Report on the US Animal Health Association Annual Meeting 2006Compiled by Karen Conyngham
Report on the US Animal Health Association Annual Meeting 2006The 110th annual meeting of the US Animal Health Association was held in Minneapolis , October 15-18, 2006 . Camelid owners who attended this year included Teri Nilson Baird, Karen Conyngham and Dr. Cheryl Tillman. Cheryl represents the Alpaca Owners & Breeders Assoc. on the USAHA Board of Directors and Karen represents the Intl. Lama Registry.
USAHA is comprised of 33 species- and subject-oriented committees, all of which hold sessions during the annual meeting. This year, committee meetings attended by camelid representatives included:
Animal Welfare, Import/Export, Infectious Diseases of Cattle, Bison and Camelids, International Standards, Livestock Identification, Public Relations and Information Technology, Committee on Sheep and Goats, and the Committee on Tuberculosis. The following report covers committees in which camelids were mentioned.
The General Session topic this year was “Animal Disease Surveillance – the Next 20 Years”. Many federal government disease surveillance programs were reviewed for areas such as bioterrorism preparedness, global Avian Influenza monitoring and the “One Health” concept (intersection of human, domestic animal and wildlife health) was discussed.
The USAHA meeting is held in conjunction with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians; there was one AAVLD session that included a presentation by Dr. Susan Tornquist of Oregon State Univ. who spoke on Mycoplasmahaemolamae in camelids (formerly EPE). This is an organism that infects the red blood cells of camelids. The condition is found in 30 species, not just llamas and alpacas. Oregon State Univ. is using a PCR assay developed by them to detect M. haemolamae. Signs of infection vary widely and can include fever, anemia, depression, infertility, edema, poor growth rate and hypoglycemia. Tetracyclines are now being used to treat this infection but they are not wholly effective. A study was done using injectable florfenicol to treat infection but it was less effective than tetracyclines in clearing infection. Another used oral and injectable enrofloxacin (Baytril) which showed no efficacy. Otherwise healthy animals appear to be able to clear infection without treatment. This condition is most severe in stressed and immune suppressed animals. The mode of transmission is not fully understood. Once infected, animals appear to become chronic carriers.
Talks presented in the Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) Sub-committee highlighted the challenges of BVDV control. These challenges include the absence of standard criteria for validation and proficiency in BVDV testing programs, the existence of persistently infected (PI) animals in non-bovine species, the lack of diagnostic and control tools available for those non-bovine species and the need to establish cooperative efforts with producer and professional groups.
Dr. Julia Ridpath, National Animal Disease Center , presented a talk on the current state of BVDV testing in the U.S. It was reported that while BVDV testing in the U.S. is expanding at a exponential rate, some laboratories - including a significant number of independent start up laboratories - are using tests that focus more on cost than sensitivity. In particular the practice of pooling ear notch samples may miss 10% to 50% of field samples depending on the pool size.
Dr. Donal O’Toole, president of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, addressed the AAVLD stance on test standards. Typically field validation requires testing of 300 positive samples and 1000 negative samples no matter what the species. Dr. O’Toole emphasized that it was “important for diagnostics laboratories to get it right before they make it cheap”. It is important for private practice veterinarians to use an AAVLD accredited laboratory for BVDV testing. A list of those accredited labs can be found at: http://www.aavld.org/aavld-3/accredlabs.jsp
Dr. Ed Dubovi, Cornell University , and Dr. Jim Evermann, Washington State University , presented talks on BVDV infection in alpacas. Topics covered included identification of PI alpacas, incidence rate (based on serology), clinical presentation and routes of infection and samples that are unique to this species. Testing since 1-1-2006 has screened 9,900 alpacas. To date, 27 confirmed PI animals have been found, 9 acutely infected, 6 suspected plus 4 undefined. There has been 1 reported death due to BVDV and 5 reported abortions. Characteristics of possible PI crias include: low birth weight, slow or very low weight gain, abnormal fiber (dull, brittle, sparse). These crias have chronic or periodic health issues such as ill-doers, diarrhea, and chronic respiratory problems. Dr. Evermann recommended testing all pregnant females. If they are antibody positive, the owner should carefully monitor their birthing – quarantine the females and test the crias at and following birth.
