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Experimental Transmission Of Chronic Wasting Disease (Cwd) Of Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni), White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus), And Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus Hemionus) To White-Tailed Deer By Intracerebral Route, A. N. Hamir, J. A. Richt, J. M. Miller, R. A. Kunkle, S. M. Hall, E. M. Nicholson, Katherine I. O'Rourke, J. J. Greenlee, E. S. Williams Jan 2008

Experimental Transmission Of Chronic Wasting Disease (Cwd) Of Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni), White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus), And Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus Hemionus) To White-Tailed Deer By Intracerebral Route, A. N. Hamir, J. A. Richt, J. M. Miller, R. A. Kunkle, S. M. Hall, E. M. Nicholson, Katherine I. O'Rourke, J. J. Greenlee, E. S. Williams

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

To compare clinical and pathologic findings of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a natural host, 3 groups (n = 5) of white-tailed deer (WTD) fawns were intracerebrally inoculated with a CWD prion of WTD, mule deer, or elk origin. Three other uninoculated fawns served as controls. Approximately 10 months postinoculation (MPI), 1 deer from each of the 3 inoculated groups was necropsied and their tissues were examined for lesions of spongiform encephalopathy (SE) and for the presence of abnormal prion protein (PrPd) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot (WB). The remaining deer were allowed to live until …


Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of Enzootic Raccoon Rabies Adjusted For Multiple Covariates, Sergio Recuenco, Millicent Eidson, Martin Kulldorff, Glen Johnson, Bryan Cherry Apr 2007

Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of Enzootic Raccoon Rabies Adjusted For Multiple Covariates, Sergio Recuenco, Millicent Eidson, Martin Kulldorff, Glen Johnson, Bryan Cherry

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Background: With the objective of identifying spatial and temporal patterns of enzootic raccoon variant rabies, a spatial scan statistic was utilized to search for significant terrestrial rabies clusters by year in New York State in 1997–2003. Cluster analyses were unadjusted for other factors, adjusted for covariates, and adjusted for covariates and large scale geographic variation (LSGV). Adjustments were intended to identify the unusual aggregations of cases given the expected distribution based on the observed locations.

Results: Statistically significant clusters were identified particularly in the Albany, Finger Lakes, and South Hudson areas. The clusters were generally persistent in the Albany area, …


Potential Cost Savings With Terrestrial Rabies Control, Sergio Recuenco, Bryan Cherry, Millicent Eidson Apr 2007

Potential Cost Savings With Terrestrial Rabies Control, Sergio Recuenco, Bryan Cherry, Millicent Eidson

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Background: The cost-benefit of raccoon rabies control strategies such as oral rabies vaccination (ORV) are under evaluation. As an initial quantification of the potential cost savings for a control program, the collection of selected rabies cost data was pilot tested for five counties in New York State (NYS) in a three-year period.

Methods: Rabies costs reported to NYS from the study counties were computerized and linked to a human rabies exposure database. Consolidated costs by county and year were averaged and compared.

Results: Reported rabies-associated costs for all rabies variants totalled $2.1 million, for human rabies postexposure prophylaxes (PEP) (90.9%), …


Hantavirus And Arenavirus Antibodies In Persons With Occupational Rodent Exposure, North America, Charles F. Fulhorst, Mary Louise Milazzo, Lori R. Armstrong, James E. Childs, Pierre E. Rollin, Rima Khabbaz, C.J. Peters, Thomas G G. Ksiazek Jan 2007

Hantavirus And Arenavirus Antibodies In Persons With Occupational Rodent Exposure, North America, Charles F. Fulhorst, Mary Louise Milazzo, Lori R. Armstrong, James E. Childs, Pierre E. Rollin, Rima Khabbaz, C.J. Peters, Thomas G G. Ksiazek

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Rodents are the principal hosts of Sin Nombre virus, 4 other hantaviruses known to cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in North America, and the 3 North American arenaviruses. Serum samples from 757 persons who had worked with rodents in North America and handled neotomine or sigmodontine rodents were tested for antibodies against Sin Nombre virus, Whitewater Arroyo virus, Guanarito virus, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Antibodies against Sin Nombre virus were found in 4 persons, against Whitewater Arroyo virus or Guanarito virus in 2 persons, and against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in none. These results suggest that risk for infection with hantaviruses or …


