Review of issues that influence animal health management
Author: Dr Mary-Louise Penrith
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Introduction
species, for example the economic value of the species
Animal health management is influenced by a number
will influence the impact of the diseases that affect it.
of factors. These include animal factors such as
Resistance to disease may be a species or breed
species, breed, age and stage of production, and
characteristic. Very young animals are often more
behaviour, as well as, in the case of domesticated
susceptible to pathogens than older animals with a
animals, the production systems in which they are kept
mature immune system. Some diseases are also linked
and the way in which they are managed, as well as the
to sex or to the stage of production. Animal behaviour
purpose for which they are kept. The level of
can be important in both disease transmission and
management depends to an extent on the importance
likelihood of exposure. For example, rabies is usually
and impact of the diseases that must be managed.
transmitted by animals that bite, and animals whose
Much of the effort that goes into animal health
curiosity leads them to nose anything interesting are
management is directed towards ensuring the safety of
more likely to be infected with diseases by inhalation
trade in animals, animal commodities and products.
or, in the case of rabies, a bite from a sick animal that
How animal health is managed is guided by certain
is being investigated. The module includes information
basic
about some of the important species that have been
principles
that
include
preventing
the
transmission and spread of infectious diseases. The
options
for
doing
this
are
determined
by
domesticated.
the
epidemiology of the diseases and the animal and
Production
production factors that contribute to their epidemiology.
management
systems
and
animal
health
Production systems have a profound influence on the
Animal factors and animal health management
diseases to which animals are exposed and the way in
Of all the animal factors that influence animal health
which those diseases can be prevented or managed.
management, species is probably the most important.
Animals in extensive production systems are potentially
Some pathogens have a wide host range while others
exposed to a wide range of diseases through contact
may target a single species or group of closely related
with other species, vectors, and the environment. Since
species. The wider the host range, the more difficult it
preventing contact with sources of pathogens in many
is likely to be to manage the disease, particularly if
cases is not possible and in others requires drastic
some of the hosts are highly resistant to the effects of
measures like the veterinary cordon fences that are
the pathogen but act as silent reservoirs, e.g. African
used in some countries in Southern Africa to prevent
buffaloes for the SAT types of foot and mouth disease
transmission of foot and mouth disease from African
virus, wildebeest (gnu) for a virus that causes
buffaloes to cattle, other methods of protection, like
malignant catarrhal fever and warthogs for the African
vaccination and chemical parasite control, are often
swine fever virus. There are also indirect influences of
necessary. The application of biosecurity systems is
more feasible in intensively kept animals and can
Basic principles of disease control
provide very effective protection for some diseases,
Managing animal diseases involves preventing as far
including diseases for which there is no vaccine, like
as possible their transmission and spread and
African swine fever, but these systems have seen the
controlling outbreaks effectively if, in spite of all efforts
emergence of so-called ‘diseases of intensification’,
to prevent them, they occur. Effective prevention and
which arise as a result of large numbers of animals
control measures, even in an emergency, should be
being kept at close quarters under what may be
based
stressful conditions. Animal health management in
epidemiology of the disease, should be feasible to
such systems has to include rigorous hygienic
implement under the conditions that prevail in the area,
measures and measures to reduce stress levels as far
should
as possible. Finally, various types of smallholder and
consideration the socio-economic effects of both the
traditional, low input production systems in which
disease and the control measures on producers and
animals are kept by producers with limited resources
other stakeholders in the livestock industry. Possible
and which are very common throughout sub-Saharan
negative effects on control measures on human health,
Africa, pose their own challenges in terms of animal
for example antimicrobial resistance, and on the
health management.
environment, for instance the use of pesticides and the
on
a
be
thorough
cost-effective,
understanding
and
should
of
take
the
into
disposal of large numbers of dead animals during
Diseases of importance to livestock production and
culling exercises, also need to be considered.
trade
Animal diseases can have an impact on trade in two
Find out more
important ways, namely by reducing the quality and

Web-based modules for degree purposes or CPD
quantity of animals available for trade, and by their
on animal health management for trade and the
effects on susceptible animal and human populations
tools for animal health management are available in
into which they may be introduced through trade. Trade
which
in livestock and livestock products is the major source
challenges are explored.
of income for many households in sub-Saharan Africa,

objectives,
approaches,
impacts
and
Web-based modules on high impact diseases
particularly in the more arid areas. Livestock are also
provide more detail on how individual diseases of
important for household food security and as a hedge
importance are managed.
in emergencies. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to a great

Web-based modules on the various tools used for
many endemic diseases that threaten production and
animal health management provide more detail on
trade and exclude the majority of livestock producers in
laboratory
the region from higher value markets; many of these
passive and active surveillance for animal diseases
diseases are endemic in wildlife. Animal health
including
managers in the region need to explore new and more
identification and traceability, disease freedom for
effective ways to manage animal diseases and assure
countries, zones or compartments, the use of
safe trade that will reassure potential trading partners
vaccination, the role of therapeutics and the
and at the same time reduce the conflict that currently
principles of biosecurity.
exists at the livestock /wildlife interface owing to current
geographically
measures.
based
animal
disease
control

diagnostics,
participatory
molecular
applications,
surveillance,
animal
Web-based modules on zoonotic diseases explore
the way those diseases manifest in and spread
between humans and animals.

Web-based modules for CPD or degree purposes
on emerging and re-emerging diseases discuss the
drivers that have resulted in ‘new’ diseases, many
of which are zoonotic, and the challenges that occur
when a ‘new’ disease emerges or an old disease
assumes new patterns.

Web-based modules on livestock marketing and
trade provide insight into the challenges posed by
animal health issues that have to be overcome in
order to support international trade in livestock and
livestock commodities.