Bear Diseases 

CONTENTS / Bears: Health and Management / Lists of diseases:
LIST OF BEAR DISEASES:

• Common Diseases, Zoonoses etc.
• By Main Signs/System Affected
• By Disease Agent

This list page enables you to scroll down the diseases of bears. The diseases are grouped together, first indicating COMMON DISEASES AND REASONS FOR PRESENTATION, then with SIMILAR DISEASES DEFINED BY THE MAIN SIGNS OR SYSTEM AFFECTED e.g. all the diseases causing mainly respiratory signs or respiratory system pathology are in the group "Respiratory Diseases", and arranged by alphabetical order within the groups, and finally grouped by DISEASE AGENT TYPE (viral, bacterial etc.) again organised alphabetically within each group.

For further information linking diseases to the system or area of the body to assist in diagnosis see also: 

• Physical Examination of Mammals
• Necropsy of Mammals

Common Diseases & Reasons for Presentation of Zoo Bears

• Arthritis and Skeletal Disease in Bears

• Audycoptic Mange in Bears

• Dental Disease in Bears

• Baylisascaris Infection in Bears

• Dermatophilosis in Bears

• Hepatic and Bile Duct Neoplasia in Bears

• Hookworm Infection in Bears

• Gastro-Intestinal Nematode Infection in Bears

• Neoplasia in Bears

• Sarcoptic Mange

• Trichinella Infection in Hedgehogs and Bears

• Unspecified skin conditions of Bears

Common Diseases & Reasons for Presentation of Farmed and Rescued Bears

• Abdominal Hernias in Bears

• Baylisascaris Infection in Bears

• Cestode Infections in Bears

• Claw Overgrowth in Bears

• Dental Disease in Bears

• Gall Bladder Fistula in Bears

• Gall Bladder Lesions in Bears

• Gastro-Intestinal Nematode Infection in Bears

• Hookworm Infection in Bears

• Intestinal Fluke Infection in Bears

• Ringworm in Hedgehogs (with notes on Elephants and Bears)

Common Diseases of Neonates and Hand-Reared Bears

• Audycoptic Mange in Bears

• Bacterial Gastroenteritis in Bears

• Baylisascaris Infection in Bears

• Chilling - Hypothermia (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Bears)

• Constipation in Bears

• Flea Infection in Mammals (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Bears and a note on Elephants)

• Fractures in Bears

• Gastritis in Bears

• Gastro-Intestinal Nematode Infection in Bears

• Hookworm Infection in Bears

• Hypoglycaemia

• Lacerations & Punctures, including bite wounds (with special reference to Waterfowl, UK Wildlife and Bears)

• Navel Infection in Bears

• Ocular Disease in Bears

• Ringworm in Hedgehogs (with notes on Elephants and Bears)

• Sarcoptic Mange

• Tick Infection (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)

Congenital Diseases

• Cretinism in a Bear
• Cryptorchidism in Bears
• Hydrocephalus in Bears
• Hypospadias in a Bear
• Kidney Agenesis in Bears
• Microphthalmia - see Ocular Disease in Bears
• Pseudohermaphroditism in Bears
• Radial Agenesis in a Bear
• Tetralogy of Fallot in a Bear
• Umbilical Hernia in Bears

Zoonoses

• Anthrax (with special reference to Waterfowl, Elephants and Bears) [Very rare; two cases reported]
• Baylisascaris Infection in Bears [Larvae of the raccoon roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis can infect humans; it is not known whether larvae of Baylisascaris transfuga can infect humans]
• Chiggers (Trombiculiasis) (In Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Bears)
• Colibacillosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants and a note on Bears)
• Rabies (with special reference to raccoons)
  • Information regarding the disease in bears is available in:
    • Rabies - Editorial Overview of Disease Characteristics for specified SPECIES-TAXA
    • Rabies (with special reference to Raccoons) - Detailed Clinical Signs (Disease Reports)
    • Rabies (with special reference to Raccoons) - Detailed Pathological Findings - (Necropsy-Post Mortem) (Disease Reports)
    • Rabies virus (with special reference to raccoon rabies variant) - Definitive Mammal Host Species (Viral Reports)
    • Rabies virus (with special reference to raccoon rabies variant) - Detection and Identification Techniques (Viral Reports)
• Ringworm in Hedgehogs (with notes on Elephants and Bears)
• Salmonellosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Sarcoptic Mange
• Tick Infection (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Toxoplasmosis in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears) [Zoonotic potential only if raw or undercooked bear meat is eaten]
• Trichinella Infection in Hedgehogs and Bears [Zoonotic potential only if raw or undercooked bear meat is eaten]
• West Nile Virus Disease
  • Information regarding the disease in bears is available in:
    • West Nile Virus - Definitive Mammal Host Species (Viral Reports)
    • West Nile Virus Disease - Editorial Overview of Disease Characteristics for specified SPECIES-TAXA
    • West Nile Virus Disease - Detailed Clinical Signs (Disease Reports)
    • West Nile Virus Disease - Detailed Pathological Findings - (Necropsy-Post Mortem) (Disease Reports)
• Yersiniosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs, Bears and notes on Elephants) [Rare zoonosis; can be severe or fatal]

