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1. New virus transmission route discovered in pigs
Phys.org
February 23, 2016
Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus causes serious inflammation of the brain in people and fertility problems in pigs. Mosquitoes were previously the only known transmission route. However, the virus can also be spread from pig to pig by direct contact, and this could enable it to circulate in pigs during the mosquito-free winter season.
The JE virus is the main cause of serious encephalitis in people in Asia. The virus is found in large parts of Southeast Asia and is now also widespread in India. It circulates between birds and mosquitoes and between pigs and mosquitoes, and is passed to humans through mosquito bites. In children in particular, infection can lead to acute encephalitis and permanent impairment or even death.
In pigs, the main effect of the virus alongside fever and encephalitis is fertility problems. The virus is closely related to the West Nile, Zika and dengue viruses. All are transmitted by mosquitoes and are flaviviruses, which cause serious illness in humans and animals.
Previously, the only known transmission route for JE viruses was mosquitoes. A team of researchers from the Institute of Virology and Immunology and the University Bern at the Vetsuisse Faculty led by Dr. Meret Ricklin and Prof Artur Summerfield have now shown that JE viruses can also be passed directly from pig to pig. The study has just been published in the journal Nature Communications.
Up to now, there had been no explanation for how the JE virus could survive over winter in regions such as the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, and cause new outbreaks the following year. Outbreaks in some cases occurred on the same farms as in the previous year, despite the fact that no infected mosquitoes could be found in the area. In Taiwan, too, pigs were infected with JE viruses during the winter, but no infected mosquitoes found.
As the researchers have now been able to show, infected pigs discharge the virus in their saliva for several days, and the animals are also susceptible to infection through the mouth or nose with very low doses of the virus. In pigs - as in humans - the virus was found to spread through the brain and cause inflammation. The virus was, however, found to grow most in the tonsils, where it was detectable for several weeks or even months.
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2. Update on EHV-1 Virus at Sunland Park Racetrack
New Mexico Livestock Board News Release
February 25, 2016
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - To simplify our reporting on the rapidly-changing EHV-1 virus outbreak at the Sunland Park Racetrack, we will update the list below regularly with the most current information. While the situation warrants, we will also e-mail blast this information as it is updated.
Number of horses diagnosed positive for the EHV-1 virus to-date: 73 in New Mexico and 2 in Texas. 1 new positive
Number of horses released today from the isolation barn: 0
Number of exposed barns that have been returned to non-exposed status to-date: 24
List of facilities within the quarantine perimeter:
Sunland Park Racetrack and Frontera Training Center.
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3. Can we select cattle for fly resistance? Research says yes!
By Heather Smith Thomas
Beef Magazine
February 25, 2016
Is it possible to select cattle that are more resistant to flies? Yes, the experts say. But even though the estimated heritability of fly resistance is very high at .58, it is only one of many traits a cattle producer can consider.
Nonetheless, a few people are selecting breeding stock with natural resistance to flies. "You can do this, but it takes time," says Doug Colwell, livestock parasitologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta. "There are always some individuals in the herd that are more attractive to flies, and some that are more resistant. About 80% of the flies are usually on 20% of the animals. If you pick out the cows that are heavily covered with flies, nine times out of 10 they are the ones that will be heavily affected next year. If you get rid of those cattle, eventually you will have animals with lower populations of flies," he says.
With selective breeding, a person can utilize those genetically resistant animals and select for that trait along with the other desirable traits we want in our cattle. Most producers are more interested in other traits, however, and fly resistance may be low on their list of priorities.
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4. Animal Genetic Testing and Research Lab Gets New Name
By University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment
TheHorse.com
February 25, 2016
The University of Kentucky Animal Genetic Testing and Research Laboratory has been renamed Genetic Testing at Gluck to better align with its mission to offer the highest quality DNA testing combined with personalized customer service while discovering the genetic basis for traits and diseases in horses.
Part of the Department of Veterinary Science in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Genetic Testing at Gluck relocated to the UK Gluck Equine Research Center in 2009 after being housed in the Dimock Animal Pathology Building for 23 years. The lab was also formally known as the Parentage Testing Laboratory and before that as the Horse Bloodtyping Laboratory. It is one of three laboratories associated with public universities in the United States. The other two are at the University of California, Davis, and Texas A&M University.
"The Genetic Testing at Gluck laboratory will continue the tradition of providing both excellent service and research expertise to the equine community," said David Horohov, PhD, chair of the Department of Veterinary Science, director of the Gluck Equine Research Center, and Jes E. and Clementine M. Schlaikjer Endowed Chair.
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5. Utah bill seeks to remove meat, poultry oversight from state vet
By News Desk
Food Safety News
February 25, 2016
The only thing that is certain about Utah House Bill 211 is that if it becomes law, escaping bison will have to jump higher.
But then there's the question raised by the Salt Lake Tribune asserting that the role of the state veterinarian is being diminished, removing meat and poultry inspection from that office's preview.
The Tribune says that when Warren Hess stepped down this past fall as state veterinarian, he complained about the appointed commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, LuAnn Adams, pushing him out of areas assigned to his office by statute. There was also something about Adams appointing unqualified mangers, too.
In passing HB 211, the Utah House has apparently backed Adams, taking way duties previously assigned to the state vet, which is usually a powerful office in rural states.
But in a bill that also increases requirements for fencing bison, Utah has thrown the state veterinarian overboard, at least in some areas. The state meat inspector no longer has to be a veterinarian in Utah.
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6. FSMA Public Meeting: FDA Food Safety Modernization Act: Prevention-Oriented Import System Regulations and Implementation
FDA News Release
February 25, 2016
March 21, 2016 from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)
Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building
5100 Paint Branch Parkway
College Park, MD 20740
This public meeting will provide importers and other interested persons an opportunity to discuss import safety regulations and programs, including final rules for foreign supplier verification programs for importers of food for humans and animals and accreditation of third-party certification bodies.
Participants will also be briefed on the status of FDA's Voluntary Qualified Importer Program, which is still in development. Additionally, the public meeting will provide importers and other interested persons an opportunity to discuss FDA's comprehensive planning effort for the next phase of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act implementation relating to import safety programs, which includes establishing the operational framework for these programs and plans for guidance documents, training, education, and technical assistance. The meeting is also designed to answer questions about these import programs and provide an opportunity for interested persons to make public comments.
Public meeting attendees are encouraged to register online to attend the meeting in person or via live Webcast. For questions about registering for the meeting or to register by phone, contact Courtney Treece at 704-258-4983, FAX: 469-854-6992, e-mail: ctreece@planningprofessionals.com. Early registration is strongly recommended because seating is limited.
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