Dr. Buddy's Blog

"Failure of Passive Transfer"

2008-05-26T13:00:00Z

"Failure of Passive Transfer" is a phrase used in veterinary medicine to explain why the newborn has diarrhea or pneumonia or joint ill or navel ill or other physical problems or developments indicative of some generalized infection or unthrifty condition. By the way, the students on my rotation the other day didn't know what I meant by the terms "joint ill" or "navel ill". I guess these conditions are called by other names now. When "thinkers" are bored they seem to change the name of certain conditions or disease processes if they are suffering from a drought in discovering new diseases. Joint ill is the term I learned when a foal or sometimes a baby calf develops a swollen, tender, warm or hot joint or joints. This happens when germs enter the system (often times through the navel) and "settle out" in the joints. The condition is almost always a death sentence to the affected newborn since treatment can become very expensive and frustrating. Certainly, mama stepping on the leg could produce a similar appearing problem, but if multiple joints are affected, mama probably isn't that clumsy.
What allows these serious infections to occur in such a young, fragile offspring is often related to the baby not nursing the dam soon enough after birth in order to receive the very important colostrum. In some cases, it's possible that the dam's immune system wasn't properly prepared for the germ Mother Nature showed the baby, so although the newborn nursed well and in a timely manner, the colostrum was a little lacking since mama's immune system was deficient in some way. That's what is meant by "failure of passive transfer".
Since the newborn's immune system isn't ready to "take on the world" of germs, mama's milk needs to provide immediate protection. This is a concept we've all been familiar with since basic animal husbandry classes. But what sometimes isn't understood is that the window of opportunity for the absorption of these protectors against disease that are in the colostrum is relatively short. The time frame varies a little depending on whose opinion you're hearing, but I learned within the first 8 hours of birth. Some offer a more narrow window for the best chance of protection.
So what's the big deal? We all can expect the newborn to certainly have an opportunity to nurse within 8 hours. Or maybe not. What about that cow that wasn't culled last year because she's pregnant again and she always does a good job on her calf. The only problem is the several calves she's had and the plentiful milk she provides have caused her teats to be so big the calf can't get them in his mouth. Or maybe only one of her teats is enlarged, but that's the one her calf chooses to try to nurse while he's still wobbly legged. The mare with the nervous disposition that was bred since she wasn't suited for anything else has now gone through pregnancy and labor; she's still nervous and unsettled and won't let her baby even try to nurse.
The other important thing to consider is preparing the dam's immune system with the proper ammunition through a thoughtful, systematic approach to vaccination. If you are uncertain what types of infections and diseases are prevalent in your area, the local veterinarian should have already done the homework for you. He or she is probably happy to share the knowledge. Saving expense by shortcuts on nutrition and proper mineral supplementation, may compromise the vaccination protocol. So don't be too quick to blame 'ol Doc because the vaccine recommended didn't seem to help at all. Those animals need a healthy immune system in order to respond to the vaccination.
There's quiet a lot of stuff that can allow "failure of passive transfer" to occur. The end result is almost always the same, though. The dam's inventory cost is real. Her lack of productivity is too.

Horse Behavior

2008-05-20T21:16:02Z

(from "the Horse" magazine, May 2008 issue, page 18).

I read recently that young horses appear to learn faster if they receive food as a reward, according to researchers from France. Yearling horses in the research project were split into two groups - reward group and non-reward group. If horses in the reward group responded appropriately to voice commands, such as remaining immobile while a trainer performed grooming tasks or certain veterinary procedures, the researchers rewarded the horse with grain pellets. (Horses in the non-reward group were not rewarded with grain if they responded appropriately). On average, horses in the non-reward group took 5.2 hours to complete their training, whereas horses in the reward group took 3.7 hours to complete their training. The researcher also stated that the slowest horse in the reward group still performed and learned tasks faster than the fastest horse in the non-reward group.

