Yasmin Tavares

staff

Yasmin Tavares
0000-0002-5369-1728

staff

Extension specialist and biological scientist, UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Gainesville, FL

Publications

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Ehrlichiosis

Yasmin Tavares andSamantha M. Wisely

Ehrlichiosis is a bacterial disease that is transmitted to humans and animals from ticks. In most cases, symptoms are mild, but sometimes if antibiotic treatment is delayed, it can cause severe illness and even death. In Florida, ehrlichiosis is an emerging disease. The hotspot of transmission is in north central Florida, but the disease is underdiagnosed. This fact sheet describes ehrlichiosis and explains how it is transmitted, how to know if you have it, and how to prevent yourself and your friends and family from getting it.

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Rabies

Samantha M. Wisely andHolly K. Ober

The purpose of this document is to be an overview of rabies, including how it is spread, the symptoms, and what you should do if you suspect a rabies exposure. This document is intended for a general audience.

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Leprosy

Shannon P. Moore andSamantha M. Wisely

Worldwide, 250,000 new cases of leprosy are reported each year, and in the United States, approximately 150 new cases of leprosy are diagnosed each year. Also known as Hansen’s disease, leprosy (Mycobacterium leprae) is a bacterial disease that infects the skin and nerves, causing disfiguring skin sores, nerve damage, and occasionally lung damage if left untreated. Leprosy is spread between humans via respiratory droplets when people sneeze or cough. In the southeast United States, handling armadillos is thought to be the source of many infections. This 4-page fact sheet describes the disease in humans and armadillos and explains how to avoid it and limit its spread.

Trueperella (Arcanobacterium pyogenes) in Farmed White-Tailed Deer

Kathryn D. Pothier, Katherine A. Sayler, andSamantha M. Wisely

Trueperella is a harmless bacterium in intestinal tracts of ruminants like deer, cattle, and pigs, but if it migrates out of the intestine to other areas of an animal’s body and proliferates, it can make the animal sick. Trueperella causes many problems in deer, including lesions, abscesses, and pneumonia, and it is one of the types of bacteria that is known to contribute to the disease lumpy jaw. In young fawns, it is a common cause of death. This article explains how to spot and treat trueperella, or, better yet, prevent it in the first place.

Facts About Wildlife Diseases: Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Samantha M. Wisely andKaren Hood

The Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) causes Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) disease in birds, humans, horses, and other animals in the eastern United States, including Florida, which is especially receptive to the virus because of its freshwater hardwood swamps and wetlands, which provide good niches for the mosquito vectors of the disease. This fact sheet describes the disease and includes strategies for limiting its spread.

Diarrhea in Farmed White-tailed Deer Fawns

Juan M. Campos Krauer andSamantha M. Wisely

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. Published by Environmental Literacy and Sustainability

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: SARS-CoV-2 in White-Tailed Deer

Samantha M. Wisely

SARS Cov2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been discovered in white-tailed deer. This publication provides information to the general public, hunters, and deer farmers as to what SARS CoV2 is, the evidence for COVID-19 in deer, and if people can get COVID-19 from deer.

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Gastrointestinal Parasites of Farmed White-tailed Deer in Florida

Sydney L. Cottingham, Heather D. S. Walden, Samantha M. Wisely, andJuan M. Campos Krauer

White-tailed deer are susceptible to infection by numerous gastrointestinal parasites. Not all parasite infections cause clinical disease, but even subclinical gastrointestinal parasitism may reduce the health and productivity of infected deer. An understanding of parasite epidemiology is critical to improving captive deer health through effective parasite control strategies. This publication will serve as a guide to common parasites of farmed white-tailed deer in Florida and will provide producers with recommendations for management of gastrointestinal parasites in farmed deer.

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Bridget B. Baker andSamantha M. Wisely

Avian influenza is a highly contagious respiratory virus that circulates globally among wild birds. As of July 2022, H5N1 has spread quickly in the United States, killing wild birds in more than 40 states and impacting more than 60 species. While lethal to many bird and some mammal species, the current circulating strain is not particularly infectious in humans. Nonetheless, basic precautions are still warranted, particularly for those people in contact with wild birds via hunting or the use of backyard bird feeders or baths, as well as people with backyard poultry or pet birds. These basic precautions are detailed.

Enfermedades Zoonóticas: La Rabia

Holly K. Ober, Samantha M. Wisely, Alejandra Areingdale, andMiguel Acevedo

La rabia es un virus que se transmite entre mamíferos y es mortal para humanos y animales. La enfermedad es tratable, pero es incurable cuando los síntomas son evidentes. El virus ataca el sistema nervioso central y la forma más común de transmisión es la saliva, cuando un mamífero infectado muerde a otro animal o persona. El virus también se puede transmitir cuando saliva, lágrimas o tejido cerebral/nervioso infectados entran en contacto con heridas abiertas o mucosas (ojos, nariz o boca) de otro animal o persona. El virus puede sobrevivir en los cuerpos de animales muertos por periodos largos, pero puede sobrevivir por poco tiempo fuera del cuerpo de un hospedero. El virus deja de ser infeccioso al secarse o calentarse, o ser expuesto a la luz solar.

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

Anastasia Postowski, Kristen Wilson, Samantha M. Wisely, and Bridget B. Baker

This article is intended to summarize for the general public, and particularly hunters, farmed cervid owners, and landowners, what is currently known about chronic wasting disease (CWD) and its impacts, with information about practices to minimize spread of the disease and to safely handle and test deer.

Yasmin Tavares 0000-0002-5369-1728

staff

Publications

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Ehrlichiosis

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Rabies

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Leprosy

Trueperella (Arcanobacterium pyogenes) in Farmed White-Tailed Deer

Facts About Wildlife Diseases: Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Diarrhea in Farmed White-tailed Deer Fawns

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: SARS-CoV-2 in White-Tailed Deer

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Gastrointestinal Parasites of Farmed White-tailed Deer in Florida

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Enfermedades Zoonóticas: La Rabia

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

Yasmin Tavares
0000-0002-5369-1728