A good preventive care plan includes vaccinating both cows and calves for bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) because it is endemic in the United States. While rarely fatal on its own, BRSV weakens the immune system, often allowing for a secondary bacterial infection that results in pneumonia. BRSV is a factor considered part of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). The … [Read more...]
24 years, 25 million cattle prove what affects prices
The biggest value-added protocol in calf health is weaning, not vaccination. This, according to 24 years of big data generated from 25,000 million cattle by Superior Livestock Auction. Ken Odde, Kansas State University animal science professor, revealed which calf health programs, premiums and genetic breeds have on prices during the recent National Red Angus Conference. . . . … [Read more...]
Leptospirosis continuing education
Most mammals are susceptible to infection, writes Ashley DiPrete, RVT, VTS, (SAIM). As humans expand their environmental footprint, encroachment on wildlife becomes a greater issue, and people, pets and wild animal reservoir hosts cross one another’s paths more frequently. The importance of leptospirosis sp. is underscored by its status as the most prevalent zoonotic disease … [Read more...]
Turning the corner on FIP (podcast)
Niels Pedersen, BS, DVM, PhD, has made solving feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) a career goal. Steve Dale spoke with Pedersen recently on Dale's Pet World radio show. They discuss the latest about FIP. Source: Steve Dale Pet World, October 18, 2019. Link. Pedersen shares how departing from vaccine research to take advantage of anti-viral drugs has resulted in promising … [Read more...]
PRRS season is here
Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS) virus has a reputation for infecting swine herds more frequently during the fall, winter and spring, writes Adam Schelkopf, DVM. He discusses two primary benefits of using a modified-live virus PRRS vaccine: Growing pig performance Controlling viral spread in a neighborhood Source: PORK, October 21, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
More vaccine options create more confusion
As we learn more about diseases, vaccine technology continues to evolve. Subunit vaccines, recombinant vectored vaccines and DNA vaccines are examples of new DIVA (differentiating infected from vaccinated animals) vaccines. JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM, shares an update on vaccinology from a presentation by Laurel Gershwin, DVM, PhD, DACVM. Gershwin covered the following topics: … [Read more...]
Pinkeye in cattle poses challenges more than 100 years after arrival
Pinkeye was first identified in the U.S. in the 1890s. Face flies, sometimes thought to cause it, entered this country from Nova Scotia in 1952. “M. bovis tends to be just in the conjunctiva in the lubricating fluid. Unless there is trauma to the eye, the bacteria can’t bind to the cornea,” says Annette O’Connor, DVM. Some of the things suspected of causing trauma include … [Read more...]
2019 PAW Report offers great insight
Seventy one percent of cat owners in the United Kingdom (UK) would like to change at least one of their cat’s behaviors, according to the 2019 Annual Paw Report <Link>. Based on surveys of UK residents, the report has useful insights for us all. Per the report, there is a decline in juvenile pets receiving vaccinations, and, perhaps less surprisingly, a large portion of … [Read more...]
Adverse vaccine reactions in veterinary medicine: an update
Natalie Stilwell, DVM, MS, PhD, provides a review of the latest “need-to-know” adverse reactions information about vaccines for canine and feline patients. She reminds us that many cases are associated with either misuse of the vaccine or over-vaccination. Source: DVM 360, September 19, 2019. Link. Stilwell reviews a paper on the current understanding of adverse vaccine … [Read more...]
PIJAC issues statement on use of pet vaccinations
According to its statement last fall, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) supports the judicious use of vaccines in pets in order to protect both animals and humans from disease and death. This position complements the views of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the … [Read more...]
Stop being complacent about Equine West Nile virus
Horses and humans are dead-end hosts for West Nile virus. In spite of the availability of effective vaccines, 2018 saw a rebound in the number of reported equine cases; the highest since 2012. The peak season for infection is late September to October, but it can occur any time mosquitoes are present. Source: Veterinary Medicine, August 3, 2019. Link. It’s up to … [Read more...]
Handle MLVs with care (includes video)
Modified-live vaccines must be handled and stored properly if they are to be efficacious. This article and a YouTube video cover basics that are helpful for newbies and old hands alike. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, July 3, 2019. Link. Incorrect storage, exposure to sunlight and delayed administration all can reduce or even eliminate the effectiveness of an MLV, cautioned New … [Read more...]
Hot topics in bovine veterinary medicine
Citing constant changes in bovine medicine, Brittany Bowman assembled past article on topics worthy of sharing again: Coccidiosis affecting young calves, Bovine Veterinarian, June 7, 2017. Link. Cattle rabies is no laughing matter, Bovine Veterinarian, November 12, 2018. Link. Prime the pump, Bovine Veterinarian, April 22, 2019. Link. “Purple gut” in calves can … [Read more...]
Proper storage critical to vaccine efficacy
“Producers cannot afford to overlook the importance of how they store vaccine and handle it prior to injection,” says Glenn Selk. His article is a good reminder during hot summer months. It is important for producers to monitor storage temperatures. Veterinary clinic and retailer staffs need to be diligent in managing the cold chain for items that need refrigeration. If the … [Read more...]
Differing views create Lyme wars
Endemic or not in any geography is no longer easy to define. It seems the medical community is at odds with its approach to diagnosis and treatment. Parallel to the human discussion is the ongoing debate about vaccinating dogs. These two articles are helpful resources for making decisions about Lyme prevention, treatment as well as addressing animal owner questions. One thing … [Read more...]