Working with Vaccines

2008-04-29T16:32:44Z

By: Dr. Glennon Mays

But when veterinarians and producers are processing cattle (or other species) involving administration of vaccines or biologicals, it's important to remember these products require constant chilling to preserve their integrity and effectiveness. It's critical to have an insulated box or cooler at the work site conveniently located close to the work but protected from the ongoing physical activity avoiding disruption of the cooling effectiveness. Ice packs or even bagged wet ice should be placed on the top of product in the cooler for most effective protection from warming temperature. I sometimes carry an extra cooler to place bottles of vaccine being used leaving the "stock" supply in another cooler so as to not interrupt the temperature of the reserve bottles by opening/closing the cooler each time doses are removed from the bottles in use. Another thing I have found helpful especially during hot summer months is to have yet another cooler with reserve ice or cold pack supply, especially if the workday is long and away from "home base". One additional idea to pass along is to not wrap the ice packs in material such as newspaper as this effectively insulates the cold next to the pack reducing the ability for the cold to escape to the bottles of product. Lastly, if using biologicals requiring reconstitution prior to administration, avoid the mixing of product prematurely. I understand we all have a tendency to get everything ready to prevent interruption of the work process. However, if the reconstituted product is sitting in the cooler (even if adequately chilled) for a couple of hours or longer, the product will possibly have deteriorated before it's given to the animal. Although timely processing is essential in reducing stress on livestock, the administration of ineffective vaccines and biologicals is counter productive as well.

Questions about this article can be sent to adement@cvm.tamu.edu

Beef Herd Health Management Calendar

2007-08-13T18:13:32Z

The Beef Herd Health Management Calendar, a computerized publication authored by Dr. Buddy Faries and Wayne H. Thompson, is available for purchase on compact disk (CD-ROM) by cattlemen through the Texas Cooperative Extension Bookstore. The instrument is interactive and designed to facilitate self-guided study to learn and group meetings to teach scheduling of annual herd health management plans. This interactive calendar allows the beef producer to generate a schedule of management tasks that fits the length of his calving season and the month it begins. The CD also contains videos that demonstrate how to conduct each activity, as well as a complete library of help publications.

The CD is configured to automatically launch the Main Index Page (index.htm) of the Beef Herd Health Management Calendar. Minimum hardware requirements are: computer equipped with CD reader, computer monitor with 800 x 600 resolution or higher and computer equipped with soundcard and speakers. Required software items are: Microscoft Excel, Adobe Acrobat Reader® and Adobe Macromedia Flash v.8.

Much of the technical information needed to design and implement programs on scheduling annual health management plans for cow-calf herds is provided on the CD. The interface of the application is exceptionally user-friendly and accessible to even the novice computer user, designed to ensure that beef producers with minimal computer literacy are able to access and learn from the information provided by the Beef Herd Health Management Calendar on CD.

Producers must generate an annual 12-month beef herd health management calendar with planned and scheduled health practices related to when cows calve and not to the season of the year. The calendar of specific dates of tasks will ensure “doing the right thing at the right time” for increased effectiveness of the practices. The goal is to increase the production efficiency of the whole herd, all the cows, calves, heifers and bulls.

Ordering the Calendar:

To order on-line:

You may order on-line with a VISA or MasterCard, using Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M University System secure shopping cart technology at: http://tcebookstore.org/.

To order by phone:
You may call Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M University System toll-free (888) 900-2577 and order with a VISA or MasterCard.

Retail price: $98.00

Rabies

2007-08-13T16:35:04Z

This is an article that was found in the June issue of the Angus Journal. The article is by Troy Smith.

