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ProMed
Archive Number 20030210.0361
"...I would put biosecurity at the top of the list of things to
do. I worked in England for 60 days on the Foot and Mouth Disease
outbreak in 2001. Those farmers that appealed their depopulation
orders and won their appeal, did so based on their demonstrable
biosecurity measures. None of those farms became infected, and some
were eventually the only ones left in a landscape devoid of livestock."
Agriculture News Online
Processors, livestock are weak links in US food system, say experts
By Cheryl Tevis
Farm Issues Editor
Successful Farming
03/20/2003 08:50 a.m.CDT
The US must do a better job of tracking products that move through the food supply so it can respond quickly and prevent natural diseases, as well as terrorist attacks. That was the conclusion of a panel of experts at the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture in early February.
Bruce McPheron, associate dean of research and graduate education in Penn State*s College of Agricultural Sciences, defined agricultural biosecurity as the effort to prevent entry of a pathogen or pest into a susceptible population of plants and animals.
"The biology of a natural introduction and the intentional introduction of a pathogen or pest has many parallels," he said. "The ways that we would approach it, recognize it and diagnose it are very similar."
McPheron said that it was hard to define a single, weak link in the US food system, but he said there probably was more than one. Food processing facilities would make easy targets for would-be terrorists, according to McPheron.
Patty Dunn, senior research associate in veterinary science at Pennsylvania State University, said that US livestock might be vulnerable to attack because many animals are not typically immunized against many diseases, and have not developed any natural immunity.
"Farms are highly accessible and people and animals are highly mobile," she said. "We have a lot of immunologically naiive animals."
Dunn said that veterinarians had been undergoing refresher training and simulations to recognize and treat a broader range of animal diseases.
"When we were in vet school, our professors used to tell us, 'If you hear hoof beats, don't look for zebras.' Today, concerns about exotic animal pathogens and bioterrorism have changed that advice to 'Don't forget to look for zebras.'"
She recommended rational control measures, such as strategic vaccinations, alternative marketing channels and a closer look at genetic diversity.
Dunn cited the differences between the avian flu outbrea k in poultry last year in Pennsylvania and in Virginia. "The outbreak affected only seven flocks in Pennsylvania for one month, at a cost of $350,000," she said. "In Virginia, it affected 197 flocks for four months, costing between $100-$114 million. Virginia had to wait for results from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory at Iowa State University, and the company that owned the flocks was out-of-state and unable to act very quickly. The disease spread during that time."
Dunn, an avian specialist, has recently spent time in California working on the current outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease in poultry flocks.
"We need to work on our communication channels to recognize there's a problem, and make a rapid and accurate diagnosis," McPheron said. "We're all in this together."
FOOD & FARM NEWS
(Issue date: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 )
Poultry ailment reaches eighth flock
Another commercial poultry flock has been diagnosed with exotic Newcastle
disease, within the Southern California quarantine zone. Officials say a
flock of egg-laying chickens in San Bernardino County has been infected
with
the disease, which kills birds but does not harm people. Eight commercial
flocks and thousands of backyard birds have contracted the disease, and
more
than two million birds have been destroyed.
Fighting cocks may carry disease
It's been illegal in California for 98 years, but officials say
cockfighting
may be one way by which exotic Newcastle disease is being spread. Poultry
industry officials say the illegal fighting birds are moved without regard
to quarantines, and are not taken to veterinarians or vaccinated.
Cockfighting played a role in the spread of exotic Newcastle disease in
California's last outbreak during the 1970s.
From the
Kansas City Star, MO
Disease alert
Posted on Tue, Feb. 11, 2003
Missouri officials are urging poultry producers and pet dealers and owners
to avoid bringing live birds from California and Nevada into the state.
The request is in response to the spread of Exotic Newcastle disease, a
highly contagious and fatal viral ailment that affects all species of
birds.
It is not a threat to humans.
State Veterinarian Taylor Woods said evidence had surfaced that the virus
had spread from California to Nevada.
Exotic Newcastle is one of the most infectious diseases of poultry in the
world, Woods said. It could have a tremendous effect on Missouri's $836
million poultry and egg industry.
"It has the potential to wipe out our entire industry," he said.
Tyson Foods Inc., Willow Brook Foods and Cargill Inc. are among the
leading
poultry producers in Missouri. The state ranks fourth in turkey
production,
14th in egg production and 15th in chicken production.