Diseases reported only from Experimental Infection, or as a Host with no Clinical Signs

• Avian Botulism in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears) [Antibodies to Clostridium botulinum detected]
• Avian Influenza (with special reference to Waterfowl and notes on Hedgehogs and Bears) [Antibodies detected only]
• Bhanja Virus Infection in Hedgehogs and Bears [Antibodies detected only]
• Bluetongue in Elephants and Bears [Antibodies detected only]

• Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in Lagomorphs and Bears [serology, detection of the organism]

• Brucellosis (with notes on Bears) [Experimental]

• Calicivirus Infection in Bears [Antibodies detected only]
• Canine Parvovirus Infection [Antibodies detected only]

• Chlamydiosis - Psittacosis in Birds (with special reference to Waterfowl and a note on Bears) [Antibodies detected only]

• Cytomegalovirus Infection in Bears [Antibodies detected only]
• Dolphin Rhabdovirus Infection in Bears [Antibodies detected only]
• Dolphin Morbillivirus Infection in Bears [Antibodies detected only]
• Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Waterfowl (with a note on Bears) [Antibodies detected only]
• Erysipelothrix Infection in Birds (with special reference to Waterfowl and notes on Hedgehogs and Bears) [Organism detected in faeces]
• Human Adenovirus Infection in Bears [Antibodies detected only]

• Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis in Bears [Antibodies detected only]

• Influenza B Virus Infection in Bears [Antibodies detected only]
• Unspecified Morbillivirus Infection of Hedgehogs (with notes on Bears) [Antibodies detected only]
• Naples Sandfly Fever Infection in Bears [Antibodies detected only]
• Northway Virus Infection in Bears [Antibodies detected only]
• Parainfluenza Virus Infections in Bears [Antibodies detected only]
• Parvovirus Infection of Hedgehogs (with notes on Bears) [Antibodies detected only]
• Phocine Distemper (with notes on Bears) [Antibodies detected only]

• Q Fever (Coxiella burnetti infection) (with notes on Hedgehogs and Bears) [Antibodies detected only]

• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Bears [Antibodies detected only]

• St Louis Encephalitis (SLE) in Bears [Antibodies detected only]
• Snowshoe Hare Virus Infection in Bears [Antibodies detected only]

• Tularemia in Hedgehogs and Bears [Antibodies detected only]

• Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis in Bears [Antibodies detected only]
• Vesicular Stomatitis in Bears [Antibodies detected only]
• Western Equine Encephalitis in Waterfowl (with a note on Bears) [Antibodies detected only]

• Yersiniosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs, Bears and notes on Elephants) [Antibodies detected only]

Skin Diseases

• Audycoptic Mange in Bears
• Bacterial Dermatitis in Bears
• Biting-Blood-sucking and Nuisance Flies Affecting Elephants and Bears
• Burns and Smoke Inhalation (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Chiggers (Trombiculiasis) (in Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Bears)
• Claw Overgrowth in Bears
• Demodicosis (with special reference to Hedgehogs and Bears)
• Dermatophilosis in Bears
• Flea Infection in Mammals (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Bears and a note on Elephants)
• Greening of the Hair Coat in Polar Bears
• Hypothyroidism in Bears
• Inhalant Allergic Dermatitis in Bears
• Lice Infection in Elephants and Bears
• Navel Infection in Bears
• Neoplasia in Bears
• Pityrosporum pachydermatis in a Bear
• Pythiosis in Bears
• Ringworm in Hedgehogs (with notes on Elephants and Bears)
• Sarcoptic Mange
• Tick Infection (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Umbilical Hernia in Bears
• Unspecified skin conditions of Bears
• Vitamin A-responsive Skin Disease in Bears

Respiratory Diseases

• Blastomycosis in Bears

• Canine Distemper (with notes on Bears)
• Hepatozoon Infection in Bears
• Leech Infection in Bears
• Lungworms in Bears

• Mammalian Tuberculosis (with special reference to Badgers, Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)

