What Diseases Can You Get from Wild Hogs?

Entanglement with animals has seen the occurrence of countless alien diseases that take on a heavy body count before finding their cure. A wild hog, whose population is steadily multiplying, is among the animals that humans should be careful while handling. It is with this concern that most hunters find the question of what diseases can you get from a wild hog troubling and its answer of importance.

In this article, we will expound on the various diseases you can contract after irresponsibly handling this species. While at it, we will also touch on the do’s and don’ts when interacting with a wild hog. By now, their population is widely spread across the United States, with new sightings reported frequently. 

The Most Common Diseases

Swine Brucellosis

Swine brucellosis is a wild hog disease that is caused by bacteria and is susceptible to human beings. Such illnesses are referred to as zoonosis diseases, and they are more dangerous on humans than they are on their initial hosts. 

From animal to animal, the disease transmits through breeding with an infected character. It is not a must for the two to have been in physical contact for successful transmission; physical interactions with any of its semen or reproductive fluid will also lead to transmission. From animal to human, ingestion of the bacteria causing disease is one way you may find yourself with this disease.

Symptoms in Hogs

Abortion

Abortion is most likely to occur during any stage of their gestation period. I believe the cause of this is the damage caused to its reproduction system. If the animal lives to conceive a second time after the failed pregnancy, then the outcome will remain unpleasant.

Infertility

After several failed gestation sessions, the female’s reproductive system will eventually fail. In other words, the female will be unable to reproduce further, hence termed as infertile.

Orchitis

This ailment is explicit to males and involves the irregular swelling of its testicles. The infected animal will also experience sharp pains from time to time. Since the most affected line is the reproductive system, such effects are typical.

Lameness

Apart from the reproductive system, the infected organism faces inflammation in its joints. This issue then further results in its hind limbs becoming paralyzed and disrupts its mobility.

Symptoms in Humans

Flu-Like Symptoms

Once contracted by a human, the first signs to show are similar to flu symptoms. Fever during most of the day as your temperatures show high inconsistencies with distinctive characteristics. One minute you are too hot, the next you are freezing. It gets worse as the disease progresses.

Tularemia

Tularemia, famously known by its other name rabbit fever, is a severe infection that tends to take a hazardous toll on humans. It is a bacterial infection that is spread from one organism to another through physical contact with an infected party.

The primary medium for this disease    is ticks and deer flies, which take host in wild hogs and other animals. It is also spread via the drinking of contaminated water by the said bacteria. Although it can be passed from an animal to a human, human to human transmission is impossible, as researchers claim.

Entirely covering yourself, applying insect repellent, and avoiding tick-infested animals are prevention measures that prove useful. Although there is a cure in place for this ailment, prevention is better than cure. On wild hogs, this disease is not as lethal as it is on humans.

Symptoms on Humans

Fever

The infected individual may experience fever during the early stages of infection. As the sickness progresses, so does the intensity of the inconsistent body temperatures.

Skin Ulcers

Rashes on the victim’s skin, which strongly resemble a skin disease, start showing. Although small, the degree of nasty in the resulting wound is incredible and very painful.

Inflamed face

You may experience intense irritation in your facial area, mostly your eyes and nose. The urge to scratch them will then leave behind red eyes and several parts of your face.

Pseudorabies

Pseudorabies is an infection spearheaded by the herpes virus and is mostly confused with the rabies disease. Pigs infected with this infection seem to be healthy, and only after it attaches itself to other mammals that it takes a negative toll.

Researchers recently brought forth a vaccine for both humans and livestock to limit its spread. It is mainly transmitted from organism to organism via inhalation of the bacteria. The disease-causing element excretes from the host via saliva, which is understandable as the disease heavily affects its respiratory system.

Be careful with these bacteria as their particles can last up to seven hours in the air and water.

Symptoms in Humans

Respiratory Infections

Immediately after successful transmission, the virus heads straight to the respiratory organs where it kicks off its attack. Difficulty in breathing and coughing are among the initial signs and symptoms.

Neurological Illnesses

Need I remind you that this is a highly lethal disease in humans? It works fast, and within a couple of days without proper medication could lead to fatalities. Neurological ailments are the final portion of the attack and eventually result in death.

How to Protect Yourself from Wild Hogs Diseases

When handling wild hog carcasses, always ensure that you have entirely covered yourself with efficient clothing. It is an added advantage if you use waterproof dressings as well as disposable gloves.

Try as hard as possible to avoid contact with the animal’s body fluids; this includes its blood and other organ fluids. And after every exposure to the animal, clean your hands with clean running water and soap.

After your dissection and disassembling procedures, clean the meat with enough water. Then you can go ahead and adequately cook it to kill all those disease-causing elements. 

Conclusion

These diseases are no joke; many have succumbed to premature deaths of physical incapacitations from them. Although we have not exhausted all of them, the ones mentioned are most common in the modern world.