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Report of USAHA Meeting 2003 USAHA Annual Meeting Oct. 12 - 16, 2003 Prepared by The Camelid Alliance: Teri Nilson Baird Karen Conyngham Susan Tellez Marsharee Wilcox Camelid Alliance members attending: Teri Baird (CO), Karen Conyngham (TX), Susan Tellez (OH and TX), Marsharee Wilcox (MD). Record attendance of 1100+ attendees was achieved this year along with members from the AAVLD (American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians). The next USAHA meeting will be held at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel, Greensboro, North Carolina Oct. 21-28, 2004. Background: There are 30 subject-specific committees within the US Animal Health Association. Any USAHA members may attend any committee meetings, but only current committee members can vote on resolutions within that committee. Camelid Alliance members belong to the Cattle, Bison & Lama committee, Foreign and Emerging Diseases committee, Import/Export committee, Tuberculosis committee and the Livestock Identification committee. This year members also sat in on sessions of the Sheep and Goat committee, the new International Standards committee, Bluetongue, Johne's, Laboratory Resolutions Session, Wildlife Diseases, and Animal Welfare committees. Acronyms: APHIS – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 2003 Meeting Summary: The USAHA meeting has 2 general scientific sessions, one on Monday morning and the other on Wednesday afternoon. The Monday session included presentations by the director of the OIE, Dr. Bernard Vallat who provided an overview into the functions of the OIE (The Office of International des Epizooties or World Organization for Animal Health). There are 164 member countries and the OIE works closely with the World Trade Organization as well when setting international standards on animal health issues. The topic of animal welfare is of growing importance to the OIE and will be an area of increased focus over the next year. This will cover areas of animal transportation, humane slaughter and humane depopulation methods when highly infectious disease outbreaks occur anywhere in the world. Dr Vallat stressed the need for collaboration between national veterinary services (such as APHIS), industry and the public sector regarding issues on animal health and welfare. He also pointed out that 80% of the organisms that are considered potentials for bioterror attacks are under veterinary supervision, therefore it is vital that the OIE works to protect and improve veterinary services in developing countries (which tend to be the ones where diseases such as FMD are endemic). There are 149 reference laboratories in 30 different countries; 55 dealing with terrestrial diseases and 22 on aquatic diseases and there are 13 collaborating centers in 7 countries. The OIE aims to work on adding more labs to this global network. Lastly, Dr. Vallat, and nearly ALL the speakers who were from countries outside the US, made the point that all countries need to be mindful of their trading partners as they develop their policies. His golden rule for all countries is: “Treat others as you would have them treat you”. Other general scientific sessions included updates on Chronic Wasting Disease in Cervids by Michael Miller, Large Scale Surveillance for CWD by Dr. Barbara Powers; an overview of the Homeland Security Dept. by Col. Jerry Parker (Homeland Security is now in charge of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center facility; employees are still part of the USDA) and past Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, Floyd Horn, gave a presentation on rapid diagnostic testing. These tests are being developed to provide results in the field more quickly for a number of diseases. The Livestock Identification committee reviewed a new draft national plan for permanent ID on all US livestock. Cattle are the main focus currently but all animals will need to carry ID in the near future if they go to shows, cross state lines or are sold. More details will be forthcoming on the plan for camelid identification. The draft plan can be viewed at: www.usaip.info. Camelid Alliance members met with Bob Frost, President of USAHA and the USAHA Representative for the ILR and llama owners on the Executive Committee, to determine the most appropriate manner to handle the request for Camelid Permanent Identification. The mandate for identification of premises and individual animals is coming from the Department of Homeland Security for tracking movement of all livestock, captive wildlife (all zoo and cage-raised animals and birds), and cervids – primarily deer and elk. The following Resolution was approved and sent to: USDA/APHIS BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The number of animals officially identified in the United States has been decreasing rapidly over the last few years due to the successes of disease eradication programs that have historically provided the foundation for animal identification. This directly impacts the ability to track animals that may have been exposed to a disease of concern. Current