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1. APHIS Releases Partial Epidemiology Report on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
June 15, 2015
The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today released an epidemiology report* outlining its initial findings through June 5 about how highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was likely entering new premises during this period of time. After conducting investigations on over 80 commercial poultry farms, APHIS analysis indicates that there are likely several ways the virus could be transmitted, including lapses in biosecurity practices and environmental factors. APHIS cannot, however, associate HPAI transmission with one factor or group of factors in a statistically significant way at this time, and will continue to update this report regularly as more analyses are completed.
[* See: http://tinyurl.com/nhzqooq ]
APHIS scientists believe wild birds were responsible for introducing HPAI into commercial poultry. While wild birds are the original pathway for the virus' introduction into the United States, it appears the virus was spreading in other ways as well, given the number and proximity of farms affected by HPAI. For instance, the report provides evidence that a certain cluster of farms was affected by identical viruses, pointing to possible transmission among those farms. In addition, genetic analyses of the HPAI viruses suggest that independent introductions as well as transmission between farms were occurring in several States concurrently.
For example, APHIS has observed the following: sharing of equipment between an infected and noninfected farm; employees moving between infected and noninfected farms; lack of cleaning and disinfection of vehicles moving between farms; and reports of rodents or small wild birds inside the poultry houses. APHIS is compiling these practices and will present these findings in a subsequent update of this report.
Based on an analysis by APHIS, environmental factors may also play a part in transmitting HPAI. APHIS found that air samples collected outside of infected poultry houses contain virus particles, indicating that the virus could be transmitted by air. In addition, preliminary analysis of wind data shows a relationship between sustained high winds and an increase in the number of infected farms approximately 5 days later. APHIS is conducting additional analyses to better characterize environmental factors that may contribute to virus spread.
Full text:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/109d739
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2. NOTICE: CVB Notice 15-07: Availability of Avian Influenza Isolates
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
June 15, 2015
The Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) recently added CVB Notice 15-07: Availability of Avian Influenza Isolates to its website which may be accessed by clicking the following link: CVB Newly Published Information. [See: http://tinyurl.com/mha2ma9 ]
The purpose of this notice is to inform interested parties that samples of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) isolates are available for purchase from the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).
Note that these isolates must be transferred in compliance with the Select Agent Regulations. No Material Transfer Agreement will be required. These isolates are not pre-tested Master Seeds; they are being made available for research and development. The availability of these isolates does not infer any impending change in vaccination policy.
Source: http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/1096fb4
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3. The veterinarian's role in VFD compliance [edited]
By John Maday, Editor, Bovine Veterinarian
Drovers CattleNetwork.com
June 12, 2015
This week, the FDA published draft "Guidance for Industry 210: Veterinary Feed Directive Regulation Questions and Answers." The document outlines requirements under the new VFD rule released on June 3, offers recommendations and answers questions regarding the responsibilities of the veterinarian, client and distributor of medicated feed.
[A complete list of veterinarian responsibilities follows.]
The guidance notes that veterinarians can file VFD forms either in paper or electronic formats. In many cases, drug companies will make VFD forms specific to their products available, but veterinarians can prepare their own VFD forms and the guidance lists the information that must be included.
An important point included in the guidance and the VFD rule is that extra-label use of VFD drugs in feed is not permitted. Examples of extra-label use of a VFD feed could include feeding animals a VFD feed for a duration of time that is different from that specified on the label, feeding VFD feed formulated with a drug level that is different from what is specified on the label or feeding VFD feed to an animal species different than what is specified on the label. According to FDA, the VFD must include the statement "Use of feed containing this veterinary feed directive (VFD) drug in a manner other than as directed on the labeling (extra-label use) is not permitted."
Full text:
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/news/industry/veterinarian%E2%80%99s-role-vfd-compliance
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4. EHV-1 Quarantines in California, Virginia Lifted
By Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
June 13, 2015
Animal health officials in California and Virginia have lifted quarantines put in place after horses residing there tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).
California
On May 21, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) reported that a 7-year-old barrel racing Quarter Horse gelding, originating from San Luis Obispo County, showing mild hind limb ataxia was confirmed positive for non-neuropathogenic EHV-1.
"This strain of virus is responsible for the more common rhinopneumonitis cases," the CDFA said in a statement at the time. "A small percentage of the non-neuropathogenic infected horses can display neurologic signs compatible with equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) which is a reportable disease in California."
