Progress 07/01/05 to 06/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Animal Health and Hatch-related projects at the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory (WSVL) have traditionally been inter-related. The major goal has been to ensure that the laboratory receives an adequate case load to accomplish its missions of increasing the accuracy of disease diagnosis, recognition of new emerging or re-emerging diseases, and maintaining an up-to-date database of disease incidence, and increasing the basic fundamental knowledge and understanding of disease as it occurs in the diverse animal species of Wyoming. Significant outputs have included investigation of diseases such as Brucella abortus strain RB51 vaccine-related abortions in cattle, significant elk mortality attributed to ingestion of the lichen Xanthoparmelia chlorochroa, myocarditis due to Histophilus somni in feedlot and range cattle, hereditary osteopetrosis in Angus calves, occurrence and public health significance of infection with Francisella tularensis (rabbit fever) in domestic livestock, cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure in Holstein calves similar to brisket disease, and inconsistencies in a commercially available test to detect bovine virus diarrhea virus persistently infected calves. Results of these investigations have been disseminated at national, regional, and local meetings of the general public and animal health organizations and in scientific and lay publications. Funding provided through Animal Health (and Hatch) projects provides the financial resources to augment the financial resources of WSVL in order to maintain an adequate case load and to conduct in-depth case investigations despite the financial and other limitations of the laboratory's clientele. PARTICIPANTS: Matthew Asay, Undergraduate student Travis Allen, Undergraduate student Jacque Cavender, Virology staff Dr. Todd Cornish, Pathologist Amanda Fluegel, Graduate student Rebecca Dailey, Graduate student Annika Hoffman, Veterinary Extern Dr. Ken Mills, Bacteriologist Dr. Don Montgomery, Pathologist Dr. Donal OToole, Pathologist Dr. Merl Raisbeck, Toxicologist Dr. Kenji Sato, Epidemiologist Roger Siemion, Toxicology staff Dr. Shannon Swist, Pathologist TARGET AUDIENCES: Livestock Producers Wildlife Managers Practicing veterinarians Diagnostic Laboratories Public Health Agencies PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Dr. Kenji Sato, deceased Dr. Shannon Swist, resigned
Impacts
The outcomes and impacts of the in-depth disease investigations funded in part through Animal Health (and Hatch) projects reflect the diversity of diseases studied and the laboratory's efforts at dissemination of this knowledge to veterinary professionals, wildlife-livestock managers, and the general public. Exemplary are investigations of B. abortus strain RB51 vaccine-associated abortions in cattle that have provided cattle producers the knowledge to more safely use the vaccine in adult cows, preliminary awareness that Xanthoparmelia chlorochroa may impact the health of domestic livestock under the appropriate conditions, development and introduction of an in-vitro diagnostic test for hereditary osteopetrosis in Angus cattle, and an increased awareness of disease incidence in specific animal populations and under differing livestock management situations. Projects have also provided funding to support two undergraduate students and one third-year veterinary extern, the two undergraduate students having matriculated on to attend schools/colleges of veterinary medicine. Several of the projects mentioned in this final report remain in progress and will undoubtedly have additional outcomes and impacts as they relate to animal disease.
