COURSE CODE: WRM 504
COURSE TITLE: WILDLIFE
DISEASES, PESTS
AND CONTROL
NUMBER OF UNIT: 2 UNITS
COURSE DURATION: TWO HOURS PER
WEEK
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE
MANAGEMENT
COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT
COURSE COODINATOR: DR I. O. O. OSUNSINA
E-mail:
osunsinaisrael@yahoo.com
Office Location: E 211, COLERM
OTHER LECTURERS:
DR I.O.O. OSUNSINA
DR O.A. JAYEOLA
COURSE CONTENT
Major pests and diseases of wildlife,
Taxonomy and biology of major pests
and
diseases
of
wildlife.
Epidemicrology
of
parasite
population. Principles of diseases and
pest
control.
International
restrictions binding transportation of
wildlife across country boundary.
COURSE REQUIREMENT
This is a compulsory course for all
students in the Wildlife Resources
Management option of the Department of
Forestry and Wildlife Management. In view
of this, students are expected to
participate in all the course activities and
have minimum of 75% attendance to be
able to write the final examination.
DISEASE
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It involves a state or condition brought about in a
living organism by some microorganism or
Metazoan/protozoan parasite or by some other cause
known and unknown which is detrimental to health
and well being of the living organism
In its managerial sense its include mechanical and
thermal injuries, nutrition deficiency, provision,
hereditary/congenital disease.
In order words its means the abnormal break down,
destruction and malfunctioning of cells. Health is the
opposite; the maintenance of a state in which the cells
remain intact and fully ageing, death and replacement
of cells of the animals body.
THE CAUSES AND NATURE OF
DISEASES
When cells break down and due to the living
body the process is called NECROSIS. The death
of a cell is irreversible but process can also be
stopped/even reversed by the removal of
diseases factor/fault which are causing the break
down when enough of the cells of one or more
of the organ of the body are attacked the
organism cannot perform their formation and
the animal itself will show visible evidence of the
dysfunction.
LIMITING FACTOR CAUSING
DISEASES
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Mechanical injuries: Simple cuts, break in the skin
and born as other tissues and bruises.
Excess heat/cold applied to body tissues cause rapid
deterioration and death of cells also burns scalds or
foreign of the epidermis causes instantaneous death.
Poison: Any substance that upset the normal function
of the cell.
Hereditary condition: Certain hereditary
characteristics are lethal, defect in the make up of
certain cells of the body which cause them to
degenerate can a transmitted by the parent of animal.
Nutritional deficiency: Unless cells obtain the entire
nutrient requirement for proteins, mineral nutrient they
consist function properly.
ACUTE AND CHRONIC DISEASES
These terms are applied to two different
stages which occur in the cause of a
disease
 Acute denotes a condition which is quick
and short-lived.
 Chronic denote a slow and last longing
condition.
INFLAMMATION

Inflammation: Injury of which is not sufficient to cause death in a
tissue but provokes a response consisting series of change which
act as defense mechanism, this is called inflammation.
It may be chronic or acute. In some inflammation which occurs in
more vascular areas of the body, thus tissues changes which are
recognized by 5 cardinal signs they are:

RUBOR: Increase redness from increased flour of blood to the
tissue
CALOR: Increase heat also due to increase blood supply
TUMOUR: Swelling of the part
DOLOR: Increase sensitivity to pain
FUNCTIO-LAESA: Meaning impaired or distort function as a
result of tissues damages usually the white blood corpuscle helps
in remaining dead cell thus replacing with new cells, this removal
by proliferation is the beginning of a process called REPAIR.
Repair may be complete and the full function of the organ may be
restored.
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TUMORS
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There is a group of disease condition occurring in man and animal
which do not provoke the normal response of inflammation they are
popularly known as Tumors i.e. swellings and they are of two types.
Benign and Malignant

Benign tumors are usually contain in capsule of fibrous tissue,
growth is usually slow, they do tactile or no harm except when they
become of a size sufficient to cause damage on a vital part of the
body. They can often be removed surgically if necessary.

