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

Previous Pause Next

Articles

  • Western Australian cattle tick control program

    25 March 2015

    The Western Australian (WA) cattle tick control program is managed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to protect the viability of the cattle industry and safeg

  • Wheat with Yellow Spot

    Wheat disease ratings

    22 June 2014

    When selecting a wheat variety to implement in a farming system, it is important to be aware of the variety's disease package to plan management options. The disease resistance ratings for wheat va

  • null

    Bacterial wilt of lucerne: declared pest

    22 January 2021

    Bacterial wilt of lucerne (Clavibacter insidiosus) is a disease that reduces the lifespan and productivity of lucerne stands. It also makes lucerne crops hard to establish.

  • Flystrike Assist home screen

    Flystrike management tools

    18 November 2013

    To make sure that any chemical application doesn’t leave you short on protection or break your withholding periods,  the Flystrike Assist application (mobile app for iOS and Android) has been devel

  • Pathologist looking at microscope and slide

    Significant Disease Investigation Program

    29 November 2013

    Western Australia is free of most of the significant diseases that affect animals in other parts of the world.

  • Dothistroma needle blight disease banner

    Dothistroma needle blight: declared pest

    23 January 2020

    Dothistroma needle blight (Dothistroma septosporum) causes needle loss, slow growth and sometimes death in many types of pine and some related conifers.

  • Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) damages to apple trees

    Fire blight: declared pest

    15 August 2022

    Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) is a serious bacterial disease of apples, pears and other plants in the rose family (Rosaceae). This disease is not present in Western Australia.

  • Foot-and-mouth disease lesions in the mouth of a Nepalese cow. These lesions are about five days old.

    Foot-and-mouth disease: prevention and preparedness

    5 March 2014

    Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of Australia’s greatest biosecurity risks.

  • Kneeling sheep. Advanced footrot is a painful, crippling condition.

    Managing virulent footrot in sheep and goats in Western Australia

    17 February 2015

    There are two forms of footrot in sheep and goats: virulent and benign. They are caused by infection with different strains of the bacterium, Dichelobacter nodosus.

  • Banana freckle disease symptoms

    Banana freckle: biosecurity alert

    18 October 2013

    Banana freckle was detected in Dwarf Cavendish banana fruit in the Northern Territory in May 2022. The Northern Territory Government is responding to this new detection.

Pages

Filter by search

Filter by topic