Who didn’t cry when Old Yeller died? Come on. Surely you shared the sorrow when the classic Disney film’s canine hero met his fate. You remember how Old Yeller defended the family against a wolf gone mad with rabies. Then he was locked in a corn crib until they could be sure he hadn’t contracted the disease. And just as the quarantine was about to end; just when we thought he was in the clear, the symptoms appeared. Snarling and frothing at the mouth, the dog turned on his young master. Dangerous, suffering and doomed to die a painful death, Old Yeller had to be destroyed.
The movie was set on the western frontier, in the 19th century, when rabies was a fearsome disease. It was sometimes called “hydrophobia” because victims often seemed to display a fear or aversion to water along with other symptoms of strange, often aggressive behavior. Folks didn’t fully understand the mechanisms of microbial infections in those days, but they knew that rabies could be spread through the bite of an infected animal. They knew it could be transmitted from wild critters to domestic livestock. Old Yeller’s fans will remember how the family’s cantankerous milk cow also succumbed to rabies. Folks also knew that humans were susceptible and contracting rabies meant you were going to die.
Even today, the same reasons make rabies a threat to livestock and their caretakers. Rabies is a zoonotic disease – one caused by an infectious agent that is transmittable between animals and humans. In the case of rabies, the infectious agent is a virus to which virtually all mammals are susceptible. Though exposure to humans is reduced through widespread vaccination of pet dogs and cats, rabies remains common among wild animals – particularly flesh-eating species. According to Angela Dement, Texas A&M University (TAMU) Extension Assistant for Veterinary Medicine, skunks, raccoons, coyotes and bats rank among the most common carrier species.
Dement says the threat of infection to domestic animals and humans is sufficient to warrant an effort, by TAMU extension personnel, to heighten awareness among livestock producers. In addition to foreign and emerging animal diseases, rabies has been added to the agendas for county meetings held across the state.
“Awareness is the best defense,” states Dement, “so our goal to educate producers about the disease and how to recognize the different behaviors associated with rabies.”
Not all animals afflicted with rabies exhibit the “slobbering fits” described in the Old Yeller movie. Dement says the virus always attacks the central nervous system, but symptomatic behavior may be either of two different types. That which most people consider typical is “furious rabies” where the animal displays restless, but aimless behavior and becomes aggressive, sometimes to the point that it will bite anything that happens to be in its way. Even gentle family pets, if infected, can become vicious.
However, an animal with rabies may never show aggression or become violent. With the other type of behavior, sometimes called “dumb rabies”, the affected animal becomes withdrawn and shy. In any case, rabid animals suffer progressive paralysis. Early signs may include difficulty swallowing. Eventually, even though they are hungry and thirsty, animals are unable to eat or drink - hence the perceived fear of water. After the onset of symptoms, the disease is always fatal.
According to Dement, the virus is present in the saliva of an infected animal. If it bites another animal, or a human, the virus may spread through the wound. However, the virus may also spread when virus-laden saliva comes in contact with scratches or breaks in the skin due to another type of injury. The incubation period for rabies varies by specie, and ranges from 3 to 8 weeks in humans.
“Treatment is available for humans that may be exposed through contact with animals suspected of having rabies. But the only way to be sure if the animal really was infected is to test tissue from its brain. So, while a suspect animal should be destroyed, don’t shoot it in the head,” warns Dement. “If you think you may have been exposed, quickly seek advice from your primary care physician.”
Dement says cases where humans were exposed to rabies through contact with infected cattle or other domestic livestock have been rare in Texas, but it can and does happen. In June, officials with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reported that two men were undergoing post-exposure treatment after handling a calf that later tested positive for rabies. The men apparently came in contact with its saliva while assisting the calf found staggering around in a field. Reportedly, the calf was one of a handful of domestic livestock, in South Carolina, that tested positive during the last 20 years.
However, according to Veterinarian W. Dee Whittier, of Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, the incidence of rabies among cattle varies by region. The opportunity for exposure increases with prevalence of rabies among wild animal carriers. In Virginia, says the bovine specialist, cattle often are the most frequently diagnosed domestic animal.
“Due to their curious nature, cattle will approach an infected wild animal, like a skunk or raccoon, and be bitten on the nose, or feet and legs,” Whittier explains.
In cattle, rabies symptoms can include restlessness, aggression, repeated bellowing and slobbering, or cattle may act depressed or sleepy. They may show weakness, particularly in their hind legs, and appear to be choking.
“Any animal with symptoms of a neurological disease ought to be investigated until and answer is found,” warns Whittier. “And producers ought not to be poking their hands in the mouths of animals to see if something is stuck in their throats. Producers and veterinarians put themselves at risk of infection when conducting oral examinations of salivating cattle.”

A Guide for First Responders

2007-06-19T18:44:12Z

Jason B. Moats writes in his new book, Agroterrorism: A Guide for First Responders, that "In many cases, the communities most ill-prepared to deal with . . . terrorism incidents are the rural communities that provide . . . food and crops."

This manual is specifically designed to help rural communities prepare for an act of agroterrorism. The author lists known biological and chemical agents and their effects, explains model systems for supporting emergency response efforts, and lays out proven plans for gathering personnel and other resources in an orderly, coordinated way. He spells out who should do what and when, providing a critically needed path through the bureaucratic maze of state, national, and interagency homeland security directives. It closes with a training program including practical exercises.

Agroterrorism: A Guide for First Responders contains resources vital for America's rural communities, agriculture sector that is important to our nation.

It is available at: http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2007/moats.htm

Bats and Rabies

2007-06-12T17:53:10Z

Now that it is almost summer, bat sightings are more common in parts of Texas. Some that migrated south to spend the winter in warmer climates have returned and the peak of the maternity season for bats is from May through August.