At this point it appears that overall alpaca exposure is less than 20%. However, these studies indicate circulation of BVDV in alpaca herds is apparently independent of exposure to cattle. The presence of BVDV in the saliva of persistently infected alpacas suggest that saliva may be a good test sample for diagnosing persistent infection and that spitting may be a route of exposure for this species. The low incidence rate suggests that the best approach to BVDV control in alpacas is to continue the current high level of surveying for BVDV, eliminating PI animals and monitoring for exposure by serology. Use of vaccines at this time is not recommended as vaccination would interfere with monitoring by serology. 2 positive tests are required to confirm PI, tests to be run 2-3 weeks apart with a 3-week interval preferred. Dr. DuBovi noted that alpaca owners are to be commended for keeping excellent records which aids tremendously in tracking any exposure to or track-back of BVDV. There is a wealth of information on BVDV in camelids available at: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-vth/camelids/
Dr. Hana VanCampen, Colorado State University , presented a talk summarizing the use of bovine vaccines and diagnostics in non-bovine species. Bovine vaccines and diagnostics are used because there is a lack of reagents for other farmed ruminants such as llamas, alpacas, bison and elk. While BVDV has been shown to be a problem in these species, little or no validation or tests of efficacy have been completed.
Karen Conyngham, International Lama Registry, presented a brief review of the industry-developed minimum standards of care and recommended practices in caring for llamas and alpacas. These documents were designed for use by animal welfare and health agency professionals as well as llama and alpaca owners. The Minimum Standards are mandatory to llama and alpaca survival and humane treatment and are the most basic requirements the animals must have for physical well-being. The Recommended Practices offer more details and are intended as an educational foundation for camelid care. The full text of both documents and a copy of the PowerPoint presentation given can be found on the Internet at: www.camelidcare.info
At the request of the committee chair, Karen also presented a short overview of biosecurity practices among camelid owners. The confirmation of a small number of BVDV persistently infected alpaca crias over the past two years has raised the level of owner awareness regarding biosecurity. The Alpaca Owners & Breeders Assoc. now requires negative BVDV tests for animals entered in their sanctioned shows; some shows have banned exhibition of animals less than 6 months of age. Alpaca transporters likewise require negative testing before hauling. Owners are strongly encouraged to euthanize any BVDV persistently infected crias.
Biosecurity recommendations include having a separate quarantine facility on any farm that will be receiving either new additions to their herds or performing outside breeding. Animals in the quarantine facility should be the last animals to be handled/fed each day to protect the main herd from exposure to any pathogens. New animals should be quarantined for at least 30 days. Those arriving for breeding should have deworming performed before and after breeding and close monitoring of the weight and IgG status of any crias who accompany their dams. An IgG lower than 1000 indicates an at-risk cria. Farms that host events for the public and other camelid owners should keep a visitors log, provide foot coverings for any people who enter animal areas and restrict access to the main herd. Animals that attend shows should be isolated from the rest of their herd for 14-21 days upon returning home. While at the show, use of communal dung piles should be avoided and camelids should not be walked in areas used by other species.
One very timely presentation was made by Pam Hullinger of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. She presented an update on the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) rule-out assay and high throughput sample processing system. In addition to testing for FMD, the assay simultaneously tests for bovine viral diarrhea, bovine herpes-1, bovine parapox virus complex, bluetongue, swine vesicular disease and vesicular exanthema of swine. The new rapid diagnostic test for these important and economically devastating animal diseases was developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in partnership with the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the University of California , Davis . The new diagnostic tool reduces the period required to detect FMD, and six indigenous diseases with similar symptoms from days to hours. In addition the test can simultaneously detect all seven diseases in one sample. Early detection of these diseases provides an opportunity to more quickly trace and minimize the spread of these diseases and enhance the nation's ability to respond to natural or terrorist introduction of these diseases into the national animal population.
Three resolutions were passed unanimously by 10 members of the Committee and submitted to the Committee on Nominations and Resolutions. They dealt with 1) Eradication of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus from North America , 2) BVDV PI Animal Status Disclosure, and 3) Vaccine Development for Malignant Catarrhal Fever in Bison.
