Cymraeg

Health and Welfare of Farm Animals
Session 5 - Notifiable Diseases in Livestock

This resource is suitable to support Level 2 Agriculture courses.

Introduction to Notifiable Diseases

Certain livestock diseases are classed as notifiable. The diseases have at least one of these characteristics:

  • Potentially dangerous to people e.g. anthrax.
  • Likely to cause suffering to livestock and a large amount of economic loss e.g. foot and mouth.
  • Have the potential to be controlled, or reduced if reported.

    • Notifiable Diseases and the Law

    Notifiable diseases are animal diseases that you’re legally obliged to report to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), even if you only suspect that an animal may be affected. Notifiable diseases can be:

  • Endemic – already present in the UK, such as bovine TB.
  • Exotic – not normally present in the UK, such as foot and mouth disease.
  • Some endemic and exotic diseases are zoonotic which means they can pass between animals and humans, such as rabies.
    • graphic of APHA logo

    Information

    If anyone (who owns, or is in charge of livestock) suspects the livestock are suffering from a notifiable disease they should inform the authorities immediately.

  • In Wales this means If you suspect a notifiable animal disease you must report it to the Animal Health and Plant Agency on 0300 303 8268.
    • Graphic with APHA phone number - 0300 303 8268.

    Examples

    Anthrax - affects cattle, sheep and other mammals.

    BSE - Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy - affects cattle.

    BTV - Blue Tongue Virus - affects sheep and goats.

    Brucellosis - B Abortus and B Melitensis - affects cattle.

    EBL - Enzootic Bovine Leukosis - affects cattle.

    FMD - Foot and Mouth Disease - affects cattle, sheep, pigs, and other cloven hoofed animals.

    Actions on Discovering a Notifiable Disease

    Once the disease has been reported actions are taken to prevent the disease from spreading, for example the animals may be isolated and livestock movements in the area may be stopped.

  • The exact restrictions will depend on which disease is found; compulsory slaughter may be required to stop the spread of disease e.g. for Foot and Mouth and Bovine Tuberculosis.
    • Cow behind bars

    Anthrax

    Caused by anthrax bacteria which can live in the soil for extremely long periods of time (there are reports of the bacteria surviving for centuries) The spores can survive for extended periods in building infrastructure.

  • Animals will become ill and die very quickly, and often the animals are found dead. Sick animals have a very high temperature, and there is bleeding from external openings e.g. the mouth and nose. The blood will be full of anthrax bacteria and is extremely contagious.

    • Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

    This may be suspected when older cattle change their behaviour or temperament or show signs of poor coordination.

  • The presence of BSE changes the consistency of brain tissue to give it a spongy appearance when examined by microscope.
    • close up of brain

    Foot and Mouth Disease

    This is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus.

  • Animals will rapidly show signs of ill health, going off their feed, having a high temperature and appearing listless. They will also develop blisters in their mouths and between the cleats.
  • When foot and mouth disease is suspected then isolation, disinfection and movement restrictions will be rapidly put in place, and if the disease is confirmed all of the stock on the farm will be slaughtered.

    • Bovine Tuberculosis

    This is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium bovis the natural host of the disease is cattle, however it can infect humans and a wide range of animals e.g. deer, pigs, dogs, cats, and badgers.

  • The disease leads to the gradual development of tubercles (growths) in the organs especially in the lungs.
    • Image of cow being injected

    Bovine Tuberculosis


    Signs of Infection

    Signs include:

  • Weakness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Swelling of lymphnodes
  • Coughing
  • In the case of udder infections - hardening and swelling in the affected quarter.
  • If the disease infects the udder this can be detected in milk samples.

    • Control of TB in Herds

    To control bovine TB there are routine tests so clinical cases are rarely seen in cattle in Wales. There are two, main elements in the bovine TB control programme:

  • Routine free skin testing of cattle carried out every one to four years. There is a compulsory slaughter policy for reactors and direct contacts.
  • A Government compensation scheme is in operation.
    • Image of cow being injected
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