Young bats may not be adept at flying just yet, so some may end up on the ground. Also, the mother bat may carry her young with her as she flies. She may occasionally land on the ground and rest awhile. In either case, bats may be encountered on the ground during the summer. Although they may not be sick, people need to avoid direct exposure with any bat.

If a bat comes into contact with a person, an adult should attempt to capture the bat without direct skin contact. If the bat is not available for testing, a physician or local health department should be contacted to assess the exposure.

If a person finds a bat in a building, there has been NO human or pet exposure, and an adult is available and willing, capture the bat and release it outside in an area distant from people. The adult should wear gloves and use a paper, shovel (gently), or other object to pick up the bat. A bat may look dead, but "comes to life" when it is picked up. For bats on walls in a building:

• Cover the bat with a coffee can or a box.
• Gently slip a piece of paper between the can or box and the wall so that the bat is trapped inside the container. The paper serves as a lid.
• Transport the bat in the container.

Most cities have animal control officers who will be happy to help with the bat removal.

The maternity season (May to August) is not an ideal time to exclude bats that have taken up residence in a building attic or other roost because the young are not yet able to fly. If exclude adults now, you may trap young in the roost. The bat exclusion techniques are best applied in early spring or in the fall.

Bats like to swoop down and grab a drink from standing water, such as a farm pond or swimming pool. They are not attacking people in or around the pond or pool. If a bat is ill, it could end up crashing into the pool. Homeowners sometimes find a dead bat floating in the pool or in the pool's "skimmer." In either case, the health risk to people who might swim in the pool is remote.

The rabies virus does not live well outside the animal.
Any virus in the bat would be diluted by the volume of water in the pool.
The chlorine in the pool water would inactivate the virus.

Possible New Vaccine for Foot and Mouth Disease

2007-06-12T15:49:29Z

There has been talk of a new vaccine that protects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and deer against the highly contagious foot and mouth disease (FMD).

Officials are saying that the vaccine has effectiveness within 7 days from administration giving the animal immunity for 21 days up to 6 months. Edward B. Knipling is quoted as saying, “This signals tremendous promise. Although this is still an experimental vaccine, it has made significant development progress, and we are optimistic about its prospects.”

This vaccine is the first FMD vaccine that has been produced by the U.S. If proven effective, the federal government will create a stockpile in the event FMD is found in the U.S.

Currently if an animal tests positive for FMD there is no way to determine if it had been vaccinated or actually came into contact with the virus. With this vaccine, it is possible to tell if the animal tests positive due to vaccination.

FMD is a devastating disease that effects cloven-hoofed animals (or two-toed animals). If FMD occurs in the U.S. it would have severe consequences on the economy and hurt the agriculture industry as a whole. The U.S. has been FMD free since 1929, but it still remains a significant threat.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD)

2006-09-19T15:50:05Z

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is a virus that affects many species of deer throughout the world. Here in North America we primarily find it in the white-tailed deer population where mortality rates are usually high. We most commonly see outbreaks in late summer and early fall. Once the weather starts to turn cold, we usually stop seeing the number of cases. This disease is an important one because it has the potential to have serious consequences on the wild deer populations. Just because though we primarily see deaths in the white-tail population does not mean that it does not infect other species of deer. Other deer, including mule deer and pronghorn antelope will show symptoms but at a lesser extent. Numerous other deer will be seropositive upon testing. Cattle are rarely reported of being infected with EHD, but if they do occur, it is usually seen during high outbreaks in the white-tailed deer populations. Sheep have been infected experimentally but they do not show any clinical symptoms. Humans and goats on the other hand do not seem to be susceptible to infection.....

