Mosquitoes carry a variety of diseases that affect cattle.
One of the major disease-carrying insects within the United States is the mosquito. Not only does it infect people with multiple diseases, but it can be harmful to livestock. The Illinois Department of Health describes the mosquito as the most dangerous creature on the planet, infecting millions of animals and people each year.
West Nile Virus
One of the diseases transmitted to cattle by mosquitoes is the West Nile virus. The mosquito draws the infection from a bird that has the virus. The virus is transmitted to cattle once a mosquito bites the animal to take blood. During this blood feeding, the virus is injected into the animal, where it begins to multiply. As of 2011, there is no vaccine for the virus when cattle or people become infected.
Yellow Fever
Even though yellow fever is known to infect people, it can also infect cattle and other primates. The disease is transmitted by the saliva of a female mosquito. Yellow fever infests the stomach of a female mosquito and travels to the saliva glands of the insect. It is believed to have originated in South America and Africa, traveling to other countries through the slave trade. A vaccine was developed in the 20th century, but as of 2011, there is no cure once contracted.
Anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis is a blood disease transmitted to cattle by mosquitoes and other parasites. Once infected, the disease begins to destroy the red blood cells of the animal. Cattle infected with anaplamosis can either die or recover within a matter of days. The age of the cattle makes a difference in the mortality rate. If the disease is not detected early, it is useless to treat the cattle because the treatment will have no affect. A vaccine is available that will help reduce the affects of the disease in cattle.
Malaria
Malaria has killed millions of people throughout history. More people have died from malaria than from all the wars combined, but the disease also affects cattle. Only the female mosquito carries the deadly disease and transmits it to cattle. Female anopheles mosquitoes get infected with a parasite that carries the disease. If the female mosquito lives long enough, the parasite will complete its evelopment cycle and infect the mosquito. Higher temperatures cause the parasite to complete its malaria development cycle quicker. Malaria does not affect the mosquito like it does people and cattle. An insecticide has been developed to control the mosquito infestation. There is a drug that treats malaria in cattle, but some mosquitoes can develop a resistance to the drug over generations.
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