newyorkpost--2019-10-31--About a quarter of the world’s pigs could die of African swine fever: official

It’s really going to be hog heaven.  About a quarter of the world’s pigs are expected to die of African swine fever — a complex disease that is “the biggest threat to any commercial livestock of our generation,” an official said Thursday.  African swine fever — which is fatal to hogs but harmless for humans — has already wiped out pig herds in many Asian countries, Dr. Mark Schipp, president of the World Organization for Animal Health, said at a press conference in Sydney.  The disease’s spread to countries including China — which has half the world’s pig population — has sparked a worldwide crisis, according to Schipp, who is also Australia’s chief veterinary officer.  Mongolia, the Korean Peninsula, Southeast Asia and East Timor have also faced African swine fever outbreaks.  “I don’t think the species will be lost, but it’s the biggest threat to the commercial raising of pigs we’ve ever seen,” Schipp said.  Chinese authorities have destroyed about 1.2 million pigs since August 2018 in an effort to contain the disease.  As a result, the price of pork has doubled from last year in the country — which produces and consumes two-thirds of the meat worldwide. China’s attempts to buy pork abroad — coupled with smaller outbreaks in other countries — have driven up global prices, according to Schipp.  “There are some shortages in some countries, and there’s been some substitutions using other sources of protein, which is driving up the prices of other proteins,” Schipp said.  Although steps have been made toward developing a vaccine, Schipp said it’s difficult because the virus is large and has a complex 3D structure — which scientists just last week were able to unravel.  The disease is spread by contact among pigs — through contaminated fodder and ticks.  The epidemic could also lead to a global shortage of heparin, an anti-blood clotting drug with an active ingredient derived from pig intestines, the official said.  “Most of it is sourced from China, which has been badly hit,” Schipp said.  Schipp noted that China is working hard to battle the disease — which he thinks may also change the way pigs are raised there.  “In China, previously they had a lot of backyard piggeries,” he said. “They’re seeing this as an opportunity to take a big step forward and move to large scale commercial piggeries. The challenge will be to other countries without the infrastructure or capital reserves to scale up in those ways.”


sottnet--2019-01-28--Denmark hopes 43-mile fence along German frontier will save its bacon prevent African swine fever

Denmark hopes 43-mile fence along German frontier will save its bacon, prevent African swine fever

Denmark began constructing a 43-mile fence along its border with Germany on Monday - but the new barrier is not the latest bulwark in Fortress Europe's defenses against migrants.The metal fence, which will be only five feet high, is intended to keep out wild boar.Denmark and Germany are both members of the Schengen Area, and there are no border formalities between the two countries. But the right to border-free travel does not extend to wild boar.The Danish government says it is building the fence to prevent African swine fever ever crossing the border and decimating the country's bacon industry.It has started construction on the 30.4m krone (£3.5m) fence despite the fact there are no reported cases of the disease in Germany."It is an insurance policy against African swine fever. You also insure your house against fire, although it will probably never burn," Mogens Dall, chairman of the Danish agricultural association LandboSyd, told Jyllands Posten newspaper.The Danish government fears an outbreak could have devastating consequences for the country's pork industry. Denmark is the only EU country where there are more pigs than humans, and currently exports around €4bn (£3.5bn) of pork a year.Mr Dall said.France is planning its own fence against wild boar on its border with Belgium, and boar that stray across are being culled.But the Danish fence has proved controversial across the border in Germany, where it has come under attack from regional politicians and animal rights activists."We have considerable doubts about the usefulness or necessity of a fence," Jan Philipp Albrecht, regional environment minister for the German state of Schleswig-Holstein said, adding that the disease is mainly spread by humans who have handled infected livestock."They can run fast at 35 kilometers per hour. They'll find a hole in a few minutes," Bo Øksnebjerg of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), told Schleswig-Holsteinischer Zeitungsverlag newspaper.


sottnet--2019-12-02--China's African Swine Fever is now a global threat

The worst outbreak of fatal African Swine Fever disease ever has devastated the world's largest pig population, that of China, over the past months.. The political and human impact could be far worse than imagined as a de facto pandemic disease situation spreads. Globalization of agribusiness is not helping matters.On August 3, 2018 a case of African Swine Fever (ASF) was confirmed in China's Liaoning Province. Since then despite various measures to contain the deadly disease it has spread across China where as of November, 2019There is no known treatment to cure it. It can be spread by direct contact with an infected pig, body fluids, contact with equipment or clothing and via certain tick species.The China Agriculture Ministry issued a report in August that the size of China's live pig herd had declined by a very precise 38.7% from August 2018. Industry sources suspect underreporting and put the actual number at more like 50%. In any event it is huge, and has impacted the politically sensitive measure of China food price inflation over the past year.Most pigs in China are raised by small-scale farmers who face ruin now. According to reports inside China this has led many desperate small farmers to try to hide the presence of ASF in their herds, to slaughter and sell, to avoid financial ruin.The disease is especially dangerous. According to experts it's hard to kill. One report notes,Even more alarming are reports that disposal of infected China pig carcasses is not safe. Rather than treating the infected dead pigs as biohazard and burying them far from the farm site the proper way burning them and treat the site as hazardous waste for a year or more, covering the site with lime, it has been documented that often small farmers bury the pigs next to the barn with no burning. That risks renewed outbreak of the disease China had the world's largest pig population at the beginning of 2018 with a population that was 440 million strong, out of a global population estimated at 769 million pigs. Now it could be down half of that, a major shock to world meat protein supplies.The speed of the spread of the disease across all China has clearly overtaxed the system there. However despite assurances, the spread has not been contained inside China.The ASF disease is spreading outside China as well. The Wall Street Journal noted, "In recent months, customs officials in Japan, Taiwan and Australia have found infected meat in other food products carried by tourists. And." The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that all provinces in Vietnam have reported ASF outbreaks and that more than 5,880,000 pigs have been culled since the first case was discovered in February.From China the ASF disease has also spread to. From there contagious pigs have crossed the buffer zone tonecessitating severe measures from South Korea, according to Ahn Chan-il, leader of World Institute for North Korea Studies and a former North Korean service member According to the FAO, as of November 21. And wild boars carrying the disease have been detected at the border region in Russia with Mongolia. In several instances ASF virus gene was detected in pork products confiscated at Incheon Airport in Seoul South Korea brought by passengers from Shenyang City, China, an indication of how difficult containment is.Isolated cases have also been detected in EU countries includingwhich are acting swiftly to contain spread. It has also been documented inMost recently, cases of the ASF have been detected innot far from the German border. In early November African Swine Fever was found in 20 wild boar in Poland's western Lubusz province near the Oder River, some 80 kilometers east of Germany, the European Union's biggest hog producer.An alarming case was discovered over several weeks in March of a Chinese ship container at a port inwhere Federal agents seized 1 million pounds of pork smuggled from China, the largest-ever U.S. seizure of agricultural products. The pork was hidden in containers of ramen noodles and laundry detergent. Authorities took it to determine if it was contaminated with ASF.There are many unanswered questions at this point about African Swine Fever pandemic spread.In October, according to a new report by Henry Kamens, seven dead wild boar washed ashore in Denmark, a major pig producer country, and were disposed of without even being tested for ASF.


sputnik--2019-11-04--African Swine Fever Outbreaks in China Causing Hikes in European Meat Prices - Company

African swine fever (ASF) is caused by a virus of the same name, which is not dangerous to humans but leads to the death of domestic pigs, as well as other pig family species, within days of being infected.  In October, China reported one new outbreak of ASF, in Guangxi Province, while South Korea reported 12 new outbreaks, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The majority of new outbreaks in October were reported in Europe, where over 250 ASF cases in both swine and wild boar were registered.  There are currently over 9,400 ongoing African swine fever outbreaks in the world, according to OIE. No vaccine has been developed for the disease.  Bloomberg analysts suggested that by fattening up animals to enormous proportions, producers hope to eliminate the consequences of an outbreak of ASF.


theguardianuk--2019-09-09--Philippines culls 7000 pigs in outbreak of African swine fever

Philippines culls 7,000 pigs in outbreak of African swine fever

The Philippines has reported its first cases of African swine fever, becoming the latest country hit by the disease that has killed pigs from Slovakia to China, pushing up pork prices worldwide.  The virus is not harmful to humans but causes haemorrhagic fever in pigs that almost always ends in death. There is no antidote or vaccine and the only known method to prevent the disease from spreading is a mass cull of affected livestock.  Infected pigs were found in two towns near the Philippine capital, Manila, and authorities have culled more than 7,000 pigs within a one-kilometre (0.6-mile) radius, said the agriculture minister, William Dar.  He said the country was not facing an epidemic and urged Filipinos to continue eating pork, which is a critical market and accounts for 60% of meat consumption in the Philippines.  The Asian country is the world’s eighth biggest pork producer by volume and its swine industry is estimated at 260bn pesos (£4bn), according to the agriculture department.  Dar said 14 of 20 samples sent to a UK laboratory tested positive for African swine fever, but it would take a week to confirm how virulent the strain is.  The virus was first recorded in Rodriguez town, six miles east of Manila. Other undisclosed areas are being closely monitored for possible infection, he added.  “We have never been in an epidemic, just to highlight that. We are responding to the increased number of deaths of pigs,” Dar said.  Authorities suspect the swine fever cases stemmed from backyard hog raisers who feed pigs “swill”, leftover food scraps from hotels and restaurants.  The ministry added the virus could also be traced to smuggled frozen meat and returning overseas Filipino workers who brought back infected meat products.  In May, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization said pork prices had risen by up to 50% both in China and on the Chicago futures exchange.


themoscowtimes--2019-08-21--Russia Reports New Case of African Swine Fever in Its Far East

Russia has detected new cases of African swine fever (AFS) in the Amur region near its border with China, local authorities said on Wednesday.  ASF-infected pigs were found at two private farms in the village of Volkovo near Blagoveshchensk, the local administration said on its website.  The ASF virus is a highly contagious fever among pigs, but it is not dangerous to humans.


themoscowtimes--2019-11-04--Is China Exporting African Swine Fever to Russia?