]]> The transmission of EHD to other susceptible animals through biological vectors (insects) is usually by biting midges of the Culicoides genus. The midge most commonly transmitting the virus is the C. variipennis. Along with this species, some gnats and mosquitoes can also transmit EHD. Once a deer has been infected with the virus, the incubation period (time before clinical symptoms are present) is 5 to 10 days in deer.
There are three different syndromes that the deer can exhibit ranging from peracute, acute to chronic forms of the virus. In the peracute form of the disease the animal will exhibit a high fever, anorexia, weakness, respiratory distress and severe and rapid edema of the head and neck areas. Individuals might also notice a swelling of the tongue and conjunctivae in the infected deer. Animals that become infected with the peracute form of the disease usually die quickly (8-36 hours). The clinical symptoms for the acute form of EHD include the same symptoms as the peracute form as well as extensive hemorrhages in tissues including the skin, heart and gastrointestinal tract. The deer may also show signs on excessive salivation and nasal discharge which is tainted with blood as well as erosions which can be found on the tongue, dental pad, palate, rumen and omasum. Both the peracute and acute forms result in high mortality losses in the deer populations that they infect. The third form is the chronic form where the deer appear ill for several weeks, but eventually recover. The problem with this form is that the animal will usually slough the hoof wall and leave the deer unable to walk normally. Deer with a sloughed hoof wall may be seen crawling on its knees or its belly. If by chance an animal survives the disease, they will have a natural immunity to EHD for awhile.
EHD is a reportable disease to state regulatory agencies even though it is endemic to the United States. It is an important disease to monitor because some of the clinical symptoms resemble those of foot-and-mouth disease, blue tongue and plant photosensitization. The state agencies will be able to run the correct tests to determine what the animals are infected with.
It is important to prevent animals from becoming infected with EHD. There are several ways to go about doing this. As previously mentioned, the virus is transmitted by vectors (biting midges, possibly mosquitoes and gnats) so controlling these vectors will reduce the risk of infection. To prevent this disease you might think about controlling vectors by reduce the breeding areas for the vectors, applying insecticides and larvicide’s and using insect repellents. There are no vaccines available for EHD so prevention is the best method.

Resources:

Fact Sheet-Diseases Caused by the Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serogroup http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/DiseaseInfo/

International Veterinary Information Services (IVIS)
http://www.ivis.org

When is the right time to deworm cattle in 2006?

2006-09-08T16:11:00Z

Short grass is commonly thought of causing wormy cattle by the cattle grazing down where the worms are, but that thought is a misunderstanding. The reason that producers think that way is because the cows look wormy, when actually the cows' poor body and hair coat conditions are related to malnutrition from low intake of roughages on short grass pastures. When short grass is caused from dry conditions due to lack of rain and from overgrazing the slow growth of grass, the worms are not down there in the soil; the larvae have died from the dryness, and also from the heat in the summer.

]]> When stomach worm eggs are passed in cattle manure, the eggs hatch in the manure. The larvae must be washed from the manure by rains. The larvae can only crawl (swim) up the grass blades while the grass is wet from rain or dew. As the grass dries, the larvae go back down to find moisture. As cattle graze dry grass, they don't ingest larvae. After weeks of dry weather, larvae die, and without grass mats for cover, all the larvae die, and the pastures become free of contamination.

While pastures are contaminated with larvae, it may be cost effective to worm if the cattle have become exposed to enough larvae during 3 6 weeks of continuous rains with soil temperatures of 55 85 degrees when the larvae are active. If these conditions occur in the spring on some pastures; the timing to worm the cattle is following 3 6 weeks of continuous rain. If the rains come on contaminated pastures, that would make deworming cattle in May but not all pastures are contaminated because of the drought and good management practices. With rains in a cold April, the larvae hibernate and there is no exposure until May, to make worming in June. If rains don't come, cost effectiveness of deworming cattle in the spring is questioned, as it was in the fall and lspring of 2005. When worming is cost effective, it's in the nursing calves and young cattle and possibly not in the cows and bulls.

Adult stomach worms live for about 2 months and die of old age, and their larvae are transmitted only during moderate temperatures and wet conditions. Since cattle do not have stomach worms throughout the year, determining the proper timing for worming cattle when they have worms is critical; if they are not there, do not deworm. Don't look at the cows, look at the ground...any wet grass over a period of weeks?

When it is dry in the spring and fall, do not deworm; wait until the cattle get the worms, which may or may not come this year. The spotty rains this year may be an indication that it is coming for some. But for the last 10 years, that hasn't been for many places.

EPG fecals do have place to evaluate and monitor deworming and management practices and determine to maintain or change the control program but not to determine to whether or not to deworm. Adult stomach worms' presence can be found by EPG fecals but since they are not harmful, deworming based on fecals is too late, because the damage is caused earlier by the emergence of larvae. The key is to time the deworming during recent spring or fall optimal transmission when larvae are developing or during summer inhibition before the larvae emerge. EPGs fecals every month are helpful to determine a pattern of transmission. When the timing is right for deworming, the cost-effectiveness is expected in nursing calves since they are more susceptible but is not always expected in adults since they are more resistant.

Horse Deaths in Brazos Co.

