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Nigeria's free digital learning hub. Videos, lecture notes, practice questions and leaderboards aligned with CCMAS, NBTE, NCCE, WAEC, NECO, IJMB and JAMB curricula.
Animal Science · 300 Level
This is the complete lecture note for ANS 306 Principles of Animal Health and Diseases., prepared for Animal Science students at 300 Level. You can read it online below, open it in the full viewer, or download the PDF for offline study. It pairs with the course's video lectures, so you can read and watch together.
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Course code: ANS 306 Course title: Principles of Animal Health and Diseases Course credit load: 2 Units Series 1: Disease-Causing Organisms In Livestock • Part 1.1: Bacterial Diseases In Livestock • Sub-Part 1.1.1: General characteristics of bacteria affecting animals • Sub-Part 1.1.2: Common bacterial diseases and examples • Sub-Part 1.1.3: Modes of transmission • Part 1.2: Viral Diseases In Livestock • Sub-Part 1.2.1: General characteristics of viruses affecting animals • Sub-Part 1.2.2: Common viral diseases and examples • Sub-Part 1.2.3: Routes of infection • Part 1.3: Fungal Diseases In Livestock • Sub-Part 1.3.1: General characteristics of fungi affecting animals • Sub-Part 1.3.2: Common fungal diseases and examples • Sub-Part 1.3.3: Environmental factors influencing fungal infections • Part 1.4: Protozoan And Other Parasitic Diseases In Livestock • Sub-Part 1.4.1: General characteristics of protozoa and parasites • Sub-Part 1.4.2: Common protozoan diseases and examples • Sub-Part 1.4.3: Transmission and life cycle relevance
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Introduction Livestock health is central to sustainable animal production, food security, and public health. Animals, like humans, are constantly exposed to a variety of organisms that can cause disease. These disease-causing organisms include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, each with unique characteristics and modes of transmission. Understanding them is the foundation for diagnosing, treating, and preventing livestock diseases, which makes this Series highly relevant to your study of animal health and diseases. The aim of this Series is to introduce you to the major groups of organisms that cause diseases in livestock and to equip you with the knowledge needed to describe their characteristics, identify examples of diseases they cause, and explain how they spread among animals. We shall commence this Series by examining bacterial diseases in livestock, focusing on their general characteristics, common examples, and modes of transmission. Next, we will move on to viral diseases, considering their structural features, examples, and routes of infection. Following that, we will explore fungal diseases, highlighting their characteristics, examples, and environmental influences. Finally, we will wrap up with protozoan and other parasitic diseases, discussing their features, examples, and the relevance of their life cycles to disease transmission. Series Learning Outcomes Upon completing this Series, you should be able to: • SLO 1.1 define the general characteristics of bacteria that cause diseases in livestock, • SLO 1.2 explain common bacterial diseases in livestock and their modes of transmission, • SLO 1.3 describe the structural features of viruses that affect livestock, • SLO 1.4 identify examples of viral diseases in livestock and explain their routes of infection, • SLO 1.5 outline the general characteristics of fungi that cause diseases in animals, • SLO 1.6 analyse environmental factors that influence fungal infections in livestock, • SLO 1.7 define the general characteristics of protozoa and other parasites affecting livestock, • SLO 1.8 discuss examples of protozoan diseases in livestock, and • SLO 1.9 explain the relevance of parasite life cycles to disease transmission in animals.