Publications
- Dailey RN, Siemion RM, Jesse C, Raisbeck MF: Analysis of salazinic, norstictic, and usnic acids in Xanthoparmelia chlorochroa by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy. J AOAC Intl 93:1137-1142, 2010
- OToole D, Swist S, Steadman, Johnson GC (2011): Neuopathology and craniofacial lesions in red Angus osteopetrosis. Vet Pathol(published online 18July)2011
- Raisbeck MF, Dailey RN, Siemion RS, Montgomery DL, Ingram J: Further investigations of Xanthoparmelia toxicity in ruminants. Pp. 349-355. In: Poisoning by Plants, Mycotoxins, and Related Toxins; Riet-Corea F, Pfister J et al, eds; Pub. CABI, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK, 2011
- Zekarias TB, OToole D, Lehmann J, Corbeil LB: Histophilus somni IbpA Fic cytotoxin is conserved in disease strains and most carrier strains from cattle, sheep, and bison. Vet Microbiol 149:177-185, 2011
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: O'Toole, D., Allen, T., Hunter, R., Mills, K. 2008. H somni and cardiac disease in cattle. WVMA winter meeting, December 2008. Casper WY. ~20 veterinary attendees. O"Toole, D. 2010. H. somni myocarditis in Wyoming cattle. Pfizer food animal veterinary winter retreat. Deadwood, SD. Jan 2010. ~50 attendees. O'Toole, D. 2010. H. somni myocarditis and a brisket disease-like syndrome in Holstein cattle. Moxey-Schreiber veterinary clinic client education meeting. Apriil 2010. ~30 producer attendees. O'Toole, D. December 2009. Systemic vasculitis in food animals due to Histophilus somni and OvHV-2 (invited). ACVP Annual meeting, Monterey, CA. Proceedings, ACVP. PARTICIPANTS: Travis Allen, undergraduate EPSCoR project 2008-09; Matt Asay, undergraduate EPSCoR project 2009-10; Dr. Lynette Corbeil, collaborator, UC San Diego, CA. TARGET AUDIENCES: Scientific community and cow/calf producers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Cardiac histophilosis is a facet of septicemia due to the Gram-negative bacterium Histophilus somni. It is well known in fall-placed cattle in western Canada and assumed to of limited economic significance in the United States. A prospective disease study was performed between October 2008 and May 2009 at two large cattle feeding operations in Wyoming. Both properties experienced deaths peaking in November-January with histophilosis-like cardiac lesions. The goal of this study was to establish whether cardiac histophilosis was present, and to characterize its clinical, morphological and microbiological features. Morbidity and mortality of all causes during the period were 15.9% (734/4,612 cattle) and 0.3% (16/4,612) respectively on property A and 34.1% (1433/4,199 cattle) and 4.5% (187/4,199) respectively on property B. Cardiac lesions were identified at necropsy in 18.8% (3/16) of cattle dying on property A and in 8.0% (15/187) dying property B. Hearts from 10 cattle were evaluated by histology, immunohistochemistry and bacteriology. All had intralesional H.somni in anterior and/or posterior papillary muscles of left ventricular myocardium. Ultrastructually, bacteria formed thick biofilms-like mats on endothelium and vascular basal lamina of capillaries and veins. The pattern of virulence factors examined in 7 isolates of H. somni was identical to reference strains. Convalescent sera had IgG1, IgG2 and IgE antibodies to H. somni. Specificity of IgG antibodies for the protective 40K outer membrane protein and for the recently defined IbpA toxin suggested that infected animals are protected from further H. somni-mediated disease. Septicemic histophilosis can be an appreciable source of recurrent annual loss in some feeding operations in the United States.
Publications
- O'Toole, D., Allen, T., Hunter, R., Corbeil, L. 2009. Acute myocarditis and histophilosis in feedlot cattle. Vet Pathol 46(5):1015-1017.
