Virginia Johne’s Disease Control and Prevention Program (VJDCPP)

1. Virginia Johne’s Disease Control and Prevention Program (VJDCPP) Dr. Gillian Comyn, Designated Johne’s Coordinator, Virginia These slides include JD Program information from Drs. Michael A. Carter (National) and Ernest Hovingh (Virginia) Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

2. Johne’s Disease is costly! • Economic • Trade • High prevalence in US herd • Zoonosis? Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

3. National Voluntary Bovine Johne’s Disease Control Program Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

4. State VBJDCP Programs August 2003 Johne's Disease State meeting minimum standards 34 States Not fully compliant Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

5. National Voluntary Bovine Johne’s Disease Control Program • Mission Statement : (Approved USAHA ’95) Assess any potential association between Johne’s and human health and develop and coordinate implementation of a National Johne’s Program. Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

6. National Voluntary Bovine Johne’s Disease Control Program • Help protect the public and animal health, reduce economic burden upon producers and develop a uniform approach for control, herd certification, and eventual eradication of this insidious and costly disease in the USA Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

7. Johne’s Disease Control Program • FY 04 ~ $14,100,000 to States • Education • Producer incentives • Laboratory and data infrastructure • National demonstration project- 18 States: 68 Herds • Field studies-validation of methods Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

8. Purpose Standardize State programs (management plans and testing programs) Foundation for future program activities (animal movement, trade, indemnity, etc) Administration Designated Johne’s disease Coordinator State Johne’s disease Group Johne’s Certified Veterinarians Johne’s Certified Implementers Uniform Program Standards for the Voluntary Bovine Johne’s Disease Control Program - Overview Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

9. Johne’s Disease Control Program • Basic requirements for States to meet the minimum standards • Documentation describing: • Johne’s disease Education program in place • Management program • Test positive program • Test negative program Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

10. National Voluntary Bovine Johne’s Disease Control Program Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

11. Johne’s Disease Control Program • Basic requirements for States to meet the minimum standards • Designated Johne’s disease coordinator (DJC) • Functional State Johne’s working group/advisory committee • Quarterly Reporting – VS Memo 553.6 Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

12. VJDCPP • National Working Group, Regional Johne’s Epi oversight • Cooperative Agreement • State Working Group • Designated Johne’s Coordinator - “DJC” • Johne’s Certified Veterinarians - JCVs • Johne’s Certified Implementers - JCIs • VDACS Laboratory Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

13. Administrative Oversight Review of a State’s VBJDCP Activities and Progress • The Chief Staff Veterinarian, National Center of Animal Health Programs, VS, • Regional Directors, regional epidemiologist, and staff personnel of VS will visit various States • Special evaluation teams comprised of several individuals representing State, Federal, and/or industry and academic interests will make visits to designated States in order to make limited or comprehensive reviews of the State’s VBJDCP. Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

14. DJC Interprets laboratory test results and classifies animals/herds tested with antigen detection (official) and screening (ELISA) tests. Provides training for personnel performing program work. Monitors the involvement of the Johne’s certified veterinarians. Reviews the risk assessments and herd management plans submitted by herd owners and Johne’s certified veterinarians. Periodically audits the program to determine if it is adequately controlling JD in the State. Assists animal health officials, herd owners, and the herd owner’s Johne’s certified veterinarian with developing herd management plans as requested or needed. Participates in State Johne’s Disease Group. Provides required reports to the VS Regional Johne’s disease epidemiologist and the Johne’s staff of VS, National Center of Animal Health Programs, on the progress of the program. Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

15. Johne’s Certified Implementers In Virginia’s JD Program, JCIs provide an objective third party during risk assessments, help develop herd plans, AND are key educators on Johne’s Disease and the Program. Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

16. Johne’s Certified Veterinarians • Johne’s certified veterinarians must be accredited, • Receive additional education on Johne’s disease, and • have the knowledge needed to a. Develop approved herd-management plans. b. Provide appropriate JD risk assessments. Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

17. JCVs… Understand JD epidemiology, testing, and test interpretation. d. Understand State and Federal program requirements. e. Collect and submit fecal, tissue, and blood samples for JD testing. Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

18. Uniform Program Standards for the Voluntary Bovine Johne’s Disease Control Program - Overview Education Management - requires risk assessment and herd management plan Herd Classification-requires risk assessment, herd management plan and testing Test 30 animals that are ≥30 months of age Test Positive Component Optional Assessment Levels Test Negative Component Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

19. Getting Started • Virginia Johne’s Disease Control and Prevention Program offers different levels of participation • Education is the first step • How to enroll? Risk Assessment and Herd Plan • Enrollment incentives  • Lower Test Fees (ELISA, Fecal) for participants • Reimbursement to producer for JCV time to do Risk Assessment/Herd Plan – up to $265.00!! Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