2006-08-16T16:18:34Z

This article was taken from The Eagle:

http://www.theeagle.com/stories/072006/local_20060720001.php

Initial tests show toxins in horses' stomachs

By HOLLY HUFFMAN
Eagle Staff Writer

Brazos County stable owner Bradley Raphel said Wednesday that he had been following a standard practice when he treated a silo of horse feed with a chemical pesticide last weekend.

The 72-year-old said he did nothing different when applying the chemical tablets designed to kill weevils: He used the same treatment, in the same amount and applied it the same way as he had hundreds of times before, he said.

]]> Initial tests show toxins in horses' stomachs

By HOLLY HUFFMAN
Eagle Staff Writer

Brazos County stable owner Bradley Raphel said Wednesday that he had been following a standard practice when he treated a silo of horse feed with a chemical pesticide last weekend.

MEMORIAL SERVICE PLANNED

• A memorial service for the horses will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Carousel Acres Equestrian Center and Stable, where many of the horses have been buried.

• Donations can be sent to Carousel Acres in care of the horse fund, 5200 Koppe Bridge Road, College Station, Texas, 77845. Money will go to medical bills for the surviving horses and replacement costs for all others.

"Actually, it's not even supposed to get into their feed. All it is is a gas that extracts oxygen out of the silo and deprives weevils of air," Raphel said Wednesday. "How that has transferred into the feed, I don't know. Nobody seems to know the answer to that."

More than two dozen horses boarded at Raphel's facility - Carousel Acres Equestrian Center and Stable in southern Brazos County - mysteriously died earlier this week. One-by-one, 24 horses fell ill and died overnight Sunday. Another three died after being taken to Texas A&M University's Large Animal Clinic.

Eighteen more remained under close watch late Wednesday. Two were at the A&M Clinic where they were listed in good condition, said A&M College of Veterinary Medicine Dean H. Richard Adams.

Raphel said the other 16 still were at the stable and had been placed on a watch list because of possible liver damage from high nitrogen levels.

Veterinarians late Wednesday had yet to determine the cause of death for the animals, but they continued to point to the likelihood that the horses' feed was contaminated by an environmental toxin.

Adams said that necropsies had been done on each of the three horses that died at the A&M clinic. All three were found to have phosphine gas in their stomach cavity. The gas is a product of a fumigant that is released from a tablet used to treat the horses' feed, Adams said.

The fact that the gas was found in the stomach and not in the lungs suggests there was residue on the feed, the dean explained. But Adams said it remained unclear why there would be residue on the feed because a gas wouldn't normally stick to such a substance.

Veterinarians were awaiting additional test results, and Adams said it could take several more days before a definitive cause of death is established.

"I believe we're going to find out something else happened - what that is, I don't know," he said, discussing the possibility that moisture in the silo could have interacted with the gas and caused it to adhere to the feed.

Raphel said Wednesday that representatives from both A&M and Purina, which is the brand of feed that was given to the horses, had come to the stable to collect samples for testing. He and his wife Beverly Raphel - co-owners since 1998 - anxiously await the results, he said.

Meanwhile, veterinarians from A&M and the community remained at the stable, offering around-the-clock care for the 41 horses still boarded there, he said.

The horses' medical bills already total hundreds of thousands of dollars, Raphel said, and the price to replace the dead horses will be "astronomical." But despite worries about the staggering costs before them, Raphel said he and his wife remain grateful for the support shown by both A&M and the community.

The stable has had calls from across the country, and the Raphels have received a constant supply of donated meals, he said. Some have even called to donate horses, Beverly Raphel said earlier this week.

"We didn't know how many friends we had or how many horse lovers there were out there," Bradley Raphel said. "We're most appreciative. We certainly want everyone to know that."

• Holly Huffman's e-mail address is holly.huffman@theeagle.com.

Low Pathogenic AI Suspected in Swans in US

2006-08-16T16:13:18Z

USDA News Release No. 0294.06
Contact:
USDA Press Office (202) 720-4623
DOI Press Office (202) 208-6416

CONFIRMATORY TESTS BEING CONDUCTED ON MICHIGAN WILD BIRD SAMPLES

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior today announced that
routine surveillance has indicated the presence of H5 and N1 avian
influenza subtypes in samples from 2 wild mute swans in Michigan, but
testing has ruled out the possibility of this being the highly
pathogenic H5N1 strain that has spread through birds in Asia, Europe
and Africa. Test results thus far indicate this is low pathogenicity
avian influenza [LPAI], which poses no threat to human health.

