Wildlife disease

Question 1

Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABL)

Answer 1

Similar to rabies

Can infect humans & horses
- Rabbies vaccine and immunoglobin are effective in protection from ABLV

Infection in bats mimics rabies in other mammals

• long, variable incubation period
• Acute progressive, fatal clinical disease
• Manifested as abnormal behaviour and paralysis (aggression, abnormal vocalisation, inability to fly etc.)

Virus is shed in saliva - biting major cause of transmission

Disease cannot be detected during incubation period

Detection via post mortem laboratory detection - viral antigens and RNA in brain, spinal cord and salivary glands

Treatment - non available

Prevention - keep captive bats away from wild bats

Question 2

Oral necrobacillosis (lumpy jaw)

Answer 2

Caused by:

• Overcrowding
• Poor hygiene
• Trauma
• Stress
• Poor diet

Signs:

• • Inappetence, drooling
• Swollen jaws, lips, tongue or neck
• Necrotic, erosive lesions

Can also affect the oesophagus, stomach, liver, lungs and occasionally legs and feet

• Nasal discharge, pneumonia
• Gastroenteritis
• Septicaemia

Prevention

• Remove faeces daily
• Raised feeding stations
• Green leafy branches, good quality grass, hay, lucerne, fruit, vegetables
• Remove affected animals
• Spell affected enclosure > 4 weeks

Treatment: 
If maxilla and mandibular bones unaffected 
- Isolate 
Radical surgical debridement 
- Appropriate antibiotic therapy 

If bones affected euthanise

Question 3

Pathogen pollution is associated with

Answer 3

International traffic in:
- agricultural machinery

• domesticated animals
• food crops and timber
• biologically contaminated wastes such as landfill and ballast water
• produce for human consumption

Question 4

Elements that contribute to emergence of new Zoonoses?

Answer 4

1. Microbial/viral (e.g. mutations & evolution)
2. Individual host (e.g. acquired immunity & lack of immune surveillance – AIDS in humans)
3. Host population (e.g. transportation & urban crowding)
4. Environmental (e.g. ecological & climatic influences)
   - Increased densities of wildlife populations - shrinking of wildlife habitats

• Increased habitat edges - increased contact between species in adjacent habitats - exposure to new vectors or parasites to which they are less resistant
  5. Massively growing global human & livestock populations bring people into closer contact with other animals
  6. Advanced transportation makes long distance travel possible in less than the incubation period of most infectious agents
  7. Massive ecological & environmental changes due to modern civilisation
  8. Bush meat trade & wild animal pets