[Jacob-list] Fwd: PRO/AH> Vesicular stomatitis - USA (TX)

[Katherine Wisor]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: ProMED-mail <promed at promed.isid.harvard.edu>
> Date: May 20, 2004 2:27:33 AM EDT
> To: promed-ahead at promedmail.org
> Subject: PRO/AH> Vesicular stomatitis - USA (TX)
> Reply-To: promed at promed.isid.harvard.edu
>
>
> VESICULAR STOMATITIS - USA (TEXAS)
> ************************************
> A ProMED-mail post
> <http://www.promedmail.org>
> ProMED-mail, a program of the
> International Society for Infectious Diseases
> <http://www.isid.org>
>
> Date: 19 May 2003
> From: Carla Everett <ceverett at tahc.state.tx.us>
> Source: Texas Animal Health Commission news release [edited]
>
>
> Vesicular stomatitis (VS) confirmed in West Texas; 1st US case since 
> l998
> -------------------------------------------------
> The country's 1st case of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) since 1998 was
> confirmed Wed 19 May 2004 on a premises with 9 horses and 8 head of 
> cattle
> near Balmorhea, in Reeves County, in West Texas. VS is a viral disease 
> that
> occurs sporadically in the US, usually in south western states. The 
> disease
> can affect horses, cattle, and pigs, and, occasionally, sheep, goats, 
> and
> deer. The disease causes blisters to form in the animal's mouth, on 
> teats,
> or along the hooves, resulting in excessive salivation, lameness, or 
> oozing
> sores.
>
> The clinical signs of VS can cause concern, because they mimic those 
> of a
> foreign, highly contagious, animal infection -- foot and mouth disease
> (FMD) -- which has not been seen in the US since 1929. Laboratory tests
> must be run to differentiate between the 2 diseases when cattle, pigs,
> sheep, or other cloven-hooved animals develop signs of the disease. 
> Unlike
> FMD, VS also can affect horses and other members of the equine family.
> Although the disease does not affect food safety, infected livestock 
> are
> withheld from slaughter until they recover.
>
> "We always launch a disease investigation when blisters or sores are
> reported in livestock to determine if FMD has been introduced into the 
> US,"
> said Dr Max Coats, deputy director for Animal Health Programs for the 
> Texas
> Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state's livestock and poultry 
> health
> regulatory agency. "Because horses are not susceptible to FMD, we 
> knew, in
> this case, that the animals had vesicular stomatitis (VS), or, 
> possibly,
> had come in contact with poison, or a toxic plant. The National 
> Veterinary
> Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, has confirmed that the 3 
> horses
> in Reeves County have VS."
>
> Dr Coats said researchers have determined that VS outbreaks are 
> started by
> a virus transmitted by arthropods such as ticks, mites, biting midges,
> mosquitoes, or house flies. Following an incubation period of 2 to 8 
> days,
> infected animals may develop clinical signs of disease. The outbreak 
> then
> can be perpetuated by biting insects that carry the disease from 
> infected
> to healthy livestock. VS infected animals also can spread the virus 
> when
> their saliva, or the fluid from ruptured blisters, contaminates 
> equipment
> or feed shared by herd mates. Sick animals should be isolated until 
> they
> heal, he said. Dr Coats noted that all livestock on the affected ranch 
> in
> Reeves County will remain quarantined for several weeks, until they no
> longer pose a health threat to other livestock. Before release from
> quarantine, the animals will be re-examined by a state or federal
> regulatory veterinarian to prevent the spread of disease to other 
> premises.
>
> "VS is rarely fatal, and infection usually runs its course in a couple 
> of
> weeks," commented Dr Coats. "Infected livestock may need supportive 
> care to
> prevent secondary infections where blisters have ruptured. The affected
> animals also may lose condition, because they will avoid eating as 
> long as
> their mouth is sore. Lesions can also occur along hooves, resulting in
> temporary lameness."
>
> "The only thing regular about VS is its irregularity," he said. "13 
> years
> passed between a l982-1983 outbreak of VS and one in l995 that involved
> infection on more than 365 ranches in 5 states. These affected states 
> were
> New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and Texas, where infection was
> confined to only one premises."
>
> "Texas was spared, in May l997, when the disease was detected in 
> Arizona in
> horses. By late fall, when the outbreak ended, infection had been 
> detected
> on 380 ranches in 4 states: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah," 
> he
> continued. "Prior to today's case, VS was most recently confirmed in 
> l998
> in Texas' Reeves County and in New Mexico."
>
> "As a biosecurity measure, ranchers and veterinarians should wear 
> rubber or
> latex gloves when handling potentially infected animals, and they 
> should
> wash their hands thoroughly afterward. Humans reportedly may contract 
> VS
> and develop flu-like symptoms that can last 4 to 7 days," warned Dr 
> Coats.
>
> "If your livestock develops blisters, erosions or sores, don't pass it 
> off
> as another case of VS," Dr Coats said. "It is extremely important that 
> we
> collect samples and have laboratory tests run to determine the cause of
> illness. Report these signs of disease to your private veterinary
> practitioner or to the TAHC immediately. The TAHC hotline number is
> operational 24 hours a day at 1-800-550-8242, and a TAHC or US 
> Department
> of Agriculture veterinarian always is on call to take reports and to 
> work
> with your private veterinarian at no charge."
>
> "If you plan to ship horses, or other livestock, out of state, contact 
> the
> state of destination prior to transporting the animals," urged Dr. 
> Coats.
> "Because VS has been confirmed in Texas, some states may require our
> shipments of livestock to undergo additional inspections or testing.
> Producers and veterinarians may contact the TAHC at 1-800-550-8242 if 
> they
> need contact information for animal health officials in other states."
>
> Carla Everett
> Information Officer
> Texas Animal Health Commission
> Box l2966 Austin, Texas 78711
> <ceverett at tahc.state.tx.us>
>
> -- 
> ProMED-mail
> <promed at promedmail.org>
>
> [see also:
> 1998
> ---
> Vesicular stomatitis, horses - USA (Colorado) (04) 19980827.1705
> Vesicular stomatitis, horses - USA (Colorado) (03) 19980804.1499
> Vesicular stomatitis, horses - USA (Colorado) (02) 19980730.1445
> Vesicular stomatitis, horses - USA (Colorado)      19980730.1444
> Vesicular stomatitis, equine - USA (Texas)         19980626.1182
> Vesicular stomatitis, horses - USA (New Mexico)    19980528.1020]
>
> .............tg/msp/sh
>
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