More than a year after African swine fever began ravaging hogs in China, the virus may be escaping along the same route it’s believed to have entered — via Russia.  While the swine contagion has been present in Russia for 12 years, it’s only been spreading actively in the country’s Far East for the past few months. Authorities have reported almost 60 outbreaks in wild and domestic pigs, most within a few miles of the border with China.  Infected wild boar may be playing a role in cross-border spread, said Dirk Pfeiffer, a professor of veterinary medicine and life sciences at City University of Hong Kong. “Wild boar are very likely to now also be infected in northern China,” Pfeiffer said.  While the Far East accounts for less than 2% of Russia’s swine herd, the virus’s persistence in wayward, wild animals may frustrate attempts to control the disease on both sides of the border. In China, African swine fever has reduced the nation’s pig herd by almost half, causing record-high pork prices and a shakeup of its $118 billion industry.  Experience in Europe with African swine fever has shown that once the disease becomes established in wild pigs, it’s “extremely difficult to control it in both wild and domestic pigs, especially when the wild population is dense and swine production is characterized as extensive, semi-intensive or ‘backyard’,” said Andriy Rozstalnyy, an animal health officer with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome.  “Smuggling of infected pork products, backyard pig-farming, and semi-subsistence hunting could play an important role” in the spread of the virus, Rozstalnyy said in an email.  Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia’s biosecurity watchdog, called for stronger measures to protect the region’s backyard pigs in August, about a month before the virus was found in sausage meat that a Chinese citizen had tried to smuggle across the checkpoint at Zabaykalsk, opposite the Chinese border town of Manzhouli.  The illegal transport of goods, the movement of tourists, and the migration of wild boar all pose disease risks, Rosselkhoznadzor said in an Aug. 5 statement. Additionally, the virus could spread in live pigs, contaminated meat products and crops, it said.  “The current unfavorable African swine fever situation in the People’s Republic of China leads to a high risk of infection in the border regions of the Russian Federation and neighboring countries,” Rosselkhoznadzor said.


thesun--2019-04-10--Price of British bacon butty to rocket because pigs in China are being wiped out by African Swine Fe

Price of British bacon butty to rocket because pigs in China are being wiped out by African Swine Fever

BRITAIN’S bacon butties are under threat due to a shortage of pigs and the prospect of higher prices.  Fears come after African Swine Fever led to nearly 20 per cent of China’s pigs being wiped out.  This has sent prices soaring by 37 per cent and experts reckon it is only “a matter of time” before the surge hits Europe.  The disease outbreak is a huge blow as China produces half the world’s pork.  Analysts at Peel Hunt told The Times: “This is enormous and is almost certainly an underestimate.  This is resulting in increasing pig prices in China — up 37 per cent in March — as well as a sharp increase in imports, which will result in higher pig prices elsewhere.”  China has imposed travel restrictions on its livestock but the deadly disease has already spread across the country.  It can be passed on by live or dead pigs, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health. There is no vaccine and transmission can also occur via contaminated animal feed.  The virus can survive several months in processed meat and several years in frozen carcasses.  In its current form it cannot affect humans — but there are fears that future mutations could be harmful.


thetelegraph--2019-01-08--Chinese New Year celebrations could further spread deadly African swine fever outbreak

Increased consumption of pork during China's upcoming New Year festivities could lead to fresh outbreaks of African swine fever, a viral disease that can wipe out whole herds of animals, an expert in veterinary medicine has warned.  China has been fighting the highly contagious disease since August last year, with around 100 farms reporting outbreaks and at least 200,000 pigs culled.  Last week a modern mega-farm, with some 73,000 pigs, reported an outbreak of the fever - the largest farm to date to be infected.  Chinese New Year, which takes place on February 5, will see an increase in the consumption of pork - the country's most popular meat - as people celebrate with family feasts.  Dirk Pfeiffer, professor of veterinary medicine at City University of Hong Kong, described China as the "Himalayas of pigs" as the country keeps between 50 and 60 per cent of the world's pig population.  “With Chinese New Year coming up, there will be more demand and more trade in pork and it’s likely that there will be an increase in outbreaks.


yna--2019-10-11--(LEAD) S. Korea to tighten measures to prevent spread of African swine fever

The pigs will be slaughtered and released in the market for consumption after being inspected. Pigs that are not purchased will be culled as well.


yna--2019-10-12--(LEAD) 2 wild boars found dead with traces of African swine fever

Additionally, the ministry is currently purchasing pigs from other farms outside of that range in selected towns -- Paju, Gimpo, and Yeoncheon -- to be slaughtered and inspected before their meat is released to the market. Pigs that are not purchased will also eventually be culled.


yna--2019-10-16--(2nd LD) 7th case of African swine fever in wild boar found near inter-Korean border

The government has strengthened efforts to disinfect farms and transport vehicles and ordered several rounds of a 48-hour standstill on all pig farms, slaughterhouses and feed factories across the country to prevent the spread of the disease. There are around 6,300 pig farms raising more than 11 million pigs in South Korea and pig farming accounts for 40 percent of the total livestock industry.


yna--2019-10-17--9th case of African swine fever found in wild boar near inter-Korean border

The virus is not harmful to humans but causes hemorrhagic fever in pigs that is almost always fatal. There is no antidote or vaccine and the only known way to prevent the disease from spreading is a mass cull of affected livestock.


yna--2019-10-19--(LEAD) Pork prices in S. Korea on wane amid African swine fever outbreak

The virus is not harmful to humans but causes hemorrhagic fever in pigs that is almost always fatal. There is no antidote or vaccine, and the only known way to prevent the disease from spreading is a mass culling of affected livestock.


yna--2019-11-01--S. Korea confirms 19th wild boar infected with African swine fever

It is still unclear how the virus traveled into South Korea, but so far, all reported cases here have occurred in areas bordering the North.


yna--2019-11-30--S. Korea confirms 33rd wild boar infected with African swine fever

The animal disease does not affect humans but is deadly to pigs. There is currently no vaccine nor cure for the disease.


yna--2019-12-11--Two more African swine fever cases confirmed in wild boars

A total of 43 cases have been confirmed across the country, including 12 cases in Yeoncheon. More cases are expected to be found in the area as it is highly vulnerable to infection, an official from the institute said.


yna--2019-12-22--S. Korea confirms 2 more wild boars infected with African swine fever

The confirmation came just days after the wild boar carcasses were found by officials in the western border town of Paju, according to the National Institute of Environmental Research, which is affiliated with the environment ministry.


yna--2019-12-24--S. Korea confirms 51st wild boar infected with African swine fever

Since the last outbreak was reported in early October, additional cases have not been confirmed at local farms. But wild boars continue to be found dead with the disease, mostly along the inter-Korea border.


sputnik--2019-12-11--UK Government Says Restriction Zone Created in Suffolk After Bird Flu Confirmed at Local Farm

According to Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, a total of 27,000 chickens at the affected farm will be culled.  The low pathogenic type of avian influenza viruses does not usually pose a serious health risk to people, but consumers are advised to thoroughly cook poultry and eggs to protect themselves.


thedailymirror--2019-04-03--Anti-vaxxers are refusing to vaccinate pets over fears they will become autistic

As well as skipping their own vaccinations, a worrying number of pet owners are reportedly refusing to get their animals vaccinated as they're worried their furry friend may become autistic as a result.  This trend is thought to be due to a rise in 'anti-vax' materials and messages being spread online.  Because of this, The RSPCA have issued a warning to all pet owners, urging them not to forgo vaccines which could ultimately save the lives of their beloved cats and dogs.  Caroline Allen, Veterinary Director for RSPCA, says the rise in 'anti-vax' material is "concern" as it may lead to a spread of diseases in pets.  She told the Sun Online: "There does seem to be an increasing amount of 'anti-vax' material online, this is not supported by a genuine evidence base.  "There is a real concern that we will see an increase in the frequency of these serious and preventable diseases, with resulting animal suffering, if the number of vaccinated animals falls."  UK figures show that over the last few years the number of animals being vaccinated has dropped, with the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) revealing that a quarter of dog owners haven't had their puppies vaccinated.  This means roughly 2.2 million dogs in the UK are currently susceptible to a number of diseases, which is particularly worrying given that our pooches spend a lot of time outside, around spreading agents such as mud and faeces.  And it's not only in the UK that pets are being exposed to horrible diseases such as parvovirus and distemper - vets in the US also say a number of pet owners are skipping vaccines.  One of the main reasons people are refusing to vaccinate their animals is because of a supposed link between the vaccinations and autism in pets.  Last year Good Morning Britain shared a post on Twitter , suggesting their could be a link between the two, sending social media users into a frenzy.  The British Veterinary Association (BVA) were forced to share a statement denying that the two are connected.  In a post on their website, Gudrun Ravetz, Senior Vice President of the BVA, said: "There is currently no reliable scientific evidence to indicate autism in dogs or a link between vaccination and autism.  "Vaccinations save lives and are an important tool in keeping our pets healthy. All medicines have potential side effects but in the cast of vaccines, these are rare ad the benefits of vaccination in protecting against disease far outweigh the potential for an adverse reaction."  Despite this, it seems many pet owners are still skeptical about the possible side effects.  Pet owners in the UK are not legally required to vaccinate their pets, but most animal welfare organisations strongly recommend it.  Animals that travel abroad from the UK must have had a rabies vaccination.


