Zoonotic Diseases
Zoonotic diseases, infections that move between animals and people, are an important health concern in South Dakota due to our close connections with livestock, pets, wildlife, and the outdoors. These diseases spread through pathways such as bites from infected animals or ticks, interactions with livestock or other domestic animals, inhalation of contaminated dust, or exposure to contaminated environments or products. Awareness of where these diseases come from and how they spread is key to prevention.
Recommendations for Safer Interactions with Domestic Animals
Animal Rabies Testing Dashboard
Data on animal testing, exposure incidents, and trends over time. Explore the dashboard to view cases by species, region, and year.
For Medical Providers
Report a Disease Report an Outbreak Human Rabies Prevention Guidelines
For Veterinarians
Report an Animal Disease to SD-AIB Submit Animal to SDSU for Rabies Testing
Information on Specific Diseases
Anthrax
Anthrax is a bacterial disease than can infect warm-blooded animals including humans. It is primarily an occupational disease.
Brucellosis
Brucellosis is a bacterial disease of domestic and wild animals that may be transmitted to humans.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a progressive human prion disease that rapidly deteriorates neurologic activity, etc.
Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder found in various species of deer, elk, reindeer and moose.
Hantavirus
Hantavirus is a potentially deadly disease caused by a virus carried by rodents.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease associated with wild and domestic animals. It causes severe systemic symptoms including jaundice.
Plague
Plague, bubonic and pneumonic, is a severe disease that is normally found in rodents and transmitted to humans by fleas.
Psittacosis
Psittacosis is an infectious disease usually transmitted to humans from birds in the parrot family, turkeys and pigeons.
Q Fever
Q fever is a flu-like illness caused by Coxiella burnetii, which is found in farm animals such as goats, cows, sheep and more.
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system transmitted from infected mammals to people and is fatal.
Trichinosis
Trichinosis is a foodborne disease caused by a microscopic roundworm.
Tularemia
Tularemia is a bacterial disease associated with both animals and humans. Although many wild and domestic animals have been infected, the rabbit is most often involved in disease outbreaks.