world conditions which include the possibility of intentional or accidental introduction of foreign animal disease make it essential that potentially exposed animals can be quickly traced. The recent disclosure of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in Canada illustrates the tremendous economic impact that even one animal with a significant foreign animal disease, especially a zoonotic disease can cause. This tremendous impact on the cattle industry in Canada occurred even though Canada has an identification system that has recently been implemented, and therefore only allowed for the efficient tracking of animals that had been identified in the last few years. The impact would be significantly greater in the United States should BSE or a some other foreign animal disease be disclosed here since the number of animals identified has been on the decline, and significantly fewer animals are identified and able to be traced. Being able to rapidly track animals exposed to a disease of concern, either foreign or domestic, is not only a critical component of being able to arrest the spread of disease, but is also a key factor in negotiations intended to reestablish international trade that may be halted as a result of a disease incursion. Therefore, it is critical that a comprehensive animal identification system be implemented as soon as possible, In response, the work of a National Identification Development Team representing a significant state-federal-industry cooperative effort has resulted in a draft United States Animal Identification Plan (USAIP). This plan, although still a work in progress, lays the foundation for the initiation of a comprehensive system for animal identification in the United States, a first step towards enhancing the ability to safeguard the health of the Nation's livestock, and to protect and enhance international trade. RESOLUTION: The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) accepts the draft United States Animal Identification Plan (USAIP) proposed by the National Animal Identification Development Team as a work in progress, and encourages its further refinement and implementation through the following guiding principles: 1. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS), state animal health authorities, and species specific groups should work to finalize and implement standards associated with the development and administration of the premises identification system and United States animal identification numbering system in a timely manner, and develop the information systems necessary to support them. 2. The USDA, APHIS, VS should coordinate the organization of species specific groups to determine the final design, implementation process and oversight methods necessary for the national animal identification system for their respective species. These groups, working within the USAIP framework, will make their recommendations to the National Identification Steering Committee. 3. The USDA-APHIS-VS should work with state animal health officials and the species groups to develop minimum standards necessary to implement the USAIP. USAHA has instituted a new committee on International Standards. This committee will work closely with the OIE to develop standards to safeguard agricultural resources, adopt science-based decisions and educate both regulators and producers on the function and processes of the OIE. Their goal is to provide more common regulations for movement (both domestic and international) among all groups concerned . The OIE issued a press release on BSE just before the USAHA meeting. The full text can be found at: www.oie.int/eng/press/en_031002.htm It states in part: “The present OIE Code has never suggested a total embargo of animals and animal products coming from BSE infected countries, not even from countries considered as having "high BSE risk". In order to protect public and animal health the present Code recommends different risk mitigating measures, with increasing levels of severity as they move from categories of countries of lower to higher levels of BSE risk.” “One of the most important conclusions of the recent OIE expert group is that the scientific basis used in the present Code is still valid. However, the scientists elaborated additional proposals for a better understanding of standards and guidelines, in order to facilitate risk analysis in importing countries.” The Foreign and Emerging Diseases committee met for 2 full afternoon sessions and these presentations are always well attended, due to the need for timely decisions and proposed resolutions for action on the newest emerging diseases or indicators for certain disease and treatments. One of the highlights of this meeting was a presentation by Dr. Paul Roger from the UK who gave an account of what it was like being a private veterinarian during the 2001 FMD outbreak there. He made a compelling case for the investment of time and money in FMD preparedness and prevention. Millions of dollars and animal lives would have been saved had the UK been better prepared to deal with a foreign disease outbreak. Dr. Roger urged