thesun--2019-02-24--Anti-vaxxers are refusing to get their pets vaccinated over fears they will become autistic

‘Anti-vaxxers’ are refusing to get their pets vaccinated over fears they will become autistic

PET owners are reportedly refusing to get their animals vaccinated over fears they will become autistic as the amount of "anti-fax" material booms online.  The RSPCA have issued a stark warning that the boom in online material is driving pet owners to skip potentially life saving vaccines for their cats and dogs.  Figures from the UK show recent years have seen a massive dip in the number of pets vaccinated, and the British Veterinary Association has even been forced to deny dogs can get autism.  The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) charity say a quarter of dog owners now say their pet hasn't had any vaccines when they're puppies - equating to 2.2 million dogs being left open to horrible diseases.  RSPCA veterinary director Caroline Allen told the Sun Online: "There does seem to be an increasing amount of 'anti-vax' material online, this is not supported by a genuine evidence base.  "There is real concern that we will see an increase in the frequency of these serious and preventable diseases, with resulting animal suffering, if the number of vaccinated animals falls.  US vets also say pet owners are increasingly skipping vaccines for the likes of parvovirus, adenovirus and distemper because of it.  Experts say the trend is seriously worry given dogs and cats spend more time outdoors, and around potential spreading agents like mud and faeces.  Animal welfare charity Blue Cross says two of the vaccines commonly skipped - parvovirus, a virus that attacks cells in a dog’s intestines, and distemper, which is basically canine to measles - can both be fatal to dogs.  He said: “Over the last 10 or 15 years, there has been an increase in mostly unfounded concerns about vaccine safety for people.  “That, I think, has raised people’s awareness and level of concern about vaccinations for their pets.”  There is no medical evidence to suggest a link between vaccinations and autism, whether with humans or with animals.  Vaccines are not legally required for pets in the UK, although most animal welfare groups recommend it.  Rabies vaccines are required for any UK pet being taken overseas.  We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.


dailyheraldchicago--2019-05-15--Chicago-area police warn of zombie raccoons with distemper

Chicago-area police warn of 'zombie raccoons' with distemper

RIVERSIDE, Ill. -- The warning about "zombie raccoons" may sound like something out of a bad television show, but the police department in the Chicago suburb of Riverside says they're very real and very dangerous to the family dog.  The critters are called zombies because those carrying the distemper virus often stagger on their hind legs and bare their teeth. The police department says if they bite dogs they can transmit the serious disease that can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal problems and affect the nervous system.  The department issued its warning after fielding calls about raccoons acting oddly and says anyone who sees such an animal should call police. Chief Tom Weitzel tells the Chicago Tribune that officers will put the animals down and public works crews will dispose of their carcasses.


thedailyrecord--2019-02-19--Abandoned puppy in Glasgow found to have deadly parvovirus

An abandoned puppy found in Glasgow has tested positive for parvovirus.  The spaniel was found alongside another sick spaniel on Banner Road in Knightswood on Saturday.  A wounded pomeranian pup was found the next day in Knightswood Park.  The Scottish SPCA said all three puppies were covered in fleas and lice and in “a poor state”.  One of the pups was found to have parvovirus, a highly contagious disease that can cause death in dogs.  Scottish SPCA inspector Gillian Dick said: “We are appealing for information after two spaniel pups were found on Banner Road in Knightswood on Saturday and a pomeranian pup was found the following day in Knightswood Park.  “All of the puppies were in a very poor state. They were covered in fleas and lice. They are very thin, weak and lethargic and they all had diarrhoea. The pomeranian puppy also has a wound on his side. They are currently receiving round the clock veterinary care.  “One of the spaniel pups has tested positive for Parvovirus.  This is a highly contagious disease that can cause death in dogs.  “The symptoms can include blood in stool, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, depression and fever and in the most severe cases it can be fatal.  “We would urge anyone in the area to be vigilant and anyone who may have found other pups to contact the Scottish SPCA as soon as possible.  “If anyone in the area can give us any information on who may have abandoned any of these puppies, we would urge you to call our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”  Abandoning an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.  The SSPCA warn that anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.


latimes--2019-12-18--The puppy was cute and expensive. And then it died

The Loy family realized pretty quickly that something was wrong with their new puppy, a red-brown bundle of fluff they christened Penny.  But they could not have imagined how much trouble they were in for when they drove into the parking lot of a Tijuana’s Tacos restaurant in Pomona to take possession of a 9-to 12-week-old miniature goldendoodle.  They’d found Penny online and fallen in love. They’d shelled out $1,200 cash in March 2018, for what they thought was a pure-bred designer dog, healthy, happy and hypoallergenic. Half the money came from then-10-year-old Manuel, who earned it sweeping floors in his father’s barbershop. It cleaned out his entire savings.  They eventually found out that the sellers belonged to a Phelan family whose matriarch had been the target of an FBI sting, pleaded guilty in 2011 to a federal fraud charge and sentenced to 41 months in prison for selling sick and abused horses over the internet.  But first the Loys had their hearts broken.  Penny, it turned out, wasn’t a girl. They renamed the puppy Bear and rolled with it. But he also wasn’t a goldendoodle — half golden retriever, half poodle. Instead, a veterinarian told the family, Bear was, maybe, a Maltipoo -- equal parts Maltese and toy poodle. His fur wasn’t red-brown either; the dye began to wash off during his first bath in the Loy’s La Habra home.  All that was bad enough, but it got worse. Bear was only about four weeks old — way too young to have been taken from his mother. And he was very, very sick.  Jessica Loy is one of nine people who filed suit against the Kenney family Monday, charging that Trina and Rick Kenney and their children Elijah and Jezriel allegedly operated what the lawsuit described as “one of the worst animal peddling operations in the country — the sale of sick and diseased puppies over the internet.”  The families ended up spending thousands of dollars — on the animals, on veterinary bills, on sanitizing their homes after the dogs were diagnosed with parvovirus or distemper, on replacing furniture fouled by ailing pets who vomited or had diarrhea.  Some paid to put their dying puppies down to end their suffering. Then, they covered the cost of cremation.  Of the seven puppies named in the suit — Bear, Winnie, Teddy, Ruffles, Charlie, Stella and Sicily — none were healthy. They weren’t vaccinated, though the Kenneys supplied records of the dogs’ alleged immunizations, according to the lawsuit. They also weren’t goldendoodles or labradoodles as the Kenneys allegedly claimed in ads on Craigslist, Recycler.com and other internet sites. Four were not the sex promised.  Ruffles was surrendered to his veterinarian by his new owner, Ramtin Mehrvijeh, because Mehrvijeh couldn’t afford to save the puppy’s life. Treatment for parvovirus would have cost $6,000, according to the lawsuit, money the West Hollywood man just didn’t have.  Three of the dogs died.  The Kenneys could not be reached for comment. The Times called 19 telephone numbers listed in various public records as belonging to family members. Most were disconnected, not accepting calls, or were not answered. No messages were responded to.  “We want them to refund the money and get out of town,” said Gary Praglin, a Santa Monica-based attorney who is representing the families. “Don’t sell any more dogs. Stop hurting people.  Yes, Bear died. But first, he suffered.  As the Loys — Jessica; husband Anthony; their daughters Mariah and Isabella; his daughter Lali; and her son Manuel Aguilar — waited in the Tijuana’s Tacos parking lot, they say they saw a man they now know is Elijah Kenney drive up in a brand new white Mercedes Benz. As he got out of the car and approached them, Loy said, he was holding two red-brown puppies in his arms, a male and a female.  “We agreed on a girl,” Loy said. “They were so little. He said he only accepted cash. He gave us what appeared to be some kind of shot record. We knew nothing about puppies. We trusted him. On the way back to the freeway, less than 15 minutes later, the dog had diarrhea. Right away we texted them, ‘Is the puppy OK?’”  The response was comforting, Loy recounted: “Puppies, when they first leave their mothers, become homesick. It’s normal. Take her home. If there are problems, let me know.”  Back home in La Habra, the puppy still known as Penny wouldn’t eat or drink and kept vomiting. The next day, she continued to throw up and have diarrhea. Loy asked Manuel and Lali if they wanted to give Penny a bath. They took the tiny animal to the kitchen sink, got some dog soap and started to scrub.  “It was a reddish-bronze color all over our hands,” Manuel said. “It was kind of weird.”  When they took Penny to the vet the first time, they found out she was a he. The vet gave the newly named Bear fluids and suggested the family contact the sellers and get a different dog.  “They told us, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m so sorry. If you have medical bills, we’ll be happy to help’,” Loy said. “The second night was really bad. The dog wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t drink, had diarrhea, was vomiting, wasn’t playing, was falling, walking, collapsing.”  The second veterinarian visit involved tests and antibiotics and more fluids. Bear was diagnosed with parvovirus, a highly contagious disease that is often fatal if left untreated. The vet told the family they could try taking Bear to an animal hospital, but it would cost at least $3,000. Loy said the vet added: “ ‘I can’t guarantee the dog’s going to live’.”  Anthony Loy texted the sellers: “Hey, the dog has parvo.”  They texted back, Loy said: “ ‘You’re lying. Show us proof’.”  Bear could barely breathe. He couldn’t walk in a straight line. He yelped in pain when he lay on his back. The vet recommended that the family have him euthanized. They agreed. First, though, the children said goodbye.  “I didn’t really want to look at him that much,” said Manuel, who is now 11. “It made me sad. I touched his stomach. It was so hard for him to breathe. I was crying.”  When the family contacted the Kenneys, they were harassed and brushed off, according to the lawsuit and texts Loy has kept. In one exchange, a woman Loy identified as Trina Kenney texted: “find me :) I’ll defend myself You never ended up buying a dog from us.”  The Kenneys are not strangers to local officials.  In April 2018, representatives of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the San Bernardino Valley Humane Society, Rancho Cucamonga Animal Control and San Bernardino County Animal Control inspected the Kenney’s Phelan property. They had a search warrant.  According to the complaint, “Dogs at the location were over density, however animal control took all the dogs at the time of inspection, so there was no longer a violation.” News reports said officials were investigating a breeding and sales operation and had confiscated 32 dogs, including 17 puppies, that needed veterinary care.  It is unclear whether anything came of the investigation. No charges have been filed. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Randy Stanley said law enforcement agents went along and helped serve the search warrant because the Humane Society did not have sufficient manpower.  “They did have some dogs there,” Stanley said. “It was a fairly nice residence. I never got into the animal cruelty part of the investigation.”  Representatives of the San Bernardino Valley Humane Society and San Bernardino County Animal Control did not respond to requests for comment.  On Monday, when the lawsuit was filed, Loy said the family has no plans to get another puppy, that the last year or so has been too painful. She’s glad, she said, that others have come forward, that “someone is trying to help us and we’re not alone.”  Manuel, though, still has questions. If he could, he said, he’d ask the Kenneys, “Why would you do this to a person? Why would you do this to a dog? It’s pretty messed up.”  That’s what he wants to know, he said. “Just why.”


