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Controlling Infectious Disease Between Wildlife And Livestock On Shared Rangeland
The H5N1 bird flu — widespread in wild birds worldwide and the cause of outbreaks in poultry, U.S. Dairy cows and even several recent human cases among agricultural workers – is a prime example of mixed species disease transmission occurring where wildlife and livestock interact.
Sapna Chitlapilly Dass, Ph.D., assistant professor in microbial ecology and microbiome interactions, Department of Animal Science, is studying the ongoing threat of emerging pathogens that can necessitate prompt deployment of medical countermeasures for life-saving interventions.
And Dass, a Texas A&M AgriLife researcher in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, wants to nip it in the bud, so to speak.
She wants to address the potential of disease transmission at the rangeland level rather than waiting until it reaches the SARS-CoV-2 virus level in the human population. She worked extensively on solving problems with COVID-19 in the supply chain.
"Dairy cattle are not a known host for avian influenza, so that was quite a shocker when it jumped species," she said. "Disease transmission is inevitable, and we will see more with unusual hosts getting this disease. So, we should take care of what we can fix before it can become human-to-human transmission."
Dass is leading a research initiative dedicated to identifying pathogens, monitoring transmission pathways, and implementing rapid responses to address the potential danger posed by unidentified pathogens that could lead to severe epidemics.
The project, "A systems approach to understanding wildlife-farm animal-environmental drivers of zoonotic disease transmission in the food supply chain," is funded by a $3.03 million U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service grant.
History tells usOut of the 400 recorded instances of emerging infectious diseases since 1940, Dass said bacterial pathogens constitute 54%, viral or prion pathogens 25%, protozoa 11%, fungi 6%, and parasitic worms 3%.
Despite their lower frequency, RNA viruses, such as those responsible for HIV, influenza H1N1 and H5N1, SARS-CoV-2, Lassa virus, Ebola virus and MERS-CoV have caused the most devastating recent emergence events.
"Human intersection with ecosystems, which is driven by urban expansion, along with the proximity of agricultural lands to wildlife habitats and the extending range of wildlife reservoirs collectively amplify the occurrence of zoonotic diseases," Dass said.
This research project employs SARS-CoV-2 as a model virus to study spillover events from white-tailed deer to livestock, examine mechanisms of virus persistence in the environment, and assess their potential impact on human health.
"We want to determine what we can do before a disease reaches the point of vaccinating humans; fix the root cause," she said. "The root cause is the wildlife and livestock intermingling. If we can take care of that, we can prevent overwhelming the healthcare system, which took a beating during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic."
The projectThe project allows both wildlife and livestock to be put in a controlled environment to see whether the transmission happens. It is a lengthy procedure, but the USDA's National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa, has done a phenomenal job of cohabiting the animals so "we can get real-world disease transmission results," Dass said.
"With our systems approach, we can look at environmental maintenance of the virus, using our Biosafety Safety Level 3 facility at the Global Health Research Complex," she said. "For example, what occurs in a water trough or elsewhere when both livestock and wildlife drink water from the same source on the rangeland?"
Dass said this complex research requires collaboration between scientists from different specialties working together — people in animal disease, veterinary biosciences, wildlife and genomics.
The team working with Dass includes:
"Infectious disease transmission is expected to happen," Dass said. "But we'll find out if and how it can be controlled by limiting exposure."
Talking Infectious Diseases Contingency Planning On Farm With Defra
Infectious diseases have been a concern for thousands of years as the interplay between humans, animals and our environment evolves.
Numerous factors can lead to the emergence of disease, and its effects on both animals and human health can vary widely. A recent example is a new strain of Bluetongue, which illustrates how a disease can quickly spread in a new area, such as northern Europe, causing significant distress for affected livestock and farm businesses.
Although Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health, it is crucial to establish reasonable contingency plans in case we encounter a new disease that poses risks to both human and animal welfare.
This was the reason I visited NFU members John and Lucy Torrence's farm in Essex, alongside the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Veterinary Officer and Defra's Chief Scientific Officer to discuss pathways of disease, planning for contingencies, and the role that farmers can play in reducing risk.
"The ability to showcase the realities of farming practices on-site allows us to achieve what would take much longer to convey in a Westminster office."
Working with NFU East Dairy Board chair Matt Ford and NFU chief animal health and welfare adviser Cat McLaughlin, the chance to engage at this level of government proved highly beneficial for shaping future policies.
Even in the presence of esteemed professionals, I am continually impressed by the insights gained from farm visits.
"Although bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health, it is crucial to establish reasonable contingency plans in case we encounter a new disease that poses risks to both human and animal welfare."
The ability to showcase the realities of farming practices on-site allows us to achieve what would take much longer to convey in a Westminster office.
The time our guests dedicated, and the quality of the dialogue, reinforced my belief in the importance of considering both human and animal health together with the viability of farm businesses when preparing for emerging diseases.
Our conversation also broadened to address other policy areas that intersect human health and agriculture, including TB, genetic advancements, data collection, and the impact of ammonia emissions on air quality in urban regions.
Bird Flu Detected In Camarines Norte Duck Farm — BAI
By TED CORDERO, GMA Integrated News
Published December 11, 2024 3:49pm
The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) on Wednesday reported the detection of bird flu in Talisay, Camarines Norte.
In a statement, the BAI said it "confirms the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Type A Subtype H5N2 in a duck farm located (in) Talisay, Camarines Norte."
The agency said the positive result was reported on December 6, 2024 by the Animal Disease Diagnosis and Reference Laboratory (ADDRL), following routine surveillance conducted by the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office V (DA-RFO V) in November.
"This is the first detection of HPAI H5N2 in the country and the first recorded avian influenza case in the province," the BAI said.
Following confirmation, the agency said it promptly endorsed the results to DA-RFO V and recommended the immediate implementation of quarantine and biosecurity measures on the affected farm to prevent the virus from spreading.
"The remaining birds are being culled and disposed of to contain the infection," the BAI said.
"Culling operations are expected to be completed by December 10, with the 1-km zone surveillance concluding on December 11," it added.
The BAI said that a thorough investigation is ongoing to trace the movement of birds and identify additional risks.
"The DA RFO-V has activated its Command Center to oversee operations while a coordination meeting was held with the Regional Quick Response Team for Animal Disease and Emergencies (RQRT-ADE) to review protocols in line with the Avian Influenza Protection Program (AIPP)," it said.
"All disease control measures are being coordinated closely with the BAI," it added.
The BAI said it is committed to protecting the Philippine's poultry industry from the threat of avian influenza and will maintain close cooperation with other government agencies and stakeholders.
"We encourage the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual poultry deaths or signs of illness to local authorities for immediate action," it said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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