Animal Agriculture and Pathogens

1. Animal Agriculture and Pathogens

2. Terminal Learning Objective: At the conclusion of this session, participants will identify locations in Georgia where specific threats to animal agriculture would have the greatest impact, recognize animal pathogens of concern to agriculture in Georgia, recognize BUDDIES - unusual signs in animals that may indicate serious disease or agroterrorism, and describe protocol for handling and reporting serious animal incidents. Enabling Learning Objectives: 1.1 Identify locations in Georgia where specific threats to animal agriculture would have the greatest impact. 1.2 Recognize animal pathogens of concern to agriculture in Georgia 1.3 Recognize BUDDIES - unusual signs in animals that may indicate serious disease or agroterrorism. 1.4 Describe protocol for handling and reporting serious animal incidents. Slide 1-A

3. Objectives for Participants: • To identify locations in Georgia where specific threats to animal agriculture would have the greatest impact. • To become familiar with animal pathogens of concern to agriculture in Georgia. • To recognize BUDDIES, unusual signs in animals that may indicate serious disease or agroterrorism. • To become familiar with the protocol for handling and reporting serious animal incidents. Slide 2

4. Georgia Poultry ON AN AVERAGE DAY GEORGIA PRODUCES: 24.6 MILLION POUNDS OF CHICKEN MEAT 8.2 MILLION TABLE EGGS 5.7 MILLION HATCHING EGGS Prepared by: Georgia Poultry Federation Source: Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service Slide 3

5. Georgia Poultry & Eggs $0 - $1,000,000 $1,000,000 - $10,000,000 $10,000,000 - $40,000,000 $40,000,000 - $100,000,000 $100,000,000 - $309,000,000 $4.8 Billion Data source: 2004 Farm Gate Value Report, Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, The University of Georgia Slide 4

6. For Activity 2 Slide 5

7. All Other Animal Production $0 - $3,000,000 $3,000,000 - $5,000,000 $5,000,000 - $10,000,000 $10,000,000 - $15,000,000 $15,000,000 - $50,000,000 $1.3 Billion Data source: 2004 Farm Gate Value Report, Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, The University of Georgia Slide 6

8. All Other Animal Production Data source: 2004 Farm Gate Value Report, Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, The University of Georgia Slide 7

9. Georgia Equine Industry • 2nd most valuable commodity in animal ag • 6th overall in farm gate value in Georgia • One of the fastest growing segments of Georgia agriculture • Over 1100 licensed facilities in Georgia • Mostly pleasure Slide 8

10. Cattle Industry Source: Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service Slide 9

11. Milk Cows Source: Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service Slide 10

12. Swine Slide 11

13. Companion Animals • Approximately 3,089,227 households in Georgia • 59% of these households own companion animals • Equals approximately 1.8 million pet owning households • Estimated economic impact of over 3 billion dollars annually Slide 12

14. So What Does It All Mean? • Strong animal industry vital to economy • Close to states with strong animal industries • Many companion animals with close contact with humans • Could be target for animal diseases • Know diseases that are most likely threat • Know how they spread in order to control Slide 13

15. What is a pathogen? • Pathogen is any biologic agent that causes disease Slide 14

16. Classes of biologic agents • Viruses • Bacteria • Fungi • Protozoa • Parasites • Prions All biologic agents are not pathogens! Slide 15

17. Disease and Host • Disease: disruption of normal physiology, causing a negative effect on survival or fitness • Host: an infected animal or plant Slide 16

18. Viruses – the basics • Smallest infectious thing – “non-living” • Composed only of a string of DNA or RNA and some protein • Can’t reproduce on their own – only increase in number inside living cells • Sometimes cause rupture of host cell, dissemination to other cells Examples of viral diseases: the flu, common cold, measles, foot-and-mouth disease, SARS, AIDS, plum pox virus Slide 17

19. Bacteria – the basics • Microscopic, single-celled organisms • Smallest “living” thing • Also most numerous • Can survive on their own, can survive in soil Slide 18

20. How bacteria cause disease • Interfere with normal functioning • Produce toxins • Form clumps that inhibit normal circulation Example of bacterial disease: plague Slide 19

21. Fungi – the basics • Plant-like organisms, but without chlorophyll • Live in dead or decaying organic matter – nature’s recyclers • Many plant diseases are caused by fungus diseases Examples of fungal diseases: rusts, mildews, smuts, athlete’s foot, thrush Slide 20

22. Protozoa – the basics • Free-living single-celled organisms • Protozoa-contaminated food • Protozoa-contaminated water • Cryptosporidium in water supplies Example of protozoal disease: stage of trypanosomes in the blood Slide 21

