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


For immediate release:

BETTER LINES OF COMMUNICATION CAN IMPROVE BVD CONTROL EFFORTS

	MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. Oct. 17, 2006 -- There is a need for better communication 
between the U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA) and three industry committees on 
the control of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD).

	It was noted at the meeting of the USAHA Committee on Infectious Diseases of 
Cattle, Bison and Camelids here this week that establishment of such lines of communication 
would have significant benefits for BVD control efforts.  The three industry organizations with 
BVD control committees are the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the American 
Association of Bovine Practitioners and the Academy of Veterinary Consultants.  

	All three industry groups have adopted resolutions calling on the dairy and beef 
industries to focus on the control and eventual eradication of BVD from North America.  
These organizations are also currently working on resolutions calling for the full disclosure 
of the status of persistently infected animals before movement.

        BVD is a serious and costly cattle disease.  Symptoms range from mild to severe diarrhea.  
BVD suppresses the immune system, which can lead to other bacterial and viral infections.  
Although persistently infected animals aren't common, they can be difficult to detect.

	It was pointed out that testing for BVD virus in the United States is expanding at an 
exponential rate.  However, some laboratories -- including a significant number of independent 
start-up laboratories -- are using tests that focus more on cost than sensitivity.  Committee 
members emphasized that it was important for diagnostic laboratories to “get it right before 
they make it cheap.” 

	The Committee heard a report on a new diagnostic test developed by the Lawrence 
Livermore National Laboratory in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of California at Davis.  This new diagnostic 
tool reduces the period required to detect foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and six other diseases 
with similar symptoms from days to hours.

	Committee members were given an update on malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) research 
in American bison.  With a steady increase in bison population, MCF is becoming one of the 
most important infectious diseases for North American bison producers -- particularly because 
bison are extremely susceptible to the disease.  Domestic sheep serve as a reservoir for the 
virus that causes most of the MCF bison cases in the United States.

	The Committee also heard a presentation on a global imaging system (GIS) being 
developed for an early warning system for Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus.  RVF is a mosquito-borne 
hemorrhagic disease that causes abortions in cattle, sheep and goats and is often fatal in young 
animals.  Though currently confined mainly to Africa, this disease could be introduced into the 
United States and spread at least as rapidly as West Nile virus did just a few years ago.

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