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1. Eau Claire County deer herd destroyed due to chronic wasting disease [WI]
Leader-Telegram
November 18, 2015
Dr. Paul McGraw, State Veterinarian, from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced today that the agency has completed the depopulation of an Eau Claire County deer herd from which a 7-year-old doe tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in June. Subsequently, two additional deer from the farm tested positive in September and October.
The herd of 228 whitetails owned by Richard Vojtik was put down beginning early Monday morning, November 16, and concluded today at 1 p.m. A team comprised of veterinarians and animal health technicians from DATCP and U.S. Department of Agriculture-APHIS carried out the depopulation of 163 adults and 65 fawns using a combination of injectable euthanasia or sharpshooting, as necessary.
Heads from all the adults were removed and sampled. Samples were sent to the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for initial testing. Any preliminary positive tests for CWD are then sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa for confirmation. Confirmatory test results are not expected until the week of November 23.
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2. High Pathogenic Avian Influenza Mapping Plan (HPAI) to Prevent Outbreaks in California
By Patrick Cavanaugh, Deputy Editor
California Ag Today
November 18, 2015
In 2014 and 2015, the outbreak of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) caused unprecedented damage to the mid-western commercial poultry industry, requiring the depopulation of 48 million birds, particularly turkeys and laying hens. There were isolated cases in last autumn in California as well. Migrating birds, generally considered to be the source of HPAI, move throughout the state in their flyways this time of year.
Maurice Pitesky, a UC Cooperative Extension population health & reproduction assistant specialist with an appointment in poultry health and food safety, emphasized the importance of the flyways, "These global flyways that waterfowl use to move north and south and back again every single year are like freeways. And in those freeway lanes, different birds interface with each other. So, we might have a Pacific flyway that covers California, but that Pacific flyway can interface with the East Asian and Australian flyway in the Northern Arctic. If you look at the genetics of the strains that were found in North America, especially in California, the genetics match some of the HPAI found in South Korea for example," Pitesky said.
The Avian Influenza Mapping Plan is like overlaying maps of birds' flying patterns for an early warning system for commercial operations. Pitesky observed, "We're really just scratching the surface in how we can utilize maps with respect to surveillance and risk-mapping. For example, if I can locate on a map, where waterfowl, flooded rice fields, or wet fields are, and I can also determine where commercial poultry operations are, then I can start understanding which operations are at highest risk."
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3. Biosecurity gaps can increase risk for PEDV
Feedstuffs Web Exclusive
November 19, 2015
An outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) generally indicates a breakdown in a farm's biosecurity program. Biosecurity is complex, and every plan is different.
To protect the health of a farm, be sure to update and review biosecurity programs on a regular basis. It's also critical for producers to take the time to provide a comprehensive overview to all those involved with the execution of a farm's biosecurity plan to help eliminate any chance for error.
"You may have the greatest employees with the best intentions on your farm, but if they aren't educated on the biosecurity program, that's when you'll run into problems," Dr. Rick Swalla, senior veterinarian with Zoetis Pork Technical Services, said. "Help everyone understand the biosecurity program and the ramifications of not following through with the program you have in place, especially new employees who may have never experienced an outbreak situation."
Assessing biosecurity programs can be an overwhelming task for producers. While each farm presents its own unique set of challenges, it's important to follow some basic guidelines.
"I encourage producers to work with their veterinarian in not only designing biosecurity programs to minimize their risk of PEDV but also auditing the program," added Dr. Matt Ackerman with Swine Veterinary Services.
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4. PCR Tests Yield Surprising Results in Eimeria Study
By Zoetis
ThePoultrySite.com
November 19, 2015
US - Polymerase chain reaction analysis, commonly known as PCR, is helping researchers get a better handle on the presence and scope of coccidial pathogens - and the results are surprising, according to a study conducted by the University of Georgia and Southern Poultry Research.
Of 29 samples, the researchers found E. acervulina in 96 per cent, E. maxima in 93 per cent, E. tenella in 89 per cent, E. brunetti in 86 per cent, E. praecox in 86 per cent, E. mitis in 48 per cent and E. necatrix in 24 per cent, the researchers reported at the 2015 International Poultry Scientific Forum.
E. acervulina, E. maxima and E. tenella had been thought to be the "big three" Eimeria species in US broiler houses. However, PCR is demonstrating that other species may be present, researchers A. Lorainne Fuller, PhD, and graduate student Emily Kimminau, told Poultry Health Today.
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5. Groundbreaking imaging at New Bolton Center
Penn Current
November 19, 2015
The School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center, in collaboration with Four Dimensional Digital Imaging, will pioneer a first-ever, robotics-controlled imaging system for use in the standing and moving horse. Penn Vet is the first veterinary hospital in the world to own the revolutionary technology.
The four-robot system can perform multiple modalities, including computed tomography (CT), and will be used in conjunction with a high-speed treadmill.
The EQUIMAGINE imaging system will be capable of capturing the equine anatomy in a way never before possible, while the horse is awake and standing, or moving on a treadmill.
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6. The FDA just approved the nation's first genetically engineered animal: A salmon that grows twice as fast
The Washington Post
November 19, 2015
After years of review and endless controversy, the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the nation's first genetically altered animal -- a salmon engineered to grow twice as fast as its natural counterpart.
AquAdvantage, produced by Massachusetts-based AquaBounty, is an Atlantic salmon that contains a growth hormone from a Chinook salmon and has been given a gene from the ocean pout, an eel-like fish. The result is a fish that is large enough for consumption in about a year and a half, rather than the typical three years.
Food-safety activists, environmental groups and the salmon fishing industry, not to mention lawmakers from Alaska, have long opposed the approval of the fish -- which they derisively refer to as "Frankenfish" -- and have argued that its existence could open the door to a broad range of potentially unsafe genetically modified animal foods. Knowing an FDA approval was likely, critics have in recent years won commitments from some of the nation's most recognizable chains - including Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Target - to not sell the fish.
The FDA said Thursday that its decision was "based on sound science and a comprehensive review," and that regulators are confident that the genetically altered fish is as safe to eat as a normal Atlantic salmon, with no discernible difference in its nutritional value.
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7. First cloned camel gives birth to first cloned offspring in Dubai
The National staff
The National
November 13, 2015
DUBAI -- The first calf to come from a cloned camel has been born in Dubai.
At the Reproductive Biotechnology Centre, her six-year-old mother proved that a cloned camel can be fertile and reproduce normally.
Dr Ali Ridha Al Hashimi, the administrative director at the centre, and his scientific team made the announcement that Injaz, the world's first cloned camel, gave birth to a healthy female calf weighing about 38 kilos on November 2.
Injaz, whose name means "achievement" in Arabic, was cloned in 2009 from the ovarian cells of a dead camel.
Injaz conceived naturally and delivered after a normal gestation.
"This will prove cloned camels are fertile and can reproduce the same as naturally produced camels," said Dr Nisar Wani, scientific director of the centre in Nad Al Sheba, last April when Injaz's pregnancy was announced.
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