• Respiratory Disease in Bears

Musculo-Skeletal, Locomotor and Nervous Diseases

• Arthritis and Skeletal Disease in Bears
• Bacterial Wound Infection and Cellulitis in Bears

• Calcium-Vitamin D Metabolism Imbalance (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)

• Candidiasis in Waterfowl and Bears (with notes on Elephants)

• Canine Distemper (with notes on Bears)

• Clostridial Myonecrosis in Bears

• Cretinism in a Bear

• Cysticercosis in Bears

• Epilepsy and Convulsions in Bears

• Hydrocephalus in Bears

• Lacerations & Punctures, including bite wounds (with special reference to Waterfowl, UK Wildlife and Bears)

• Neuronal Degeneration of the Spinal Cord in Bears

• Rabies (with special reference to raccoons)
  • Information regarding the disease in bears is available in:
    • Rabies (with special reference to Raccoons) - Detailed Clinical Signs (Disease Reports)
    • Rabies (with special reference to Raccoons) - Detailed Pathological Findings - (Necropsy-Post Mortem) (Disease Reports)
    • Rabies virus (with special reference to raccoon rabies variant) - Definitive Mammal Host Species (Viral Reports)
    • Rabies virus (with special reference to raccoon rabies variant) - Detection and Identification Techniques (Viral Reports)

• Radial Agenesis in a Bear

• Ruptured Intervertebral Disk in a Bear

• Sparganosis in Bears

• Toxoplasmosis in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)

• Trichinella Infection in Hedgehogs and Bears

• West Nile Virus Disease
  • Information regarding the disease in bears is available in:
    • West Nile Virus - Definitive Mammal Host Species (Viral Reports)
    • West Nile Virus Disease - Editorial Overview of Disease Characteristics for specified SPECIES-TAXA
    • West Nile Virus Disease - Detailed Clinical Signs (Disease Reports)
    • West Nile Virus Disease - Detailed Pathological Findings - (Necropsy-Post Mortem) (Disease Reports)

Cardiac & Circulatory Diseases

• Babesia Infection (Piroplasmosis) in Elephants and Bears

• Cerebral Arteriosclerosis in a Bear

• Heartworm Infection in Bears

• Hypersensitivity angiitis in a Bear

• Medial Calcification of the Aorta in Bears

• Tetralogy of Fallot in a Bear

Digestive System / Gastro-Intestinal Diseases

• Acute Gastric Dilatation in Bears

• Bacterial Enterocolitis in Bears

• Bacterial Gastroenteritis in Bears

• Canine Distemper (with notes on Bears)

• Clostridium difficile Infection in Bears

• Clostridium perfringens Infection in Elephants and Bears

• Cryptosporidiosis in Mammals (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)

• Dental Disease in Bears

• Gonglyonema pulchrum Infection in Bears

• Intestinal Perforation in Bears
• Intestinal Volvulus in Bears

• Neoplasia in Bears

• Pancreatic Necrosis in Bears

• Oral Foreign Bodies in Hedgehogs and Bears

• Rotavirus Infection in Rabbits and Ferrets with a note on Bears

• Salmonellosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)

• Trichobezoars in Bears

Hepatic Diseases

• Hepatic and Bile Duct Neoplasia in Bears

• Sarcocystosis in Waterfowl and Bears

Renal & Urogenital Diseases

• Oiling
• Neoplasia in Bears
• Leptospirosis (with notes on Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Nephritis in Bears
• Urolithiasis in Bears

Eye / Ear Diseases

• Eyeworms in Bears

• Ocular Disease in Bears

• Ocular Foreign Bodies in Bears

Systemic Diseases

• Oiling

• Anthrax (with special reference to Waterfowl, Elephants and Bears)

• Blastomycosis in Bears

• Borreliosis in Waterfowl

• Brucellosis

• Candidiasis in Waterfowl and Bears (with notes on Elephants)

• Canine Distemper (with notes on Bears)

• Chlamydiosis - Psittacosis in Birds (with special reference to Waterfowl and a note on Bears)

• Colibacillosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants and a note on Bears)

• Hypersensitivity angiitis in a Bear

• Listeriosis in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs and Bears)

• Mammalian Tuberculosis (with special reference to Badgers, Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)

• Obesity in Bears

• Pasteurella Infection in Hedgehogs (with notes on Bears)

• Staphylococcosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Bears)