- O'Toole, D., Hunter, R., Allen, T.H., Montgomery, D.L., Mills, K., Corbeil, L.B. 2010. Histophilosis with myocarditis and myocardial infarction in fall-placed cattle: clinical signs, lesions and microbiology . Vet Pathol. In preparation.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Investigation of RB51-associated abortions in cattle: This study is being conducted to further define the cause and epidemiology of bovine abortions in Brucella abortus strain RB51 culture-positive adult-vaccinated cattle. Histophilus somni-induced myocarditis in cattle: The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory is investigating the lesions and epidemiology of myocarditis associated with Histophilus somni in a commercial backgrounding and cattle feeding operation. This operation has a high incidence of sudden death associated with bacterial myocarditis over a multi-year period. PARTICIPANTS: RB51: Todd Cornish, Donal O'Toole, Shannon Swist, Donald Montgomery, Kenneth Mills, Merl Raisbeck, virology staff, Amanda Fluegel (graduate student)- principal investigators - Department of Veterinary Sciences, Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, University of Wyoming, Laramie WY. This study contributed to the graduate education of Amanda Fluegel, MS recipient and PhD candidate. Histophilus somni: Donal O'Toole, Travis Allen (undergraduate student), Department of Veterinary Science, Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, University of Wyoming, Laramie WY; Randy Hunter, Practicing Veterinarian, Wheatland WY; and L. Corbeil - collaborator - University of California, San Diego,CA. This study contributed to the undergraduate education and research experience for Travis Allen who has been accepted for admittance to several Schools of Veterinary Medicine in the U.S. TARGET AUDIENCES: RB51: Practicing veterinarians, veterinary diagnosticians, state veterinarians, cattle producers, regulatory professionals. Histophilus somni: Practicing veterinarians, veterinary diagnosticians, animal producers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Investigation of RB51-associated abortions in cattle: Two documented episodes of bovine abortion have occurred in herds that had received adult Brucella abortus strain RB51 vaccinations and linked to strain RB51 on the basis of positive culture from multiple fetal tissues have been investigated. In both instances, no other cause of abortion was found in these fetuses. Lesions of fetal pneumonia were inconstant but in cases where placenta was available, there was invariably a placentitis typical of a brucella-like infection. From an epidemiological standpoint, these abortions occurred in young, pregnant, adult vaccinated animals that had received calfhood but no previous adult vaccination. Further evaluation will allow better recommendations regarding adult vaccination and allow producers to follow best practices for adult vaccination. Histophilus somni-induced myocarditis in cattle: This study is currently in progress to determine the true incidence and epidemiology of Histophilus somni-induced myocarditis, the importance of which might not be fully realized in cattle operations throughout the United States. An immunohistochemical procedure has been developed that recognizes the bacterium in formalin-fixed tissues. Ultrastructure indicates the that intravascular bacterial emboli are associated with necrosis of endothelium. Histophilus somni isolates had typical antigenic profiles and virulence motifs as isolates from other pneumonic or encephalitis cases. This study should increase the awareness of Histophilus somnii as a cause of myocarditis and sudden death in U.S. cattl operations.
Publications
- Investigation of RB51-associated abortions in cattle: In preparation 2009. Histophilus somni-induced myocarditis in cattle: Study in progress 2009.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
Evaluated occurrences of disease in domestic animals and wildlife due to Francisella tularensis (tularemia, rabbit fever). Outbreaks of tularemia occur fairly commonly in wildlife (rabbits, prairie dogs) in Wyoming. Occasionally disease spreads to domestic livestock and pets. This study investigated two outbreaks of tularemia in livestock during 2007 and correlated these finding with a previous outbreak in 1997 that occurred on one of the ranches. Vaccination of adult cows with Brucella abortus strain RB51 is generally regarded as safe and is approved for use in high-risk cattle herds in the greater Yellowstone area of Wyoming. The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory (WSVL) investigated multiple abortions related to strain RB51 vaccination in one cattle herd. Report presented at a national meeting. Evaluated inconsistencies in a commercial test for bovine virus diarrhea persistent infection in calves. Persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus is of major
economic important to the cattle industry. Testing for persistently infected calves is commonly practiced. Based on inconsistencies found through routine cases to WSVL, it was noted that a commercially available kit failed to accurately identify a subset of persistently infected calves. A group of such calves was identified, procured and studied over a period of several months to better understand the basis for the inconsistencies. Preliminary report presented at a national meeting and additional studies are in progress.
Impacts
1. A better awareness of the potential for spread of zoonotic pathogens between wildlife and domestic livestock will lessen the chance of illness in animal workers and diagnosticians and increase the likelihood of accurate diagnosis. 2. Abortion associated with Brucella abortus strain RB51 occurred in cows that had received calfhood vaccination. This knowledge may allow better and safe use of adult vaccination in high-risk pregnant cows. 3. Improvement of surveillance testing for bovine viral diarrhea virus persistently infected calves.