Development Of An Assay To Determine Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms In The Prion Gene For The Genetic Diagnosis Of Relative Susceptibility To Classical Scrapie In Sheep, Mary Lynn Johnson, Jessica M. Evoniuk, Charles L. Stoltenow, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Dale A. Redmer Jan 2007

Development Of An Assay To Determine Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms In The Prion Gene For The Genetic Diagnosis Of Relative Susceptibility To Classical Scrapie In Sheep, Mary Lynn Johnson, Jessica M. Evoniuk, Charles L. Stoltenow, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Dale A. Redmer

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

The objective of this study was to develop a reliable Taqman® 5' Nuclease Assay for genotyping sheep for scrapie susceptibility. The sheep prion gene contains 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that may mediate resistance to classical scrapie, one at codon 136, alanine (A) or valine (V), and another at codon 171, arginine (R) or glutamine (Q). The R allele appears to confer resistance to classical scrapie, with the AA136 RR171 genotype the most resistant to scrapie and QR171 only rarely infected in the US sheep population. The Assays by DesignSM protocol was used for development of …


Avian Influenza Vaccination: A Commentary Focusing On H5n1 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza, Karen Burns Grogan, David A. Halvorson, Richard D. Slemons Jan 2007

Avian Influenza Vaccination: A Commentary Focusing On H5n1 High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza, Karen Burns Grogan, David A. Halvorson, Richard D. Slemons

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Avian influenza (AI) is a viral disease of poultry, caused by influenzavirus A, classified in the family Orthomyxoviridiae. The influenza A viruses maintained in birds are commonly referred to as avian influenza viruses (AIVs). The AIVs are antigenically, genetically, and biologically diverse; found worldwide in birds; and infect a variety of avian species.


Transfusion-Associated Transmission Of West Nile Virus, United States 2003 Through 2005, Susan P. Montgomery, Jennifer A. Brown, Matthew Kuehnert, Theresa L. Smith, Nicholas Crall, Robert S. Lanciotti, Alexandre Macedo De Oliveira, Thomas Boo, Anthony A. Marfin, 2003 West Nile Virus Transfusion-Associated Transmission Investigation Team Dec 2006

Transfusion-Associated Transmission Of West Nile Virus, United States 2003 Through 2005, Susan P. Montgomery, Jennifer A. Brown, Matthew Kuehnert, Theresa L. Smith, Nicholas Crall, Robert S. Lanciotti, Alexandre Macedo De Oliveira, Thomas Boo, Anthony A. Marfin, 2003 West Nile Virus Transfusion-Associated Transmission Investigation Team

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

BACKGROUND: National blood donation screening for West Nile virus (WNV) started in June 2003, after the documentation of WNV transfusion-associated transmission (TAT) in 2002.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood donations were screened with investigational nucleic acid amplification assays in minipool formats. Blood collection agencies (BCAs) reported screening results to state and local public health authorities. Donor test results and demographic information were forwarded to CDC via ArboNET, the national electronic arbovirus surveillance system. State health departments and BCAs also reported suspect WNV TATs to CDC, which investigated these reports to confirm WNV infection in blood transfusion recipients in the absence …


Development Of A Gis-Based, Real-Time Internet Mapping Tool For Rabies Surveillance, Jesse D. Blanton, Arie Manangan, Jamie Manangan, Cathleen A. Hanlon, Dennis Slate, Charles E. Rupprecht Nov 2006

Development Of A Gis-Based, Real-Time Internet Mapping Tool For Rabies Surveillance, Jesse D. Blanton, Arie Manangan, Jamie Manangan, Cathleen A. Hanlon, Dennis Slate, Charles E. Rupprecht

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Background: Oral rabies vaccination programs have been implemented to control the spread of wildlife rabies in the United States. However, current surveillance systems are inadequate for the efficient management and evaluation of these large scale vaccine baiting programs. With this in mind, a GIS-based rabies surveillance database and Internet mapping application was created. This surveillance system, RabID, provides a new resource for the rapid mapping and dissemination of data on animal rabies cases in relation to unaffected, enzootic, and baited areas where current interventions are underway.

