Lecture 4: The Appalachian Environment and One Health

Appalachian Kentucky’s poor health

• one of the unhealthiest regions in the nation

• cardiovascular disease is far more deadly in appalachian kentucky

leading causes of death

• heart disease 26%

• cancer 23%

• cerebrovascular 6%

• chronic lower resp. 6%

contributing causes of death

• tobacco 18%

• poor diet/inactivity 15%

• alcohol 4%

• microbial agents 3%

what are major contributors to appalachia’s health disparities?

smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and diet

does the appalachian region contain a shortage of medical professionals?

no!

the appalachian region suffers from

an uneven distribution of health care

obesity in appalachia

the nation’s most obese region as well as having higher rates of food insecurity

mental health in appalachia

higher rates of psychological distress, depression, and suicide relative to the rest of the nation, due in part to the prevalence of social, economic, and ecological stressors

farm analysis of appalachian farms

small farms dominate appalachia with over 95% with 100 acres or less and 60% with less than 50 acres compared to US average of 343 acres

cattle in US herd vs appalachia

• in US → 39%

• in appalachia → 65%

what makes up 91% of appalachian large animals

cattle and pigs

true or false: 18% of vets are over 60.

true

what animal diseases have direct environmental components in appalachia?

copper and selenium deficiencies in goats

copper deficiency

• can be a profit robber

• marginal to severe deficiency is widespread across the US, especially in the appalachian mountain and coastal plains region

what is one of the most visible signs of copper deficiency?

change in hair color → black animals develop a reddish or gray tint to the hair and red animals become more bleached; the coat becomes dull instead of shiny

symptoms of selenium deficiency

• in calves → white muscle disease is a sure sign of selenium deficiency

• lesions occur in skeletal and/or heart muscle

• skeletal muscle groups affected include those of upper fore and hind limbs, and affected animals walk with a stiff-legged gait or are unable to stand

• lesions in heart muscle can produce sudden death and in intercostal muscles may produce respiratory distress

lead poisoning in cattle

• more common in young animals

• clinical signs are associated with the GI and nervous systems

• within 24-48 hours of exposure → ataxia, blindness, salivation, spastic twitching of eyelids, jaw champing, bruxism, muscle tremors, and convulsions

rabies

• domestic species accounted for 8% of all rabid animals reported in the US in 2013

• cats 53%, dogs 19%, horses and mules 7%, sheep and goats 2%

what has represented the majority of rabid domestic animals since 1992?

cats

what state had the largest number of rabid cats?

pennsylvania (followed by virginia)