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USAHA News Alert Summaries - June 6, 2016 - In this issue:
1. What does African Swine Fever look like, what causes it and what should you do if you discover it in your operation?
2. Veterinary Researchers Patent Methods for Detecting, Treating a Bacterial Infection
3. USDA-NIFA-ARS: Request for Stakeholder Input
4. Horses at Risk for West Nile Virus [CA]
5. Seven salmonella outbreaks in 35 states linked to backyard raising of poultry
6. Two local farms affected by pig virus [Canada]
7. Delta County cat contracts bubonic plague [CO]
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1. What does African Swine Fever look like, what causes it and what should you do if you discover it in your operation?
By ASFORCE
PorkNetwork.com
June 3, 2016
 
 
What causes ASF?
 
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a devastating disease affecting swine caused by a complex virus, the only member of the Asfarviridae family.
 
Is ASF a problem only in Africa?
 
No. In 2007, ASF was reported in the EU country of Georgia. The introduction was believed to be related to swill feeding with the waste from a ship coming from south east Africa. ASF spread rapidly throughout the country and in the rest of the Caucasus region (Azerbaijan, Armenia) and the Russian Federation, with some outbreaks reported very near to the EU borders (including a single introduction in Ukraine and a recently declared outbreak in Belarus), making it a significant present threat to the swine industry across Europe and beyond.
 
How long does it usually take since an animal is infected until it develops the disease?
 
3-15 days (usual incubation period). In the acute form, 3-4 days. What does ASF look like? It is a highly contagious disease that can affect pigs of all ages, without sex predilection. There is not a specific sign that can make you certain that the problem is ASF, although unusual high mortality among pigs of all age groups should lead to a strong suspicion of ASF although it can be similar to CSF (Classical Swine Fever).
 
 
 
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2. Veterinary Researchers Patent Methods for Detecting, Treating a Bacterial Infection
By Joe Montgomery
HealthNewsDigest.com
June 3, 2016
 
 
MANHATTAN - A team of researchers from Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine has received a U.S. patent to control and treat fusobacterial infections in humans and animals.
 
Created by the university's Sanjeev Narayanan, Amit Kumar, T.G. Nagaraja and M.M. Chengappa, the new technology can be used to treat infections caused by Fusobacterium without the use of antibiotics.
 
Fusobacterium is well known for causing liver abscesses in cattle and sheep, and has been identified as a human pathogen that can cause some periodontal - or gum - diseases, topical skin ulcers, Lemierre's syndrome and other conditions.
 
"Vaccines have proven to have limited efficacy, so these compositions and methods we developed provide veterinarians and medical professionals with good, useful alternatives," said Narayanan, a professor of anatomical pathology.
 
The team discovered a specific protein that plays a pivotal role in mediating Fusobacterium attachment to the host cells that allow pathologic infection of the host.
 
 
 
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3. USDA-NIFA-ARS: Request for Stakeholder Input
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Bulletin
June 2, 2016
 
Dear Colleagues:
 
Provide your insight on the animal production programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) using a fun and interactive new online "ideas engine." The tool is a powerful, collaborative, and engaging way for large groups to generate, prioritize, and refine ideas.
 
We need expert input from you-our stakeholders, customers, and partners-on how federal investments can best address current needs and challenges facing animal production.The ideas you provide will help form the framework for developing the next ARS National Program Action Plan and defining priorities for NIFA's animal production research, education, and extension. Information on these programs can be found at these links for ARS and NIFA.
 
If you are interested in providing your insight by suggesting, refining, and prioritizing ideas around any of the topics listed below, simply send an email with your name, affiliation, email address, and topic of interest (in the format provided below) to Insight@nifa.usda.gov by June 10. You will receive instructions on how to join.You can participate as much as you like, when you like, while the system is open during the month of June 2016.
 
Topic 1: Animal Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics
Topic 2: Applications of Biotechnology to Animal Production
Topic 3. Animal Well-Being, Stress and Production
Topic 4: Animal Reproductive Biology
Topic 5: Quality, Nutritional Value and Healthfulness of Animal Products
Topic 6: Lactation Biology and Nutritional Efficiency of Animals
Topic 7: Animal Growth Biology and Alternatives to Antimicrobials for Growth Promotion
Topic 8: Forages and Forage Utilization for Animal Production
Topic 9: Reducing Environmental Impacts of Animal Production
Topic10: General Priorities for Animal Production
 
First Name
Last Name
Affiliation
Email Address
Topic of Interest
 
 
(Please list the topics by your preference: Example Topic 6, Topic 4, and Topic 9)
 
Thank you and we look forward to your participation.
 
