Image of longhorn tick courtesy of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture
Newly Emerging Invasive Tick Reported in Four States
Dr. Jeff Hayes, ADDL Pathology Section Head
A
tick not previously been known to be present in the U.S., Haemaphysalis longicornis, has been confirmed by the
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in four different states in
the past 7 months, November 2017 through June 2018. It was first identified in
large numbers on the head and ears of a single sheep in Hunterdon County, New
Jersey. In May 2018, this exotic tick,
also known as the longhorn tick or bush tick or East Asian tick, was confirmed on
a beef farm in Albemarle County and on horses in
Warren County, both in Virginia. It has also been found in two farms in Harden
County, West Virginia. In June 2018, this tick was found on a dog in Benton County Arkansas. To date,
no connections among these cases have been identified. It is not known to what
extent this tick is present in these or other counties and states in
the United States.
Haemaphysalis longicornis is native to East Asia, including
China, Japan, Russia, Korea, New Zealand, Australia and other Pacific
islands. It is a known vector of bacterial and viral diseases of both domestic
and wild animals (cattle, horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, cats and
deer). It also has been reported infesting birds and reptiles, and is known to
parasitize human beings. It is associated with transmission of theileriosis to
cattle in New Zealand, and of rickettsial spotted fevers to people in Japan.
One biotype of the tick is parthenogenetic, not requiring a male for
reproduction. Larval and nymphal stages of this 3-stage tick are very small and
difficult to detect. An engorged female may only be as large as a pea. It can
cause stunted growth, decreased production, anemia, weakness, exsanguination
and death when present in large numbers or transmitting diseases. Ticks in
China and Korea have been reported to be infected with Anaplasma, Borrelia and Ehrlichia species.
Livestock
producers and animal owners are encouraged to work with their veterinarians to
develop tick prevention and control programs to protect their animals. In addition, it is important for
people to check themselves as well as their animals for ticks after spending time
outdoors in wooded areas.
Veterinarians
and animal owners are encouraged to be vigilant and to report the finding of
unusual ticks, particularly in large numbers, to the State Veterinarian office
at 614-728-6220 during regular work hours. The Division of Animal Health will
be working closely with the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services and the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife to monitor Ohio.
New Multiplex PCR Assay for Swine Enteric Coronaviruses
ADDL now offers same-day testing for rapid detection of three swine enteric coronaviruses - porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), swine deltacoronavirus (SDCV), & transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) - in porcine feces, swabs, tissues, oral fluid and environmental samples. The real-time multiplex RT-PCR costs $25.00 and is performed Monday thru Friday. This test specifically detects TGEV; previous assays did not differentiate TGEV and porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV). Please call 614-728-6220 if you have questions.
Small Ruminant Testing for Show or Sale Destinations
Anne Parkinson, ADDL Serology Section Head
The ADDL has recently had a significant increase
in submissions from sheep and goat owners for testing associated with intra-
and inter-state shows or sales destinations. Two assays frequently requested for these events are Caseous Lymphadenitis (Corynebacterium
pseudotuberculosis infection) antibody detection and Brucella ovis antibody detection. The ADDL currently does not
perform these assays but outsources them to accredited reference labs. To
ensure receiving timely results the ADDL recommends samples be sent to arrive at least 2 weeks prior
to the event. This allows time for special handling and transportation required
for out-sourced testing. Specific details for each of these assays is provided below.
The antibody detection test currently
recognized by regulatory and exhibition officials for Caseous Lymphadenitis
(CL) in sheep and goats is the synergistic hemolysis-inhibition (SHI)
test. The SHI test quantifies antibodies to an exotoxin produced by the Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis
organism and is interpreted as a serum titer correlating to the risk of
exposure. Currently the ADDL sends
samples to the California Animal Heath and Food Safety lab for this test. If a
practitioner is requesting ONLY the SHI test, then samples can be sent
directly to the CAHFS. Information about CAHFS test dates, fees, turn-around
time and submission form can be found at http://www.cahfs.ucdavis.edu/.
If this test is requested as part of an
accession with other tests being done at the ADDL, we will send the sample for
the client and include results on the accession as an outsourced result.
A second test frequently required
for small ruminant sales and movement is the Brucella ovis antibody detection ELISA test. The ADDL currently
outsources this testing to the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory.
NVSL requires samples to be submitted by a regulatory agency or an accredited
veterinarian approved by USDA/APHIS. If an accredited veterinarian prefers to
send samples directly to NVSL, information about test fees, tests dates and a
submission form can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/lab-info-services.
The ADDL strives to provide high quality and timely
results to clients. Please plan accordingly when requesting these tests and be
sure to allow extra days for samples needing special handling. Call
614-728-6220 if you have any questions.
New Employee Spotlight
The ADDL has a new face in our Central Receiving area - Rose Blocker! Rose graduated from Bradford Veterinary Technology
Institute with an Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary
Technology. While in school, she completed an externship at the ADDL and which included work on the necropsy floor. She is a Registered Veterinary Technician and has also worked in both
clinic and animal shelter settings. In her spare time, Rose enjoys
reading, playing the ukulele, video games and working on training her new
rescue dog, Augustus. Rose has been a great addition to the ADDL team.
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