thedailybeast--2019-04-18--The Anti-Vax Movement Is Now Infecting the Pet World

She cites her three pets as examples: Her cat Doeno has a twitch, her dog Max had a painful eruption, and her other dog Min is now afraid to go up and down stairs.  “He’s just created all these kinds of fears,” Medynski said of Min’s inability to use the stairs. “Is it the rabies? I don’t know. But is that what rabies can do? Yeah, it can.”  Medynski is one of a growing number of anti-vaxxers whose beliefs are influencing their pets. The debunked claim that the MMR vaccine causes autism in children is influencing pet owners, too—even though autism spectrum disorder doesn’t occur in dogs and cats.  “In my lectures around the country and outside of the country, we’re getting a lot of feedback from practitioners that their clients are challenging the need to do vaccination,” Richard Ford, an emeritus professor of medicine at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and co-author of the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccination Guidelines and Vaccination Guidelines for the American Association of Feline Practitioners, told The Daily Beast.  One of the biggest indicators of this trend is the number of clients who request an antibody titer—a blood test that measures the concentration of antibodies in the blood—for their dog or cat to help determine if they are protected from a specific disease. Ford said he has surveyed over 3,000 veterinarians and asked, “What is the number one reason that you would do a titer instead of giving the vaccine?”  “Interestingly, 98% say the owner requested it,” he said, noting that the market is growing for the test. “It’s actually driven by the client, not the veterinary professional. It’s because of clients concerned about over-vaccination.”  Ford said adverse reactions are rare—he estimated less than 1% based on past studies and observation.  As a precaution, Ford recommends spacing out vaccinations by 3-4 weeks in small dogs (adults weighing less than 20 pounds). The reason is that excipients—inactive ingredients such as proteins that are present in vaccines—can cause reactions. Those excipients are not the actual immunizing antigens. In those cases, Ford recommends core vaccines like rabies be administered first.  Still, veterinarians and now pet owners email him frequently with the question, “Why don’t we just reduce the volume of the vaccine for these small dogs?”  “It’s time, not volume, that seems to decrease the reaction rates,” he asserted. “The fact is, if the dog is truly allergic to a protein in the vaccine, putting half of it down the drain isn’t going to make a difference. They’re still going to be hypersensitive to the proteins that are in it… and the risk is doing that may not immunize the dog. With rabies, it is illegal to do that in law. You don’t want to be messing with the volume of the vaccine.”  One of the driving forces behind the movement to change rabies vaccination laws did just that. In 2017, the Connecticut State Board of Veterinary Medicine ordered a 25-year license probation for John Robb, a veterinarian who was giving partial doses of rabies vaccines to smaller dogs, which is illegal. He can no longer administer rabies vaccinations.  Now Robb is an outspoken proponent of titer testing in lieu of rabies vaccinations. Connecticut State Representative Fred Camillo told The Daily Beast he introduced legislation that would have made it legal for veterinarians to perform titers instead of rabies vaccinations (depending on the results) after speaking with Robb.  HB 5659 was defeated in 2017. A similar bill was defeated in New Hampshire earlier this year; Robb testified in favor of it as well.  Robb told The Daily Beast, “We all know that a titer indicates immunity”—but that is a point of contention in the veterinary community. The Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control by the National Association of Public Health Veterinarians states that “Rabies virus antibody titers are indicative of a response to vaccine or infection. Titers do not directly correlate with protection because other immunologic factors also play a role in preventing rabies and our abilities to measure and interpret those other factors are not well-developed. Therefore, evidence of circulating rabies virus antibodies in animals should not be used as a substitute for current vaccination in managing rabies exposures or determining the need for booster vaccination.”  That doesn’t temper Robb’s vitriol toward current rabies laws. While he can no longer administer rabies vaccines, he does have a business in which clients can submit blood draws from their pets. After sending it to a lab for titer testing, he sells rabies immunity certificates to pet owners, who must sign a “clarifying statement” that it is not a legal document.  “I’m not trying to fool people to go in and think they can license their dog with it,” he told The Daily Beast. “But it’s a true document and they can use it as they wish. I do 15 certificates a month, maybe 20. I’m pushing the change.”  Medynski said that her anti-vax views for her pets began with Robb, and that his work inspired her to start her anti-rabies activism by starting an online petition to support a state bill to loosen rabies laws.  Though the proposed New Hampshire bill was soundly defeated, she vows the fight isn't over. “We’re not giving up. No. There’s no reason for it [administering rabies boosters]. It’s causing injury, doing it.”  Medynski went so far as to claim that veterinarians were profiting because “It’s all about money.”  Veterinarians, however, disagree. Heather Loenser, a senior veterinary officer for the American Animal Hospital Association, emphasized in an email to The Daily Beast that rabies vaccination recommendations are centered on public safety and the health of the pet—not fiscal gain.  “I do not know of a veterinary hospital that relies on rabies vaccines to maintain their financial profits,” she said. “Veterinarians often volunteer their time to immunize pets at local low-cost, state/municipal sponsored rabies clinics to support public health in their local area. Others will travel throughout the world to protect pets and people in impoverished areas.”  She noted that rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease, and that according to the CDC, nearly 60,000 people die each year from rabies around the world, with over half of the deaths occurring in children, typically in areas where vaccinating stray and pet dogs is not done routinely.  “We have a reservoir of rabies in the wildlife population, so our unvaccinated pets are only one bite away from contracting it in their own backyard,” she cautioned. “In our veterinary oath, in addition to protecting animal health and public welfare, we swear that we will use our scientific knowledge and skills to ‘promote public health.’ Rabies vaccination falls squarely into that category.”  Ultimately, the issue boils down to whether clients trust their veterinary team. Barbara Hjermstad, hospital manager at Riverview Animal Hospital in Durango, Colo., said the practice hasn’t seen much pushback about vaccines, though about once every six months, someone will request a titer.  She noted that vaccines cost $26-$30 while titers cost $175, so vaccines are “not a money maker.”  Hjermstad feels it’s particularly important to vaccinate pets since they can’t speak. They can’t tell us if they’ve been in contact with a rabid racoon while hiking, or feces infected with parvovirus.  “You can’t control what animals do as much as you can children,” she said. “That’s even more reason to keep them vaccinated, you know?”


themanchestereveningnews--2019-06-29--Grace is autistic and always wanted a puppy - the one her family got died hours after they brought i

Grace is autistic and always wanted a puppy - the one her family got died hours after they brought it home

