The Battle Against Disease

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The Battle Against Disease

• 4-H Veterinary Science
• Extension Veterinary Medicine
• Texas AgriLife Extension Service
• College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical
  Sciences
• Texas AM System
• http//aevm.tamu.edu

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Objectives

• Discuss the history of disease control
• Discuss infectious disease control
• Discuss non-infectious disease control
• Describe the roles of the government agencies
  that deal with disease control
• Discuss practices to foster health and well-being
  of animals

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History

• Problems change with time
• Brucellosis
• Tuberculosis
• Foot and mouth disease
• Types of disease
• Emerging diseases
• Endemic diseases
• Foreign diseases

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Infectious Diseases

• Infectious disease
• Caused by a pathogen that can invade (infect) and
  then multiply in a susceptible animal
• Pathogens
• Bacteria
• Protozoa
• Viruses
• Fungi
• Rickettsia

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• In short
• These organisms enter the body of susceptible
  animals and cause an illness in that animal

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• Concern
• Movement of animals introduces these pathogens
  into susceptible populations
• US constantly on look out
• TAHC
• USDA-APHIS
• USDA-VS

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Non-Infectious Diseases

• Non-infectious disease
• Caused by toxins (chemical poisoning) or by
  malfunctioning of the body (as nutritional
  disorders)
• Result of environmental or behavioral changes

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• In domestic populations
• Infectious problems reduced
• Disease
• Non-infectious problems increased
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Control
• Eat healthier foods
• Smoke less
• Get more exercise

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Agency Roles

• Both state and federal agencies involved
• Animals
• State
• Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)
• Federal
• USDA-APHIS
• People
• State
• Texas Department of State Health Services
• Federal
• United States Department of Health and Human
  Services

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• Zoonotic
• Disease that is shared between animals and people
• Rabies
• West nile virus
• Anthrax
• Animal and human agencies work together in
  disease outbreaks

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• Sentinel animals
• See problems in these animals before see in
  people

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Health and Well-Being

• Preventive health management
• Vaccinate
• Biosecurity
• Cooperation between state and federal agencies

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• Preventive measures
• Identify reservoirs through surveillance
• Prevent exposure
• Develop immunity
• Provide good nutrition
• Provide adequate physical activity
• Develop optimum environmental conditions
• Develop selection and breeding programs