23. Parasites – the basics • Parasites and hosts – parasite benefits, host is harmed • Parasites can be internal or external Examples of parasitic diseases: “worms”, ticks, mites on animals Slide 22

24. Parasites – “pests” • Insects that feed on plants and animals Examples of pests: boll weevil and screwworm Slide 23

25. Prions – the basics • The most unusual infectious agent • Consists of PROTEIN ONLY • Resistant to usual forms of sterilization such as chlorine, autoclaving, etc. • Cause specific brain diseases (Examples: scrapie, Mad Cow Disease, Chronic Wasting Disease, Human CJD) Slide 24

26. “Infectious” and “Contagious” “Infectious” – any disease caused by a pathogen “Contagious” – can spread directly from one human, animal or plant host to another “Zoonotic” – can spread between humans and animals Slide 25

27. TRANSMISSION of pathogens • Aerosol – spread through air • Direct Contact – spread by rubbing, biting, contact with fluids • Fomite – spread by contact with contaminated objects • Vector – spread by other organisms (biological vs. mechanical) Slide 26

28. Incubation period • Time between infection and presence of clinical signs • Dangerous time when disease could spread without noticing it • Daily biosecurity practices are best prevention Slide 27

29. How diseases could enter the U.S. • Smuggled animals • Wild birds • Importation from a country where disease is not yet recognized • On people Slide 28

30. Monkeypox Virus Slide 29

31. Classical swine fever, Netherlands • 8M hogs killed • $3.4B in losses • Entry via contaminated vehicle Slide 30

32. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Asia • Several hundred million chickens killed over past several years • Strain spreads to humans, cats, pigs • World Health Organization warns that pandemic is imminent Slide 31

33. Exotic Newcastle Disease - California • More than 4M birds depopulated • 4 states affected • 15,000 premises quarantined • 1,600 person task force • >$100M in containment costs Slide 32

34. Pathogen lists and international controls • CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) list • World Organisation for Animal Health (a.k.a. OIE) list Slide 33

35. CDC Category A – Biothreat agents Humans and Animals: • Anthrax • Plague • Botulism • Tularemia • Viral hemorrhagic fevers Humans Only: • Smallpox Slide 34

36. Fourth International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases Atlanta, March 2004 "Three-fourths of the new diseases that have menaced mankind over the past 20 years, and 11 of the 12 most dangerous bioterrorism agents, are animal diseases that have gained the ability to infect humans.” Slide 35

37. High Consequence Livestock Pathogens • Foot-and-mouth disease • Classical swine fever • Rift Valley fever • Highly pathogenic avian influenza • Exotic Newcastle disease Slide 36

38. Foot-and-mouth disease • Caused by a virus • EXTREMELY contagious • SHORT incubation period • Salivation, lameness • LOST PRODUCTION Slide 37

39. Classical swine fever • Caused by a virus • VERY contagious • Depression, diarrhea • Neurologic signs Slide 38

40. Rift Valley fever • Caused by a virus • Spread by mosquitoes as vectors • Results in liver failure and abortions • Zoonotic - INFECTS HUMANS ALSO! Slide 39

41. Highly pathogenic avian influenza • Caused by a virus • Spread by contact, aerosol • Swollen, hemorrhagic combs • Rapid death – approaching 100% death loss • Can be zoonotic – Some strains infect humans Slide 40

42. Exotic Newcastle disease • Caused by a virus • Spread by contact, aerosol • Depression, diarrhea, death Slide 41

43. It pays to remember your BUDDIES! “BUDDIES” are unusual clinical signs in animals that may indicate serious disease or agroterrorism: • Blisters – mouth, nose, teats or hooves • Unusual ticks or maggots • Deaths/Downers – unusually high number of deaths or animals that can not rise and walk • Diarrhea • Illness (high number sick, high number of abortions) • Eating abnormally (will not eat) • Staggering – strange neurological signs, including spasms Be aware of situations when both owners and animals are ill! Slide 42

44. If you spot any of these clinical signs: Notify your local veterinarian! If you cannot reach your local veterinarian or believe that any of these diseases exist, contact: • 404-656-3667 or 800-282-5852 (State Veterinarian) • 800-TRY–GEMA (Nights & Weekends) • 770-922-7860 (USDA Area Veterinarian in Charge -24/7) Slide 43

45. Reference List For More Information See Your Textbooks – • Protecting Georgia’s Agriculture and Food – Agrosecurity. Chapter 1. • Protecting America’s Agriculture and Food – Agrosecurity. Chapters 1 and 4. Slide 44