The Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University has isolated Salmonella dublin (Group D) from diagnostic samples submitted from multiple animals of 4 different cattle premises in either New York or Pennsylvania in the last 2 months. They have all shown the same antimicrobial sensitivity profile, being resistant to most antibiotics.

Salmonellosis is generally a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Salmonella dublin, however, is a cattle host-adapted strain that usually presents as a respiratory illness, primarily in young stock, although any age animal can be infected. Alternate clinical presentations may include septicemia, abortions in pregnant mature cows, and/or diarrhea, especially terminally. Some animals may remain lifetime carriers of this infection. Stress resulting from overcrowding, poor air quality, coinfections with other pathogens, poor hygiene, transportation, or dietary inadequacies can result in clinical signs in infected carrier animals. Recent introduction of Salmonella dublin into a population with no prior exposure, might, under the right conditions, result in an explosive outbreak.

In addition, all Salmonella spp. have the potential to infect people and can cause illness and death. To see the full text of this Salmonella dublin alert, please go to http://www.diaglab.vet.cornell.edu/pdf/Salmonelladublin.pdf or call 607-253-3900, and request a copy by mail or fax.

Bacillus anthracis is NOT considered endemic in the State of New York.

While other regions of North America sporadically experience natural anthrax outbreaks, natural exposure to anthrax is uncommon in the Northeast. The last natural case in NY was identified near a wool mill in upstate NY in the mid 1980's.

The Animal Health Diagnostic Center has developed procedures and guidelines for Anthrax testing.

       Detailed guidelines for diagnosis and sample collection of Anthrax suspect cases.

       Detailed guidelines for shipping animals samples for Anthrax testing.

 

The USDA APHIS website provides information concerning Anthrax and its clinical presentation in animals and recommendations for sampling and handling of suspect cases.

       General Anthrax information fact sheet from the USDA

       Technical Anthrax information fact sheet from the USDA.

       A PDF version of the technical information has also been made available.

       Guidelines for Disinfection for Anthrax

 

 

The Center for Disease Control, CDC has up to date information about the Anthrax disease.

       General Anthrax information fact sheetfrom the CDC

       Technical Anthrax information fact sheet from the CDC

       Guidelines for disinfection for Anthrax for the CDC

 

NYC Department of Health (646-248-0411) and the NYS Department of Health (518-474-3186)

Bovine Virus Diarrhea virus has been isolated from alpaca crias from sites around North America. Dr Dubovi, our virologist, has been working with alpaca farms on the East Coast and offers the following comments about testing:

The extent of the problem in alpacas is unknown. About a dozen PI crias have been identified. The Guelph group has a paper coming out in JVDI on the one that they had. I am not sure how the ACE (antigen capture ELISA) is performing. We have very weak reactions on serum -- 1 of 7 skin samples + on the one we did a necropsy on. However, the other one that died before it came here had an ACE skin test the equivalent to cattle. <more>

The Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell has conclusive evidence that canine influenza virus is now present in the New York City area. Reports have been received indicating that an unusual form of “kennel cough” has been seen in a number of veterinary practices. Animals recovering from this clinical presentation that have been tested are all serologically positive for canine influenza virus. Acute and convalescent sera from several dogs showed a positive response to canine influenza virus over the course of the illness. Tests of selected New York State dogs last year were all negative.<more>

The USDA website has detailed information concerning Foot-and-Mouth disease and how it is affecting the United States.

The The Britain/UK Foot and Mouth disease website maintained by the Department for Environmental, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which contains current news and information from the United Kingdom.

The Center for Food Security and Public Health fact sheet on Foot and Mouth Disease

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has prepared interim guidelines for veterinarians and pet owners concerning Monkeypox infections in animals.

Additional information regarding the Monkeypox outbreak, as well as, other public health guidelines are available from the CDC Monkeypox homepage.