Some diseases shared by livestock and wildlife

Wildlife are a source of several diseases that can seriously affect the productivity of livestock and even lead to the death of your animals.

A s many livestock owners know all too well, certain diseases affect both wildlife and livestock. Livestock can become infected either by coming into contact with wildlife directly, or via insect vectors that carry the disease from wild animals.

Some of these diseases are very serious. They include the following:

• Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)

This has been much in the news lately. FMD affects all cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. African buffaloes in the Kruger National Park are the maintenance hosts, but don't show signs of the disease.

Susceptible animals get the disease when they come into contact with infected animals. The sick animals breathe out droplets containing the virus, and the healthy animals breathe these in.

Signs of FMD are fluid-filled blisters on the tongue. These rupture easily, causing bleeding. Blisters also occur on the snout, between the hooves, on the heel, and just above the hoof.

Cattle and other ruminants in endemic areas and areas next to these areas must be vaccinated.

Corridor disease (CD)