USAHA News

Contacts: 
Larry Mark (703) 451-3954; ldmark@erols.com
United States Animal Health Association
Jim Kearns (307) 766-2670; jkearns@uwyo.edu
Media Relations, University of Wyoming; Laramie, Wyoming


For immediate release:

USAHA and University of Wyoming Release the Laramie Agenda, "A Report on
Research Needs for Elimination of Brucellosis in Free-Ranging Elk and Bison"

     RICHMOND, VA/PINEDALE, WY - Sept. 14, 2006 -- The United States Animal
Health Association (USAHA) and the University of Wyoming announced the availability of the
Technical Report and accompanying Laramie Agenda that document the findings of a three-day
working symposium held a year ago at the University on August 16-18, 2005
(http://www.uwyo.edu/enr/ienr/Projects/BrucellosisSymposium.asp).  Scientific experts invited
to the working symposium addressed the research needs for vaccines, vaccine delivery systems
and diagnostic tools for use in addressing the problem of brucellosis in elk and bison.

     "The nation is at a crossroads regarding this issue (brucellosis)," said USAHA Immediate
Past President Rick Willer, who appointed the special committee that planned the working
symposium.  "We have to make an investment in research for better tools to successfully address
this disease in elk and bison," he added.  Current USAHA President Bret Marsh, chair of
the special committee appointed by Willer, stated that "although the decision is difficult, the
choice is clear.  USAHA firmly believes we can eliminate this disease providing we make the
investment in the needed research now."

     In response to one of the conclusions of the working symposium held at the University,
Dr. William Gern, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, announced the
University's commitment to facilitate the formation of a consortium of federal, state, university
and private researchers to oversee and coordinate the ten-year research agenda.  "We have to
ensure that the research is coordinated to guarantee productivity and deliverables," Gern said. 
"We believe the University of Wyoming is in an ideal position to take the lead in establishing the
consortium since Wyoming is perhaps the state most impacted by brucellosis in wildlife," he
added.

     Brucellosis is an infectious disease of cattle, elk and bison caused by the bacteria Brucella
abortus.  It causes abortion and reduced fertility.  Although it has been nearly eliminated from
livestock in this country, the last remaining reservoir is elk and bison in the Greater Yellowstone
Area (GYA).  Brucellosis can spill over to cattle from infected elk and bison, resulting in a
significant economic impact on the cattle industry in the states surrounding the GYA, as has been
seen in Wyoming and Idaho.  It can also have an impact on the nation's cattle industry as a whole
due to international marketing restrictions.

     The Laramie Agenda as well as other animal health and welfare issues affecting the
nation's livestock industries will be addressed at the 110th annual meeting of USAHA, to be held
in conjunction with the 49th annual conference of the American Association of Veterinary
Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) at the Minneapolis Hilton, Oct. 12-18.

     USAHA, the nation's animal health forum for more than a century, is a science-based,
national organization of state and federal animal health agencies, international animal health
agencies, state and federal wildlife agencies, national allied organizations, district representatives
and individual members.  It was founded in 1897 to protect animal and public health.  AAVLD is
a national organization that coordinates animal disease diagnostic activities of regulatory,
research and service laboratories, and disseminates information relating to diagnosis of animal
diseases.

     The Technical Report and Laramie Agenda is available on the USAHA web site
(www.usaha.org/pubs/).  Information on the USAHA annual meeting is available at
www.usaha.org.  In addition to the joint scientific session, there are scheduled meetings of
USAHA's 33 species- and subject-oriented science-based committees and more than 20
supporting industry and professional organizations. At its annual conference, AAVLD will hold
11 scientific sessions, 5 symposiums, and 29 committee and subcommittee meetings.  Additional
information on the AAVLD annual conference is available at www.aavld.org.

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