Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study
Date of this Version
July 2005
Abstract
Unexplained Sea Bird Mortality: Since June 12, 2005, there have been numerous reports of dead or dying sea birds along the beaches of the eastern seaboard from Florida to Maryland.
Deer as Hosts of Anaplasmosis: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA)
Vesicular Stomatitis Update: Vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) infection was confirmed in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Utah.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that four transplant recipients had developed severe illnesses after receiving organs from a Rhode Island donor. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection was confirmed in all four patients, making it the second time that organ transplant transmission of this virus has been recorded. Department to identify the source of the virus. It was found that a member of the donor’s family recently had acquired a pet hamster, and LCMV subsequently was isolated from this animal. The house mouse (Mus musculus) is the primary reservoir of LCMV and both have world-wide distribution. Although rates vary by location, it is estimated that 5% of house mice in the United States carry the virus.
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) recently was identified in the United States for the fourth time. In this occurrence, approximately 100 rabbits died at a backyard rabbitry in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. In late May 2005, 8 of 11 rabbits that were purchased at a flea market in Kentucky died 3 days after being introduced into the Indiana rabbitry.
The Wildlife Disease Association (WDA) and the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians (AAWV) have established a memorial fund honoring Drs. E. Tom Thorne and Elizabeth S. Williams.
The Second International Symposium on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was held in Madison, Wisconsin, July 12-14, 2005,
The University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine formed a new Department of Population Health, which includes SCWDS, the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, the Food Animal Medicine Program, and the Laboratory Animal Medicine Program.
Recent publications authored or co-authored by SCWDS staff.
Comments
SCWDS Briefs is available online at http://www.uga.edu/scwds/briefs.htm
Published by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study. Used by permission.