Viral Diseases

• Canine Distemper (with notes on Bears)
• Foot-and-Mouth Disease
  • Information regarding the occurrence of FMD in bears is provided in Foot and Mouth Disease - Definitive Host Species (Viral Reports)
• Infectious Canine Hepatitis (with notes on Bears)
• Pseudorabies in Bears
• Rabies (with special reference to raccoons) 
  • Information regarding the disease in bears is available in:
    • Rabies - Editorial Overview of Disease Characteristics for specified SPECIES-TAXA
    • Rabies (with special reference to Raccoons) - Detailed Clinical Signs (Disease Reports)
    • Rabies (with special reference to Raccoons) - Detailed Pathological Findings - (Necropsy-Post Mortem) (Disease Reports)
    • Rabies (with special reference to Raccoons) - External Susceptibility Factors (Concurrent Disease, Immunosupression) (Disease Reports)
    • Rabies virus (with special reference to raccoon rabies variant) - Definitive Mammal Host Species (Viral Reports)
    • Rabies virus (with special reference to raccoon rabies variant) - Detection and Identification Techniques (Viral Reports)
• Rotavirus Infection in Rabbits and Ferrets with a note on Bears (Viral Disease)
• West Nile Virus Disease
  • Information regarding the disease in bears is available in:
    • West Nile Virus - Definitive Mammal Host Species (Viral Reports)
    • West Nile Virus Disease - Editorial Overview of Disease Characteristics for specified SPECIES-TAXA
    • West Nile Virus Disease - Detailed Clinical Signs (Disease Reports)
    • West Nile Virus Disease - Detailed Pathological Findings - (Necropsy-Post Mortem) (Disease Reports)

Antibodies detected ONLY:

• Avian Influenza (with special reference to Waterfowl and notes on Hedgehogs and Bears)
• Bhanja Virus Infection in Hedgehogs and Bears
• Bluetongue in Elephants and Bears
• Calicivirus Infection in Bears
• Canine Parvovirus Infection
• Cytomegalovirus Infection in Bears
• Dolphin Rhabdovirus Infection in Bears
• Dolphin Morbillivirus Infection in Bears
• Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Waterfowl (with a note on Bears)
• Human Adenovirus Infection in Bears
• Influenza B Virus Infection in Bears
• Unspecified Morbillivirus Infection of Hedgehogs
• Naples Sandfly Fever Infection in Bears
• Northway Virus Infection in Bears
• Parainfluenza Virus Infections in Bears
• Parvovirus Infection of Hedgehogs (with notes on Bears)
• Phocine Distemper (with notes on Bears)
• St Louis Encephalitis (SLE) in Bears
• Snowshoe Hare Virus Infection in Bears
• Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis in Bears
• Vesicular Stomatitis in Bears
• Western Equine Encephalitis in Waterfowl (with a note on Bears)

Bacterial Diseases

• Abscess in Bears
• Anthrax (with special reference to Waterfowl, Elephants and Bears)
• Bacterial Dermatitis in Bears
• Bacterial Enterocolitis in Bears
• Bacterial Gastroenteritis in Bears
• Bacterial Wound Infection and Cellulitis in Bears
• Bacterial valvular endocarditis - see Staphylococcosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Bears)
• Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in Lagomorphs and Bears [Antibodies detected, organism detected]
• Brucellosis
• Chlamydiosis - Psittacosis in Birds (with special reference to Waterfowl and a note on Bears)
• Clostridial Myonecrosis in Bears
• Clostridium difficile Infection in Bears
• Clostridium perfringens Infection in Elephants (with notes on Bears)
• Colibacillosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants and a note on Bears)
• Dermatophilosis in Bears
• Elokomin Fluke Fever in Bears
• Erysipelothrix Infection in Birds (with special reference to Waterfowl and notes on Hedgehogs and Bears)
• Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis in Bears
• Leptospirosis (with notes on Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Listeriosis in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs and Bears)
• Mammalian Tuberculosis (with special reference to Badgers, Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Navel Infection in Bears
• Pasteurella Infection in Hedgehogs (with notes on Bears)
• Q Fever (Coxiella burnetti infection) (with notes on Hedgehogs and Bears)
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Bears
• Salmonellosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Salmon Poisoning in Bears
• Staphylococcosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Bears)
• Tularemia in Hedgehogs and Bears
• Yersiniosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs, Bears and notes on Elephants)

Fungal / Algal Diseases

• Blastomycosis in Bears

• Candidiasis in Waterfowl and Bears (with notes on Elephants)

• Greening of the Hair Coat in Polar Bears

• Pityrosporum pachydermatis in a Bear

• Pythiosis in Bears

• Ringworm in Hedgehogs (with notes on Elephants and Bears)

