Biosecurity for Canadian Cervid Farms Producer Planning Guide
Appendix 6: Selected infectious diseases and parasites of cervids
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Viral and Prion Diseases
- Adenovirus (adenovirus hemorrhagic disease, adenoviral bronchiolitis)
- several serotypes of adenovirus
- an emerging disease first detected in 2006 in wild mule deer in BC and AB
- disease: respiratory or gastrointestinal disease or hemorrhagic syndromes resembling bluetongue (BT), or epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD)
- disease transmission: via respiratory secretions, fomites, fecal-oral contamination, and infectious droplets
- Bluetongue (sore muzzle)
- a reportable, non-contagious, viral hemorrhagic disease affecting multiple species. Present in Canada and the US
- disease: animals may present with fever, anorexia, weight loss, nasal discharge, and swelling and erosions in the mouth
- disease transmission: transmitted from animal to animal by insects (midges in the genus Culicoides)
- Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD, hemorrhagic disease)
- EHD viruses (EHDV) closely related to Bluetongue viruses
- a notifiable often fatal hemorrhagic disease of deer, and occasionally cattle, endemic in North America, but uncommon in Canada
- disease: animals may present with fever, small hemorrhages or bruises in the mouth and nose and swelling of the head, neck, tongue, and lips
- disease transmission: direct contact by biting flies especially midges in the genus Culicoides, (C. variipennis), gnats and mosquitoes
- Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
- a reportable, severe, highly contagious viral disease affecting primarily cloven hooved animals including cattle, pigs, goats, sheep and deer
- not present in North America
- disease: animals may present with fever, vesicles and erosions in the mouth, on mammary glands and between digits of hooves, leading to lameness
- disease transmission: direct contact from aerosols, bodily secretions or excretions of infected animals including respiratory, amniotic fluid and related tissue, mechanical transmission by equipment and vehicles etc. Flies and other insects may transmit the virus
- Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF)
- a serious, often fatal, viral disease affecting cattle, bison, deer, moose, exotic ruminants, and pigs worldwide
- disease: animals may die quickly with few visible lesions or lose body condition, develop a rough hair coat, nasal discharge, corneal opacity, bloody diarrhea and bloody urine
- disease transmission: the virus is carried by domestic and wild sheep and goats without showing signs of disease. Deer are exposed by direct contact or indirect contact, especially during lambing
- Pseudorabies (Aujeszky's disease)
- a reportable herpesvirus that infects the central nervous system and other organs, such as the respiratory tract, of a range of domestic and wild mammals, including feral swine (natural maintenance host), cattle, sheep, dogs, etc. Worldwide distribution. Present in the US but not Canada
- disease: animals may present with fever, intense itching, tremors and other central nervous system signs, and respiratory disease
- disease transmission: direct contact through contaminated secretions, excretions and aerosols, and in some species, during breeding through venereal transmission
- Rabies
- zoonotic, reportable viral disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS) of a very broad range of wild and domesticated mammals and maintenance hosts (bat, fox and skunk species, each with unique host strains) and has an extremely high case fatality rate from neurological disorders. Worldwide distribution
- disease transmission: transmitted by direct contact from infected to uninfected animals primarily from bites or other wounds contaminated with infectious saliva
- Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
- a reportable, fatal neurodegenerative disease or transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of cervids, associated with CWD prions (PrPCWD). Present in Canada
- natural transmission to humans not conclusively demonstrated but it is recommended to avoid consumption of products from CWD infected animals
- disease: typified by chronic weight loss (wasting) leading to death. Signs include unusual behaviour, lack of coordination, depression, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing, paralysis, separation from herd mates, increased thirst, excessive urination, and pneumonia
- disease transmission: Shedding of the agent in saliva, blood, milk, and feces. Direct transmission (animal-to-animal) both horizontally between animals through body secretions (saliva, blood) or feces, and vertically (dam to offspring, before or after birth). Indirect environmental (animal-to-premises-to-animal) transmission via contaminated feed, facilities, equipment and soil. The incubation period typically lasts for 16 to 36 months
Bacterial
- Anthrax
- Bacilus anthracis
- a zoonotic, reportable serious multi-species disease that in one of three forms affects cutaneous tissue, the gastrointestinal tract and/or respiratory system of most mammals, including ruminants, in addition to some amphibians and birds. Worldwide distribution
- human cases associated with an animal outbreak are rare if proper precautions are taken when handling and moving affected animals and carcasses
- Signs of anthrax: Often the first sign of an anthrax outbreak is one or more sudden deaths in affected livestock. In highly susceptible species like cattle, the time between the onset of mild symptoms (such as feed refusal and/or lower milk production) and death can be a matter of hours
- Animals that do not die suddenly may:
- appear distressed
- have difficulty breathing
- stop eating and drinking
- develop swellings, under the jaw where the head joins the neck and lower abdomen
- have a normal or elevated temperature
- After death, the animal carcass may leak bloody fluids from body openings (rectum, nostrils, mouth, etc.) and bloat rapidly. Rigor mortis might not occur, and blood may not clot
- Do not move carcass if anthrax is suspected!