the US to learn from this lesson and invest now in both rapid diagnostic tests and vaccination protocols. Discussions on various diagnostics and surveillance methods took place in FED and there was overwhelming support voiced by committee members for US Government support, research, validation and use of rapid diagnostic tests. Representatives from Plum Island indicate in the case of an FMD outbreak, as an example, all tools would be used including computer modeling, RT PCR etc. but that virus isolation would be the confirming diagnostic tool used. The way in which computer modeling was used in the UK was thought by many to be huge mistake. Plum Island personnel indicate though computer modeling would be used here, it would be used only as possible path predictor, not as the basis for a slaughter campaign. Cattle, Bison and Lama Committee: A short agenda from this committee focused on cattle and bison health issues with no lama presentation made this year. Import/Export Committee: The annual report of all exports and imports of live animals, and germplasm was presented by Dr. Arnoldo Vaquer, Senior Staff officer for the National Center for Import & Export (NCIE). Dr. Le Ann Thomas, Assistant Director for Veterinary Medical Regulatory Support and Customs and Border Protection is the link to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and explained which functions are under DHS and which are under USDA control. The handling of all regulations and policies and procedures for the movement of live animals, semen and embryos remains under USDA/Veterinary Services division control. DHS will monitor, inspect and hold cargo, assess penalties for compliance, and review all permits and certificates for shipments. The mandate for Permanent Identification of Premise origin and individual animal ID for tracking movement falls under DHS jurisdiction, but will be implemented through USDA and Allied Industry groups. Dr. Michael David, Director of International Sanitary Standards for NCIE, USDA,APHIS,VS reviewed the 2003 OIE updates in the standards for surveillance and reporting of different diseases. He explained that additional diseases would now be listed for IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION to State and Federal authorities, rather than the routine monthly or bi-monthly notices. More information can be found at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/oie Dr. Lisa Ferguson, Senior Staff Vet(USDA,APHIS,VS) for BSE and Emergency Disease Programs gave the latest update on the BSE /Canada Border issue. The final draft (which still includes camels, llamas and alpacas in the live animal ban) was sent to the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) for final review and then posting to the Federal Register for a 60 day comment period. She emphasized the USDA position that this is " LOW RISK" with a 1 in 1 million chance of occurrence, and reiterated that USDA is requesting additional funds from the Defense and DHS departments to implement the USAIP (US Animal Identification Plan). The data being collected shows low risk in the US for BSE. More information is available at: www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/bse.html Discussions were held on the international movement of rodents (Monkeypox), germplasm, and poultry with the incidence of Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) which caused the depopulation of thousands of birds this past year in California, Arizona and Texas. Bluetongue Committee: There were presentations by Elaine Ostlund, (USDA,APHIS, NVSL) and Thomas Walton, Director of the Centers for Epidemiology & Animal Health, Fort Collins, CO (CEAH ) for USDA reporting on the incidence of domestic and global distribution of the virus for Bluetongue (BT), a noncontagious, insect transmitted viral disease of sheep, cattle, goats and wild ruminants. Also included were bovine leukosis, and epizootic hemorrhagic disease. Distribution maps show most Northern states are all free of incidence, and a low incidence in the southern states with many false positive tests from titer associations. The North American trade issue over the Bluetongue regulations was reported by Ron DeHaven, the present Deputy Administrator USDA,APHIS, VS with regard to Canada, which restricts movement during the months of high vector transmission, and requesting them to reduce the Import regulations for Bluetongue and Anaplasmosis. He stated that the US policy considered Bluetongue NOT an emerging disease, that seropositive cattle were not a risk, and that the US is receptive to Imports from countries with minimal BT virus activity. USDA considers this a non-tariff trade barrier for the EU, with the OIE still listing BT as an "A" List disease. Dr. Sara Kaman, Regional Coordinator, NCIE, for Europe, Australia/New Zealand, Africa, presented the update on negotiations for export of live cattle (ruminants) to Europe, a process underway for the past 20 years. Following three major conferences and meetings in Brussels with the European Union Agricultural officials, they accepted the data from the past 10 years as an indication that