A family have been heartbroken by the death of their new puppy – who collapsed and died hours after they bought him from a pet shop.  Distraught dad James Cohen said his family had been ‘torn apart’ after losing two-month-old Prince so soon.  James and his partner Jayne Howe bought the border collie for £475 from Dogs4Us in Salford.  The pup was a gift for Jayne’s daughter Grace, aged eight, but the whole family quickly fell in love with him.  Soon after they got Prince back to their Chorlton home, however, it became clear he was poorly. He was lethargic and had no appetite, then went dizzy and collapsed.  Eventually, James decided to take him to an out-of-hours vet. But at 6am the next morning he got the call that Prince had died.  Dogs4Us have offered to refund the £475 for the puppy but have refused to pay the family’s £350 vet bill and £130 cremation costs.  They say they invited James to bring the dog back to them to be seen by their vet 'straightaway - saying 'there may well have been a different outcome' if he had.  James, 30, said the family were left ‘distraught’ by Prince’s death.  “We’re really cut up about it,” he added.  “Grace is autistic and always wanted a puppy. It was like a nuclear bomb going off when she found out Prince had died. She is very emotional. She was screaming and crying and boarded herself up in her room.  “I loved Prince. I thought he was stunning. I was crying my eyes out in the vets when he was just lying there.  “Jayne didn’t even want a dog but she fell in love with him and is now very angry. She’s done as much crying as anyone, if not more.”  James described how he and Jayne took Grace to Dogs4Us, on Agecroft Road, Pendlebury, on a Saturday afternoon just to have a look around. But they immediately fell for Prince and his mischievous nature so put a deposit down for him.  They picked him up the following Monday evening but noticed he seemed less playful than the previous visit.  James said: “As soon as I got him home I wasn’t particularly happy. He didn’t seem energetic. He just wanted to lie there on my lap. But we put it down to it being later on in the evening and him being a baby and probably tired.”  On the Tuesday morning, Prince again seemed listless, doing just one little bark.  James and Jayne went to work, leaving the puppy with Jayne’s son Matthew, 17.  By lunchtime, when James came home, Prince had vomited twice and passed a stool with a large, dead worm in it. The dog had not eaten or drunk anything then became dizzy and collapsed on the floor.  James claims he rang Dogs4Us to raise his concerns but was reassured it was ‘normal puppy behaviour’ and advised to try giving the puppy some sugar in his water.  He claims the pet shop said he could bring Prince to their vet if he wanted but the dog probably wouldn’t be seen until the next day.  However Dogs4Us claim they told James to bring the puppy to them straight away and their vet would treat him free of charge.  James went back to work on the Tuesday afternoon, checking in with Matthew every couple of hours to see how Prince was doing.  By the evening, Prince seemed lifeless and barely breathing so James decided to take him to Ashleigh Veterinary Centre in Chorlton, where the puppy died the next morning. Prince had spent a little over 24 hours at the family’s home.  The vet was unable to confirm the cause of death without an autopsy, but James was told it could possibly have been parvovirus – a highly contagious and serious disease for dogs – although the signs were not typical. The vet added roundworm could have brought on the sudden death.  James said he had insurance for Prince but, because he’d only had him a day, he was not able to claim for the vet bill and cremation costs.  “We were left in the situation where we had to pay the bills for our new puppy to die,” he said.  James contacted Dogs4Us, requesting £955 – a refund for Prince, plus the cost of the vet bill and cremation fees. He has sought legal advice since their refusal.  “We’re not asking for compensation,” James said. “If we were, we’d be asking for a hell of a lot more. We just want what we think is fair.”  James’ partner Jayne signed an agreement with Dogs4Us which said the pet shop would not ‘become involved in any vet fees whatsoever incurred’ by the buyer after delivery of the animal.  However, James believes this agreement is void because he believes Prince’s health when they bought him meant he was not fit for sale.  A spokesman for Dogs4Us said: “On the day of sale the puppy appeared to be in good health and happy.  “The following day Mr Cohen telephoned our premises in the morning to say the puppy was unwell, lethargic and not eating.  “We advised him to return the puppy to us straight away and our vet would treat him free of charge.  “Had Mr Cohen returned the puppy to us in the morning as we advised then there may well have been a different outcome.”  The spokesman pointed to the agreement Jayne had signed and added the rest of the litter were fine, showing no signs of ill health.  He added: “When you are dealing with livestock so young and susceptible then on the very rare occasion something may go wrong which is beyond our control.  Sadly this is the case here.  “We have advised Mr Cohen that a full refund for the puppy is on the way but we will not fund his vet fees.”  In 2017, the M.E.N. reported how three puppies died within days of being bought from Dogs4Us. All had contracted parvovirus.  At that time Salford council, which has given Dogs4Us its licence to sell animals, said it had no concerns about the pet shop.  In response to questions about Prince’s death, a town hall spokeswoman said:  “We last inspected Dogs4Us in January this year under the new animal welfare legislation and were satisfied they were compliant.  “The last complaint where there was evidence from a vet that a puppy bought from Dogs4Us had died of parvovirus was in 2018.  “We checked the company’s infection and disease control measures and vaccination records and were satisfied that no other puppies in the litter or animals at Dogs4Us had the disease. The case was therefore closed.”  She added: “We are sorry to hear about the death of Prince.”

newsdesk@men-news.co.uk (Dan Thompson, Chris Osuh)


sottnet--2019-11-20--A mysterious disease is striking American beech trees

A mysterious disease is starting to kill American beeches, one of eastern North America's most important trees, and has spread rapidly from the Great Lakes to New England. But scientists disagree about what is causing the ailment, dubbed beech leaf disease.Regardless of their views, researchers say the outbreak deserves attention.says Lynn Carta, a plant disease specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Beltsville, Maryland.American beech (Fagus grandifolia), whose smooth gray trunks can resemble giant elephant legs, can grow to almost 40 meters tall.in southern New England and in New York state — and the single most common tree in Washington, D.C.when, in 2012, biologist John Pogacnik of Lake Metroparks, which manages natural areas in Ohio's Lake County, spotted trees with leaves that were shriveled and had black stripes. By 2018, foresters had documented beeches with similar symptoms in 24 counties in eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania and New York, and Canada's Ontario province. Small trees with shriveled leaves were starting to die; on larger beeches, the symptoms crept up the tree toward leaves in the canopy. Worried foresters began to pry loose research funding from USDA and other agencies, and organized a meeting to discuss the disease in May 2018 in Parma, Ohio.There, plant pathologist David McCann, of the Ohio Department of Agriculture in Reynoldsburg, said. He sent Carta samples of the worms, which can be up to 2 millimeters long. Carta identified the worm as a subspecies of Litylenchus crenatae,. The find was eye-opening, Carta says, becauseNext, Carta, together with biologist David Burke of the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio, and others, sought to verify Koch's postulates — pathology's gold standard for verifying a putative cause of a disease. The researchers took nematodes from diseased trees, pipetted them onto the buds of young, healthy trees in a greenhouse, then waited for symptoms to appear and reisolated the nematode from the affected leaves. The results of the experiment, which Carta presented at a conference in July and which have been accepted for publication in the journal Forest Pathology, indicate that "nematodes are causing beech leaf disease," Burke says. "We feel like we've closed Koch's postulates."Enrico Bonello, a plant pathologist at Ohio State University in Columbus, is skeptical. He and a graduate student, Carrie Ewing, have ground up leaves from diseased and healthy looking beeches and then extracted fragments of DNA and RNA.But Bonello says the finding, which he plans to present at an upcoming conference, "raises questions" about the role of nematodes.Whatever its cause, beech leaf disease is getting around. Connecticut officials last month announced detections in Greenwich, Stamford, and New Canaan, on New York City's doorstep.USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the agency responsible for dealing with invasive tree killers, is helping study the disease. But it has held off on taking action to limit the disease until it knows more about the cause and how it spreads.The beech's plight has dismayed forest experts, who are already reeling fromsays Robert Marra, a forest pathologist with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven. "What's going to be left in forests?"The beech may face additional threats. Earlier this year, U.S. Forest Service researchers announced they had found an undescribed beetle on stressed European beech trees in a New York City cemetery. The scientists are now studying whether the insect also has a taste for American beech.


sottnet--2019-03-24--Turns out we didnt understand viruses Plant virus distributes genes into separate cells - all work

Turns out we didn't understand viruses: Plant virus distributes genes into separate cells - all work together