- Disease transmission: The bacterium is shed by an animal that has died of anthrax. This provides a source of infection for other animals. It can be inhaled or it can enter the body through an existing break in the skin or mucous membrane. Livestock are most commonly infected by ingesting the spores from contaminated pastures, feed or soil (while grazing). Once ingested, the bacterium grows and multiplies in the blood stream
- Brucellosis (contagious abortion)
- (Brucella abortus and Brucella suis (biovar 4) affect cervids)
- a reportable, zoonotic worldwide bacterial multi-species disease that can cause various issues, most notably abortions and septic joints ("joint ill")
- Canada is free of B. abortus and B. suis in all farmed livestock species. There is a wildlife reservoir of B. abortus in free-ranging bison in and near Wood Buffalo National Park, and B. suis (biovar 4) in free-ranging caribou and muskox in the North.
- disease transmission: direct and indirect contact with the infectious agent through ingestion or inhalation, through conjunctiva or skin abrasions; this is most often through contact with infected aborted material or drinking infected milk
- control under CFIA jurisdiction:
- testing of imported animals and animals intended for export
- testing associated with the Cervid Movement Permit (under review)
- testing at slaughter
- disease investigation and response
- Clostridial diseases
- pulpy kidney (Clostridium perfringens - Type D); black leg, gas gangrene (C. chauvocei novyi); tetanus (C. tetani); malignant edema (C. specticum); redwater disease, bacillary hemoglobinuria (C. hemolyticum)
- disease: a wide range of bacterial diseases in domestic livestock and wildlife characterized by infection of the intestinal tract and circulatory system (or trauma site) associated with young stock and cows during late pregnancy and calving that causes toxic excretions, depressed immunity and death. Worldwide distribution
- disease transmission: contact with spore-forming soil-borne anaerobic bacteria that produce specific exotoxins in hosts with trauma or other deep puncture wounds (including injection sites)
- Johne's Disease (Paratuberculosis)
- Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP)
- a worldwide chronic mycobacterial disease of the intestinal tract
- disease: characterized by irreversible wasting, chronic weight loss with/without diarrhea, and death from cachexia (weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness) in ruminants
- disease transmission: ingestion of bacteria in fecal-contaminated food and water and indirect contact with contaminated surfaces; pathways for disease uncertain in deer and elk, but hand raised calves fed MAP-contaminated milk is a source transmission of disease
- Leptospirosis
- Leptospira spp., various serovars
- infection of kidneys and urinary tract resulting in a range of disease symptoms, clinical disease is noted by jaundice, kidney lesions, blood in urine and often by sudden death
- disease transmission: direct contact through cuts or abrasions of the skin, through mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) or through ingestion of water contaminated with urine of infected host
- Necrobacillosis
- Fusobacterium necrophorum
- a common soil borne bacteria
- disease: infection results in foot rot and necrotic stomatitis (tongue and throat abscesses)
- disease transmission: direct contact through cuts or abrasions to skin or mucous membranes in mouth from contact with coarse feed or other sharp objects
- Salmonellosis (non-typhoidal)
- Salmonella spp., various species
- a zoonotic bacterial infection found in the intestinal tract of wide range of mammals
- disease: diarrheal illness and death in acute cases in fawns
- disease transmission: direct contact with disease agent in feces from infected animals
- Tuberculosis (TB, bovine tuberculosis)
- Mycobacterium bovis
- zoonotic, reportable chronic, bacterial disease of cattle worldwide that occasionally affects numerous spillover hosts including cervids among other species of domestic and wild mammals.
- Canada is currently free of tuberculosis in the farmed cervid population
- disease: a chronic, progressive disease that can cause gradual debilitation, weight loss, lethargy, and intolerance to exercise. Coughing, nasal discharge, and difficulty breathing may occur and occasionally superficial lymph nodes in the neck will develop large abscesses that may rupture and drain through the skin
- disease transmission: direct contact with excretions (variable shedding in saliva, nasal secretions, feces, urine, other exudates with infected species) and indirect contact from infected hosts (e.g. ingestion of contaminated feed and water); aerosol transmission may be the most significant form of disease transmission
- CFIA Cervid Movement Permit requirements: negative status required (maintained by whole herd testing every five years) before cervid movements are permitted (other than to slaughter), unique identification, and adequate deer inventory records
- Yersiniosis
- Yersinia enterocolitica
- an worldwide enteric bacteria predominant in wild and domestic animals including farmed elk, red deer and fallow deer
- disease: invades intestinal mucosa causing diarrhea, weight loss, and systemic infection, most common in stressed recently weaned animals (4-6 months old), leading to sudden death; a common initiating sign in outbreaks
- disease transmission: ingestion of bacteria from contaminated soil, water and from contact with feces of infected hosts and wild birds and rodents (e.g. beavers) which may be infected by the bacteria without appearing ill
Other Microbial
- Dermatophytosis (Ringworm, Dermatomycosis)
- Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Trichophyton sp.
