diseases
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/wildlife/division/ roselake/Publications/Disease_Manual/default.html#index

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Scope: For a quick list of wildlife diseases, see
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/ 0,1607,7-153-10370_12150_12220---,00.html

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Scope: For a survey of causes of death in Michigan wildlife during one year, see
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/wildlife/division/ roselake/Publications/DISEAS98.html

National Wildlife Health Centre

Scope: Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases: can be downloaded (free of charge) in PDF format.
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/pub_metadata/field_manual/field_manual.html

The Office International des Epizooties

Scope: An international resource for wildlife diseases
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.oie.int/eng/oie/en_oie.htm

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study

Scope: Field manual of wildlife diseases in the Southeast U.S.
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.uga.edu/scwds/index.htm

University of California at Davis Wildlife Health Center

Scope:
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whc/

University of California at Davis Wildlife Health Center

Scope: This course outline describes all commonly encountered diseases of North American wildlife
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.afip.org/CLDavis/GrossCourse01/wildlife.htm

University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

Scope: Diagnosis of Veterinary Endoparasitic Infections. Host of interest; Diagnostic techniques (fecal samples, blood samples); Pharmaceuticals:Index of common pharmaceuticals used to treat endoparasitic infections.
Online Volumes:
URL: http://cal.nbc.upenn.edu/dxendopar/index.html#fecal

U.S. Centers for Disease Control

Scope: A list of parasitic zoonoses from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasiticpathways/animals.htm

USGS

Scope: Wildlife Health News and Announcements
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/http_data/whip/newsand.html

USGS Leetown Science Center

Scope: The site emphasizes aquatic wildlife health research and has links to a number of publications.
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov/

Wild Health Australia

Scope: The Wildlife Disease Association (WDA) is dedicated to wildlife conservation through the study and understanding of diseases in wildlife. The website offers information and links.
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.wha.org.au/whahome.html

Wildlife Disease Association

Scope: The Wildlife Disease Association (WDA) is dedicated to wildlife conservation through the study and understanding of diseases in wildlife.
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.wildlifedisease.org/

Wildlife Health Information Partnership

Scope: WHIPﾒs website offers information and links to related sites.
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/http_data/whip/whiphmpg.html

Wildlife Health Information Partnership

Scope: WHIP Wildlife Disease Outbreak Information (MG) at
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/http_data/whip/outbrks.html

Wildlife Information Network

Scope: WildPro is an electronic encyclopaedia and library providing information on the natural history, health and management of captive and free-ranging wild animals. The site has some information but requires paid subscription.
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.wildlifeinformation.org/

Journals

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

Scope: Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.aazv.org/aazv_001.htm

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

Scope: Wildlife Disease Association
Online Volumes:
URL: http://www.wildlifedisease.org/

Textbooks

The Merck Veterinary Manual: Eighth Edition:
by Susan E. Aiello, Asa Mays (Editor)

The Merck Manual's new edition is a much needed update to previous editions. The book follows the same, easy to follow formal and includes sections on exotic animals that were not a part of previous editions.
Hardcover - 2305 pages
Merck & Co
ISBN:0911910298

[see it at amazon.com]

Noninfectious Diseases of Wildlife:
by Anne Fairbrother, DVM, PhD; Louis N. Locke, DVM; Gerald L. Hoff, PhD

An introduction to noninfectious and nonparasitic diseases in free and captive wildlife, offering information on diseases, the effects of toxic substances, physiological disorders, and the traumas of free- ranging wildlife found in North America. This second edition covers new subjects including the effects of environmental estrogenic compounds, mycotoxins, petroleum toxicity, pesticides, and forensic investigational techniques. For students in wildlife biology and veterinary medicine.
FACE Softcover, 204 pages
Manson Publishing
ISBN:0813804515

[see it at amazon.com]

Zoo & Wild Animal Medicine:Current Therapy 4
by Murray E. Fowler (Editor), R. Eric Miller (Editor)

Text for veterinary practitioners on captive and free-ranging wild animal medicine. Covers topics that have relevance to this period of time. Previous edition: c1993. Most of the material in this edition is new.
Hardcover: 747 pages
W B Saunders Co
ISBN:0721686648

[see it at amazon.com]