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1. Study Reveals Equine Influenza Case Numbers on the Rise
By Edited Press Release
TheHorse.com
August 18, 2015
Equine influenza virus (EIV) is one of the leading respiratory diseases in the United States and, in recent years, the number of infected horses has been on the rise.
Since 2008, Merck Animal Health has collected more than 4,700 samples from horses presenting with signs of acute infectious upper respiratory disease and/or acute neurologic disease as part of an ongoing research program. The two leading diagnoses, based on samples submitted from horses of all disciplines and ages across the United States, have been equine herpesvirus-4 and EIV.
In an effort to protect horses against these two prevalent respiratory diseases, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will implement a rule effective Dec. 1, 2015, mandating that all horses be current (within six months) on their EIV and equine herpesvirus vaccines prior to entering a USEF show.
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2. Vesicular stomatitis outbreak continues to expand [edited - WY]
Casper Journal
August 18, 2015
The vesicular stomatitis outbreak continues to expand in Wyoming. Cases have been reported in horses on six different premises in Goshen County to date. Eight premises in Platte County have recently been quarantined. Cases in Platte County involve both horses and cattle.
Flies and midges are the main vectors for VSV. The virus is also spread through direct contact with infected livestock and indirectly through contact with contaminated equipment and tack. Fly control is the most important step in preventing the disease. Good sanitation and bio-security measures can help avoid exposure.
Wyoming's most recent previous outbreaks of VSV were in 2005 and 2006. Nearly all of the affected equine during those years were pastured along drainages or had very recent history of exposure to low-lying, riparian areas. We advise livestock owners, if possible, to move their healthy animals to higher, dryer ground until the VSV insect vector season subsides. That is generally after two hard frosts.
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3. APHIS to Issue Environmental Assessment and Request for Proposals for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Vaccine
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
August 18, 2015
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has been preparing for the potential recurrence in the fall of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus that affected more than 48 million birds at over 200 poultry facilities earlier this year. As part of these preparations, APHIS and its state and industry partners are examining the potential use of vaccine to help prevent illness in birds and interrupt the spread of the disease. APHIS is today announcing two actions related to vaccine use: the issuance of a request for proposals for vaccine doses to equip the National Veterinary Stockpile, and notification that APHIS will publish an environmental assessment evaluating the potential environmental impacts of using vaccine in the event of an HPAI outbreak.
While APHIS has not approved the use of vaccine to respond to HPAI to date, the Agency is preparing to ensure that vaccine is available should the decision be made to use it. APHIS is seeking to create a stockpile of vaccine for the Eurasian H5 (EA H5) virus strain that circulated in domestic poultry earlier this year. APHIS issued a request for proposals yesterday for vaccine manufacturers with the interest and capability to supply a variety of EA H5 vaccines in sufficient numbers to establish the emergency stockpile.
Vaccines will be carefully evaluated on a number of factors including their efficacy against EA H5 viruses, and products must meet all of APHIS' safety, potency, and purity standards. All eligible products to be considered must be either conditionally or fully licensed or permitted at the time of submission. Vaccine manufacturers will be evaluated on their ability to produce such vaccines in a timely manner in adequate numbers to meet the needs of the response.
In the coming weeks, APHIS will also publish an environmental assessment that examines the impacts of using HPAI vaccine in the field during an outbreak response. This assessment will look at two alternatives: approving vaccine use targeting EA H5 viruses or taking no action. Once published, the EA will have a 30-day public comment period.
It is important to note that these actions do not obligate APHIS to purchase vaccines from any companies that respond to the request for proposals and do not imply the Agency has made a decision to use vaccination. A decision to use vaccination would require careful consideration of the efficacy of the vaccine, any impacts of using HPAI vaccine in the field, and the potential trade impacts, and would be made jointly by APHIS and State animal health authorities. Today's actions are being taken to ensure the Agency and its partners are well-positioned to respond to a future outbreak.
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4. Researchers test alternative to livestock antibiotics - eggs
By Eric Hamilton
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
August 17, 2015
The chickens weren't getting sick like they were supposed to.
So the scientists gave them 10 times the normal dose of parasites - enough to produce a severe illness.
Still nothing. In fact, the birds looked like they were never infected.
Researchers were trying to hijack the chickens' immune system to study runaway inflammation.
But the experiment failed. Instead, they stumbled upon a possible way to protect livestock from infection without antibiotics - by feeding them eggs. The eggs contain antibodies, which help keep an animal's immune system active to fight off disease.
University of Wisconsin-Madison animal scientists Mark Cook and Jordan Sand want to provide poultry, beef and other livestock farmers with an antibiotic alternative, one harder for microbes to counteract.
Major chicken producers and purchasers, such as Tyson Foods and McDonald's, have stated they will reduce antibiotic use over time.
In initial trials with hundreds of thousands of chickens and hundreds of cattle, the antibody-laden eggs have protected animals from disease. But the technique is new enough that researchers are still piecing together why it works in some cases and not others.
Cook and Sand made the serendipitous discovery in 2011. With promising early results, they obtained a patent and a $100,000 grant from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation to commercialize their research through their new company, Ab E Discovery.
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5. Iowa Study Shows Bird Flu Impact on Jobs
ThePoultrySite.com
August 18, 2015
US - An Iowa Farm Bureau study has shown that the bird flu outbreaks cost Iowa nearly 8,500 jobs and nearly $427 million in lost income and taxes.
The avian flu outbreak, which forced the depopulation of 34 million birds on 77 Iowa farms, won't just raise the price for eggs and poultry for up to the next three years; it also is costing the nation's largest egg-producing state nearly 8,500 jobs; some of which, may never be replaced.
That's the finding from a new study, commissioned by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and conducted by Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS).
The study shows in addition to job losses, the 'bird flu' outbreak will cost Iowa nearly $427 million in lost additional value, more than half of which is income for Iowans.
IFBF Director of Research and Commodity Services Dave Miller says the ripple effects of the lost jobs and revenue could last for up to three years, which will also impact egg and poultry prices, since it takes months to get the birds and the staff back in place.
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6. Maine congresswoman helps in fight against tick-borne illnesses
By Courtney Sturgeon
WMTW.com
August 17,2015
CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine -A survey aimed at stopping the spread of tick-borne illnesses is getting support from U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree.
The Maine congresswoman said she plans to make the growing problem in Maine a priority in Washington.
Pingree was at Crescent Beach State Park helping conduct a survey with researchers from Maine Medical Center's Research Institute.
Researchers conduct their surveys by dragging a piece of fabric across areas where ticks are likely to be.
The ticks are tested for several types of viruses and diseases. Lyme disease is one of the top reported diseases in Maine, and Pingree is looking to change that.
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7. Researchers aiming for first FDA approval of drug for US marine aquaculture
Undercurrent News
August 18, 2015
Researchers in Illinois and Virginia are working toward getting US Food and Drug Administration approval for a drug for marine aquaculture, SIU News reported.
While the drug, Aquaflor, is already approved for domestic freshwater aquaculture and for freshwater and marine aquaculture abroad, there are currently no drugs approved for marine aquaculture in the United States, the news outlet reported.
The researchers at Southern Illinois University and Virginia Tech University are working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the US Fish and Wildlife Service Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership Program to test the antibiotic on two marine species, cobia and pompano, the news outlet reported
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