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.

See Also

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Articles

  • sheep showing weight loss typical of OJD

    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

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    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.

  • Sheep and lambs in a field

    Pregnancy toxaemia and hypocalcaemia of ewes

    12 December 2013

    Pregnancy toxaemia and hypocalcaemia affect lambing ewe flocks and have similar signs but different causes.

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    Poultry biosecurity checklist for small landholders

    2 December 2013

    The poultry biosecurity checklist summarises the actions needed to protect your poultry and the Western Australian poultry industry from the devastating effects of emergency diseases such as avian

  • Cows grazing pasture in the Great Southern

    Infertility and abortion in cows

    3 December 2018

    There are multiple causes of infertility, abortion and stillbirths in cows. These include some diseases that are exotic to Western Australia and some zoonotic diseases.

  • ewe and lamb in paddock

    Mastitis in sheep

    3 December 2013

    Mastitis is the term for a bacterial infection of the udder. It is most common in ewes raising multiple lambs or with high milk production.

  • Ovine campylobacteriosis (formerly ovine vibriosis)

    8 August 2014

    Ovine campylobacteriosis is an infectious disease of breeding ewes causing abortion in late pregnancy. It is caused by the bacteria Campylobacter fetus ssp. fetus.

  • Trail feeding of ewes in late summer on dry pasture.

    Pulpy kidney (enterotoxaemia) of sheep

    12 December 2013

    Pulpy kidney (enterotoxaemia) is a disease of sheep, goats and cattle.

  • Sheep with photosensitisation; exposed raw tissue on the face and muzzle

    Photosensitisation in livestock

    11 December 2013

    Photosensitisation is inflammation of the skin, and occasionally the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye.

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    Arthritis in sheep

    29 November 2013

    Arthritis means inflammation in one or more joints. In sheep, it is usually the result of bacterial infection.

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