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1. Chronic Wasting Disease Detected in Medina County Captive Deer [TX]
Texas Animal Health Commission News Release
July 1, 2015
AUSTIN - A two-year-old white-tailed deer in a Medina County deer breeding facility has been confirmed positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This is the first case of CWD detected in captive white-tailed deer in Texas. CWD was first detected in Texas in 2012 in free-ranging mule deer in the Hueco Mountains in far West Texas.
The Medina County tissue samples submitted by the breeder facility in early June as part of routine deer mortality surveillance revealed the presence of CWD during testing at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station. The National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the findings on Tuesday, June 30.
An epidemiological investigation to determine the extent of the disease, assess risks to Texas' free ranging deer and protect the captive deer and elk breeding industry is being led by the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), in coordination with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services (USDA/APHIS/VS).
Officials have taken immediate action to secure all cervids at the Medina County breeder facility with plans to conduct additional investigation for CWD. In addition, those breeder facilities that have received deer from the Medina County facility or shipped deer to that facility during the last two years are under movement restrictions and cannot move or release cervids at this time. TPWD is disallowing liberation of captive deer from all breeder facilities into the wild at this time pending further review. Additional measures to further minimize risk of CWD spreading into Texas' free-ranging white-tailed deer herd, and to protect the captive deer breeding industry, will be considered.
"This is a terribly unfortunate development that we are committed to addressing as proactively, comprehensively, and expeditiously as possible. The health of our state's wild and captive deer herds, as well as affiliated hunting, wildlife, and rural based economies, are vitally important to Texas hunters, communities, and landowners. As such, our primary objectives are to determine the source of the disease and to identify other deer breeding facilities and release sites that may have received deer from affected facilities," said Carter Smith, TPWD Executive Director. "Working collaboratively with experts in the field we have developed protocols to address CWD, and our implementation efforts are already well under way."
Full text:
http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/news/pr/2015/2015-07-01_NewsReleaseCWDTestPositiveMedinaCounty.pdf
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2. National science panel opens review of livestock disease
Associated Press
The Tampa Tribune
July 1, 2015
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A national science panel is conducting a broad review of a livestock disease that's afflicted large numbers of elk and bison in the Yellowstone region of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
The panel is convening at Montana State University in Bozeman for two days beginning Wednesday to gather information about brucellosis, which can cause pregnant animals to abort their young.
Study director Peggy Yih with the National Academy of Sciences says future meeting will explore the impact of brucellosis in Wyoming and Idaho.
The disease was brought to the region in infected livestock and has since been largely eradicated in the U.S. It persists in wildlife in and around Yellowstone National Park.
The 10-member panel is expected to deliver a report on its findings next June to federal agriculture officials.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/q4huhcn
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3. Foal Owners Beware: The Danger of Ascarids
By Bryant Craig, DVM
TheHorse.com
June 30, 2015
One of the most lethal equine internal parasites-the ascarid, or roundworm-shows no mercy to the young. It infects and damages various body systems of horses during their first 18 months of life.
The Suspect
Ascarids migrate through the bloodstream to a horse's liver and lungs during their juvenile stage before returning to the small intestine to mature. Because of this migration path, clinical signs of ascarid infection can vary from respiratory disease to impaction colic, both of which can threaten your foal's health and, potentially, his life.
"Ascarid infections are extremely prevalent in foals and are virtually ubiquitous at breeding facilities where new foals are raised annually," said Craig R. Reinemeyer, DVM, PhD, president of East Tennessee Clinical Research Inc., in Rockville, an independent business that conducts research for animal health companies.
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/36013/foal-owners-beware-the-danger-of-ascarids
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4. Avian flu outbreaks slow but impacts continue
By Kent Thiesse Farm Management Analyst and Vice President, MinnStar Bank
FarmandRanchGuide.com
July 1, 2015
The deadly H5N2 virus, or avian flu virus ("bird flu"), was first detected Minnesota in early March, and after peaking in early May, has now declined considerably.
As of June 15, there had been no new cases of the avian flu reported in Minnesota in the past ten days. Similarly, there have been no new cases of the bird flu in Iowa since June 9.
Poultry experts and scientists had predicted that the virus would diminish considerably in intensity, once the outside temperatures reached 75 degrees F. or higher on a consistent basis. It appears that this has occurred in most of the hardest hit areas of Minnesota and Iowa.