On June 4, the CDFA reported that the gelding had recovered and was released from quarantine.
No additional cases were reported when the index horse was quarantined.
Virginia
Also on May 21, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) reported that an epidemiologic investigation had been completed on a farm in Prince William County where a single horse was euthanized due to neurologic disease. That horse's post-mortem test results were reported as suspect-positive for the neurologic strain of EHV-1, a VDACS statement said. The index horse had not traveled off the farm recently, the department said.
On May 29, the VDASC reported that "a subsequent lab report on the index horse that tested as an EHM suspect indicated that the index horse also tested serologically positive for equine protzoal myeloencephalopathy (EPM)."
On June 8, the department announced that "the quarantine on the Prince William County equine riding school facility has accomplished its purpose and was released on June 6. No additional horses were found to be EHV-1 positive during the 21 day quarantine/observation period."
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35931/ehv-1-quarantines-in-california-virginia-lifted
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5. Food Animal Wellbeing Symposium Slated In Fayetteville [AR]
Times Record Staff
The Times Record
June 15, 2015
The Center for Food Animal Wellbeing will host its fifth annual symposium Aug. 6 in Fayetteville on current issues and advances in food animal well-being. The center is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The one-day symposium will be in the Leland Tollet Auditorium inside the John W. Tyson Poultry Science Building on the University of Arkansas campus. Registration is $25.
"This year we have an incredible roster of speakers covering animal welfare topics and related issues of current interest to those of us in animal agriculture," said Yvonne Vizzier Thaxton, director for the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing.
The goal for the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing is to improve animal health, animal handling, food safety and productivity by developing and defining objective measurements of well-being including measures of behavior, stress physiology, neurophysiology, immunology, microbiology and production efficiency.
Registration information and the program are online at foodanimalwellbeing.uark.edu/AnnualSymposium.
Source:
http://swtimes.com/business/food-animal-wellbeing-symposium-slated-fayetteville
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6. AAEP Foundation Accepting Applications for Research Fellows
By Edited Press Release
TheHorse.com
June 15, 2015
Applications are being accepted until Aug. 1 for the 2015 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation Past Presidents' and EQUUS Foundation Research Fellows.
These annual scholarships are awarded to AAEP-member veterinarians who are beginning careers in equine research. Each recipient will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship during the AAEP's 61st Annual Convention, taking place Dec. 5-9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The AAEP Foundation Past Presidents' Research Fellow and the EQUUS Foundation/AAEP Foundation Research Fellow, established in 2006 and 2011, respectively, emphasize the importance of equine research while rewarding researchers for their personal contributions.
Acknowledging the increasing need to train future equine veterinary researchers, the foundation created the research fellows to help supplement post-graduate and residency research fellowship salaries and benefits. These scholarships are made possible through the monetary contributions of AAEP past presidents and The EQUUS Foundation.
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35942/aaep-foundation-accepting-applications-for-research-fellows
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7. The OIE unveils the online version of its publication World Animal Health
OIE Press Release
June 3, 2015
Paris - Published for over 30 years, World Animal Health provides an annual synthesis of information relating to at least the OIE's 180 Member Countries, covering not only the animal diseases present on their respective territories, but also their relevant disease surveillance and control methods. It also provides data on animal populations and production figures.
Previously available in hard copy and updated once a year, World Animal Health, in its new web-based format, will now give access to information that is updated throughout the year and can be extracted in the form of Excel tables and easily disseminated.
The data contained in World Animal Heath are derived directly from the OIE World Animal Health System (WAHIS), which gathers information on the world situation relating to diseases of domestic and wild terrestrial and aquatic animals - including diseases transmissible to humans -, reported by OIE Member Countries as well as some non-member countries.
The only compilation of its kind, World Animal Health presents a synthesis of the animal disease information contained in all the reports from countries received on a permanent basis by the OIE, once the information has been verified and validated by the OIE's World Animal Health Information and Analysis Department.
World Animal Health now makes it easier to consult and use the data made available via the online interface of WAHIS, which constitutes a comprehensive collection of the animal health data received and treated by the OIE.
World Animal Health can be accessed from this link:
http://www.oie.int/en/animal-health-in-the-world/the-world-animal-health-information-system/world-animal-health/
Source: http://tinyurl.com/nsh4myv
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