Results: RabID is a centralized database for diagnostic and demographic information collected by local, …


Bats: Important Reservoir Hosts Of Emerging Viruses, Charles H. Calisher, James E. Childs, Hume E. Field, Tony Schountz, Kathryn V. Holmes Jan 2006

Bats: Important Reservoir Hosts Of Emerging Viruses, Charles H. Calisher, James E. Childs, Hume E. Field, Tony Schountz, Kathryn V. Holmes

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

The remarkable mammals known as “bats” and “flying foxes” (order Chiroptera [“hand wing”]) may be the most abundant, diverse, and geographically dispersed vertebrates (Table 1). Although a great deal is known about them, detailed information is needed to explain the astonishing variations of their anatomy, their lifestyles, their roles in ecosystems ecology, and their importance as reservoir hosts of viruses of proven or potential significance for human and veterinary health.


Comparison Of Two Automated Immunohistochemical Procedures For The Diagnosis Of Scrapie In Domestic Sheep And Chronic Wasting Disease In North American White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) And Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus), T. V. Baszler, M. Kiupel, E. S. Williams, B. V. Thomsen, T. Gidlewski, D. L. Montgomery, Katherine I. O'Rourke, S. M. Hall Jan 2006

Comparison Of Two Automated Immunohistochemical Procedures For The Diagnosis Of Scrapie In Domestic Sheep And Chronic Wasting Disease In North American White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) And Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus), T. V. Baszler, M. Kiupel, E. S. Williams, B. V. Thomsen, T. Gidlewski, D. L. Montgomery, Katherine I. O'Rourke, S. M. Hall

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Two commercially available automated immunohistochemistry platforms, Ventana NexES and DakoCytomation Autostainer Universal Staining System, were compared for diagnosing sheep scrapie and cervid chronic wasting disease. Both automated platforms used the same antiprion protein monoclonal primary antibodies, but different platform-specific linker and amplification reagents and procedures. Duplicate sections of brainstem (at the level of the obex) and lymphoid tissue (retropharyngeal lymph node or tonsil) from the same tissue block were immunostained for the comparison. Examination of 1,020 tissues from 796 sheep revealed 100% concordance of results between the Ventana NexES and DakoCytomation platforms for diagnosing sheep scrapie from lymphoid tissue (103/103 …


Preliminary Observations Of Genetic Susceptibility Of Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni) To Chronic Wasting Disease By Experimental Oral Inoculation, Amir N. Hamir, Thomas Gidlewski, Terry R. Spraker, Janice M. Miller, Lynn Creekmore, Michelle Crocheck, Thomas Cline, Katherine I. O'Rourke Jan 2006

Preliminary Observations Of Genetic Susceptibility Of Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni) To Chronic Wasting Disease By Experimental Oral Inoculation, Amir N. Hamir, Thomas Gidlewski, Terry R. Spraker, Janice M. Miller, Lynn Creekmore, Michelle Crocheck, Thomas Cline, Katherine I. O'Rourke

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

To compare the genetic susceptibility of elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) with various alleles of the PRNP gene, which encodes the normal cellular prion protein, to chronic wasting disease (CWD), eight 8-monthold elk calves of 3 genotypes (2 132MM, 2 132LM, and 4 132LL) were orally dosed with CWD-infected brain material from elk. During postinoculation (PI) month 23, both 132MM elk had lost appetite, developed clinical signs of weight loss and central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction, and were euthanized. Two other elk (both 132LM) developed similar clinical signs of disease and were euthanized during PI month 40. All 4 …


Avian Influenza: Trade Issues, Toby Moore, Nancy Morgan Jan 2006

Avian Influenza: Trade Issues, Toby Moore, Nancy Morgan

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

In 2003, an outbreak of a highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza (AI) in Southeast Asia, notably in Vietnam but also in Thailand, focused extensive local and international media coverage on the disease and its potential human health consequences. The media coverage has followed subsequent AI outbreaks in the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, and westward through Russia into Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Health officials remain on alert because the virus has crossed the species barrier, causing more than 100 human deaths over the last 2 years. Other deaths, most recently in …