As of June 15, there have been 222 confirmed cases of the H5N2 virus in the U.S., resulting in the loss of over 47 million birds nationally. Minnesota has had 105 cases of avian flu confirmed, which has resulted in the loss of about 9 million birds, primarily market turkeys, but also some large egg laying operations.
There has been a high concentration of confirmed bird flu cases in 5 or 6 counties in central Minnesota. Iowa, the largest egg producing state in the U.S., has been hit particularly hard, with 74 cases of the virus, resulting in the loss of over 30 million birds, which have been primarily egg-laying hens. The bird flu has also significantly impacted Nebraska, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.
Even though the number of avian flu cases has waned in recent weeks, the economic impacts of the worst bird flu outbreak in U.S. history are not likely to disappear any time soon.
The first turkey producers in central Minnesota that broke with the virus in early March have started to re-populate their barns, slightly over 90 days after their flocks were depopulated. No egg laying operations in Minnesota or Iowa have yet returned to production, and the return could be several weeks away yet.
The combination of the birds that died and were euthanized, along with the time out of production, is having a significant financial impact on producers. There was a partial reimbursement from USDA to producers for the birds that were euthanized; however, there was no financial reimbursement or insurance coverage for birds that died, or for the down-time in production.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/p5l9xx5
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5. Ag Department And University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Team Up For 2015 Illinois State Fair
Veterinary students will partner with the Office of the State Veterinarian for hands-on opportunities
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture News Release
July 1, 2015
SPRINGFIELD, IL- Students from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine will work alongside veterinarians from the college and from the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) to provide veterinary care for all animals on the grounds during the 2015 Illinois State Fair.
"This is a great opportunity for the Department as well as the students from the U of I," said Ag Director Philip Nelson. "Large animal veterinarians are critical to the livestock industry. There has been a decline over the years in this field and this partnership serves as a way to give students another practical experience."
A variety of animals are exhibited each year at the Illinois State Fair, including beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, swine, rabbits, poultry, and horses. Animals that enter the fairgrounds are required to be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection and must be officially identified. Upon entry onto the fairgrounds, animals and certificates are checked by a veterinarian or trained member of IDOA staff. Additionally, veterinarians check animals for signs of illness and disease and are available around the clock for the duration of the fair to care for sick animals.
"Animal health is the Department's number one priority throughout the exhibitions at the Illinois State Fair," said State Veterinarian Dr. Mark Ernst. "As an alumnus of the University of Illinois, I'm excited to work closely with students who are preparing to enter into the workforce."
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/ow92qem
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6. Importation of Beef From a Region in Brazil
Federal Register Volume 80, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 2015)
Rules and Regulations
Pages 37923-37934
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16337]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 94
Docket No. APHIS-2009-0017
RIN 0579-AD41
Importation of Beef From a Region in Brazil
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: We are amending the regulations governing the importation of certain animals, meat, and other animal products by allowing, under certain conditions, the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from a region in Brazil (the States of Bahia, Distrito Federal, Esp[iacute]rito Santo, Goi[aacute]s, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Paran[aacute], Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Rond[ocirc]nia, S[atilde]o Paulo, Sergipe, and Tocantins). Based on the evidence in a recent risk assessment, we have determined that fresh (chilled or frozen) beef can be safely imported from those Brazilian States provided certain conditions are met. This action provides for the importation of beef from the designated region in Brazil into the United States while continuing to protect the United States against the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease.
DATES: Effective August 31, 2015.
Full text:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-07-02/html/2015-16337.htm
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7. Importation of Beef From a Region in Argentina
Federal Register Volume 80, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 2015)
Rules and Regulations
Pages 37935-37953
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16335]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 94
Docket No. APHIS-2014-0032
RIN 0579-AD92
Importation of Beef From a Region in Argentina
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: We are amending the regulations governing the importation of certain animals, meat, and other animal products to allow, under certain conditions, the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from a region in Argentina located north of Patagonia South and Patagonia North B, referred to as Northern Argentina. Based on the evidence in a recent risk analysis, we have determined that fresh (chilled or frozen) beef can be safely imported from Northern Argentina, subject to certain conditions. This action provides for the importation of beef from Northern Argentina into the United States, while continuing to protect the United States against the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease.
DATES: Effective September 1, 2015.
Full text:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-07-02/html/2015-16335.htm
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