Infectious Diseases:
* Viral: Feline panleukopenia (distemper), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), rabies, canine distemper virus (rare)
* Bacterial: Tuberculosis, anthrax, brucellosis, leptospirosis, salmonellosis
* Parasitic: Roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, heartworms, mange mites, ticks, fleas
Non-infectious Diseases:
* Nutritional deficiencies: This can be caused by limited prey availability or poor diet.
* Trauma: Injuries from fights, poachers, or vehicles.
* Congenital defects: These are present at birth and can be inherited or caused by environmental factors.
* Cancer: While less common in wild animals, cancer can occur in Bengal tigers.
Specific to Bengal tigers:
* Canine distemper virus: While rare, this virus can be fatal to tigers.
* Tuberculosis: This is a serious threat to Bengal tigers, particularly in areas with high human population density.
Other factors:
* Habitat loss and fragmentation: This can lead to increased stress and a higher risk of disease.
* Climate change: Changes in temperature and precipitation can affect disease transmission and the availability of food and water.
* Human-wildlife conflict: This can lead to injuries and diseases in both humans and tigers.
Conservation efforts:
Conservation efforts are crucial in preventing disease in Bengal tigers. These include:
* Habitat protection and restoration: Protecting tiger habitats helps maintain healthy populations and reduce the risk of disease.
* Disease surveillance: Monitoring tiger populations for signs of disease is important for early intervention and treatment.
* Veterinary care: Providing veterinary care to injured or sick tigers is essential for their survival.
* Education and awareness: Raising awareness about the threats to Bengal tigers and the importance of conservation is key to their long-term survival.
It's important to remember that this is not an exhaustive list, and further research is needed to fully understand the diseases that affect Bengal tigers.