Malignant tumor popular known as cancer are in the other hand
much more dangerous. They are not encapsulated and growth into
and destroy surrounding tissues. They have a cell structure similar
to the cell of the tissue in which they occur but their cells are
abnormal in that they proliferate unrestrictedly and at accelerating
rate.
PREDISPOSING FACTORS IN
DISEASES
A.
B.
Not every animal that is invaded by micro-organism will contact diseases,
predisposing factor must be present unless the disease micro-organisms
arrive in an environment suitable for their development or multiplication
they will die.
MANAGEMENT
One major factor which exposes an animal to a disease is a poor
or suboptimal nutritional status. The well fed animal has a much
better chance; good management will prevent disease even if
the initiating factor is present in large numbers. If feed, water,
shelter and protection from predator of all sorts is adequate,
disease is much easier to control.
STRESS
Another predisposing factor is stress, such stress can be stress of
an environment such as high temperature or humidity or a lower
water content of body (dehydration).
PREDISPOSING FACTORS IN
DISEASES
C.
D.
TOLERANCE FACTOR
Some disease organisms have been associated with their host
disease for long, and they suffer less from the effect of a disease
than animal which have not had long contact with it. These are
called ABNORMAL host. The normal host suffer less because in
the cause of evolution, it has become adapted to the organism
and the organism and become adapted to host reaction to it,
such adaptation between the two is called TOLERANCE
IMMUNITY
If an animal infected with disease organism in number
insufficient to kill it, there will be a reaction to it’s’ presence in
the body, such that subsequently with the same disease
organism even in lethal numbers will not kill the animals, it will
affect it or there may not be visible effect at all. This ability to
withstand infection is called IMMUNITY.
PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS
VIRUSES
RICKETTSIAS
BACTERIA
FUNGI
PROTOZOAN
Viral diseases
Rinderpest: - It is also cattle plague
 Cause: - It caused by virus and it is
highly contagious viral disease of many
ruminant and ungulate.
 Symptoms:- Alteration of the mucus
membrane of the mouth
 Erosion and necrosis of mucus membrane
 Digestive tract affected by diarrhea. And
signs of mucous discharge

Viral diseases
Model of transmission: direct contact with infected
animal.
 Effect: (1) Morbidity rate approach 100%

(2) Mortality may exceed 90% in more
susceptible animals.
 Control:
 Rinderpest has been eliminated from west Africa by
surfaced program by the Pan-African rinderpest
campaign (PARC) jointly funded by European union and
food and Agriculture organization (FAO).
 Infected animal should be slaughtered and buried

Viral diseases
Foot and Mouth Disease
 It is a highly contagious viral infection causative
organism:

Vascular eruption in the mouth and on the feet
of the wild animal species affected. Animal
affected include American, buffalo, African
buffalo, asian buffalo, waterbuck, impala, giraffe,
hedgehog etc. All these are susceptible to and
carrier of foot and mouth disease.
Viral diseases
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Effects:Deaths of some wild game animal reported in Kalahari game reserve
Botswana include waterbuck, heart best, impala, warthog, deer
Eland, wildebeest, African buffalo. Other symptoms that could be
seen on infected animal include high fever, general loss of appetite,
dejection and swallowing indicating a painful state, peculiar
smacking sounds caused by the lips coming together, saliva hanging
from the mouth, emaciation, inner surface of the lies and gums are
hot, dry and reddish, appearance of vesicles (blister a small swelling
of the epidermy containing clear fluid), appearance of vesicles on
the muscles and at the root of the horn, the animal become lame
with obvious pair in the affected foot, vesicles identical with those in
the mouth can be seen in the deft of the foot.
Control:It may be by slaughtering or by mass vaccination or combination of
the two.
BACTERIA DISEASES
BRUCELLOSIS
 Is a highly contagions disease reported in wild and
domestic animal, it is caused by Brucella spp. And has
zoonosis of worldwide distribution. It is an important
disease in man, cattle, sheep, goat, dog and swine.
 Wild animal species affected include Zebra, Buffallo,
Eland and Impala, Reindeer (were about 25% infections
rate). It is also reported in bush buck.
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TRANSMISSION
Usually by contact
BACTERIA DISEASES
Susceptible animal can also be infected
 EFFECT
 Abortion in pregnant animals.
 Birth of weak calves with poor survival
rate.
 Reproductive disorders.
 Mammary gland infection in wild Bison.

