Diseases that occur with temperature fluctuations and are transmitted through meat
Professor Dr. Muntaha Ghazi Hassan / Professor of Veterinary Public Health / College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul
Livestock is an important resource on the global economic level, which requires preserving it and providing the appropriate environment and nutrition to protect it from many diseases, especially common diseases that are transmitted through direct contact with animals or through the consumption of their products. Preserving livestock is one of the most important sustainable development strategies, which in turn is one of the pillars of food security for many countries around the world.
The changes in climate and environmental systems we have witnessed in recent years have impacted animal exposure to numerous diseases, which may spread epidemically and threaten livestock, which in turn may infect humans and pose a threat to their lives. Animal exposure to diseases is associated with temperature changes and seasonality, such as avian influenza, a highly dangerous disease that occurs epidemically during certain seasons of the year, especially when health conditions and controls are not implemented in poultry farms. This creates the opportunity for the virus to spread epidemically, leading to significant deaths and infections among breeders, workers, and veterinarians who come into direct contact with epidemic cases. Hemorrhagic fever, caused by the rapid transmission of the virus during the spring seasons, when temperatures change and virus carriers become active during the grazing season, is an epidemic disease transmitted to humans through infected animals and their products.
Temperature fluctuations negatively impact animal health. Temperatures higher than normal body temperature affect the animal’s appetite and lower its immunity, making it more susceptible to disease. Brucellosis, a common disease transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals or by consuming their products, is most prevalent in developing countries, where Brucella bacteria remain viable for long periods in the animal’s body. Therefore, consuming meat from animals infected with this disease is not recommended. Sheep pox is also one of the most prevalent diseases when environmental temperatures rise due to increased viral activity. Animal diseases caused by vectors are also caused by temperature fluctuations in the climate, particularly insects. These include bluetongue, Rift Valley fever, and leishmaniasis, which depend on the prevalence and distribution of vectors.
Temperature fluctuations contribute to the spread of many bacterial diseases among various animal herds, such as ruminants and poultry. Bacteria present in the animal’s environment become active when temperatures rise, multiplying, growing, and infecting the animals. Severe infections can cause animal death. This can be attributed to the widespread spread of these bacteria as a result of direct contact with infected animals or their contaminated secretions and tools. It is important to avoid consuming meat from infected animals, as they can be a source of infection for consumers of contaminated products. The most important of these diseases are salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile, and Escherichia coli. When meat is not stored properly and at appropriate refrigeration temperatures, these diseases can lead to food poisoning caused by the bacteria or their toxins if consumed.
Many bacteria possess highly virulent virulence factors that pose a threat to the lives of animals and humans. Therefore, it is recommended to select strains that can withstand fluctuations in environmental temperatures and reduce the effects of heat stress on animals. It is also recommended to provide balanced and nutritionally complete feeds to increase animal resistance to disease and preserve their nutritional value. Meat is stored at refrigerated temperatures to reduce or inhibit microbial growth and increase the shelf life of the meat. This requires significant effort and unlimited support to reduce the risk factors that threaten livestock and human health