FBNSV needs all of its components, but it doesn't need them in the same place.  It is a truth universally acknowledged among virologists that a single virus, carrying a full set of genes, must be in want of a cell. A virus is just a collection of genes packaged into a capsule. It infiltrates and hijacks a living cell to make extra copies of itself. Those daughter viruses then bust out of their ailing host, and each finds a new cell to infect. Rinse, and repeat. This is how all viruses, from Ebola to influenza, are meant to work.But Stéphane Blanc and his colleagues at the University of Montpellier have shown that one virus breaks all the rules.Faba bean necrotic stunt virus, or FBNSV for short, infects legumes, and is spread through the bites of aphids.And, as Blanc's team has now shown Indeed, this virus never seems to fully come together., its existence spread between capsules and split among different host cells."This is truly a revolutionary result in virology," says Siobain Duffy of Rutgers University, who wasn't involved in the study. "Once again, viruses prove that they've had the evolutionary time to try just about every reproductive strategy, even ones that are hard for scientists to imagine."FBNSV is one of several "multipartite viruses" that split their genes among different capsules. These oddballs were first discovered in the 1940s, and though, they're still rather obscure. Blanc thinks that's because they almost always infect plants and fungi, and only two have been found in animals - one in a moth and one in a mosquito . "I lecture on several virology courses, and even people in Ph.D. programs haven't heard of them," he laments. "They're everywhere, but because they're mainly on plants, no one cares."These viruses, even to virologists who knew about them.Everyone assumed that they could only reproduce if all the segments infected the same host cell. But the risk of losing a piece, and so dooming the others, skyrockets as the number of pieces goes up. In 2012, two researchers calculated that the odds of successfully getting every segment in the same cell become too low with anything more than three or four segments.Its mere existence suggests "that something must be wrong in the conceptual framework of virology."Perhaps, he realized, these viruses don't actually need to unite their segments in the same host cell. "If theory was saying that this is impossible, maybe the viruses just don't do it," he says. "And once we had this stupid idea, testing it was very easy."His colleagues Anne Sicard and Elodie Pirolles labeled pairs of FBNSV's genes with molecules that glowed in different colors - red for one segment, for example, and green for another. Then, they simply looked down a microscope to see whether the colors overlapped in the same cells.When the team first saw that, "we were jumping and running around the lab," Blanc says. "But we were also scared about it being a [mistake]. We took six years to verify it."For example, they showed that the levels of one segment aren't tied to the levels of another, as you would expect if they were replicating in the same host cell. Instead, in any one infected plant, the different segments seem to accumulate at different rates.But that discovery raised another problem.One makes the proteins that copy the virus's DNA once it gets inside its hosts. Another creates the proteins that form the virus's capsules. See the problem? If these segments end up in different cells, the DNA-copying one shouldn't be able to make capsules, the capsule-making gene shouldn't be able to copy itself, and both of them would be stuck.That doesn't happen, the team discovered, because the virus's genes might be stuck in neighboring cells,. The capsule-making protein can get into a cell with the DNA-copying gene, and cover it. The DNA-making protein can get into a cell with the capsule-making gene, and copy it. Think of the eight segments as factories in different cities, shipping assembly robots to one another so that each site can manufacture its own separate product. It is within this expansive trade network that the distributed virus truly exists., but many scientists have found that plant proteins can voyage between cells , even over long distances from root to shoot. Some researchers who study multipartite viruses have even suggested that they could make use of these botanical highways. But Blanc's team has now found clear and unambiguous evidence that they do. Perhaps, he says, "this is why multipartite viruses don't exist so much in animals. Maybe it's harder for our proteins to travel between cells.""The work is very important ... and very carefully done," says Marilyn Roossinck of Pennsylvania State University. For decades, she has been studying a different multipartite virus that affects cucumbers, and though she has seen some of the patterns that Blanc's team did, "these were never published, as their significance wasn't clear," she says.," adds Rodrigo Almeida of the University of California at Berkeley, who studies plant diseases. "I am not aware of any similar example in biology, where genetic information appears to be split among host cells."The closest example I can think of exists in cicadas. These noisy insects rely on a bacterium called Hodgkinia , which lives inside their cells and provides them with nutrients. But this one bacterium has fractured into several daughter species, each of which contains just a few of Hodgkinia's full set of genes. None of these partial microbes can survive on its own;. But these daughter species are all still locked within the same cell, so they're not truly distributed as the virus is. They are also problematic:. Hodgkinia's fragmented existence is a looming disaster - "a slow-motion extinction event," according to John McCutcheon, who described it.By contrast, multipartite viruses are clearly very successful, so their bizarre distributed existence must have some benefit. And Blanc thinks he knows what that might be.His team has shown that when FBNSV infects a plant, the frequency of each segment is very predictable. Some of them are common and others are rare, but, at least within a given species of plant. If the virus infects a different plant species, those proportions change - to a different, but still predictable, pattern. Blanc calls these " genome formulas " - ratios of genes that FBNSV uses for different hosts.The virus's use of these formulas reminds Blanc of the ways in which animals and other complex organisms adapt to different environments by tweaking the numbers of important genes . In very rough terms, the more copies you have, the more effectively that gene can do its thing. But viruses are tiny entities, whose capsules only have room for small genomes. There's not enough space for them to just wantonly double their gene counts.Multipartite viruses don't have to. If they want to emphasize the use of a certain gene, they just need to get the segment carrying it into more host cells. "This lifestyle allows the virus to adjust its gene copy number without mutating," Blanc says.These discoveries could also change our understanding of other more traditional viruses. Influenza's genome is split into eight segments, and unlike FBNSV, all of these are packaged into the same capsule. Researchers typically assume that every capsule contains the full octet, but in 2013, Christopher Brooke of the University of Illinois showed that 90 percent of them are missing at least one segment. Influenza virus "exists primarily as a swarm of complementation-dependent, semi-infectious virions," Brooke wrote.Three years later, a different team showed that the same is true for the virus behind Rift Valley fever : Only a minority contain all three of the virus's gene segments, and most are missing one. "Perhaps the boundary between these viruses and the multipartite ones isn't so clear," Blanc says.Many viruses also produce capsules called " defective interfering particles ," which ... well, the clue's in the name. They're defective because, for some reason, they've lost part of their full genome. They're interfering because, though they're defective, their parent viruses will still make copies of them, flooding the total pool of capsules with noninfective deadbeats. "These things have been known for a century, and they've long been considered as junk," Blanc says. "But they are very efficiently maintained in any viral infection. Maybe they can profit from the system we have identified."


sputnik--2019-11-12--Bait and Neutralise: Scientists Come Up with New Method to Identify Plant Pests

Scientists from 19 countries have taken part in developing methodological approaches. Sentinel plantations have been recommended to be created in regions and countries that actively export woody plants and plant products.  According to her, sentinel plantations are able to attract local insect pests that can change their food preferences and switch to "guests", the plants that are not resistant to the "new" pests. The simplest examples of the second type of sentinel plantations are botanical gardens and arboretums. They host a wide range of introduced (unusual for a particular territory) species of woody plants, and they can also serve as targets for local pests.  The authors of the study have developed universal protocols describing all the steps – from searching for harmful arthropod species (insects, herbivorous ticks, etc.) and phytopathogens (pathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses, which are pathogens of plant diseases), to establishing taxa using morphological and molecular genetic methods.  These approaches will help to effectively identify the types of pests switching from local plants to those that have been introduced into the environment as "targets".  The research was carried out as part of the European Union's COST Action FP1401 Global Warning: Global Plantation Network as a System for the Early Detection of Alien Pests on Woody Plants. Russian participation was partially supported by grants from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research.


thedailyrecord--2019-01-21--Illegal flytipping blamed for infection and destruction of trees at West Lothian wood

Illegal flytipping of garden waste may have spread an infection responsible for the destruction of trees at a popular Livingston wood.  As the trees at Dedridge face the chop in the coming weeks, Woodland Trust Scotland is pleading for an end to flytipping, which is sadly very common in Livingston.  “It is heartbreaking that we have to lose much-loved big old trees like this,” explained Woodland Trust Scotland’s site manager Jean Frame.  “We would appeal to residents to make the flytipping habit history in 2019.  “Woodland adds so much to the character of the community it would be tragic to lose more of it because of such selfishness.”  Meanwhile trees at a second Livingston wood, at Eliburn are also being felled as they have caught an infection currently spreading across the country.  However this instance is not thought to be related to flytipping.  Beech and sycamore trees at Williamston Wood in Dedridge are dead or dying from Phytophthora cambivora and 10 have already been felled. A further 15 need to come down.  The trees pose a risk to public safety as they may drop limbs as they die. The condition is also known to undermine root systems so infected trees can be at risk of toppling completely.  They have to be felled to avoid risk to the public in what is a busy area.  This is the first time this infection has been found in Livingston.  However it is likely to be present on individual trees not yet identified.  Woodland Trust has asked Forest Research to investigate due to the large number of trees affected at Williamston Wood.  Jean continued: “Once we have felled the trees we will replant with native shrub and small tree species that are not susceptible to P. cambivora, including willow, hazel and hawthorn.  “Sadly garden waste is a big problem in Livingston with large amounts of plant cuttings, grass and soil being dumped in our woods each year.  “This provides an ideal way for disease to move from one site to another. We implore people not to dump garden waste in the woods.  “If you see people dumping garden waste in our woods you can report it to the police on 101 or through Dumb Dumpers.”  In Eliburn a tree was also was tested by Forestry Commission Scotland and found to be infected by Phytophthora ramorum which is a notifiable plant disease in the UK and the commission is legally required to control the disease to stop its spread further.  Phytophthora ramorum infects a wide range of trees and other plants often leading to their death.  Once present in the soil both these strains of Phytophthora can be picked up on people’s shoes, bikes, pet’s paws and fur, car tyres and wheel arches.  Staying on paths and away from wet muddy ground can stop contamination.  Implementing good hygiene measures by cleaning shoes and pets after walking in areas with a history of the infection is one of the best ways to reduce the spread.  A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “We work closely with the Woodland Trust, with shared goals for the protection of our natural environment.  “Fly-tipping, including garden waste, is both illegal and dangerous, and those responsible can be fined up to £200. We would encourage anyone who spots any in West Lothian to report it to us via www.westlothian.gov.uk/report  “Unfortunately it is necessary to remove trees when they become diseased to protect others and prevent infection spreading.  "We will be following the same procedures to remove the diseased trees on West Lothian Council land in Dedridge and Eliburn.”


theindependent--2019-05-06--Ash dieback Deadly tree fungus could cost UK 15bn researchers say

Ash dieback: Deadly tree fungus could cost UK £15bn, researchers say

A tree fungus that is having a “devastating impact” on Britain’s native flora could cost the country £15bn, research has found.  Ash dieback, first found in the UK in 2012, is expected to kill 95-99 per cent of Britain’s ash trees and scientists have said it is not possible to cure or halt.  Researchers “shocked” by the results estimate the disease could cost the UK £7bn within the next decade, citing the expense of clearing dead and dying trees and lost benefits such as carbon sequestration and water and air purification.  The total cost is 50 times larger than Britain’s annual live plants trade, which is the main route for invasive plant diseases to enter the country, according to the study carried out by Oxford University, Fera Science, the Sylva Foundation and the Woodland Trust.  “Nobody has estimated the total cost of a tree disease before, and we were quite shocked at the magnitude of the cost to society,” said Dr Louise Hill, researcher at the University of Oxford’s Department of Plant Sciences.  The suspected figure would equal one-third more than the reported cost of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001, which saw mass culling of livestock.  “When ash dieback first entered the country, no one could have fully predicted the devastating impact it would have on our native habitats,” explained co-author and senior conservation advisor for the Woodland Trust Dr Nick Atkinson.  “The numbers of invasive tree pests and diseases are increasing rapidly, and this is mostly driven by human activities, such as trade in live plants and climate change,” said Dr Hill.  Landowners are already spending thousands of pounds as a result of the disease, according to the BBC.  While removing the millions of ash trees which line Britain’s roads and urban areas will cost billions of pounds, the trees’ lost ecological benefits account for the majority of the £15bn estimate.  The researchers suggest a nationwide replanting scheme could help to replace these lost benefits and reduce the overall cost by £2.5m.  They also advocate tightening controls on the plant trade to halt the flow of new diseases.  “To see how this has also affected our economy speaks volumes for how important tree health is, and that it needs to be taken very seriously,” said Dr Atkinson.  “It is clear that to avoid further economic and ecological impacts, we need to invest more in plant biosecurity measures. This includes better detection, interception and prevention of other pests and diseases entering the country.  “We need to learn from past mistakes and make sure our countryside avoids yet another blow.”


