Infectious diseases considered to pose a threat for introduction
Infectious diseases are transmitted in a variety of different ways. The most likely route of introduction of a given exotic disease agent of animals depends on the mode of transmission for that particular disease agent. Disease agents more easily transmitted and spread are considered to pose a greater threat of introduction. The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) maintains current lists of the diseases it considers to be of highest concern.
|
|
OIE List A diseases are those transmissible diseases that (1) have the potential for very serious and rapid spread, irrespective of national borders, (2) are of serious socio-economic or public health consequence, and (3) are of major importance in the international trade of animals and animal products. At present, List A contains 15 diseases (Table 1), most of which are caused by viral agents.
| Table 1. Office des International des Epizooties List A diseases. | |
| Foot and
mouth disease Vesicular stomatitis Swine vesicular disease Rinderpest Peste des petits ruminants Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia Lumpy skin disease Rift Valley fever |
Bluetongue Sheep pox and goat pox African horse sickness African swine fever Classical swine fever Highly pathogenic avian influenza Newcastle disease |
List B diseases are transmissible diseases that (1) are considered to be of socio-economic and/or public health importance within countries and (2) are significant in the international trade of animals and animal products. Currently List B contains approximately 90 diseases (Table 2) caused by viral, bacterial, and parasitic disease agents.