- zoonotic fungal agents that cause skin disease and hair loss in animals. Can infect humans
- disease transmission: direct contact between infected and susceptible animals or via a contaminated environment (e.g. bedding) and facilities (especially overwintering sites)
Parasitic
- Bovine Babesioisis
- Babesia spp.
- a tick-borne (Ixodes scapularis) parasitic protozoan infection of cervids
- disease: parasite attacks and destroys red blood cells causing significant morbidity and mortality in ruminants from fever, hemoglobinuria, and hemolytic anemia; infected animals become anemic, lethargic and lose weight
- disease transmission: spread by biting ticks
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Cryptosporidia parvum
- an internal parasitic zoonotic gastrointestinal and diarrheal disease that affects most mammals, especially young and/or susceptible hosts. Worldwide distribution
- disease transmission: direct contact with infectious oocytes (parasite eggs), or indirectly through contamination of food or water by shed oocytes in feces of infected hosts
- Dictyocaulosis (lungworm)
- Dictyocaulus spp., viviparus
- a nematode (worm) that infests lung tissues leading to respiratory disease (parasitic bronchitis, pneumonia), loss of condition, retarded growth, roughened coats and sudden death in seriously infected animals, especially under 2 yrs of age
- disease transmission: ingestion of infective larvae on vegetation in open range contaminated by feces of infected hosts; no intermediate host required
- Elaphostrongylosis (tissue worm, muscle worm)
- Elaphostrongylus cervi, E. rangeriferi
- nematode (worm) found in several tissues including intermuscular tissue and the central nervous system resulting in disease; not common in North America but endemic in farmed and wild cervids in NZ
- disease transmission: direct transmission by ingestion of infected intermediate host (snail)
- Fascioliasis (large liver fluke)
- Fasciola magna
- a widespread flatworm internal parasite that resides in the liver, and rarely lungs, of a range of ruminants including elk and other cervids
- disease transmission: indirect through contact with infected snails and slugs and ingestion of infective parasites on aquatic plants
- Gastrontestinal Nematodiasis (stomach worms)
- Trichostronglyoid nematodes, Ostertagia spp., Haemonchus spp.
- an internal parasitic disease caused by a group of nematode species; worldwide distribution.
- disease: larvae and adult nematodes inhabit the abomasum (true stomach) of infected hosts (domestic and wild ruminants, including cattle, sheep and goats) causing diarrhea and weight loss in susceptible animals; whereas infestations of Haemonchus spp. cause anemia in affected hosts
- disease transmission: biting flies transmit parasite
- Parelaphostrongylosis (meningeal brain worm, brainworm, moose sickness, muscle worms)
- Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, P. andersoni, P. odocoilei
- an internal nematode (roundworm) disease
- disease: roundworm damages meningeal tissues in the central nervous system leading to impaired neurological functions and altered behaviour
- disease transmission: ingestion of plant material carrying infected snails or slugs
- Tick Disease (exotic) (cattle tick, southern cattle tick)
- (Amblyomma variegatum, Amblyomma hebraeum, Rhipicephalus microplus, Rhipicephalus annulatus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Ixodes ricinus)
- external parasitic hard ticks affecting a wide range of mammalian hosts and spread a number of diseases
- heavy tick infestation itself can cause significant illness
- A. variegatum and A. hebraeum can transmit Ehrlichia ruminantium (heartwater)
- I. ricinus transmits Babesia divergens (babesiosis), louping ill virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus, exotic to the Americas
- R. microplus and R. annulatus transmit babesiosis and anaplasmosis, caused by Anaplasma marginale
- disease transmission: direct contact of disease agents from blood-feeding ticks
Multi-Agent Syndrome
- Calf Scours
- Bacterial: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens type D, Salmonella spp.
- Viral: rotavirus, coronavirus, Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD) virus
- Protozoan: Cryptosporidium sp., coccidiosis, Eimeria sp.
- worldwide distribution
- disease: a serious clinical syndrome associated with several intestinal tract diseases causing diarrhea and rapid dehydration and death in young animals if left untreated
- disease transmission: direct contact with infected animals or indirect contact with food-borne or water-borne infectious disease agents or other contaminated sources in the environment
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