Fungal Diseases, Symptoms, Methods, Control

Hi, welcome to this blog on the topic fungal diseases in animal health management, control and Methods of transmission.

Table Of Contents

  1. Fungal Diseases
  2. Aspergillosis
  3. Ringworm
  4. Symptoms
  5. Causal organism
  6. Methods of transmission
  7. Control methods
  8. Revision Questions

Meaning Of Fungal Disease

Fungal disease, also known as mycosis, is a condition caused by fungal infection. Fungi are organisms that thrive in warm, moist environment and can infect various parts of animals body including skin, nails, lungs and internal organs.

Fungal disease can have serious effects and significant impact on animals health causing a range of symptoms and potentially leading to illness or even death. Here, We are going to be discussing common fungal disease that affects animals.

Major types of fundal diseases

  1. Aspergillosis
  2. Ringworm
  3. Cryptococcosis
  4. Histoplasmosis
  5. Blastomycosis

1. Aspergillosis:

  1. Animals affecting: includes Poultry birds, pigs and cattle.
  2. Causal organism: It is caused by fungus aspergillus fumigatus.

Symptoms aspergillosis

  1. Difficult in breathing
  2. Loss of appetite
  3. Skin irritation
  4. Respiratory disorder
  5. High blood temperature
  6. Loss of weights (emaciation)
  7. General unthriftiness of the animal

Methods of Transmission of Aspergillosis

This can be through contaminated feed (mouldy feed) mouldy litter and contaminated incubator.

Control Methods of Aspergillosis

  1. Regular disinfection of pens and equipments.
  2. Avoid the use of mouldy feed and litter.
  3. Practice good sanitation and hygiene.
  4. Spray with fungicides to prevent the growth of fungi spores.

2. Ringworm

  • Animals affected: These are pig, sheep, goat, rabbit.
  • Causal organism: It is caused by a fungus.

Symptoms of Ringworm

  1. Lesions on the skin of farm animals.
  2. Skin irritation
  3. Loss of appetite and weight

Method of Transmission

This may be through infected animals, contact with infected brushes, feeders and drinkers.

Control methods of Ringworm

  1. Disinfection of all pens and equipments.
  2. Infected parts of animals should be treated every two to six days with mixture of sulfur and Vaseline
  3. Old scabby area can be scrapped off and iodine solution applied

Revision Questions

  1. What are fungi disease?
  2. List two types of fungal disease
  3. State the method of Transmission of ringworm disease.
  4. List the symptoms of aspergillosis fungal diseases.
  5. Briefly explain the control measures of fungal diseases.
  6. List animals that are affected by fungal disease