Boehringer Ingelheim introduces BVDVTracker.com
Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an ongoing challenge facing the cattle industry. The virus often goes undiagnosed and the consequences are severe. To help producers address the challenges BI launched BVDVTracker.com. The website’s mission is to support veterinarians, producers and industry professionals in the control of BVDV. Source: Drovers, July 16, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Preconditioning STILL pays
Too many cow-calf producers still ignore the benefits of preconditioning. For as long as I can remember discussing cattle production health topics, pre-conditioning has been near the top of the list of economic factors. As animal health pros, we believe we’ve told the benefits to producers dozens of times. But, as with vaccination compliance, preconditioning is still not … [Read more...]
Is an African swine fever vaccine getting closer to completion?
With African swine fever (ASF) virus moving across the globe, the race is on to be the first to develop a vaccine against the economically devastating disease. The Pig Site spoke to Dr. Linda Dixon, head of the African swine fever (ASF) group at The Pirbright Institute, about their current research and development efforts for an ASF vaccine. The Pirbright research focuses … [Read more...]
Preweaning BRD is the leading cause of mortality in young calves
Presentations during the recent Academy of Veterinary Consultants meeting reviewed research with BRD-caused mortality in young calves. The mix of pathogens involved in preweaning BRD is similar to older calves. Diagnostics labs find Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni, mycoplasma and coronavirus, usually in association with at least one other … [Read more...]
Considerations for adjusting equine vaccinations
A horse’s circumstances can change enough during a year that his vaccination program needs changing. Some instances that call for a review or of a vaccine routine include: Location Increased interaction with other horses Advancing age Source: EQUUS, March 2018. Link. INSIGHTS: Risks can come from other animals that frequent a location. Raccoons, skunks, … [Read more...]
Canine parvovirus spiking again
Recent reports of canine parvovirus (CPV) infections in areas around the country remind us of how prevalent and challenging this virus is in dogs. CPV itself is small and nonenveloped, making it one of the more robust viruses affecting animals. While our industry has been fighting CPV for nearly 50 years, the only way to stop its spread is to vaccinate dogs. Because of its … [Read more...]
USDA simplifying vaccine labels
Industry groups have pushed for a single-tiered system since 2002. Similar to the system FDA uses for human vaccines, the single-tiered system makes the approval process more efficient, while still providing producers and veterinarians the information they need to make vaccine decisions. USDA published a final rule in 2015. USDA released guidelines in 2018, and the … [Read more...]
New strain of canine distemper virus arrives in North America
The Asia-1 strain of canine distemper virus (CDV), which had never before been reported in North America, most likely entered the continent last fall with a dog rescued from a Korean dog meat farm. Dogs that are already immunized against CDV likely are not at risk from the Asian strain. But if the virus comes into contact with wildlife, it may take a serious toll on … [Read more...]
Some anti-vaxxers don’t vaccinate pets, creating danger
Anti-vaccine proponents are increasingly making the same unfounded claims about pets and vaccines they have been repeating about children and vaccines for the past 20 years: that vaccines are unnecessary, dangerous and that they can cause diseases. According a TIME magazine article, the negative attention on vaccines is growing globally. Looking at the circulation demographics, … [Read more...]
Myths and facts about strangles, Strep equii
Many horse owners don’t understand strangles, says Reese Hand, DVM. Strangles is an infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi, and spreads predominately by nose-to-nose contact. It is sometimes known as equine distemper. Source: Western Horseman, September 2014. Link. While strangles is easily treatable and rarely fatal, … [Read more...]
Ranch level biosecurity goes beyond vaccination
Keeping diseases at bay requires a lot more than a good vaccination program, writes Caitlin Hebbert. She presents biosecurity beyond BQA requirements and engages Stephen Collett to describe a hierarchy of three levels of biosecurity: Conceptual StructuralProcedural Source: BEEF, February 19, 2019, page 48. Link. Be proactive. A little caution and awareness when it … [Read more...]
March brings more risk of rabies to horses
With winter soon ending, primary small mammal vectors of rabies, including raccoons, foxes, skunks and bats, will emerge from under buildings, leave hay bale nests and hunt assertively to regain body condition and feed newborns. Rabies is not frequently seen in equids, but the disease is invariably fatal and has considerable public health significance. Rabies vaccine is … [Read more...]
Vaccinating mice may slow Lyme disease
Former veterinarian turned immunologist Mario Gomes-Solecki focused beyond animals susceptible to Lyme. She studied the large population of Borrelia burgdorferi infected white-footed mice and on reducing the number of ticks that become carrier after biting a mouse. Roughly half of ticks carrying Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, pick it up by … [Read more...]
Dairy how-to: pay attention to injection sites (educational video)
Even though dairy cows are raised for milk production, nearly all dairy animals end up in the beef supply chain at some point. That makes proper animal handling and drug administration important to avoid injection site lesions that can damage the carcass. Source: Dairy Herd Management, October 20, 2018. Link. We want to try and do all of our injections in the neck,” says … [Read more...]
What equine DVMs say about core vaccinations
Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA, helps support horse owner education with this Zoetis sponsored article. Consider it for social media posts, e-newletters and website content. The high mortality rate, human risk, and vaccine efficacy have led veterinarians to identify five vaccines they consider “core:” West Nile virus, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, tetanus, and … [Read more...]