20. Management Level • There is no test requirement at this level – the emphasis is on management! • A herd can renew every 12 (+/- 2) months from anniversary of first enrollment. • For initial year at Management Level, producer may enroll the herd anonymously (JCV keeps record of identity!) • After the first year, the herd must reveal its identity to continue in the program. Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

21. Management Level • Opportunity to put management practices in place • Does not necessarily mean “dirty herd”!!! • In NY State where JD program is well established, and many low prevalence herds, majority of herds (some very low prevalence) are at Management Level. Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

22. Risk Assessment and Herd Plan • Three titles – How To, Dairy, and Beef • 3rd edition – authors of the 3 editions include top JD experts like Drs. Christine Rossiter, and Don Hansen, Mike Collins, Bob Whitlock and many others • Validated risk assessment instrument and weighted risk factors Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

23. Essential Minimum Practices - Dairy Colostrum - use single identified test-negative or healthy low-risk cow; no pooling Milk - use milk replacer or pasteurized milk Age segregation – decreases exposure to MAP Clinical Suspects – Separate and Record Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

24. Minimum management practices— dairy herds Prevent infection!! Maternity area - clean and dry, low density as possible, keep separate from sick pen Newborn calves - immediately separate from dam, other adults Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

25. Minimum management practices— beef herds Calving areas –clean and dry as possible Density of cow and calf pairs –low as possible Feeding –reduce manure contamination of feed and feeding areas as much as possible Colostrum - from the calf’s dam or from another single source from a test-negative or healthy low-risk animal Age segregation - raise weaned replacements separate from older animals Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

26. Minimum biosecurity measures To reduce exposure of susceptible animals to manure or milk from cattle of unknown JD Status Prevent exposure to other susceptible species (e.g., sheep, goats, farmed deer, camelids, nonprogram cattle). The herd management plan – includes biosecurity measures Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

27. Test Levels (From Dr. Hovingh’s Power Point, PSU credits) Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

28. Test Negative Status Levels • The test-negative status option: extensive and repeated diagnostic testing requirements • Allows herds to progress through a series of 4 levels - each representing a greater probability that Johne’s Disease is not present in the herd. • Official Status – known probability of JD infection… Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

29. 3 1 2 4 Test Negative Status – Standard Track- General Concept TEST ELISA 30 ≥ 30 months of age ELISA Subset Culture Subset ELISA Subset ? 85% 95% 98% 99% Herd Status Level Higher Status Level means more likely free of Johne's disease Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

30. Test Negative • Agreement Form – culls, additions within the past 12 months. • Official ID on each animal • Random Sampling… • Renewal – new RA/HP, testing, agreement… Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

31. 3 2 4 Test Negative - Fast Track Option General Concept Statement of no disease for 5 years ELISA Subset Culture Subset ELISA Subset ? 95% 98% 99% Herd Status Level Higher Status Level means more likely free of Johne's disease Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

32. Fast Track • “I am fully aware of the management and disease history of the herd during the past 5 years. • Johne’s Disease is not known or suspected to have existed in the herd during the past 5 years, or on the property during the past 12 months. • No cattle have been introduced from known Johne’s-infected herds or unknown status herds during the past 5 years.” Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

33. Herd Additions • The program allows for herd additions provided they come from same or higher status level herds. Additions from unknown status herds may be added; however, they have to be added according to program rules. • TNS-1 - if the additions are older than 2 years old from unknown status herds - have to have negative ELISA within 30 days prior to entering herd. Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

34. ELISA + Fecal Culture + - Culture appeal- necropsy or full thickness biopsy or six fecal cultures 30 to 45 days apart Uniform Program Standards for the Voluntary Bovine Johne’s Disease Control Program – Appeal Process Within 45 days Suspended pending appeal Animal is considered positive Animal is considered negative Within 30 days Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

35. Test Positive Option • Official level of disease in the herd. • Currently no test-positive program option in Virginia’s Johne’s Program. • If producers express sufficient interest in this option this decision could be re-examined by the Virginia Johne’s Disease Working Group. Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

36. Program Bottom Line • We’re serious about Johne’s Disease • Provide producers with incentives and tools to get rid of Johne’s disease in their herds • Buy AND sell “clean” cows • We want dairy and beef producers in our state to thrive not just survive!!! Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

37. Questions? Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

38. Program Information Gillian Comyn – DJC, Area Epi – USDA APHIS VS in Richmond • 804-771-2774/ gillian.a.comyn@aphis.usda.gov Dee Whittier – Extension Veterinarian, Professor of Food Animal Medicine – VMRCVM • dwit@vt.edu JD link on VDACS website! • http://www.vdacs.state.va.us/ Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH

39. Thank You Gillian Anne Comyn, DVM, MPH