thetelegraph--2019-04-22--BBC criticised for encouraging gardeners to plant foreign trees that could spread disease

A government horticulturalist has criticised BBC gardening shows for encouraging viewers to plant foreign species that risk spreading disease.  She said star presenters like Monty Don should not be encouraging gardeners to grow olives because they are a high risk for importing deadly plant disease Xylella fastidiosa.  Speaking at a biosecurity event at Tendercare Nurseries in Uxbridge, west London, last week Prof Spence said: "Gardening trends can drive biosecurity behaviour.  "I like to watch Gardeners' World on a Friday night and to listen to Gardeners' Question Time, but I occasionally have a bit of a rage at them and take to Twitter when I think they're not providing the best advice, particularly when a listener - somebody in the audience - says 'I've just brought back X from my holidays. What should I do with it?'


thetorontostar--2019-08-26--Banana industry on alert after disease arrives in Colombia

LA GUAJIRA, Colombia - It might not be obvious at the supermarket, but the banana industry is fighting to protect the most popular variety of the fruit from a destructive fungus.  A disease that ravages banana crops has made its long-dreaded arrival in Latin America, the biggest exporter of the crop. That’s reigniting worries about the global market’s dependence on a single type of banana, the Cavendish, which is known for its durability in shipping.  For years, scientists have said big banana companies like Chiquita and Dole would eventually need to find new banana varieties as the disease spread in countries in Asia and elsewhere. Then this month, the fungus was confirmed in Colombia, one of the top exporters in Latin America, prompting officials in the country to declare a state of emergency.  Banana industry watchers say it’s more proof the Cavendish’s days are numbered, but that there’s still plenty of time to find alternatives.  “I don’t think it’s going to impact the availability of the Cavenidsh in supermarkets anytime soon,” said Randy Ploetz, a retired scientist from the University of Florida who studied tropical plant diseases.  While all sorts of bananas are grown around the world for domestic consumption, the ones shipped to places including the United States and the European Union are mostly Cavendishes. It may seem odd that the world banana market would hitch its fortunes to a single variety, but mass producing just one kind is a way to keep costs down, which also helps make bananas so widely available.  Bananas are also hard to breed, and finding varieties suited to global commerce isn’t easy. In addition to being productive, Cavendish plants yield bananas that can survive the trip from warm climates to far-flung supermarkets, without ripening too quickly.  Still, history has shown the risks of relying on a single banana variety. Not that long ago, the world market was ruled by another banana, the Gros Michel, aka the Big Mike. Experts say it was even easier to ship than the Cavendish, and sweeter (though others contend it tasted similar). Either way, the Gros Michel was ravaged by the 1950s by an earlier strain of the disease now stalking the Cavendish.  This time, there’s no obvious backup banana waiting in the wings to take over.  In Asian countries hit by the Tropical Race 4 disease, coping strategies have included planting less susceptible Cavendish varieties or moving to uninfected farmland, according to Ploetz. But those varieties aren’t as productive and still eventually succumb to the fungus, which can survive in soil for decades. Growers will also eventually run out of uninfected land.  In Colombia, special measures being taken to stop the disease from spreading include sanitary controls at the entrance to plantations and roadblocks where trucks travelling between banana farms and ports are disinfected by government workers in scrubs and rubber boots.  The fungus travels on small particles of soil that can stick to truck tires, farm equipment or workers’ shoes. And in Colombia, farmers fear that thieves who sneak into plantations to steal bananas could accidentally spread the disease. Some farms in Colombia are only lightly guarded and are separated from interstate roads by small fences. The situation has prompted police and Colombia’s military to step up presence around banana plantations since the disease was detected.  “We are trying to make people understand that stealing bananas nowadays can have greater repercussions,” said Francisco Zuniga, the president of Asbama, a Colombian banana farmers association.  So far, the fungus has been detected on six farms in Colombia. All are located in La Guajira, a province near the border with Venezuela. Officials say the affected area is still small at 490 acres (200 hectares), and is not making a dent on the country’s exports. But there are concerns that the arrival of the disease will change Colombia’s banana industry forever, forcing farms and the government to spend more on sanitary measures.  In La Guajira, officials have uprooted plants where the fungus has been detected and covered the soil with black plastic sheets that raise the temperatures to levels that could stop the disease from spreading. Healthy plants within a 60 foot (20 metre) radius of the affected areas are also killed with chemicals as a preventive measure.  “We will continue to work towards stopping this disease from spreading to the rest of Colombia,” Agriculture Minister Andres Valencia told The Associated Press during a visit to La Guajira. “But eventually we have to make the transition to other varieties of banana that will resist this disease.”  Gert Kema, a plant scientist who studies bananas, also said the industry needs to diversify. He said there are many types of tomatoes and peppers, and that bananas should be no different.  “We have collectively accepted that we have just one banana,” Kema said.  Banana diversity means higher costs, however, and it’s not clear that people would be willing to pay more for the fruit.  Another challenge is that the fungus is lethal to a wide array of bananas. That’s also a problem for places where starchier, cooked bananas are a food staple, including some countries in Africa and Latin America.  But even with the disease’s appearance in Colombia, banana companies say there’s no need to panic. Whether the solution is a new breed or a genetically modified banana, the new option will likely look and taste a lot like the Cavendish.  For now, government and industry officials say they’re taking security measures to contain the fungus wherever it appears.  “We can significantly slow the spread and have decades more of the Cavendish,” said Caoimhe Buckley, a spokeswoman for Fyffes, a major banana exporter based in Ireland.  Associated Press writer Manuel Rueda reported this story in La Guajira and AP Food & Health Writer Candice Choi reported from New York.  The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Manuel Rueda And Candice Choi - The Associated Press


tass--2019-07-19--Spraying insecticides on fields causes death of 80000 bee colonies in 25 Russian regions

Spraying insecticides on fields causes death of 80,000 bee colonies in 25 Russian regions

VORONEZH, July 19. /TASS/. Spraying insecticides on agricultural fields caused the death of about 80,000 bee colonies in 25 regions of Russia, the damage of beekeepers exceeded 2 bln rubles ($31.7 mln), acting director of the Federal Scientific Center of Beekeeping, Anna Brandorf told TASS.  "In 25 regions of Russia, about 80,000 bee colonies were killed <...>. This happened at apiaries, which are located near the [agricultural] fields treated with insecticides. Another 20% of bee colonies will add to these losses in the spring, as toxic substances fell into the nests, and the bee families that survived are very weak now, and it is possible that they will also die later. They also brought nectar from the fields to the nests, which can also contain insecticides, so the queen bee may not survive on such food," the expert said.  According to her, there are about 3.5 million bee colonies in Russia and their mass death was recorded in May-June in all regions of central Russia, in the south of the country, in the republics of Udmurtia, Tatarstan and Mari El and in the Altai Territory.  "This year had an early spring, the flowering dates shifted a little and plant pests came out earlier. This year there are three generations of pests versus two generations [last year] — therefore, farmers had to use more insecticides," Brandorf explained.  According to her, a beekeeper suffered a loss of more than 26,000 rubles ($412) from the death of each bee colony.  "The bee farm costs about 9,000 rubles ($142), but it could bring, on average, 40 kg of honey at 400 rubles ($6) per 1 kg, as well as pollen, wax and propolis which is about 1,000 rubles more. Thus, the beekeepers lost not just the bee colony they will have to buy, but they have not received enough products they could sell — overall, the losses stand at more than 2 bln rubles ($31 mln), " she added.  "The death of bees will affect the volume of honey collected this year — it will fall several-fold and will be replaced with counterfeit <...> The consumer may not notice this, because there are manufacturers of honey products, and if they become more active now, the cost of natural honey will not grow much. <...> After all, the consumer does not know much about the difference between 'natural honey' and 'blueberry honey' or 'currant honey,' although the latter may not even contain any honey," she noted.  In May-June, in the regions of the Central Federal District, a massive death of bees was recorded after agricultural fields treatment. Regional departments of Russia's consumer rights watchdog began to look into the situation. They studied more than 100 samples of dead bees provided by apiary owners from Voronezh, Kursk, Belgorod, Tambov and Lipetsk regions. Experts concluded that the reason for the mass death of bees was poisoning with plant protection products, namely insecticides. According to experts, production, storage, sale and use of pesticides and agrochemicals in Russia in recent years is almost uncontrolled.


eveningstandard--2019-02-07--Equine flu outbreak and horse racing What are the symptoms How does it affect horses

Equine flu outbreak and horse racing: What are the symptoms? How does it affect horses?

