Adenoviruses belong to a small group of viruses that can infect a wide variety of animals, both wild and domestic. The AHD virus of deer was first identified in California in1994. Infected deer can have clinical signs common to other diseases such as bluetongue or pneumonia. Chronic symptoms include ulcers and abscesses in the mouth and throat. Acute symptoms include rapid or open mouth breathing, foaming or drooling at the mouth, diarrhea (possibly bloody), weakness, and copius amounts of fluid in the body cavity. Death can occur within 3 — 5 days from the time the deer was exposed to the virus. More...
A range of viruses, parasites, and bacteria naturally reside in wild bird populations. Most forms of avian influenza or “bird flu” are not harmful to birds or people. The highly pathogenic (HPAI) H5N1 strain of bird flu causing worldwide concern is an exception. HPAI H5N1 is always fatal to domestic poultry and in some circumstances, has killed people that caught the disease through close contact with infected birds. The disease has been found in birds in countries in Europe, Asia and Africa but has never been detected in North America. More...
A transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that has been documented in deer, elk or moose in the following states: Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Illinois, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, West Virginia and the Canadian Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. It has not been detected in deer or elk in Oregon.
This disease damages portions of the brain and typically causes progressive loss of body condition, behavioral changes, excessive salivation and death. A type of prion protein has been found in the brains of affected animals, and is believed to be the cause of the disease. More...
Raccoons can acquire canine distemper, a viral disease that infects foxes, coyotes, skunks, and unvaccinated dogs. The disease does not affect humans. The disease is more likely to occur when raccoon populations are large or concentrated. Wildlife biologists note that it seems to run in cycles of 5-7 years. Not all raccoons get the disease and many do survive these outbreaks. More...
Feral pigs are susceptible to a variety of diseases. Four of the more important ones being: brucellosis, pseudorabies, leptospirosis, and trichinosis. More...
Deer Hair Loss Syndrome (DHLS) is called a syndrome, not a disease, because the cause and method of transmission are not completely understood. The syndrome is most common in black-tailed and Columbian white-tailed deer. Common symptoms include yellow or white appearing hair or bare patches of skin. At first, some deer have darkening or almost black patches of fur. Later, deer may appear emaciated and lethargic, and exhibit excessive loss of hair. More...
West Nile virus is carried by mosquitoes; it can infect humans, horses, and birds. Humans get the virus from the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no evidence that the disease can spread from other animals to humans or from person to person. Most infections are mild, causing fever and flu-like symptoms, but severe infections may result in encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and, rarely, death. More... |
