Diseases and Parasites

Bang's disease (or brucellosis), bovine tuberculosis, and anthrax are serious infectious diseases of cattle that can be transmitted to human beings. In some countries, including the United States, these diseases have been brought under control by such measures as vaccination, sanitation of barns and feedlots, quarantine or slaughter of sick cattle, and pasteurization of milk.

Infectious diseases that are now rare in the United States are foot-and-mouth disease and Texas fever. Among diseases still prevalent in the United States are blackleg, anaplasmosis, and scours, or calf septicemia. Rinderpest, a disease prevalent in Asia and Africa, has never invaded North America.

Bloat, a serious digestive disturbance, causes slow milk production, loss of weight, and sometimes death. Bloat can be prevented by use of the drug poloxalene.

Among parasites that infest cattle are tapeworms, various roundworms, lice, mites, and ticks. Most of these parasites cause sickness in cattle and make their meat or hides unmarketable. Tapeworms may be passed on to human beings who eat meat that is not thoroughly cooked. Mites cause mange, a contagious skin disease in cattle. Ticks infect cattle with Texas fever and anaplasmosis. Drugs and insecticide sprays and dips are useful in ridding cattle of parasites.