Infectious - Biointel

Seung-Hun Lee,

Kyoo-Tae Kim,

Oh-Deog Kwon,

Younsung Ock,

Taeil Kim,

Donghag Choi,

We describe for the first time the detection of Coxiella-like bacteria (CLB), Theileria luwenshuni, and T. ovis endosymbionts in blood-sucking deer keds. Eight deer keds attached to a Korean water deer were identified as Lipoptena fortisetosa (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) by morphological and genetic analyses. Among the endosymbionts assessed, CLB, Theileria luwenshuni, and T. ovis were identified in L. fortisetosa by PCR and nucleotide sequencing. Based on phylogeny, CLB 16S rRNA sequences were classified into clade B, sharing 99.4% identity with CLB from Haemaphysalis longicornis in South Korea. Although the virulence of CLB to vertebrates is still controversial, several studies have reported clinical symptoms in birds due to CLB infections. The 18S rRNA sequences of T. luwenshuni and T. ovis in this study were 98.8–100% identical to those in GenBank, and all of the obtained sequences of T. ovis and T. luwenshuni in this study were 100% identical to each other, respectively. Although further studies are required to positively confirm L. fortisetosa as a biological vector of these pathogens, strong genetic relationships among sequences from this and previous studies suggest potential transmission among mammalian hosts by ticks and keds.

Deer keds (genus Lipoptena), also known as louse flies, are obligate, blood-feeding ectoparasites that belong to the Hippoboscidae family [1]. Deer keds typically parasitize deer, antelope, goat, and sheep [2]. After keds reach a suitable host, wings are broken off at the base, leaving behind a stump [1].

To date, ill effects by deer keds on hosts have not been well established [3]. Anemia and mechanical damage due to heavy infestation were suggested as clinical symptoms [3]. Recently, the importance of deer keds as a potential vector of various pathogens, including Anaplasma ovis [4], Bartonella spp. [5], Rickettsia spp. [4], and Trypanosoma spp. [6], was reported. Previous studies have generally investigated pathogens in L. cervi, another deer ked species, whereas pathogens in L. fortisetosa have not been well studied.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Prionsjukdom detected in a Norwegian moose

Published: 25/05/2016 4:02 p.m. Last modified: 27/05/2016 9:11

Moose.
Photo: Colourbox.

Veterinary Institute has today informed the FSA that we have proven prionsjukdommen Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) at a moose from Selbu in Sør-Trøndelag. The disease, known in cervids in North America, was the National Veterinary Institute demonstrated for the first time in Europe on a Norwegian reindeer in April this year. The new case of moose in Selbu there are other proven case of this disease on a European deer.

My first article published on this site under this same heading attracted comment from a wide spectrum. Perhaps surprisingly – and helpfully – both ends of that spectrum seem to agree now that the notion of the Random Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) perturbation effect increasing badger transmission of bTB has been shown to be an unsafe concept. However, many of the commentators appear to have missed the relevance of the bTB spike in two of the ten central England control areas.

It is the unexpected – roughly 10% – contribution from each of these that make up around 20% of the difference between the control and the proactive cull areas; in other words most of the supposed 25% proactive cull benefit.

Why did breakdowns spike in two of the control areas? Perhaps it was because they had the two highest ‘starting’ levels of bTB herd infection (37% & 28% respectively) in the years immediately before the trials.

New livestock arriving to properties is one of the highest risk activities for introducing disease, pests or parasites into flocks.

Livestock Biosecurity Network national operations manager Sarah-Jane Wilson, is calling on greater use of the Sheep Health Statement (SHS) – a free, easy to use tool available to help manage farm biosecurity risks.

Dr Wilson said when buying or moving sheep, ask the vendor for a completed SHS to assess the risk around Lice, Ovine Brucellosis (OB), Ovine Johnes Disease (OJD), and Footrot.

“By managing your biosecurity decisions at this crucial time you are minimising risk and maximising the opportunity for profitability,” she said.

“These diseases and parasites can have a long and expensive impact on sheep flocks once established.

“When restocking, or accepting agistment animals, flock health history, location, testing previously undertaken and vaccination history are vital pieces of information that savvy buyers will be wanting to know.”

