|
* * * * * * * * * *
1. Deer disease more than doubles in Pennsylvania in 2015
By Marcus Schneck
PennLive.com
May 11, 2016
A record 12 white-tailed deer were found to be infected with chronic wasting disease - an always fatal, neurological disease in members of the deer family - in Pennsylvania in 2015, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
That dozen, which is the most cases found in Pennsylvania in a single year, increases the total count of free-ranging deer that have been found in the state since 2012 to 22.
CWD-infected deer also have been found in captive deer herds in Adams County - the first recorded incidence in Pennsylvania in 2012 - and in Jefferson County.
All 12 of the deer with CWD in 2015 were found in Disease Management Area 2, which last year covered all or parts of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties, but has now been expanded by 437 square miles.
DMA 2, which is one of three disease management areas established by the commission, is the only area of the state where CWD has been detected in free-ranging deer.
Full text:
********
|
|
2. EHV-1 Confirmed in Erie County, New York
By The Horse Staff
TheHorse.com
May 12, 2016
The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) has reported that three horses in Erie County, New York, tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) last week.
"On May 6 three aged mares, all displaying neurologic symptoms, were confirmed positive for equine herpesvirus-1 on PCR," the EDCC reported. "Neurologic symptoms along with a positive EHV-1 PCR meets (New York's) case definition for equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Both EHV-1 and EHM are reportable in New York.
"All three mares are from the same farm," the statement continued. "One of those mares has been euthanized for humane reasons. The entire farm has been quarantined. Biosecurity measures and twice daily temperature monitoring are in place. New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is continuing to monitor the situation and look for other potentially exposed animals."
Full text:
********
|
|
3. Research Update: When Fur and Feather Meet
Posted by Gail Keirn, APHIS Legislative and Public Affairs
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
May 12, 2016
Striped skunks and cottontail rabbits are common visitors to farms across the country. They also frequent riparian areas and wetlands that are home to many waterfowl species. Normally, this wouldn't be much cause for concern. Yet, a recent study by National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) scientists (part of the USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services program) demonstrated that skunks and cottontails can become infected with and shed some avian influenza viruses in a controlled setting-making them potential carriers of the viruses to areas near commercial and backyard poultry farms.
"When wildlife and poultry interact and both can carry and spread a potentially damaging agricultural pathogen, it's cause for concern," notes NWRC research wildlife biologist Dr. Jeff Root.
Root is one of several NWRC researchers studying the role wild mammals may play in the spread of avian influenza viruses. In experiments with captive striped skunks, cottontail rabbits, and mallards, Root discovered that skunks and cottontails indirectly transmitted low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) A virus to mallards.
First, striped skunks and cottontail rabbits were inoculated with LPAI. Then, inoculated skunks and uninoculated mallards were housed in "mirrored" pens outfitted with the same items. After several days, the animals switched pens exposing the mallards to potentially LPAI contaminated items in the skunk pens. In a similar experiment, inoculated cottontails were co-housed with uninoculated mallards to determine if the mallards could become infected with LPAI through shared water and food sources. One of the four mallards exposed to the skunk pens and one of the five mallards exposed to the cottontails became infected.
Full text:
********
|
|
4. Notice of Availability of an Evaluation of the Classical Swine Fever, Swine Vesicular Disease, African Swine Fever, Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Rinderpest Status of Malta
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
May 12, 2016
APHIS is proposing to recognize the Republic of Malta as free of certain significant livestock diseases - swine vesicular disease (SVD), African swine fever (ASF), foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease, and rinderpest. APHIS is also proposing to add the Republic of Malta to the APHIS-defined European Classical Swine Fever (CSF) region. This change would remove some of the current restrictions on imports of ruminants, breeding swine and their products from Malta.
Malta's government requested that APHIS evaluate its status of these diseases and in response to this request, APHIS conducted a risk evaluation. After a thorough evaluation, APHIS determined that the surveillance, prevention, and control measures implemented by the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Malta are sufficient to minimize the risk of introducing these diseases into the United States. The evaluation included visits to farms and processing facilities in Malta, as well as examinations of Malta's capabilities of veterinary control and oversight, disease history and vaccination, livestock demographics and traceability, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness and response.
APHIS is making this evaluation available for review and comment for 60 days. After APHIS reviews the comments we receive, we will notify the public of our final determination. This notice is on display on the Federal Register at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-11316.pdf. Members of the public can view the evaluation and comment beginning tomorrow at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0102. Written comments can also be submitted through the mail: Docket No. APHIS-2015-0102, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
********
|
|
5. Cornell appoints Dr. Meg Thompson to head vet hospital
By Cornell University
Bovine Veterinarian
May 11, 2016
Dr. Meg Thompson, Associate Clinical Professor of Imaging at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), has been named Director of the Cornell University Hospital for Animals (CUHA) by Dr. Lorin Warnick, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of the College. Her appointment is effective immediately.
Dr. Thompson has been Interim Director of CUHA since August 2015. A leader in patient care, veterinary education, clinical investigation and scientific innovation, the hospital serves more than 69,000 animals a year through its six components: the Ambulatory service, Companion Animal, Equine and Nemo Farm Animal, Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Health Center and Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists.
"Under Dr. Thompson's interim leadership, we have continued to move forward on strategic evaluation of hospital facility needs, assessment of information technologies to facilitate hospital missions, and evaluation of hospital staffing needs," said Dean Warnick. "Her administrative experience, understanding of hospital operations, and extensive work with regional veterinarians put her in an excellent position to take on the director role."
Full text:
********
|
|
6. Veterinary clinic treating animals injured during tornado for free [OK - edited]
KFOR.com
May 11, 2016
STILLWATER, Okla. - Humans are not the only ones who are trying to recover after vicious tornadoes tore through portions of Oklahoma on Monday.
Now, veterinary specialists at Oklahoma State University's Center for Veterinary Health Sciences are treating animal victims of the tornadoes at no cost to the owners, as long as fund are available through the OSU Animal Relief Fund.
Currently, OSU's Veterinary Medical Hospital is treating five adult horses and two foals from Sulphur.
Full text:
********
|
|
7. Army Veterinary Corps marks 100 years of service
Story by R. Scott Nolen
JAVMA News
Posted May 11, 2016
As America's entry into World War I seemed increasingly likely, President Woodrow Wilson and Congress readied for the coming conflict, with the National Defense Act of 1916. Signed by President Wilson on June 3, the act bolstered U.S. military preparedness in a number of ways, including the creation of a Veterinary Corps within the U.S. Army.
When Congress declared war on the German Empire in April 1917, the Army employed 57 veterinarians working mostly in the area of equine surgery and medicine. Today, the Army Veterinary Corps comprises approximately 880 men and women supporting Department of Defense missions at home and abroad in the areas of food safety and security, animal health care, veterinary public health, and research and development.
On June 3, the Veterinary Corps will celebrate its centennial with a ceremony at the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, where a monument depicting aspects of the corps' history and mission will be unveiled (see "A century of history in bronze"). The centennial is a benchmark highlighting the diverse services the corps has provided to the nation over the past 100 years, explained Maj. Troy Creason, a veterinarian and assistant to the chief of the Army Veterinary Corps.
Full text:
********
|
|
