Diseases

Diseases have a detrimental effect on plants and animals and impact on market access and agricultural production. Diseases include micro-organisms, disease agents (bacteria, fungi and viruses), infectious agents, parasites and genetic disorders.

Western Australia is free from some of the world's major agricultural and livestock diseases. Biosecurity measures on your property are vital in preventing the spread of diseases.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development provides:

biosecurity/quarantine measures at the WA border to prevent the entry of plant and animal diseases
post border biosecurity measures for harmful animal and plant diseases
advice on widespread diseases present in the state.

For advice on animal and plant diseases search our website, the Western Australian Organism List or contact our Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS).

For diagnostic services, please contact our Diagnostic Laboratory Services.

Articles

Johne's disease (JD) in sheep: biosecurity practices and management options

9 December 2013

This webpage outlines the market impacts of a Johne’s disease (JD) diagnosis, biosecurity practices to reduce the likelihood of JD in sheep occurring on your property, the SheepMAP program, and opt
Lupinosis in sheep

18 December 2014

Lupinosis is a liver disease mainly caused by the consumption of lupin stalks colonised by the fungus Diaporthe toxica. It can be expressed as either a severe acute disease or as a chronic
Water quality for livestock

3 December 2014

Measure water quality and quantity to effectively plan and monitor water supplies for livestock.
Pigeon rotavirus in Western Australia

23 January 2017

Pigeon rotavirus was first detected in Western Australia as a result of investigation of a disease outbreak in racing pigeons in May and June 2016.
Keep pigs healthy - follow the biosecurity checklist

10 December 2013

Pig owners play a vital role in maintaining Western Australia's high animal health status and reputation as a producer of quality livestock and livestock products.
SMS livestock surveillance networks

17 September 2018

Cattle producers in the shires of Albany, Denmark and Plantagenet in Western Australia and sheep producers in the shires of Esperance and Ravensthorpe are invited to participate in local surveillan
Northern Australian Biosecurity Surveillance (NABS) activities in Western Australia

21 May 2018

The Northern Australia Biosecurity Surveillance (NABS) project is a coordinated surveillance program to enhance the early detection of exotic disease incursions and to provide sufficient surveillan
Preventing calf scours in beef herds

28 November 2013

‘Calf scours’ is when young calves develop diarrhoea and become dehydrated. The scour can be white, yellow, grey or blood-stained, and is often foul-smelling.
Diarrhoea in adult cattle

22 May 2018

There are a variety of possible causes of diarrhoea in adult cattle and they are often different to the common causes of diarrhoea, or scours, in calves.
Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV)

24 September 2014

Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a virus that infects Australian flying foxes (fruit bats) and microbats.