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Unit 15
Wildlife Health Concerns
Wildlife, by their very nature, are not controlled or are minimally controlled by
humans. As a consequence, monitoring the health status of these animals is difficult. The
frequency and thoroughness of health monitoring varies greatly from one area to another
and often reflects either concern over endangered species or public health. Examples of
these health concerns in wildlife are:
- Endangered species -- koala bear in Australia; venereal infection leading to sterility
and loss of animal numbers
- Public health concerns -- rabies, Brucellosis, Tuberculosis
Environmental Factors in Wildlife Disease
Uncontrolled proliferation of species beyond the environmental carrying capacity --
example of feral horses on Assateague Island
Environmental disasters -- drought, flooding, hurricanes (Mitch in Honduras), etc.
Human encroachment into wilderness, rural areas (loss of habatat) -- "road
kill," inappropriate diet due to human intervention, islands of wilderness surrounded
by developments
Examples of Human Intervention affecting Wildlife Health
Supplemental feeding to increase local population
- Backyard bird feeders -- disease in songbirds
- Baiting deer -- bovine TB spread
- Purposeful introduction of disease agent to decrease population
- Myxomatosis in Australian rabbit population
Relevance of Wildlife Health to Domestic Animal and Human Health
Rodent reservoirs of Zoonotic
Disease
- Lyme Disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)
- Plague (Yersinia pestis)
- Hemorrhagic fevers (Hantavirus, Arenaviridae)
Cervidae (deer and elk) reservoirs of Zoonotic and Livestock Diseases
Bison reservoirs of Zoonotic and Livestock Diseases
Avian reservoirs of Zoonotic and Livestock Diseases
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