Sincerely,
Caird Rexroad, ARS (rexroadIII@ars.usda.gov)
Adele Turzillo, NIFA (aturzillo@nifa.usda.gov)
Charlotte Baer, NIFA (cbaer@nifa.usda.gov)
Lakshmi Kumar Matukumalli, NIFA (lmatukumalli@nifa.usda.gov)
Mark Mirando, NIFA (mmirando@nifa.usda.gov)
Steve Smith, NIFA (sismith@nifa.usda.gov)
 
 
Source:
 
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4. Horses at Risk for West Nile Virus [CA]
Gridley Herald
June 3, 2016
 
 
Horse owners are urged to vaccinate horses for West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito borne illness transmitted to animals and people through the bite of an infected mosquito.
 
Horses are at higher risk for WNV because they spend most of their time outdoors, including dusk and dawn, when mosquitos capable of transmitting WNV are most active. Horses pasture in areas near standing water where mosquitos breed, including: ponds, troughs and irrigation run-off.
 
Annual WNV vaccination is recommended for horses, ideally, prior to mosquito season. WNV season runs May through October. Last year Butte County experienced higher numbers of mosquitoes infected with WNV than previously seen. This year the rate of WNV is expected to be significant. Several vaccines are available for horses, check with your veterinarian to discuss the best option for your horse.
 
 
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5. Seven salmonella outbreaks in 35 states linked to backyard raising of poultry
Sky Valley Chronicle
June 4, 2016
 
 
(NATIONAL) -- If you're raising chickens or other poultry in your backyard, health officials want you to know you are taking a health risk.
 
Seven separate Salmonella outbreaks across 35 states have sickened more than 300 people in the first four months of this year and are ongoing.
 
All the outbreaks are being blamed on live poultry from "backyard flocks," according to Food Safety News which says public health officials from local to federal levels, along with veterinary and agriculture officials across the country are collaborating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on the outbreak investigations.
 
Of 238 patients interviewed so far, 91 percent of them - 217 - "reported having contact with live poultry in the week before their symptoms began<' according to the FSN report.
 
The CDC says the people who got sick reported purchasing live baby poultry from several different suppliers, including feed supply stores, co-ops, hatcheries and friends in multiple states.
 
 
 
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6. Two local farms affected by pig virus [Canada]
By: Murray McNeill
Winnipeg Free Press
June 3, 2016
 
 
Two new cases of PED virus - the first in 16 months - have been discovered on two hog farms in southeastern Manitoba.
 
Andrew Dickson, general manager of the Manitoba Pork Council, said one of the cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea was discovered last week, and the other earlier this week.
 
He said both farms, which are located close to one another but aren't related, have been quarantined and are being cleaned. The Office of Manitoba's Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) is also tracking the recent movements of staff, trucks, feed and equipment associated with the two farms in an effort to determine the source of the contamination.
 
Although the disease is spreading among the pigs on the two farms, the first farm is the only one that has had any pigs die. Dickson couldn't say how many, "but their mortality rate is not bad so far," he added.
 
 
 
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7. Delta County cat contracts bubonic plague [CO]
By Gabrielle Porter
The Daily Sentinel
June 2, 2016
 
 
A feral cat that tested positive for bubonic plague last weekend has prompted Delta County officials to warn residents to take steps to protect themselves from the disease and to be on the lookout for symptoms.
 
The cat, which was found on Hanson Road near Cedaredge, is the first confirmed case of plague reported in Delta County in more than a decade, said Kenneth Nordstrom, the county health department's director of environmental health. He said he expects the disease to "cycle through" more animals in the area in the near future.
 
"It runs through the wild animal population and really thins out that population, so the stronger animals survive," Nordstrom said. "The main thing is people in that area need to be aware that plague is circulating and we do not want any human cases."
 
 
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USAHA News Alert Summaries is a service provided to its members as a timely, up-to-date source of news affecting animal health and related subjects, intended for personal use by USAHA members.  Information in these articles does not necessarily represent the views or positions of USAHA. 

   Sources of articles are state, national and international media outlets, press releases, and direct from organizations or agencies.  Each article includes direct citation and link.  Comments, questions or concerns about the information included in each article should be directed to the source in addition to USAHA. While USAHA strives for accuracy in the information it shares, the News Alert Summaries should be treated as a tool that provides a snapshot of information being reported regarding animal health and related subjects.