Diseases of Bison

Mycoplasma bovis is a small bacteria-like organism lacking a cell wall. There are other members of the Mycoplasma genus that cause diseases in various species of livestock but M. bovis is the most pathogenic and most economically important of those infecti…
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Pinkeye in bison is a common condition. Most, if not all bison herds have had some animals get it. Some herds have had a lot of trouble with it while other herds have had only a few animals affected. It is more common in the summer when there is a lot of d…
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Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is an infectious, viral disease of many ruminants, including bison. It occurs worldwide and is generally sporadic although herd outbreaks have been reported. MCF is caused by a group of viruses that belong to the herpesvirus…
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The following article answers the most commonly asked questions about MCF in bison. The authors are well recognized as leaders in the study of MCF. Their answers reflect the current knowledge of the disease at the time of writing.
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Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a viral disease of ruminants. Sheep are resistant to the disease but can act as carriers, spreading the virus to other more susceptible species. In the last few years there have an increasing number of bison that have die…
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This article is an external link to the "Specialized Livestock Research Program" website. Click here to view the article. This link will open a new window so that you don't lose this page
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Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a viral disease of ruminants. Sheep are resistant to the disease but can act as carriers, spreading the virus to other more susceptible species. In the last few years there have an increasing number of bison that have die…
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Johne’s disease is a bacterial infection of many farm animals that is receiving a lot attention lately because it has the potential to cause major economic losses in individual herds and because it has been implicated as a cause of Crohn’s dise…
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Capture myopathy is a degenerative muscle condition seen occasionally in bison. This article explains the disease process, some of the risk factors, and gives some suggestions on how to prevent the disease. Capture myopathy is a degeneration of the muscle …
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Neonatal diarrhea (calf scours) can be a devastating disease in many types of farm animals if they are not managed properly. Bison calves may be affected if they are exposed to the conditions that are favourable for the disease to occur. Learning how to co…
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Brucellosis is a disease that occurs in bison and other livestock. It was common in the 1950’s but programs have nearly cleaned the disease out of the United States livestock population. Bison in the Yellowstone Park area continue to be a reservoir f…
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Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) has been diagnosed in bison but our knowledge of the disease in this species is limited because it occurs relatively infrequently. This article discusses how the disease affects cattle and discusses how to prevent it all species…
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Bacillary hemoglobinuria is also called “Red Water Disease” in western Canada. It is caused by a bacterial infection in the liver that releases toxins into the blood stream and causes red blood cell destruction and death. Bison are susceptible …
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Anaplasmosis was diagnosed in a bison herd in Saskatchewan. It is a disease of cattle, bison and other ruminants that is common in some U.S. states but rare in Canada. This article describes the disease and outlines how Canadian officials keep it from en…
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