Farm Animal Disease Control: Bacteria

Agricultural Science JSS 2 Second Term

WEEK 4

Farm Animal Disease Control: Bacteria

Performance Objectives

Student should be able to

1. Define bacteria disease

2. State the animals infected.

Content

Bacteria are tiny little organisms that are everywhere around us. We can't see them without the aid of a microscope because they are very tiny. They are in the air, on our skin, in our bodies and throughout nature. Examples of bacteria diseases in farm animals are anthrax, mastitis, brucellosis or contagious abortion, tuberculosis and gastroenteritis.

1. Anthrax:  This is an infectious, often fatal disease which attacks animals like cattle, sheep, goat and pig.

Causal organism:  Bacteria  (Bacillus anthracis)

Symptoms: High fever, blood-stained discharge from nostrils and mouth, swellings in the neck, genitals and lower abdomen.

Mode of transmission: Germs living in the soil and through contact with an infected animal.

Control measures: There is no effective drug for the treatment of anthrax therefore, vaccinate animals regularly, burn or bury dead animals, disinfect all pens properly.

 

2. Brucellosis or contagious abortion: This is an infectious disease occurring in cattle, sheep and pig. The main feature of this disease is the abortion of the foetus at any stage of pregnancy. This disease is a zoonotic disease that is, it can be transferred from animal to human.

Causal organism: Bacteria ( Brucella abortus)

Symptoms: High fever, loss of appetite, loss of foetus, diarrhoea, dysentery, animals have wobbling gait and death.

Mode of transmission: Contact with infected feed or water, contact with infected animal and contact with infected human materials such as clothes or shoes.

Control measures: Vaccinate animals, isolate diseased animals from healthy ones, bury dead animals and carry out proper sanitation.

3. Tuberculosis: This is a fatal disease affecting various parts of the body tissues especially the lungs. The group of animals affected are cattle, pigs and poultry.

Causal organism: Bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)

Symptoms: Constant coughing, loss of weight, swellings of the joint, difficult breathing and finally death.

Mode of transmission: Contact with sputum, droppings, milk of infected animals, germs taken in either by inhaling or through mouth during feeding.

Control measures: There is no treatment. Kill and bury deeply infected animals, routine check by a veterinary doctor, vaccination and good hygiene.