the incidence and risk is extremely low, but in the end denied the Proposal for Trade under the lack of enforcement of the FEED BAN imposed on mammalian feeds fed to cattle (the TSE-related issue – feed for food animals such as cattle may not contain meat or bone meal from rendered mammals). The Third International Bluetongue Symposium is being held in Sicily, Oct. 26-29, 2003 with hopes that this final barrier may be eliminated in future trade in live animals with Europe. Dr. James Pearson reported on the 18 attendees and speakers from the USA. Dr. Richard Mayer gave a repot on ABADRL (Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Laboratory), Laramie Wyoming, the only Level III Laboratory in the US , and its need for updated facilities for monitoring these diseases and vectors which include Bluetongue, Epizootic Hemorraghic Disease, West Nile Virus, Vesicular Stomatitis, BSE and CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease). The validity of tests for these pathogens and duration of the disease in animals was presented by Dr. James MacLachlan, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Laboratory Resolutions Session Bob Frost, USAHA President, presented this special session on discussion of the critical situation for the funding for the laboratories at the Ames, Iowa, National Veterinary Services Lab (NVSL) and the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) and the Resolution to come from USAHA. A National Animal Heath Laboratory Network (NAHLN) for reporting of disease and diagnostics is being implemented through the use of both private and USDA diagnostic laboratories, with the Collegiate Veterinary Medical Labs to coordinate all information in a timely manner especially for any emergency plans. Benny Osborne, President of the American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) gave details of the USAHA/AAVMC partnership for modernizing the animal health and food safety security systems with a goal of having laboratories and personnel in all 50 states prepared to handle any emergency diagnostic situations. The October issue of the USAHA newsletter is devoted to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) and the new National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) this will be available full-text on the USAHA web site very soon. See: www.usaha.org/newsletter.html and look for the link to the October 2003 issue. Johne's Disease The most important issue from this committee was the report on the project by Dr. Sara Godden of the University of Minnesota to study the prevention of spreading Johne's disease (Mycobacterium Avian Paratuberculosis - MAP) through unpasteurized colostrum or milk and oral/fecal contamination. This may affect camelids if they are fed unpasteurized milk or colostrum from cattle or goats. The pasteurization process showed a loss of 25-30% in the IgG but the efficacy remained for adequate protection being passed on to offspring, if a larger dose is given at the first feeding. Animal Welfare This session focused on regulations for humane slaughter of cervids and equines and many pro and con suggestions were made from both sides. Most important was the announcement of a Global Conference on Animal Welfare, focusing on Transport and International movement, to be held in Paris under OIE auspices 23-25 of February 2004
A presentation by Dr. Kaplan, University of GA, was made on the high level of parasite resistance being seen now due to overuse of anthelmintics such as Ivermectin, Dectomax and others. In some moderate climate states they are now seeing 90% resistance to traditionally used wormers. This is a huge and growing problem and one that must be addressed by all species. The conclusion provided, with very compelling factual support, was that we can no longer use these wormers as a management tool. Dr. Kaplan recommends use of the McMaster Fecal Egg Count Method to accurately id animals that should be wormed on an as needed basis. Their research has shown approximately 80% of worms in a herd or flock can be found in approximately 20% of the animals. He strongly stated that we must immediately change our traditional approach to worming and we should be saving these drugs for the animals that really need clinical intervention. No longer are they recommending rotation of wormers as the solution, rather targeted treatment only. An international group has been formed to work on developing alternative approaches to parasite management since there are NO new anthelmintics in production anywhere in the world and development would take approximately 10 years. Sheep and Goat, Sub-Committee on Scrapie Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease of the central nervous systems in sheep and goats, classified as one of the TSE's (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, similar to BSE in cattle). State, federal and international movement requires testing and special ear tags noting the animal is FREE from scrapie. This is part of the Federal Scrapie Eradication Initiative from the Department of Agriculture.
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