'Spotted anything unusual' quiz

Q1

What are the common symptoms of foot and mouth disease in livestock?

1. Large blue spots all over the body of your horse
2. Blisters around the mouth and feet of your cow resulting in signs of drooling and lameness.
3. Reduced egg laying in your poultry.

The answer is B. Foot and Mouth disease is an exotic disease that affects cloven-hooved animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer. It does not affect horses or poultry. Common symptoms include lameness and drooling due to the vesicles (fluid-filled blisters) around the mouth and feet which rupture to form large, sore ulcers. More information about Foot and Mouth disease.

Q2

What species can be affected by African Swine Fever?

1. Dogs and cats
2. Cattle, sheep, and pigs
3. Pigs only

The answer is C – only pigs are affected by African Swine Fever (ASF). ASF is an exotic disease that can cause fever and death in pigs. More information about African swine fever.

Q3

I have a sheep that has died suddenly without showing any signs of illness. The carcass is going off rapidly and there is blood oozing everywhere. What should I do?

1. Ring the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888, or your local district vet during office hours. This could be a case of anthrax.
2. Nothing. Sheep die all the time – if you have live sheep you have dead sheep.
3. I tie it to the motorbike and drag it to ‘the pit’, getting covered in blood in the process.

The correct answer is A. Sudden death is a sign of anthrax. Anthrax carcasses often degrade rapidly and can have a lot of blood oozing from the carcass. Anthrax can affect humans and carcasses should not be handled or moved if anthrax is suspected. Call your local vet or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 if you suspect anthrax. A carcass side test can be used to determine if anthrax is the issue in 15 minutes. If anthrax is confirmed the animal must be disposed of by burning rather than burial. More information about Anthrax.

Q4

What is the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline number?

1. 1800 675 888
2. 1800 675 888
3. 1800 675 888

The answer is all of the above – have you memorised the number yet? Save 1800 675 888 as a contact in your phone! The Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 is available 24/7 to report any possible emergency or exotic disease concerns.