As a precaution Meat should never be consumed from dead or dying animals.įly control remedies such as Deltapor 5 and IconCS decrease the mosquito numbers around but must be applied regularly to prevent mosquito bites, so the most effective prevention strategy is vaccination combined with vector control. Symptoms can range from mild cold or flu symptoms to serious bleeding disorders and even death. Humans can contract the disease when they handle blood or organs from infected animals. The mortality rate in adult animals is between 10% and 20%, but many will endure symptoms such as drooling, a runny nose, fatigue, diarrhoea, and fever. RVF symptoms in sheep, cattle and goats include abortion storms (80% to 100 % of pregnant animals can abort) and sudden death in young animals. South Africa has suffered three major RFV outbreaks since 1951, with the latest being in 2011.Įven though history suggests that the next major outbreak should only occur in about 2040, smaller sporadic outbreaks remain a real possibility. Mosquito populations increase during rainy seasons and certain species which prefer livestock can transmit Rift Valley fever (RVF), a virus that can be deadly to animals and humans alike. Liver fluke and conical fluke infestations increase during wet conditions because these parasites need water to complete their life cycles.The use of the Wirevax vaccine reduces the number of treatments which need to be given. Faecal egg counts can help determine if there is anthelmintic resistance on your farm. Regular deworming can control this parasite, but the downside is that anthelminthic resistance is prevalent in this species. Wireworm is one of the most common worms in the summer rainfall areas and thrives in wet conditions.Helminths, generally referred to as worms, include roundworms, tapeworms, and flukes. When animals are covered in ticks, it could indicate a weakened immune system and nutritional deficiencies. In addition to dips, sprays, and pour-on remedies and spot treatments can be used to control ticks. Single-host ticks are found on animals’ necks and shoulders, while multi-host ticks usually keep to less obvious parts of the body. An engorged blue tick, has been around its host for two weeks, and should be taken as a red-water warning. The larvae, nymphs and adults take a blood meal, fall off, climb on the next host, and repeat the cycle.īoth types of tick populations can increase after abundant rainfall, but the single-host tick will be more prevalent as it only needs a single host to reproduce.įarmers must inspect their animals every day to spot ticks early on, to determine the efficacy of dips and to prevent disease development.īlue tick larvae, for example, transmit red water, the symptoms of which should become evident after about two weeks. bont tick and bont-legged tick: each lifecycle stage is spent on a different host animal.
blue ticks: their entire lifecycle (larvae to adult) occurs on one host. Ticks are external parasites, which are vectors of disease, but also cause severe damage due to bites, toxicoses.
#Adult parasite game skin#
biting flies transmit lumpy skin disease. House flies and biting flies irritate animals, and may lead to decreased production. Some parasites are vectors of disease and cause loss of production, for example flies. Diseases and parasite that come to mind are Rift valley fever, blue tongue, horse sickness, redwater (babesiosis), heartwater, gall sickness (anaplasmosis), ephemeral fever and lumpy skin disease, as well as ticks and worms such as wire worm in sheep” Vaccinate where possible to prevent outbreaks and to reduce their impact. Parasites and parasite diseases are benefiting from the increased rainfall in Southern Africa.ĭr Peter Oberem, Managing Director of Afrivet warns: “This means that we must be more vigilant early detection and intervention is critical in ensuring the success of treatments. We need to take the necessary precautions as this season has already proven to be wetter, warmer, and longer. There should be preparation for a boom in parasite populations and diseases like Rift valley fever. AGRICULTURE NEWS - Rain is always welcome in our semi-arid country.