PARASITES
Parasites in the resulted sense an those
member of the animal kingdom which
derive their means of well being from
other member in the animal kingdom at
the same time depriving their host of
some of the well being.
Sometimes the association is not
detrimental to the host so that both
participant in the relationship benefits, a
condition known as SYMBIOSIS.
PARASITES
Sometimes the association is not an
organic one but simply the derivation of
benefit from one by the other individual of
the association, be it the sharing of food
derived by one of participants or the
benefits of shelter or protection a
condition called COMMENSALISM.
PARASITES
Parasite are classified as
Endoparasite and
Ectoparasite

Endoparasite or Helminthes as they are
called are trematode and cestodes.

The ectoparasited are divided into class
insects and class Arachnida
EFFECT OF DISEASES ON WILD
ANIMALS
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Increase body weight loss
It causes anaemia (shortage of blood).
It results in reproductive disorder e.g inability
to reproduce, incomplete foetus.
Diseases results in general body weakness of
the animal.
It causes death.
It is also known that wild animal may fall easily
to predator when they are weak or sick
Mineral Disorder
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It become more prevalent as man interrupt
mineral cycle via cropping, removing trees,
forage and livestock arising from deficiency of
particular minerals in the diets of wild animal.
Calcium deficiency is perhaps a major mineral
problem in captive wildlife species
Effects
Retarded growth
Decreased food consumption
Reduce activities and sensitivity
Mineral Disorder
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Osteoporosis: abnormal posture and growth,
susceptible to internal hemorrhage
Egg shell thinning
Retarded function growth
Reduced other growth
Phosphorus deficiency
Result in loss of appetite, reduce growth and
strength, reduce body growth, weakness and
sometimes death.
Excessive intake of phosphorus is associated
with low or marginal dietary calcium level.
GENERAL CONTROL OF WILD ANIMAL
DISEASES
Diseases
1.Rinder pest
2.Rabies3.Bacterial infection 4.Parasite
5.Fungi 6.Ringworm7.Aspergilloris
8.Zoonosis-
Probable control
Vaccination:
Antibiotics Prevention from secondary infection
Killing of infected animals Vaccination is ineffective for infected animals
Treat with broad spectrum antibiotics
e.g.Helminthes - Deworming, use antiHelminthes
skin disease exterminable mycotic infection
apply copper II solution to affected part.
Apply Sulphur and fungicide
Discontinue with the feed (from contamined
feed yam, peel)
Keep away domestic/ livestock to avoid
disease spread
DIAGNOSTIC METHODS
The identification of a disease affecting livestock is a
matter which requires a great deal of careful
observation. Diagnosis is not only a science, but also an
art. A combination of the two coupled with sufficient
knowledge and experience, will enable the observer to
make a tentative if not a firm diagnosis, provided he has
the necessary equipment and access to laboratory
facilities sufficient for the task. There are two areas of
enquiry which assist in diagnosing, they are a thorough
clinical examination and necropsy sedate the animals
and blood samples are collected for analysis clinical
examination.
Theses are three clearly defined direction disease should be
followed. They are

DIAGNOSTIC METHODS
1. The case history
 2. The examination of the environment
 3. The examination of the animal’s
involved
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Equipment necessary for necropsy
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Knives (large and small)
Sharpening steel
Scissors (including bowel scissors)
Dressing forceps
Saws
Bone cutters
Labels
Rubber gloves
Others include
Equipment necessary for necropsy
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Bottles (McCartney)
Quantity of formalin(40% methanol)
Sterile swabs in test tube
A number of alcohol-clean microscope slides
Spatula
Polyether bags
Spirit lamp and spirit
Hand lens
Petri dishes
Soap, water, disinfectant and towel