Avian Influenza: Human Pandemic Concerns, Donna K. Carver, Elizabeth A. Krushinskie Jan 2006

Avian Influenza: Human Pandemic Concerns, Donna K. Carver, Elizabeth A. Krushinskie

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

The likelihood that the next human influenza pandemic virus will emerge from the Asian strain of the H5N1 high pathogenic bird influenza virus that is causing widespread outbreaks in Eurasia remains unknown. (See Glossary for italicized terms.) Because these bird influenza outbreaks remain primarily an animal disease, there is hope that a human pandemic can be prevented. Eradication of the H5N1 high pathogenic bird influenza virus needs to occur at the farm level in the countries where it is currently circulating. Funding of prevention, surveillance, and eradication efforts in the countries where outbreaks are occurring or in at-risk countries will …


Chronic Wasting Disease Of Elk And Deer And Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Comparative Analysis Of The Scrapie Prion Protein, Zhiliang Xie, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Zhiqian Dong, Allen L. Jenny, Julie A. Langenberg, Ermais D. Belay, Lawrence B. Schonberger, Robert B. Petersen, Wenquan Zou, Quingzhong Kong, Pierluigi Gambetti, Shu G. Chen Jan 2006

Chronic Wasting Disease Of Elk And Deer And Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Comparative Analysis Of The Scrapie Prion Protein, Zhiliang Xie, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Zhiqian Dong, Allen L. Jenny, Julie A. Langenberg, Ermais D. Belay, Lawrence B. Schonberger, Robert B. Petersen, Wenquan Zou, Quingzhong Kong, Pierluigi Gambetti, Shu G. Chen

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a transmissible prion disease that affects elk and deer, poses new challenges to animal and human health. Although the transmission ofCWDto humans has not been proven, it remains a possibility. If this were to occur, it is important to know whether the “acquired” human prion disease would show a phenotype including the scrapie prion protein (PrPSc) features that differ from those associated with human sporadic prion disease. In this study, we have compared the pathological profiles and PrPSc characteristics in brains of CWD-affected elk and deer with those in subjects with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob …


PrpSc Accumulation In Fetal Cotyledons Of Scrapieresistant Lambs Is Influenced By Fetus Location In The Uterus, Janet Alverson, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Timothy V. Baszler Jan 2006

PrpSc Accumulation In Fetal Cotyledons Of Scrapieresistant Lambs Is Influenced By Fetus Location In The Uterus, Janet Alverson, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Timothy V. Baszler

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Placentae from scrapie-infected ewes have been shown to accumulate PrPSc when the genotype of the fetus is of a susceptible genotype (VRQ/VRQ, ARQ/VRQ or ARQ/ARQ). Cotyledons from fetuses of genotypes ARR/ARR, ARQ/ARR and ARQ/VRR have previously been shown to be resistant to PrPSc accumulation. By using ewes from a naturally infected scrapie flock, cotyledons from fetuses of multiple births of different genotypes were examined. PrPSc was detected in fetal cotyledons of genotype ARQ/ARQ, but not in cotyledons from their dizygotic twin of genotype ARQ/ARR. This confirms earlier reports of single fetuses of these genotypes, but is the …


Progress In Diagnosis, Treatment And Elimination Of Echinococcosis And Cysticercosis, Peter M. Schantz Jan 2006

Progress In Diagnosis, Treatment And Elimination Of Echinococcosis And Cysticercosis, Peter M. Schantz

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Here I review the current status of geographical occurrence and public health significance of echinococcosis (Echinococcus spp. infections) and cysticercosis (Taenia solium infection) with special emphasis on the remarkable technologic progress achieved in recent decades that has led to greater understanding of the biology and epidemiology of these cestode infections. The greatest remaining challenges are to apply this knowledge and technology to improved medical management and prevention of these infections.