All race meetings at racecourses across the UK have been cancelled until Wednesday 13 February following an outbreak of equine flu.  The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed that they were aware of three positive tests of the virus from vaccinated horses.  Trainer Donald McCain announced that the infected horses came from his Cheshire stables.  On Thursday, a total of four British meetings were cancelled in Doncaster, Huntington, Ffos Las and Chelmsford.  The BHA said: “This precautionary approach is intended to ensure we put the health of the horse population and control of the virus first, and avoid any unnecessary risk that might come from returning to racing to quickly.  "We appreciate the impact that this may have on he sport commercially, but disease control in order to mitigate the risk of further disruption to the sport - and safeguard the health and welfare of our horses - must be a priority."  Infected horses need to be incubated for days, but full recovery can take weeks or even months.  This is not the first time the highly infectious virus has caused concern in the horse racing community. Since the start of the year, there have been several outbreaks of equine flu in Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Cheshire, Suffolk, Yorkshire and Essex.  Here’s what you need to know about equine flue and the possible impact it could have on racing:  Equine flu is a highly infectious disease that affects horses, mules and donkeys, caused by strains of the Influenza A virus.  It affects the lower and upper respiratory tract of horses and is mainly contracted through inhalation of the virus from ill animals.  An infected horse can show signs of high temperature, harsh cough, nasal discharge and redness around the eyes.  Equine flu is not usually fatal. However, infected horses can be at increased risk of contracting complications such as pneumonia, causing the debility of horses and possibly resulting in death.  To prevent the spread of the virus, it’s advised infected horses do not attend shows and are carefully monitored on a secure site while the outbreak is ongoing.  According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, whilst a few people that come in contact with infected horses develop antibodies to influenza viruses, no humans exposed to the virus have become ill.  The BHA confirmed that all races will be cancelled until Wednesday 13 February, after which the situation will be reassessed.  Races affected include the 'Super Saturday' at Newbury Racecourse, scheduled to take place on Saturday 9 February. The race has now been abandoned and organisers have informed fans that all-pre purchased tickets for the event will be refunded within 14 days.


eveningstandard--2019-02-07--Horseracing cancelled across Britain due to outbreak of equine flu

Race meetings at all British racecourses have been cancelled on Thursday due to an outbreak of equine flu.  The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) made the decision on Wednesday evening after the Animal Health Trust confirmed three positives tests from vaccinated horses in an active racing yard.  The horses from the infected yard had raced earlier in the day at Ayr and Ludlow, potentially exposing other horses across the country and in Ireland to the disease.  The BHA said in a statement that the identification of the virus in vaccinated horses presented a "cause for significant concern".  It added: "The action to cancel racing has been viewed as necessary in order to restrict, as far as possible, the risk of further spread of the disease.  "The BHA has worked quickly to identify which yards could have potentially been exposed today and identify the further actions required.  "The BHA is presently communicating with yards potentially exposed to ensure appropriate quarantine and biosecurity measures are put in place and horse movements restricted to avoid possible further spread of the disease.  "The full extent of potential exposure is unknown and we are working quickly to understand as much as we can to assist our decision-making."  The action to cancel Thursday's races was taken with unanimous support of the BHA's industry veterinary committee and will affect meetings at Huntingdon, Doncaster, Ffos Las and Chelmsford.  Equine influenza is a highly infectious disease of horses, mules and donkeys. Symptoms in non-immune animals include high fever, coughing and nasal discharge.


thedailymirror--2019-02-06--Thursdays horse racing meetings in UK cancelled due to equine flu

Thursday's horse racing meetings in UK cancelled due to equine flu

All meetings across the UK on Thursday have been cancelled due to an outbreak of equine flu.  Three horses, who had been vacinated against the dsease, tested positive having raced on Wednesday.  The British Horseracing Authority has cancelled Thursday's meetings at Huntingdon, Doncaster, Ffos Las and Chelmsford in response.  A statement read: "The BHA, with unanimous support of the BHA’s industry veterinary committee, has taken the decision to cancel racing at all British racecourses on Thursday February, 7.  "This is following the BHA being informed this evening by the Animal Health Trust of three confirmed Equine Influenza positives from vaccinated horses in an active racing yard.  "Horses from the infected yard have raced on Wednesday at Ayr and Ludlow, potentially exposing a significant number of horses from yards across the country and in Ireland.  "The fact that the cases have been identified in vaccinated horses presents a cause for significant concern over welfare and the potential spread of the disease and the action to cancel racing has been viewed as necessary in order to restrict, as far as possible, the risk of further spread of the disease.  "The BHA has worked quickly to identify which yards could have potentially been exposed today and identify the further actions required. The BHA is presently communicating with yards potentially exposed to ensure appropriate quarantine and biosecurity measures are put in place and horse movements restricted to avoid possible further spread of the disease.  "The full extent of potential exposure is unknown and we are working quickly to understand as much as we can to assist our decision making.  "The BHA is working closely with the Animal Health Trust and will issue a further update tomorrow. We recommend that any trainer who has concerns about the health status of any of their horses should contact their veterinarian."


thedailyrecord--2019-02-07--Scots bookmaker warns of potentially catastrophic impact facing industry in wake of horse flu outb

Scots bookmaker warns of "potentially catastrophic" impact facing industry in wake of horse flu outbreak

A leading Scots bookie has warned her industry faces "potentially catastrophic implications" in light of an equine flu outbreak.  Julie Williams, daughter of the legendary 'Fearless Freddie,' warned firms could be left tackling their "worst nightmare".  It comes as racing across Britain has been halted in the wake of three horses testing positive for the disease.  Authorities admit the outbreak, which involves already vaccinated animals, is "cause for significant concern".  It is unclear when action will be able to resume.  Julie, who runs her family dynasty in Cumnock and Auchinleck, said: "The first concern must always be for the welfare of the horses and the BHA are to be applauded for acting so quickly.  "Hopefully the actions they have taken will stop any serious spread of the disease.  "Longer term, there could be potentially catastrophic implications for the industry.  "Punters coming in our shops today are petrified about what this means.  "The last time racing was cancelled for this sort of thing was 1981...so people are understandably concerned."  Julie, who expects her own turnover to top £1 million at the Cheltenham Festival in five weeks, hopes a speedy resolution can replace the fear coursing through the industry.  She said: "The big betting companies are already talking about closing down shops in their thousands - and I believe them when they say that.  "So it goes without saying that any kind of prolonged break from action could be devastating.  "It's the worst nightmare for everyone involved."  It follows the confirmation that the yard at the centre of the crisis sent a runner to Ayr yesterday.  Three horses, understood to be in the care of Cheshire-based Donald McCain, have all tested positive for the outbreak.  The British Horse Racing Authority confirmed the affected stable had runners at both Ayr and Ludlow on Wednesday.  "The full extent of potential exposure is unknown and we are working quickly to understand as much as we can to assist our decision making," they added.  Tests are now underway on the affected yard's runners who travelled to Ayr and Ludlow amid fears they may also be infected.  And with the disease being highly contagious, there are concerns other horses at both tracks may have caught the bug.  Irish trainer, Gordon Elliot, was among those to be represented at Ayr yesterday, racking up a hat trick on the card.  His string are among those now undergoing tests.  A spokesman for Ayr Racecourse said: “We were informed by the BHA this morning that three vaccinated horses in an active racing yard tested positive for Equine Influenza.  “Horses from the yard raced at both Ayr and Ludlow yesterday although they were not among those who tested positive.  “In the UK horses are widely vaccinated. Like other stakeholders, Ayr will continue to work closely with the BHA on this matter.”


thedenverpost--2019-07-06--Two horses in Weld County test positive for vesicular stomatitis first known 2019 cases in the stat

Two horses in Weld County test positive for vesicular stomatitis; first known 2019 cases in the state

Two horses in Weld County have tested positive for vesicular stomatitis, a virus that can make eating and drinking painful, and the equines have been quarantined.  Colorado is the third state in the country this year to confirm cases of vesicular stomatitis, according to a state Department of Agriculture news release. Cases have also been diagnosed in Kinney and Tom Green counties, Texas, and in Sandoval County, N.M.  On Wednesday the National Veterinary Services Laboratory reported positive test results on samples submitted from two Weld County horses at different locations.  “Vesicular stomatitis can be painful for animals and costly to their owners,” said Keith Roehr, state veterinarian, in the release. “The virus typically causes oral blisters and sores that can be painful, causing difficulty in eating and drinking.”  The animals are being monitored daily and will remain under quarantine for at least two weeks from the onset of lesions. There are no USDA-approved vaccines for vesicular stomatitis.  The viral disease is transmitted by insects — black flies, sand flies and biting midges. In a herd, it can spread from horse to horse. Humans can become infected when handling sick animals, but it’s rare. To avoid exposure, people should take personal protective measures when handling affected animals.


thedenverpost--2019-07-27--Virus making horses ill spreads to 11 Colorado counties Larimer hit hardest

Virus making horses ill spreads to 11 Colorado counties; Larimer hit hardest

A virus making horses ill in Colorado has been found in 11 counties; Larimer County is the hardest-hit area, with 70 confirmed cases of vesicular stomatitis.  Other counties are Adams, Archuleta, Boulder, Broomfield, Delta, La Plata, Mesa, Montezuma, Morgan and Weld, according to a Colorado Department of Agriculture news release.  Vesicular stomatitis can make eating and drinking painful for the horses, and they and other animals that may be stricken are quarantined. One bovine case in Boulder County has been confirmed.  “We understand that the VSV outbreak and quarantines are impacting the ability for people to bring their horses and livestock to fairs and shows,” said Dr. Keith Roehr, Colorado State veterinarian, in the release. “The quarantines and hold orders must be followed, however, for the health and protection of all equine and livestock in Colorado.”  Boulder County has logged 40 confirmed cases, and Weld County 29 cases, state officials said. The other counties had lower numbers as of Friday.  The first case of vesicular stomatitis in Colorado this year was reported July 3 in Weld County. There are no USDA-approved vaccines for the virus, which likely is spread by insects.  The viral disease primarily affects horses and cattle, but swine, sheep, goats, llamas and alpacas can become ill as well. Black flies, sand flies and biting midges likely transmit the disease.  Humans may become infected when handling affected animals, but it’s rare, the news release said.