The Committee made a recommendation, by unanimous vote of the 10 members present, to adamantly discourage marketing or movement of animals persistently infected (PI) with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) in any manner that potentially exposes at-risk animals.
The Honorable Bruce Knight, newly appointed Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, addressed the committee. He emphasized that NAIS (National Animal Identification System) participation is voluntary, with the following four guiding principles:
Avoid unnecessary burden to livestock producers; Avoid growth in government; Maintain flexibility; Keep data in private hands.
He announced that about 320,000 premises have been registered to date. USDA assumes there are between 1.4 to 2.1 million animal holding premises nationwide. He also stressed that the NAIS is a “…Voluntary program, with a capital V”. Mr. Knight said that if any states wish to pursue a mandatory ID program, they would do so on their own.
Dr. John Clifford, Deputy Administrator for Veterinary Services, stated that animal health is the focus of the NAIS. The program will enhance U.S. efforts to respond to intentionally or unintentionally introduced animal disease outbreaks more quickly and effectively. USDA strongly believes that the best approach is a voluntary system driven by the states and the private sector. The NAIS only works if the states, industry, and producers actively shape and use the program.
Because the NAIS is a completely voluntary program, USDA must continue to consider all issues of concern that may cause producers not to participate. Confidentiality of information has been an issue that USDA has taken very seriously. With regard to NAIS information, USDA has taken the position that information should only be used when specific disease issues need to be addressed or responded to. In keeping with this position, and in response to ongoing concerns about confidentiality, USDA has determined that the distribution records of animal identification devices (tags or microchips) distributed to a premises will be held in private databases or by states, rather than in USDA’s AIN Management System. As of October 17, no injectable microchip manufacturers had applied to have their devices certified for ‘840’ country code 15-digit numbers.
The NAIS web site is going to be redesigned for easier navigation.
Robert Fourdraine, director of the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium, provided a report on the actions of the National Animal Identification System Advisory Subcommittee (which reports to Sec. Johanns via the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases). He said that the NAIS Subcommittee reviewed the NAIS Draft Strategic Plan and subsequent updates to the plan. The Subcommittee recognizes the importance of NAIS to protect the US livestock industry and that timely implementation of NAIS is extremely important. Since implementation of the NAIS seems to be focused on the cattle industry, it is important that key components of the NAIS recommended by the Cattle Working Group are made available as soon as possible.
Other NAIS Subcommittee recommendations include:
* All producers have the opportunity to utilize a government-managed animal tracking database system under NAIS for those species that will track animal movement.
* USDA should conduct a complete research of all patents and intellectual properties pertaining to animal identification issues that could be a potential conflict and/or of relevance to the NAIS and that a summary of such be provided to the Subcommittee.
* The Subcommittee has reviewed species working group reports. Several reports are still in progress. However, the Cattle, Swine, Sheep and Equine species reports are completed and ready for adoption. They strongly recommended that the USDA adopt the Sheep and Equine Species Working Group recommendations as written. The equine recommendations can be found at: http://www.equinespeciesworkinggroup.com/
* NAIS is a public-private partnership. In order to have an adequate level of participation, it is important that states and industry are involved in communications and providing a consistent message about the purpose of the NAIS to producers.
Dr. Sam Holland, State Veterinarian of South Dakota, provided a presentation on ‘Common Sense Animal Identification’. His suggestion was to address the question: “What can we implement, in the near term and practically, that will meet immediate needs for animal health?”. He said states could maintain a database system accessible by USDA, instituting premises of origin ID and individual ID for cattle and swine used for breeding. Premises ID could be instituted in a short time for these breeding animals. The individual ID could be the official alpha-numeric metal tag, or other official ID. This system is proven, is economical, has always had broad industry support, and has demonstrated effectiveness. Feeder animals could continue to be traced through use of marketing records, brand records, health certificates and other industry records.
A complete copy of Dr. Holland’s suggestions can be found at: http://www.animalagriculture.org/proceedings/IDINFOEXPO2006/Wednesday/4GeneralSessionIV/1%20Holland.pdf