Examining The Risk Of Disease Transmission Between Wild Dall’S Sheep And Mountain Goats, And Introduced Domestic Sheep, Goats, And Llamas In The Northwest Territories, Elena Garde, Susan Kutz, Helen Schwantje, Alasdair Veitch, Emily Jenkins, Brett Elkin Aug 2005

Examining The Risk Of Disease Transmission Between Wild Dall’S Sheep And Mountain Goats, And Introduced Domestic Sheep, Goats, And Llamas In The Northwest Territories, Elena Garde, Susan Kutz, Helen Schwantje, Alasdair Veitch, Emily Jenkins, Brett Elkin

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

This risk assessment has been carried out following the guidelines for Health Risk Analysis entitled “Wild Animal Translocations” prepared by the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (http://wildlife1.usask.ca). It includes 9 comprehensive appendices of bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal organisms reported from domestic sheep, goats, llamas and wild sheep and mountain goats. The report is a breakdown of those appendices into discussions of organisms of major concern, organisms of unknown concern, organisms of minimal concern, and those that cause no apparent disease, are not transmissible between the species of interest, or do not occur in Canada. Where possible, organisms were assigned …


Tularemia: Emergence/Re-Emergence, Jeannine M. Petersen, Martin E. Schriefer Apr 2005

Tularemia: Emergence/Re-Emergence, Jeannine M. Petersen, Martin E. Schriefer

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Francisella tularensis is a gram-negative coccobacillus and the etiologic agent of the zoonotic disease tularemia. First described in 1911 in Tulare County, California, it has since been reported throughout the Northern Hemisphere, with natural infections reported among an unusually wide range of vertebrates and invertebrates. In recent years, tularemia has emerged in new geographic locations, populations, and settings. This review will serve to highlight mechanisms contributing to the recent emergence of tularemia as well as a repertoire of diagnostic tools useful for detecting and diagnosing disease.


Chronic Wasting Disease (Cwd) Data Clearinghouse Jan 2005

Chronic Wasting Disease (Cwd) Data Clearinghouse

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is an electronic information network that provides access to biological data and information on our nation’s plants, animals, and ecosystems. Information contributed by federal, state, and local government agencies; non-government organizations; and private-sector organizations is linked through the NBII gateway and made accessible to a variety of audiences, including researchers, natural resource managers, decision-makers, educators, students, and other members of the general public. Implementation of the NBII is being accomplished through the development of "nodes" that serve as entry points to the network. These nodes function as fully digital, distributed, and interactive systems that …


Chronic Wasting Disease Of Elk: Transmissibility To Humans Examined By Transgenic Mouse Models, Qingzhong Kong, Shenghai Huang, Wenquan Zou, Difernando Vanegas, Meiling Wang, Di Wu, Jue Yuan, Mengjie Zheng, Hua Bai, Huayun Deng, Ken Chen, Allen L. Jenny, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Ermais D. Belay, Lawrence B. Schonberger, Robert B. Pertersen, Man-Sun Sy, Shu G. Chen, Pierluigi Gambetti Jan 2005

Chronic Wasting Disease Of Elk: Transmissibility To Humans Examined By Transgenic Mouse Models, Qingzhong Kong, Shenghai Huang, Wenquan Zou, Difernando Vanegas, Meiling Wang, Di Wu, Jue Yuan, Mengjie Zheng, Hua Bai, Huayun Deng, Ken Chen, Allen L. Jenny, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Ermais D. Belay, Lawrence B. Schonberger, Robert B. Pertersen, Man-Sun Sy, Shu G. Chen, Pierluigi Gambetti

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion disease affecting free-ranging and captive cervids (deer and elk), is widespread in the United States and parts of Canada. The large cervid population, the popularity of venison consumption, and the apparent spread of the CWD epidemic are likely resulting in increased human exposure to CWD in the United States. Whether CWDis transmissible to humans, as has been shown for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (the prion disease of cattle), is unknown. We generated transgenic mice expressing the elk or human prion protein (PrP) in a PrP-null background. After intracerebral inoculation with elk CWD prion, two lines …


Predictive Spatial Dynamics And Strategic Planning For Raccoon Rabies Emergence In Ohio, James E. Childs, David L. Smith, Colin A. Russell, Leslie A. Real Jan 2005