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS 1.1 Bacterial Diseases In Livestock 1.1.1 General characteristics of bacteria affecting animals Bacteria are microscopic single-celled organisms that can live independently or within a host. They reproduce rapidly by binary fission and may possess structures such as flagella, which aid movement, or capsules, which protect them from host defences. Some bacteria are beneficial, but pathogenic species cause disease in livestock by producing toxins, invading tissues, or triggering immune responses. Fill in the blank: The protective outer layer that helps bacteria resist host defences is called a ______. Figure 1.1: Structural features of bacteria relevant to livestock diseases 1.1.2 Common bacterial diseases and examples Livestock are affected by several bacterial diseases, each with distinct symptoms and impacts. Examples include anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis, which leads to sudden death in cattle and sheep, and brucellosis, caused by Brucella species, which results in abortions and reduced fertility. Other important bacterial diseases include tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, and salmonellosis, caused by Salmonella species. These diseases can spread quickly within herds and often have significant economic consequences. Fill in the blank: The bacterial disease that causes abortions and reduced fertility in livestock is called ______. Disease Causative Agent Key Symptoms Anthrax Bacillus anthracis Sudden death in cattle and sheep, bleeding from body openings, rapid decomposition
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Disease Causative Agent Key Symptoms Brucellosis Brucella species Abortions, reduced fertility, retained placenta, joint swelling Tuberculosis Mycobacterium bovis Chronic wasting, coughing, weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes Salmonellosis Salmonella species Diarrhea, fever, dehydration, reduced productivity, septicemia in severe cases Box 1.1: Examples of bacterial diseases in livestock 1.1.3 Modes of transmission Bacterial diseases spread through various routes, including direct contact between animals, ingestion of contaminated feed or water, inhalation of infected droplets, and through vectors such as ticks or flies. Poor hygiene, overcrowding, and inadequate biosecurity measures increase the risk of transmission. Understanding these routes is essential for designing effective control strategies. Fill in the blank: The spread of bacterial diseases through contaminated feed or water is known as ______ transmission. Mode of transmission Example disease Direct contact Brucellosis Ingestion Salmonellosis Inhalation Tuberculosis Vector-borne Anthrax (via biting flies) Table 1.1: Modes of transmission of bacterial diseases in livestock Pilot questions 1.1 1. What is the protective outer layer of bacteria called? 2. Name one bacterial disease that causes sudden death in cattle and sheep. 3. Which bacterial disease leads to abortions and reduced fertility in livestock? 4. State one route through which bacterial diseases can spread. 5. Give one example of a vector-borne bacterial disease in livestock. 1.2 Viral Diseases In Livestock 1.2.1 General characteristics of viruses affecting animals Viruses are acellular infectious agents composed of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat called a capsid. Some viruses also have an outer envelope, derived from host cell membranes, which contains viral proteins that help them attach to and enter host cells. Unlike bacteria, viruses cannot reproduce independently; they rely entirely on host cell machinery for
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS replication. Their small size and ability to mutate rapidly make them challenging to control in livestock populations. Fill in the blank: The protein coat surrounding viral genetic material is called a ______. Figure 1.2: Structural features of viruses relevant to livestock diseases 1.2.2 Common viral diseases and examples Livestock are affected by several viral diseases that can cause significant economic losses. Examples include foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which affects cattle, sheep, and pigs, leading to fever and blisters in the mouth and feet. Rinderpest, historically devastating to cattle, was eradicated but remains an important example of viral impact. Newcastle disease affects poultry, causing respiratory distress and reduced egg production. Other examples include African swine fever, which is highly fatal in pigs, and avian influenza, which spreads rapidly among birds. Fill in the blank: The viral disease that causes blisters in the mouth and feet of cattle is called ______. Disease Key Symptoms Notes Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Fever, blisters in mouth and feet, drooling, lameness Highly contagious; affects cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats Rinderpest Severe fever, diarrhea, mouth lesions, high mortality Historically devastating cattle disease; declared eradicated in 2011 Newcastle Disease Respiratory distress, coughing, nasal discharge, twisted necks Major poultry disease; causes heavy economic losses
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Disease Key Symptoms Notes African Swine Fever (ASF) High fever, loss of appetite, skin hemorrhages, sudden death No effective vaccine; causes high mortality in pigs Avian Influenza Respiratory distress, reduced egg production, rapid spread Affects poultry and wild birds; zoonotic potential Box 1.2: Examples of viral diseases in livestock 1.2.3 Routes of infection Viruses spread through multiple routes, including direct contact between animals, inhalation of infected droplets, ingestion of contaminated feed or water, and via vectors such as mosquitoes or ticks. Some viruses, like foot-and-mouth disease, spread rapidly through aerosols, while others, such as African swine fever, are transmitted through contact with infected blood or tissues. Effective control requires understanding these routes and implementing strict biosecurity measures. Fill in the blank: The spread of viruses through infected droplets in the air is known as ______ transmission. Route of infection Example disease Direct contact Newcastle disease Inhalation Foot-and-mouth disease Ingestion Avian influenza Vector-borne African swine fever Table 1.2: Routes of viral infection in livestock Pilot questions 1.2 1. What is the protein coat surrounding viral genetic material called? 2. Name one viral disease that affects poultry. 3. Which viral disease causes blisters in the mouth and feet of cattle? 4. State one route through which viral diseases can spread. 5. Give one example of a vector-borne viral disease in livestock.
LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS 1.3 Fungal Diseases In Livestock 1.3.1 General characteristics of fungi affecting animals
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