Producers or veterinarians who notice signs of the disease in their flocks
should call the department's animal health division at 1-(573) 751-3377.
Humans CAN get symptoms from ND
From the "Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan" report on Exotic Newcastle Disease at
http://www.aahc.com.au/ausvetplan/ndvfinal.pdf
As of Feb 11, 2003
"Humans exposed to ND virus may suffer headache and 'flu'-like symptoms and can
develop conjunctivitis, usually mild and persisting 1-2 days; on occasions secondary
bacterial infection may cause the conjunctivitis to become quite severe which may lead to
some lasting impairment of vision.
"Most infections have occurred among laboratory workers who handle the virus either in
research or vaccine production laboratories. Vaccinators and individuals who eviscerate
and prepare poultry for market may also become infected. Person-to-person transmission
of ND virus was suspected during the 1971-72 Californian outbreak." page 12 of 63
From Calif Dept of Food and Agriculture, as of Feb. 14, 2003 ~
Title:
"EXOTIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE TASK FORCE EXPANDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR
HOME QUARANTINE AND ISOLATON FOR CAGED BIRDS: Increased isolation and biosecurity will protect caged birds"
Comments appreciated:
Take as much room as you like
Your email address, please
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Bayer Co's Treatise on VND
Useful USDA site for END information
From the
Daily Bulletin
Ontario, Calif:
Pet owners protest tactics used in battle against exotic Newcastle, 1/28/03
Norco bird owner wins reprieve;
Official agrees to personally supervise testing for Newcastle disease, 1/31/03
Newcastle: Affliction breeding suburban brawl; Eradication efforts stir anger in Norco, 1/30/03
Residents criticize disease task force; Owners say state officials are killing healthy birds, 1/24/03
Articles from
CSIRO, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia
Newcastle Disease Information Sheet
Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan for END
Calif Dept of Food & Agriculture
Newcastle Disease Page
Definitions
Newcastle Disease Terms
END: Exotic Newcastle Disease, the popular term for the current outbreak of Velogenic Newcastle Disease, with "Exotic" denoting the fact that VND is considered to be exotic to, i.e., not native to, the United States
endemic: belonging or native to a particular people or country
exotic: introduced from another country; not native to the place where found
inapparently: non-visibly
lesion: an abnormal change in structure of an organ or part, due to injury or disease
NDV's: Newcastle Disease Viruses, which occur as three pathotypes: lentogenic, mesogenic, and velogenic, reflecting increasing levels of virulence (Bayer Co.)
neurologic: having to do with the nervous system; "birds surviving 12 to 14 days generally do not die but may display permanent paralysis and other neurologic signs" (Bayer Co.)
neurotropic: attracted to or acting upon the nervous system; the neurotropic strains of VND act upon the nervous system
pathognomonic: distinctively characteristic of a particular disease
torticollis:a more or less fixed twisting of the neck resulting in an abnormal carriage of the head
-tropic: attracted to or acting upon (something specified), as in "neurotropic"
Velogenic Newcastle Disease: see VND below
virulent: marked by a rapid, severe, and malignant course
viscera: internal organs of the body, especially in the trunk
viscerotropic: attracted to or acting upon the viscera, the bodily organs; the viscerotropic strains of VND act upon the bodily organs
VND: Velogenic Newcastle Disease, "this is the most severe form of Newcastle disease and is likely the most serious disease of poultry throughout the world. In chickens it is characterized by lesions in the brain or gastrointestinal tract, morbidity rates near 100 percent, and mortality rates as high as 90 percent in susceptible chickens. Neurologic signs or severe depression are the most obvious clinical sign, and some nonvaccinated birds may be found dead with no detected sign of prior illness." "The most virulent (velogenic) isolates are further subdivided into neurotropic and viscerotropic types" (Bayer Co.)