Predictive Spatial Dynamics And Strategic Planning For Raccoon Rabies Emergence In Ohio, James E. Childs, David L. Smith, Colin A. Russell, Leslie A. Real

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Rabies is an important public health concern in North America because of recent epidemics of a rabies virus variant associated with raccoons. The costs associated with surveillance, diagnostic testing, and post-exposure treatment of humans exposed to rabies have fostered coordinated efforts to control rabies spread by distributing an oral rabies vaccine to wild raccoons. Authorities have tried to contain westward expansion of the epidemic front of raccoonassociated rabies via a vaccine corridor established in counties of eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Although sporadic cases of rabies have been identified in Ohio since oral rabies vaccine distribution in 1998, …


Evaluation Of Western Blotting Methods Using Samples With Or Without Sodium Phosphotungstic Acid Precipitation For Diagnosis Of Scrapie And Chronic Wasting Disease, Hongsheng Huang, Jasmine Rendulich, Dan Stevenson, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Aru Balachandran Jan 2005

Evaluation Of Western Blotting Methods Using Samples With Or Without Sodium Phosphotungstic Acid Precipitation For Diagnosis Of Scrapie And Chronic Wasting Disease, Hongsheng Huang, Jasmine Rendulich, Dan Stevenson, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Aru Balachandran

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

The purpose of this study was to enhance the sensitivity of the Western blot (WB) test for use as an alternative and confirmatory method for the diagnosis of scrapie and chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Canada by comparing 2 sample preparation procedures: an abnormal prion protein (PrPSc) concentration procedure using sodium phosphotungstic acid (PTA) precipitation and a procedure using crude sample without precipitation. A total of 100 cerebrum samples (52 sheep and 48 elk), including 66 negative (31 sheep, 35 elk) and 34 positive (21 scrapie and 13 CWD positive) samples diagnosed by using immunohistochemistry (IHC) on retropharyngeal …


The Incidence Of Genotypes At Codon 171 Of The Prion Protein Gene (Prnp) In Five Breeds Of Sheep And Production Traits Of Ewes Associated With Those Genotypes, B. M. Alexander, R. H. Stobart, W. C. Russell, Katherine I. O'Rourke, G. S. Lewis, J. R. Logan, J. V. Duncan, G. E. Moss Jan 2005

The Incidence Of Genotypes At Codon 171 Of The Prion Protein Gene (Prnp) In Five Breeds Of Sheep And Production Traits Of Ewes Associated With Those Genotypes, B. M. Alexander, R. H. Stobart, W. C. Russell, Katherine I. O'Rourke, G. S. Lewis, J. R. Logan, J. V. Duncan, G. E. Moss

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Scrapie is one of several transmissible spongiform encephalopathies of livestock. Disease susceptibility is linked to polymorphisms in the normal prion protein gene that encodes the mammalian prion precursor. Codon 171 of this gene is a major determinant of scrapie susceptibility. Selection for arginine (R) at codon 171 is encouraged by the USDA to decrease the incidence of scrapie. Objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of R allele variants at codon 171 in a sample of sheep from five breeds (Columbia, Hampshire, Rambouillet, Suffolk, and Targhee) and western white-faced commercial ewes and to determine whether the R allele …


Experimental Transmission Of Chronic Wasting Disease Agent From Mule Deer To Cattle By The Intracerebral Route, Amir N. Hamir, Robert A. Kunkle, Randall C. Cutlip, Janice M. Miller, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Elizabeth S. Williams, Michael W. Miller, Mick J. Stack, Melanie J. Chaplin, Jügen A. Richt Jan 2005

Experimental Transmission Of Chronic Wasting Disease Agent From Mule Deer To Cattle By The Intracerebral Route, Amir N. Hamir, Robert A. Kunkle, Randall C. Cutlip, Janice M. Miller, Katherine I. O'Rourke, Elizabeth S. Williams, Michael W. Miller, Mick J. Stack, Melanie J. Chaplin, Jügen A. Richt

