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The state of Virginia experiences costly disease epizootics every year. Recent losses associated with salmonella outbreaks, inorganic arsenic insecticide toxicosis, allatoxicosis, peanut-vine hay associated acute respiratory distress syndrome, equine Potomac horse fever, avian influenza, bovine neosporosis and cryptosporidiosis, Newcastle's Disease, and mycoplasma mastitis have incurred serious financial losses for food animal producers. The rabies epidemic in raccoon that requires vaccination of pets and livestock and has led to numerous post-exposure prophylactic treatments of people have inflicted severe financial and emotional losses on food animal producers and companion animal owners. The most important objective for these research funds is to conduct a rapid response investigation of disease and impaired productivity of food and companion animal populations in the Commonwealth of Virginia. A rapid means of evaluating enzootic and epizootic diseases can be utilized in the state by relying on modern research technology and expertise. Early detection and investigation of these outbreaks is essential to prevent significant financial losses in Virginia's agricultural animal population through the conduct of controlled, in-depth research projects designed to identify causative agents, define pathogenesis and ultimately provide control and treatment to eliminate further spread of the condition. The objectives of this project are: <p>
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<li>To conduct a rapid response investigation of disease and impaired productivity of food and companion animal populations in the Commonwealth of Virginia.</li>
<li>To investigate disease entities which have been identified as being of unknown etiology and/or having potential risk of causing undue economic loss to agricultural animals in the Commonwealth of Virginia.</li>
<li>To support the generation of baseline productivity data from flocks and herds where record systems are inadequate in order to assess the need and effect of research on productivity levels.
Non-Technical Summary- : Disease and toxic conditions may quickly become epidemics which inflict severe financial and emotional losses on food animal producers and companion animal owners. This project provides resources for early detection, rapid investigation, and thorough response to epidemics, reducing losses and spread of disease. A team of clinicians, nutritionists, epidemiologists and toxicologists must be ready at any moment to help farmers cope with the unforeseen problems. The project main purpose is to conduct a rapid response investigation of disease and impaired productivity of food and companion animal populations in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
<p> Approach- The faculty of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine will continue to monitor disease conditions throughout the state by various means. Examples include presentation of clinical cases to the Blacksburg and Leesburg Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospitals, Ambulatory Health Service clinicians, extension specialists and agents, the statewide Production Management Medicine Unit, state diagnostic laboratories, and practicing veterinarians throughout the Commonwealth. Following the identification of a potential problem, a research team will be sent to the farm where the problem exists. This will be done in conjunction with the Production Management Medicine Service and specialists in those areas likely to be involved. These individuals may include clinicians, parasitologists, toxicologists, epidemiologists, theriogenologists, virologists, bacteriologists, entomologists, nutritionists, or agricultural engineers, depending on the nature of the occurrence. This type of team approach has proven to be most effective in resolving problem situations. Appropriate samples will be collected for analysis at Virginia Tech or at state diagnostic laboratories. The laboratories available at Virginia Tech include virology, bacteriology, parasitology, immunology, ultrastructure, clinical chemistry, hematology, toxicology and nutrition analysis. It is expected that the majority of disease and abnormal conditions identified will be previously recognized diseases, even though they may not have had a serious impact on Virginia agriculture previously. Therefore, the standard diagnostic tests in these laboratories will be sufficient for many diseases. The final phase of a study for new diseases will involve the development of control and treatment procedures. Control procedures will be critical in the event of an infectious or non-infectious epizootic disease. Also, it may be necessary to develop new diagnostic techniques and treatment regimens.