VVND: the viscerotropic strains of VND
Types of Feed
Mash: a blend of several feed ingredients, ground to a small size but not to a powder
Pellets: small kernels of compressed mash, causing birds to eat the whole blend, not pick and choose
Crumbles: pellets broken up into smaller pieces
Starter: a blend of feed for chicks and growing birds, usually in the form of mash; approximately the same as "Grower"; can be replaced with "adult" food as soon as chicks go for it, somewhere between 4 and 8 weeks of age
Grower: approximately the same as "Starter"
Layer: feed blend for chickens that are laying eggs, having extra calcium and protein added
Broiler: feed blend for chickens that are growing as fast as possible, in order to be harvested for meat as early as possible
Scratch: whole grains fed separately to chickens, usually scattered on the ground or litter of the coop; usually a mixture of grains, such as wheat, rye, oats, etc. (corn/maize must be cracked before using as scratch grain)
Feed Ingredients
Concentrate: a blend of protein-rich foods, plus any other nutrients desired; usually fed together with a grain ration
Grit: angular, hard crushed rock, preferably from granite, used by the chickens in place of "teeth" --- seashells and bone CANNOT substitute for grit; for confinded birds, grit should be offered several times a month at least; it should be of the right size for the age of the bird (see Baby Chicks page); birds allowed to free range don't need to be offered grit -- they find their own ideal sizes and types to suit themselves
Corn: American term meaning maize corn, or "corn on the cob" (in England "corn" means what grain means in the US, that is, all food grains)
Grain: American term meaning any small, hard seeds, especially grass-family seeds (called corn in England); provides energy, B vitamins, phosphorus, and the whole grains are a fair source of protein, too
Bran: the outer coating of a kernel of grain; extremely high in silicon, which slows down its decomposing in the soil; cheap by-product of milling, often given away free by large mills
Germ: the embryo plant inside a kernel of grain; very nutritious and high in protein; wheat and rice germ (also called "rice polish") are a saleable by-product of milling
Middlings: an old milling term for the parts of the kernel that are milled off with the germ, and probably contain both the starch and bran (please email me if you have more specific information :-)
Calcium: provided by sea shells, crushed bone, and fresh or dried greens --- amounts need to be measured closely, if not free range; must be provided in higher quantities as soon as chickens begin to lay eggs
Protein: any food high in amino acids, used to build tissues; protein quality is determined by the "completeness" of the amino acid varieties in the food source; all meats, eggs of all kinds, milk, cheese, nuts, seed germs, and soy beans are high protein sources
Amino acid: a molecule that is one building block of protein; there are many different amino acids, most of which can be manufactured in the body; the few that cannot must be supplied by foods, and are called "Essential Amino Acids"; a food that supplies all 8 essential amino acids is called "complete"
Vitamins: an old, general term meaning "life-giving"; a chemical found in nature or made by man to imitate natural ones; new vitamins, and new uses for known vitamins, are always being discovered
Minerals: non-life-created chemicals found in nature; these and vitamins can be added to dietary regimens to improve health; sea water contains all the minerals of the earth, in their natural forms and safe amounts; "trace minerals" are those needed in relatively very tiny amounts, and can be highly toxic if these amounts are exceeded; "macro-minerals" are those needed in large amounts, such as calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium
Kelp: sea-weed, plants that grow in the sea; contains all the minerals of the earth; all kelp is edible, and can easily be dried and fed to chickens by clipping a sheaf of it to something in their area (also, this replaces any need to add salt to their rations)
Methods of Raising Poultry
Free range: ideally, not controlled by fences, able to get to fresh greens and insects; as commercially used, this term allows fences, with minimum amount of space per bird set by government agency definition
Pastured poultry: hens kept in movable, usually wheeled, pens, moved daily over fresh pasture, creating delicious meat and the very most nutritious eggs (and very fertile pastureland, too)
Organic: inspected by government agencies, organic food sources must not contain traces of harmful chemicals; the term as currently used does not insure that poultry has been raised in the best possible way, only that it has near zero harmful ingredients
Types of Chickens
Pullets: female chickens in their first year of lay, or prior to their first moult; female baby chicks
Hens: female chickens in their second year of lay, or after their first moult
Straight Run: a random mixture of male and female baby chicks, usually less expensive than only pullets
Cockerels: male baby chicks; male young domestic fowl
Rooster: adult male chicken, or adult male of other domestic or non-domestic fowl
Broilers: chickens raised to be eaten
Meat birds: old term for broilers
Layers: chickens raised to be egg-layers
Layer-Broiler: chickens raised to be both egg-layer and to be eaten
Bantam: a miniaturized chicken of any breed; most breeds have a regular-size and a bantam variety
Banty: same as Bantam
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