Canine ocular onchocercosis caused by Onchocerca lupi is a zoonotic parasite, which causes ocular conditions primarily in dogs. Since its original retrieval in the sclera of a wolf (Canis lupus) in Georgia [1], this nematode has been detected in dogs in Hungary [2], Greece [3–6], Germany [7], Portugal [4, 8] and Romania [9]. In addition, it has been identified in both dogs and cats in the USA [10, 11], and, more recently, in a cat in southern Portugal [12].

Adult nematodes are generally embedded in granulomatous nodules in ocular retrobulbar space, orbital fascia, eyelid, third palpebra, conjunctiva and sclera [13]. Infection by O. lupi causes lesions ranging from no apparent clinical sings to conjunctivitis, photophobia, lacrimation, ocular discharge, keratitis, uveitis, exophthalmos and even blindness [14, 15].

Accordingly, the diagnosis of O. lupi relies on the detection of microfilariae in skin snips [15] and may also be investigated by the use of imaging tools (i.e. ultrasound scans, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging – MRI) [16].

Imagine actually trying to find a needle in a haystack. Well that’s what we set out to do in our world first study to identify which proteins were responsible for helping some of the deadliest viruses — like Hendra virus— replicate and then infect people.

You know, viruses are pretty rude if you think about it. Not only are they a major source of disease, pestilence and your run-of-the-mill global misery, but what’s worse, they actually turn us into vehicles for their nasty deeds. Many viruses, including some of the most deadly, have a very limited genetic capacity. For instance the Hendra virus genome encodes only 9 proteins. Compare that to the human genome which encodes over 20,000 proteins. It’s a big difference.

A government wildlife researcher says he’s found that rabbits and skunks can become infected with the bird flu virus and shed it enough to infect ducks, evidence that small mammals could contribute to the spread of bird flu on farms.

National Wildlife Research Center biologist Jeff Root says his experiments have shown striped skunks and cottontail rabbits in captivity in his laboratory have indirectly transmitted a strain of bird flu to mallard ducks after they’ve shared food and water sources.

Root says it’s important now to figure out how likely it is such transmission across species happens in the wild.

Last year bird flu resulted in the death of 48 million birds in 15 states. Scientists hope to find how it gets from wild birds to farms and spreads.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A government wildlife researcher says he’s found that rabbits and skunks can become infected with the bird flu virus and shed it enough to infect ducks, evidence that small mammals could contribute to the spread of bird flu on farms.

Root says it’s important now to figure out how likely it is such transmission across species happens in the wild.

Last year bird flu resulted in the death of 48 million birds in 15 states. Scientists hope to find how it gets from wild birds to farms and spreads.

WebCEPD B-1023 – Surveillance & Management of Disease in Prawn Aquaculture 
Join us on May 13, 2016 at 9:00 am GMT for this free webinar. Click on <a href=”http://tinyurl.com/he4ua73″ rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”>http://tinyurl.com/he4ua73</a> to see the time in your time zone anywhere around the world. 
Register now! Click on <a href=”https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4447063113198957828″ rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”>https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4447063113198957828</a> 
About this webinar: This webinar will provide information on the economic importance of prawn/shrimp farming and different farm and hatchery systems, and health management programs. It will also cover the importance of disease surveillance in aquaculture and general wet-mount health check technique for farmed prawn/shrimp.
Learning Objectives – participants will understand: 
1. Prawn/shrimp biology and economic importance of prawn/shrimp farming; 
2. How to assess prawn/shrimp health status on farm and in hatcheries; and, 
3. The main diseases affecting farmed prawns/shrimp.

In a major setback for Indian exporters, the government of Kuwait has banned the import of poultry products from this country, due to the fear of transportation of the H5N1 (popularly known as bird flu) virus. The news was conveyed by Kuwait government to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority (Apeda).

Despite Kuwait being a very small market (o.1 per cent of our total export), there could be a spillover to other countries. Oman, for instance, which takes 40 per cent by volume. In value terms, Oman is nearly 20 per cent of Indian shipment; Saudi Arabia’s is seven per cent.

“If similar action follows elsewhere in the Middle East, India would go out of the poultry export markets,” said a senior Apeda official.