Parasitic Diseases

• Acanthocephalan Infection in Bears
• Audycoptic Mange in Bears
• Babesia Infection (Piroplasmosis) in Elephants and Bears
• Baylisascaris Infection in Bears
• Biting-Blood-sucking and Nuisance Flies Affecting Elephants and Bears
• Cestode Infections in Bears
• Chagas' Disease in Hedgehogs and Bears
• Chiggers (Trombiculiasis) (in Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Bears)
• Chorioptic Mange in Hedgehogs and Bears
• Cryptosporidiosis in Mammals (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Cysticercosis in Bears
• Demodicosis (with special reference to Hedgehogs and Bears)
• Dioctophyme renale Infection in Bears
• Dirofilaria ursi infection in Bears
• Eyeworms in Bears
• Flea Infection in Mammals (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Bears and a note on Elephants)
• Gastro-Intestinal Nematode Infection in Bears
• Gonglyonema pulchrum Infection in Bears
• Heartworm Infection in Bears
• Hepatozoon Infection in Bears
• Hookworm Infection in Bears
• Intestinal Coccidiosis in Hedgehogs (with notes on Bears)
• Intestinal Fluke Infection in Bears
• Leech Infection in Bears
• Lice Infection in Elephants and Bears
• Lungworms in Bears
• Myiasis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Prouterina wescotti Infection in Bears
• Sarcocystosis in Waterfowl and Bears
• Sarcoptic Mange
• Sparganosis in Bears
• Tick Infection (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Toxoplasmosis in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Trichinella Infection in Hedgehogs and Bears

Toxic Diseases

• Avian Botulism in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl (with notes on elephants and bears)
• Levamisole-Tetramisole Toxicity with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears
• Oiling
• Oleander Poisoning in Waterfowl and Bears
• Strychnine Poisoning in Waterfowl and Bears
• Tick Toxicosis in Bears
• Yew Toxicity in Bears

Micro-nutrient (Vitamin / Mineral) Diseases

• Calcium-Vitamin D Metabolism Imbalance (with special reference to Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)
• Vitamin A-responsive Skin Disease in Bears

Physical / Traumatic Diseases

• Burns and Smoke Inhalation (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs, Elephants and Bears)

• Chilling - Hypothermia (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Bears)

• Choke in Elephants and Bears

• Drowning (with special reference to Waterfowl and notes on Hedgehogs and Bears)

• Fractures in Bears

• Gall Bladder Fistula in Bears

• Lacerations & Punctures, including bite wounds (with special reference to Waterfowl, UK Wildlife and Bears)

• Ocular Foreign Bodies in Bears

• Oral Foreign Bodies in Hedgehogs and Bears

• Hyperthermia - Sunstroke - Heatstroke in Waterfowl, Elephants and Bears

Miscellaneous / Multifactorial / Metabolic Diseases

• Abdominal Hernias in Bears
• Acute Gastric Dilatation in Bears
• Arthritis and Skeletal Disease in Bears
• Aspiration Pneumonia in Birds, Elephants and Bears
• Brain Infarct in Bears
• Cerebral Arteriosclerosis in a Bear
• Claw Overgrowth in Bears
• Clitoriditis in Bears
• Constipation in Bears
• Cretinism in a Bear
• Cryptorchidism in Bears
• Cystitis in Elephants and Bears
• Dental Disease in Bears
• Epilepsy and Convulsions in Bears
• Gall Bladder Lesions in Bears
• Gastritis in Bears
• Hepatic and Bile Duct Neoplasia in Bears
• Hydrocephalus in Bears
• Hypersensitivity angiitis in a Bear
• Hypospadias in a Bear
• Hypothyroidism in Bears
• Inhalant Allergic Dermatitis in Bears
• Intestinal Perforation in Bears
• Intestinal Volvulus in Bears
• Kidney Agenesis in Bears
• Medial Calcification of the Aorta in Bears
• Myasthenia Gravis in Bears
• Neoplasia in Bears
• Nephritis in Bears
• Neuronal Degeneration of the Spinal Cord in Bears
• Nutritional Gastroenteritis in Bears
• Obesity in Bears
• Ocular Disease in Bears
• Pancreatic Necrosis in Bears
• Pseudohermaphroditism in Bears
• Radial Agenesis in a Bear
• Respiratory Disease in Bears
• Ruptured Intervertebral Disk in a Bear
• Scrotal Hernia in Bears
• Starvation in Waterfowl and Seabirds (with notes on Hedgehogs and Bears)
• Tetralogy of Fallot in a Bear
• Trichobezoars in Bears
• Umbilical Hernia in Bears
• Unspecified skin conditions of Bears
• Urolithiasis in Bears