Prasinosis

**Prasinosis** is a deadly infectious disease which is commonly found in Cattle but can infect all mammals.

It is known as "grass curse" in Shahr.

Prasinosis is caused by an alga. The prasinosis pathogen was believed to be a fungus due to the resemblance of prasinosis to fungal infections, until it was recently proven to be an alga.

## Symptoms

The most distinctive symptom of prasinosis is mastitis, which may be accompanied by a reduction of milk production or by milk acquiring a yellow tint or a watery consistency.

Symptoms, however, vary depending on the affected parts of the body and may also include enteritis, uveitis or ataxia. If the infection progresses, they may evolve into dysentery, ablepsia and seizures.

The skin may present lessons and nodules, which may evolve into a green-colored necrosis which gives the disease its scientific name.

## Transmission

Prasinosis is waterborne. It is most commonly communicated by grazing in contaminated grassland and drinking contaminated water or exposure to contaminated water through the eyes, the udders or open wounds.

Grasslands and water may become contaminated with the feces, milk or corpses of the infected. Still water is most likely to host the pathogen.

## Epidemiology

Because of its means of transmission, the disease mostly affects low-income individuals who resort to grazing in the fields and drinking untreated water. The disease may also infect babies in high-income families through wet nurses.

Warm and humid environments promote the breeding of the pathogen and such weather increases the risk of an outbreak. Warm and dry climates are also in particularly strong risk of an outbreak due to the pathogen breeding in wells and cisterns.

## Prevention

During prasinosis outbreaks, untreated water should be boiled prior to consumption. If it's not possible, water from wells and lakes should be avoided. In mothers presenting symptoms, milk should be boiled before being used for feeding.

The corpses of the infected should be either burned or buried in sterile ground where no grazing happens.

## Diagnostic

Since the disease is of non-bacterial origin, it cannot be diagnosed by bacterial culture. Instead, the disease must be identified by observation of the symptoms and differential diagnosis with fungal infections.

## Treatment

There is no cure for the disease. Recommended treatment involves medical oversight and the regular cleaning and disinfection of necrotic areas. Most patients survive with treatment.

## History

Drops in milk production due to prasinosis outbreaks in Shahr lead to the creation of milk banks where milk from donors is boiled, frozen and stored and kept in reserve for periods of necessity. When demand exceeds available amount, soy milk is added to the rest of the milk prior to storage to make up the difference.

Because of the success of milk banks, more have been established in other Equestrian regions to safeguard against prasinosis outbreaks and provide milk for mothers with insufficient milk production and orphaned infants. The presence of milk banks in multiple regions also allows for milk to be sent from regions with excess milk to regions with a lack of milk, further ensuring access to milk.

Milk in banks is classified by species so that milk of the corresponding species can be used in each case. When milk of the species isn't available, milk of the closest taxonomically related species in reserve is used instead.