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

This communication reports final observations on experimental transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) from mule deer to cattle by the intracerebral route. Thirteen calves were inoculated intracerebrally with brain suspension from mule deer naturally affected with CWD. Three other calves were kept as uninoculated controls. The experiment was terminated 6 years after inoculation. During that time, abnormal prion protein (PrPres) was demonstrated in the central nervous system (CNS) of 5 cattle by both immunohistochemistry and Western blot. However, microscopic lesions suggestive of spongiform encephalopathy (SE) in the brains of these PrPres-positive animals were subtle in 3 …


West Nile Virus Blood Transfusion-Related Infection Despite Nucleic Acid Testing, Alexandre Macedo De Oliveira, Brady Beecham, Susan P. Montgomery, Robert S. Lanciotti, Jeffrey M. Linnen, Cristina Giachetti, Larry A. Pietrelli, Susan L. Stramer, Thomas J. Safranek Dec 2004

West Nile Virus Blood Transfusion-Related Infection Despite Nucleic Acid Testing, Alexandre Macedo De Oliveira, Brady Beecham, Susan P. Montgomery, Robert S. Lanciotti, Jeffrey M. Linnen, Cristina Giachetti, Larry A. Pietrelli, Susan L. Stramer, Thomas J. Safranek

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

BACKGROUND: A case of West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis associated with transfusion of blood that did not react when tested for WNV by minipool (MP) nucleic acid testing (NAT) is described. A Nebraska man developed clinical encephalitis 13 days after surgery and transfusion of 26 blood components. Antibody testing confirmed WNV infection. An investigation was initiated to determine the source of this infection.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The patient’s family members were interviewed to identify risk factors for WNV infection. Residual samples were retested for WNV RNA using transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) assay and two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Blood …


Bovine Tuberculosis In Michigan White-Tailed Deer Aug 2004

Bovine Tuberculosis In Michigan White-Tailed Deer

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Starting in 1995 hunter harvested, road killed, and other dead deer were examined for bovine TB infection. White-tailed deer in Michigan have since been tested year round for bovine TB. Testing revealed that most of the TB positive animals were located in a core area in the northeastern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The core area is located around the four corners where the counties of Montmorency, Alpena, Oscoda and Alcona meet. Antrim, Crawford, Emmet, Iosco, Mecosta, Osceola, Otsego, Presque Isle, and Roscommon Counties have also had animals test positive for bovine TB.

In the U.S. today, the threat of …


Salmonella In Songbirds Jul 2004

Salmonella In Songbirds

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Salmonella is a type of bacterium found in the gut of many species of birds both domestic and wild. During periods of stress it can cause outbreaks of sickness and death. Its importance in songbird populations generally and the occurrence of outbreaks in this province specifically are discussed in this fact sheet.


Parasites Of Caribou (1): Brain Worm Infestation Jul 2004

Parasites Of Caribou (1): Brain Worm Infestation

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

Brain worm is the common name for a disease of caribou that was first recognized in Central Newfoundland in the 1970's and has since been seen in other caribou herds including most recently the caribou of the Southern Avalon. Its more scientific name is Cerebrospinal Elaphostrongylosis (CSE) and is caused by the nematode Elaphostrongylus rangiferi.
Infection can cause severe illness and death in affected animals and has a particularly strong impact on herds that have not been previously exposed to this parasite.
As this is primarily a disease of caribou, there is no direct public health threat to humans. Moose …


Parasites Of Caribou (3): Tapeworm Cysts Jul 2004

Parasites Of Caribou (3): Tapeworm Cysts

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

All wild animals carry diseases. In some cases these might be of concern if they can spread to humans or domestic animals. In other cases, they might be of interest if they impact on the health of our wild herds, or simply if they have been noticed by hunters and you would like to know more.
This fact sheet is one of a series produced on the common diseases of caribou and covers the cyst form of three common tapeworms. Two (Taenia hydatigena and Taenia krabbei) exist on both the island of Newfoundland and in Labrador, while the …


Pesticide Poisoning Of Seagulls Jul 2004

Pesticide Poisoning Of Seagulls

Other Publications in Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease

In April 2000 a major pesticide leak caused the death and illness of a significant number of wild birds. The findings and conclusions of this die-off are detailed.