CMancnttf Fanning, Saturday, May 29, 1993 iuli Poi Itry Penn State Poultry Pointers AVIAN INFLUENZA AND SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS: WHAT’S NEW? Dr. Patty Dunn Dept, of Veterinary Science Avian disease detection and reduction programs, whether they exist at the regulatory, industry, or individual farm level, are constant ly changing. Changes are necessary in response to new circumstances, perceived risks, and evolving sci entific information that impacts on testing and control of the disease. Recent modifications are soon to be enacted in two disease program areas that are of crucial importance to the Pennsylvania poultry indus try: avian influenza and Salmonel la enteritidis. These programs are very diffe rent in scope and objectives. Avian influenza (AI) is of importance to all poultry species and is regulated by state and federal agencies. Highly pathogenic AI can result in disastrous morbidity in bird popu lations. For these reasons, eradica tion of this form of AI is the goal. In contrast. Salmonella enteriti dis (SE) can infect many avian and mammalian species, but very rare ly causes clinical disease in mature poultry species. Salmonella enteri tidis, as currently being addressed in Pennsylvania, is of primary con cern in commercial egg flocks because of the potential for infected hens to periodically lay eggs that contain SE bacteria. If improperly handled or cooked, contaminated eggs used for human consumption can cause outbreaks of human salmonellosis. Because complete elimination of SE from all animal and bird populations and environments is impossible, the goal of SE control measures becomes reducing the risk to publ ic health. Voluntary enrollment of some Pennsylvania chickens flocks in the SE Pilot Project (USDA-VS) has helped to elucidate somepf the epidemiologic data necessary to formulate a risk reduction plan. The following is a brief look at the proposed recent changes in each program. Avian Influenza During the last five months, tens of thousands of samples from Pen nsylvania birds and premises have been tested for AI virus or anti body. Very few positives, indicat ing the presence of HSN2 AI virus, have been found, and most were limited to the live bird markets ex' poultry dealer conveyances or pre mises. Despite extensive testing, no live’HsN2 AI virus has been found in commercial poultry flocks in Pennsylvania during this period. For these reasons, modifications to the present restrictions on Pen nsylvania flocks are being formu lated and will go into effect on or about June 1,1993. The modifica tions are the result of recommen dations of state and federal animal health officials and avian disease specialists representing Pennsyl vania and surrounding states who convened at the Northeast regional meeting of the American Associa tion of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians and the U.S. Ani mal Health Association at Sarato ga Springs, N.Y. on May 18 and 19. The modifications will include a lessening of restrictions on the movement of all poultry. In most instances, this will allow free movement of poultry throughout the state. The current premove ment test requirements on live birds would be suspended. At the same time, sampling of gathering points including live bird markets, auctions, and exhibitions as well as conveyances (trucks, vans, and crates) will intensify for a time. Serologically positive flocks now under quarantine may have another option (other than depopu lation) to qualify for release from quarantine. This will probably involve swabbing of birds and pre mises for AI virus at prescribed intervals as well as placement of sentinel birds. The cooperative Pennsylvania AI surveillance program as cur rently in place will continue to operate. Routine, regular submis sions of blood or eggs will be tested for antibody at the laborato ries in the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory system. These laboratory services are free of charge to the producer. In addition, birds submitted to the laboratories for diagnostic eva luation will routinely be tested for antibody to AI. Any questions regarding the application of these changes should be directed to the ROLLING 0N...1N THE SO'a MEETS THE CHALLENGE Brillion has designed a 3 pt. S-Tine field cultivator with a larger, aggressively angled 12" diameter rolling basket, a 4-bar frame that allows for either 4" or 6- tooth spacing and an adjustable leveler bar in 12', 15’ and 18' sizes. The distance between the four bars has been increased for the best trash flow in the industry. Gauge wheels are optional. I PENNSYLVANIA I Adaimtown ADAMSTOWN EQUIP. INC. Altoona A Crwaon Pennsylvania Department of Agri culture, Bureau of Animal Indus try. (717) 783-5222. Learning from the related exper iences and research of others is an important part of formulating new programs for disease control and risk reduction. On May 19, scientists, veterina rians, and technologists working directly with the SE Pilot Project (USDA-VS) in Pennsylvania had an opportunity to exchange find ings, ideas, and philosophies with Dr. Tom Humphrey of the United Kingdom at an informal meeting at the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, Humphrey is a scientist at the Food Laboratory of the Public Health Laboratory at Exeter. The United Kingdom has recently had extensive experience with moni toring chicken flocks for SE. A particularly virulent strain known as phage type 4 appeared in poultry and eggs in the last 1980 s. result