Publications
- Cavender, J., Bratanich, A., Montgomery, D., Linscott, R., Martel, E., Edwards, J., Siltman, D., and Lawrence, J. 2007. Failure of BVDV detection with antigen-capture ELISA using serum [Abstract]. Proceedings, 50th Annual American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians/USAHA Conference. Reno, NV.
- Fluegel, A., Boerger-Fields, A., Henderson, O., Loiacono, C., Cornish, T., and Mills, K. 2007. Abortion and Stillbirth in a Western Wyoming Cattle Herd Vaccinated with Brucella Abortus Strain RB51 [Abstract]. Proceedings, 50th Annual American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians/United States Animal Health Association Annual Conference. Reno NV.
- O'Toole, D., Williams, E.S., Woods, L.W., Mills, K., Boerger-Fields, A., Montgomery, D.L., Jaeger, P., Edwards, W.H., Christensen, D., and Marlatt, W. Feb 2008 (accepted for publication). Tularemia in sheep in Wyoming and South Dakota - an overlooked syndrome? J Vet Diagn Invest.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Staff at the WSVL performed a retrospective study (1984 - 2006) of laboratory -confirmed rabies in wildlife and livestock in Wyoming. Variables examined were impacts of climate and ecological zones, with an emphasis on the north-central ecotype of rabies in striped skunks, and temporal changes in the number of rabid animals. The WSVL undertook an investigation of a respiratory disease outbreak in dogs at a large municipal shelter. As a result of the investigation and a related study, an isolate of canine influenza virus was obtained. It has been shared with a veterinary biologics manufacturing company, with the goal that it will be used as the basis for a challenge strain and/or diagnostic reagents. The WSVL is one of several laboratories working with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to expand the range of infectious agents which result in a foot and mouth like syndromes and can be detected using a nucleic acid-based PCR assay panel. The agent contributed by the
WSVL is a cervid adenovirus responsible for a fatal hemorrhagic syndrome.
Impacts
This is the first long-term (20 years) retrospective study of rabies in wildlife and livestock in Wyoming. 2. Isolation and sharing of canine influenza virus with a veterinary biologics company should be the basis for a commercial veterinary vaccine and/or laboratory reagents to detect this virus. 3. LLNL has incorporated nucleic acid sequences from a cervid adenovirus responsible for a fatal foot and mouth disease look-alike clinical syndrome.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
The WSVL investigated, characterized and reported on multiple spontaneous diseases in food animals and wildlife. A noteworthy study was intoxication due to Xanthoparmelia chlorochroa of approximately 600 elk in SE Wyoming in 2004. A series of experimental studies of MCF in bison, cattle and sheep were completed with colleagues in the Animal Disease Research Unit in Pullman WA. A large scale study was performed to identify the best method to identify cattle persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus.
Impacts
1. A new cause of massive mortality among free-ranging elk, due to native lichen, was defined. 2. Malignant catarrhal fever was successfully reproduced by the natural route in bison, cattle and sheep. 3. Another episode of extensive muscle injury in cattle due to USDA-licensed vaccines was reported. 4. A study was published that defined the best laboratory method for distinguishing cattle that were acutely versus persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus.
Publications
- O'Toole, D., Li, H. 2006. USDA Foreign Animal Diseases - 2005.
- Li, H. et. al. 2005. J Vet Diagn Invest. 17:171-175, 2005
- Taus, N.S., et. al. 2005. Vet Microbiol In press.
- O'Toole, D., et al: 2005. J Vet Diagn Invest 17:21-29.
- Cook, W.E., et. al. 2006. Poisonous Plants and Natural Toxins, CAB Int'l. In press.
- Cook, W.E., et. al. 2006. J Wildl Dis. In press.
- Cornish, T.E., et. al. 2005. J Vet Diagn Invest. 17(2):110-117
- Li, H., et. al., 2000. Vet Microbiol. 71(1-2):27-35.
- O'Toole, D., et. al. 2002. J Vet Diagn Invest 14 (3):183 193
- Simon, S., et. al. 2003. J Gen Virol. 2003 84:2009-2013
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