USAHA News 
United States Animal Health Association 
Contact: Larry Mark (703) 451-3954; ldmark@erols.com 

For immediate release: 

USAHA Holds Workshop on Brucellosis Vaccines, Diagnostics and Delivery Systems

RICHMOND, Va., Aug.  22, 2005 - New solutions to an old problem were discussed during 
a three-day workshop held at the University of Wyoming last week.  The workshop brought 
together more than 50 top researchers and scientists from across the nation as well as 
from Canada, Russia and New Zealand to focus on brucellosis in bison and elk, and to 
identify new and improved brucellosis vaccines and diagnostic tools, as well as systems 
to deliver those
vaccines.

The workshop, underwritten by the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Department of Interior's National Park Service, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey, was planned by a special 
committee appointed by United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) President Rick 
Willer.  "The committee was appointed to address the extremely complex brucellosis 
issues in the Greater
Yellowstone Area," said Willer.  "My first charge to the special 
committee was to come up with a research roadmap to address the shortfalls in existing 
vaccines, delivery systems and diagnostic tools," Willer added.

The workshop participants identified immediate projects to address brucellosis in bison 
and elk, including analysis of existing knowledge on vaccine efficacy, new challenge 
studies, improvement of bio-bullet delivery, standardization of test protocols and 
establishing a network of collaborating scientists.  Longer term projects discussed 
during the workshop included identification and testing of new vaccines and delivery 
systems, improvement of diagnostic tools, better understanding of disease processes in 
bison and elk, and identifying innovative funding sources.

USAHA President-Elect Bret Marsh, chair of the special committee, reported that the 
workshop was a tremendous success.  "We expect that a draft report from the workshop 
will be shared at USAHA's Annual Meeting in Hershey, Pennsylvania, November 3-9, 2005, 
as well as in a number of different forums," Marsh said.  "The report will be used as 
a credible request of Congress for future research initiatives that will help address 
brucellosis control and eradication in bison and elk," Marsh added.  In addition, Marsh 
anticipated exploring other avenues for funding outside of government.

USAHA is a 109 year-old science-based, national organization made up of state and federal 
animal health officials, laboratory diagnosticians, national allied industry organizations, 
livestock producers, veterinarians, wildlife health experts and research scientists.  It 
serves as a forum for communication and coordination on issues of animal disease control, 
public health, homeland security and animal welfare, and as a clearinghouse for new 
information and methods that may be incorporated into laws, regulations, policy and programs.  
USAHA acts to develop solutions to animal health-related issues based on science, new 
information and methods, public policy, risk/benefit analysis, and the ability to develop 
consensus for changing laws, regulations, policies and programs.   For more information about 
the organization, visit USAHA's website (www.usaha.org).       
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