ing in many human food-borne ill nesses and deaths. Fortunately, this dangerous strain of SE is not present in the U.S. Similarities were noted between the northeast U.S. and the United Kingdom in the actual rate of SE contaminated eggs as well as the current difficulties in predicting flocks at high risk for shedding SE into the egg. Some important dif ferences in the experiences of the U.K. compared to the U.S. are: • The human salmonellosis out break and death rates are much higher in the U.K. • Most human outbreaks in the U.K. are related to the consump tion of single-service eggs or egg containing foods prepared in fami ly homes. In die U.S., most out breaks associated with eggs are in institutional or restaurant settings where eggs or egg-containing foods are batch-prepared. • Poultry house rodents do not appear to be as important to the maintenance and spread of SE in the U.K. poultry flocks as they are in the U.S. The United Kingdom is concen trating most of its control efforts in two major areas: 1) maintaining all 3 BASKET HARROWS Carilsis GUTSHALLS, INC. Dovtr GEORGE N. GROSS. INC. HINES EQUIPMENT CO. Easton GEORGE V. Bsehtthvllto MILLER EQUIP. CO. SEIPLE Elhabsthtewn MESSJCK FARM EQUIPMENT CO. Bsiwlek C.H. RINEHMER (SONS Salmonella Enteritidis For Built In Strength Where It Counts Buy CONTACT YOUR BRILLION DEALER FOR DETAILS IntcicourM Mmtmmt QinrryvW* C.B. HOOBER N.H FUCKER & GRUMELU FARM t SON SONS, INC. SERVICE Uncatttr Ntadmon LANDIS aUGSTON BROTHERS, INC. FARM EQUIPMENT Ltfetnon Nmt HoHind UMBERQERS A.B.C. GROFF. INC. OF FONTANA » Laywllt PEOPLES GUTSHALLS, INC. SALES I SERVICE Lynnport Otoy KERMITK. PIKE VALE NSTLER, INC. EQUIPMENT, INC. breeder flocks free of SE and 2) educating consumers in the Stonge and preparation of eggs and egg products. - Additional risk-reduction mea sures in U.K. poultry flocks include the use of competitive exclusion flora (broilers only), lowered stocking densities, acid treatment of poultry feed, and test ing of environments, eggs, and birds for SE to identify high risk flocks. Humphrey also described his research that showed that SE organisms, if present in a newly laid egg, are in very low numbers and found exclusively on the out side of the egg yolk membranes or in the albumen close to the yolk. Factors in the albumen that deter bacterial growth keep the numbers low. However, as the egg ages to 3 to 4 weeks, the yolk membrane breaks down and the SE has access to the yolk material, which is an excellent medium for bacterial growth. At this time, SE numbers increase dramatically, and the egg becomes highly contaminated. The time needed for the break down of the yolk membrane can be greatly increased if eggs are kept at refrigerator temperatures. There fore, in addition to adequate cook ing, an effective way to reduce the risk of consuming highly contami nated eggs is to purchase fresh eggs and keep them refrigerated until use. Farm Credit LEWISBURG (Union Co.) Northeastern Farm Credit, ACA announces the addition of Brian Dygert to the position of “float ing” field representative, receiv ing training and orientation until a service territory is assigned, Dygert is headquartered in the Lewisburg administrative office. Dygert was graduated with an AAS in business administration from Alfred State College and a bachelor's in business administra tion from Fredonia State College. He comes to Farm Credit with an agricultural background of eight years of dairy farming and one year of beef farming. Dygert was formerly employed with Fostei Fields Farm, Inc. He resides in Mifflinburg. HFC FIELD CULTIVATOR The ‘heart" of any field cultivator is the shank pivot point. A “bulked up‘ shank bracket made of cast ductile iron instead of the usual formed steel bracket, incorporated a hardened steel bushing AND a zerk grease fitting to lubricate the pivot point to reduce wear. The result is thousands of acres of extended life of the shanks. Wslsentown BrWgston DEERFIELD AG 1 LESLIE FOGG REED BROTHERS TURF CENTER. INC. EQUIPMENT Discussion also centered on information to help formultte plans for the “Second Her Pro ject," which is a proposed volun tary poultry industry driven quality assurance program in Pennsylva- nia by which many Pennsylvania flocks can be routinely monitored . for SE or SG risk factors. Set guidelines for rodent control, cleaning and disinfecting, and dis position of eggs are being discussed. The Pennsylvania Poultry Fed eration has requested that USDA provide some administrative sup port for such a program. The parti culars of sampling, testing, and administration will be worked out by committees comprised of industry volunteers, with input as needed from SE Pilot Project vet erinarians and university scientists and veterinarians. Farm-based testing may be appropriate in some cases. New laboratory procedures for testing eggs and identification of high risk flocks are being eva luated as ways to decrease labor requirements and turnaround time associated with traditional bacter iologic culture of samples for SG. It is hoped that the program will take shape and be implemented within die next few months, and will probably run simultaneously with the SE Pilot Project for a designated period of time. 16V4 * to 3VA ’ Frederick Rising Sun CERESVILLE FORD AG INDUSTRIAL NEW HOLLAND EQUIPMENT Tamaqua CHARLES SNVDER, INC. Eknsr Fairfield POLE TAVERN CALDWELL EQUIP. TRACTOR & SALES CORP EQUIPMENT WaalGrova 5.6. LEWIS I SON, INC. MARYLAND NEW JERSEY
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