]]> USDA News Release No. 0294.06
Contact:
USDA Press Office (202) 720-4623
DOI Press Office (202) 208-6416

CONFIRMATORY TESTS BEING CONDUCTED ON MICHIGAN WILD BIRD SAMPLES

The swans were sampled as part of the expanded avian influenza
surveillance program. They were showing no signs of sickness, which
suggests that this is indeed LPAI. Additionally, genetic analysis of
the virus conducted at USDA's National Veterinary Services
laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, suggests that it is similar to a
low pathogenicity strain that has been found in North America.

It is possible that these birds were not infected with an H5N1
strain, but instead with 2 separate avian influenza viruses, one
containing H5 and the other containing N1. The confirmatory testing
underway at NVSL will clarify whether one or more strains of the
virus are present, the specific subtype, as well as pathogenicity.
These results are expected within 2 weeks and will be made public
when completed.

*****It should be noted that wild birds are known to harbor many
influenza viruses, and the finding of one or more of these viruses
during routine testing is not unusual.*****

The swans were sampled on 8 Aug 2006 at the Mouillee state game area
located on the coast of Lake Erie in Monroe County, Michigan. The
samples were taken by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) personnel as part of an expanded wild bird monitoring
program. The Departments of Agriculture and Interior are working
collaboratively with States to sample wild birds throughout the
United States for the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Initial screening tests on the swan samples were conducted by
Michigan State University's Diagnostic Center for Population and
Animal Health -- part of USDA's National Animal Health Laboratory
Network. These tests indicated the presence of an H5 avian influenza
virus. Confirmatory testing at NVSL confirmed the H5 and the N1. This
testing also suggests, but has not yet confirmed, that this is low
pathogenicity avian influenza.

LPAI commonly occurs in wild birds, where it typically causes only
minor signs or no noticeable signs. These strains of the virus are
not a human health concern. This includes LPAI H5N1, commonly
referred to as the North American H5N1. This strain of low
pathogenicity avian influenza is very different from the more severe
high pathogenicity HPAI H5N1 circulating overseas, which is commonly
referred to as the Asian H5N1.

Evidence of LPAI H5N1 has been found on 2 occasions in wild birds in
the United States. In 1975 and 1986, it was detected in wild ducks.
These detections occurred as part of routine sampling. LPAI H5N1 has
also been detected in Canada, most recently in 2005.

Anthrax Cases

2006-08-16T16:11:06Z

A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases

Date: Fri 11 Aug 2006 1:24 PM
From: Linda Glaser

Since the last BAH update which included a news release, 2 additional
premises were confirmed as having anthrax mortality. One of these
premises was just over the Kittson county line in Marshall County,
the other premises in northeastern Polk County. These locations are
the 1st confirmed cases of anthrax to occur in their respective
counties in 2006.

The last report of mortality attributed to anthrax was in a beef cow
on 25 Jul 2006. My understanding from Dr. Lindemann is that no
additional mortality has been attributed to anthrax since that
time. A total of 83 animals have died on [25] premises with confirmed anthrax.

Early Detection of Fire Damage Can Minimize Losses Due to Fire

2006-01-11T19:04:03Z

This message is from an AgNews Article.

Jan. 10, 2006
Early Detection of Fire Damage Can Minimize Cattle Losses Due to Fire
Writer: Kay Ledbetter, (806) 677-5608,skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Floron Faries, (979) 845-4353,ffaries@cvn.tamu.edu
Dr. Ted McCollum, (806) 677-5600,tmccollu@ag.tamu.edu
Dr. Ron Gill, (254) 968-4144,r-gill@tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION – Analyzing injuries to cattle following a wildfire is important to minimize losses, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

"It might look like they've made it and there was no visible physical damage," said Dr. Floron "Buddy" Faries, Extension program leader for veterinary medicine. "However, it's important to have them looked at by a veterinarian as soon as possible because there could be secondary problems that lead to infections and further problems."

]]> Health disorders such as burned eyes, feet, udders, sheaths and testicles, as well as smoke inhalation with lung inflamation and edema are the most common problems, Faries said.

Wildfires have ripped across thousands of acres of ranchland, trapping cattle and causing injuries, and in some cases (no comma) death, said Ron Gill, Extension livestock specialist in Stephenville.

In one case, the producer lost about 50 head of cattle. Other producers are reporting secondary problems, such as scorched or burned cattle.

"One of the problems we've run into in the past is with the feet," Gill said. "It may take 10 days to two weeks for the damage to start showing. The cattle will start sloughing the hoof wall and become cripple."

The main thing Extension is working on with veterinarians is what symptoms to look for and what actions to take if lameness begins to appear, he said.

"To assure the welfare of the affected animals, veterinarians need to be consulted," Faries said. "If, in the event the animal is not going to be able to be treated, decisions concerning sending them to market need to be made immediately before secondary complications develop."

Faries advised having an animal evacuation and rescue plan in place and implementing it ahead of a wildfire. The plans should include ways of moving livestock to premises out of the fire danger zone and preventing any damages.

This may include loading the livestock into trailers and hauling them, or opening gates or cutting fences and releasing the livestock to drive them to a safer place, he said.

A fire danger zone is the area where the livestock risk inhaling smoke, he said, and will change according to the wind direction.

Smoke can move for miles, and cattle that are not near the flames or heat could suffer some damage, Faries said.

Contact with burning grass, weeds and brush causes immediate burns, he said. The severity of the burns will be determined by the degree of heat.

However, inhalation of smoke causes immediate irritation to the lining of the respiratory system, including nasal passages, trachea and lungs, Faries said. This can lead to inflamation, edema and emphysema, with the severity determined by the duration of inhaled smoke, he said.

"The time it takes to cause damage might only have to be a few minutes with high quantities of smoke and may be hours in low quantities of smoke," he said.

In addition, the lining of the eyelids and eyeballs can be irritated and lead to secondary infections causing additional illness or even death, Faries said.

Once the fire has passed, a veterinarian should be consulted immediately for any animals with severe burns or direct smoke exposure. Other livestock should also be evaluated for possible health disorders and treatment or determining if the animal can be salvaged for slaughter or should be euthanized, he said.

The prognosis of mild cases may be good with treatment and will be cost-effective, Faries said.

Monitoring should continue for weeks after the event, he said, because of the secondary complications that could be indicated by a cough or cloudy eyes in the animals.

"Before these secondary complications of infection occur, immediate slaughter for human consumption may be the most appropriate humane procedure," Faries said. "Prior to slaughter, an antemortem inspection will be conducted by veterinary meat inspectors to determine safety and wholesomeness for human food."

Cattle Illnesses due to Drought

2006-01-05T15:45:08Z

Since it is obvious that we are currently in a drought situation many producers are unaware of illnesses that can be brought on due to malnutrition.

]]> There are two illnesses in particular that producers should be aware of when drought conditions set in. The first is a disorder called polio.

Polio or polioencephalomalacia is a disorder that is found in malnourished, thin cattle that have been grazing pastures that are poor. By poor pastures we are referring to pastures that are low protein. Cattle that consume these pastures might also be consuming high levels of sulfates in the grass and water. Sometimes these animals might be brought up and started on large amounts of grain concentrates or grain silages without adequate roughage. If cattle are subjected to these types of conditions, polio can be observed within a few days. The abrupt change in the animals diet can cause necrosis (death of cells or tissue through injury or disease) of the brain. Thiamine levels in brain tissue may also drop, which can cause severe neurological disease. Affected cattle, especially weanlings and yearlings, become weak and uncoordinated and go down. As the downer tries to stand, its ankles remian flexed or knuckled over. Cattle with polio often lie cow position (body upright with legs underneath) and just cannot get up. To prevent permanent brain damage,producers should call in a veterinarian for treatment immediately. Cattle often improve within 12 hour if they are treated early in the course of disease and do not have brain necrosis. If the cattle do not respond to thiamine treatment, either they have irreversible brain damamge, or the problem hs been misdiagnosed. To prevent reccurence, feed good-quality hay before and gradual return to grain and maintain a high fiber diet.

Another illness that one needs to be aware of in drought conditions is range keptosis. Cattle with range ketosis are malnourished and thin, on a low-carbohydrate (low-energy) diet and likely are stressed from cold weather or calving and nursing. Symptoms include wallowing and licking with the tongue, bellowing and pressing against the walls, posts and trees. The cattle become incoordinated and then go down. Affected cattle need immediate treatment by a veterinarian to raise their blood sugar levels and improve glucose metabolism.

If you suspect that your cattle are suffering from either of these two conditions, contact your veterinarian immediately.

(This exert was taken from the "Fall and winter Health Problems in Cow-Calf Herds)

To find additional information go to Extension Veterinary Medicine