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Dr. Jeff Hayes, DVM, MS, Pathology Section Head
There have been seven reported cases of west Nile Virus infection in horses in the last two weeks of August this year. Cases have been reported from Holmes (2), Lorain (2), Medina, Tuscarawas / Stark, and Wayne Counties as of August 29, 2018. None of the seven affected horses were vaccinated against WNV. Onset of clinical signs has ranged between August 6 and 20, 2018. Four horses had to be euthanized, and three have reportedly recovered from the illness. Four were Standardbreds, and one each were Haflinger, Paint and a Mini horse. Ages ranged from 1 to 22 years, and five were female and two were geldings. Clinical signs reported have included fever; stiffness; tremors and fasciculations of the lip, face, neck and shoulders; lip droop; reluctance or inability to move; ataxia; rear limb paresis; recumbency and depression.
Practitioners are encouraged to advise owners to vaccinate their horses and to report positive test results to the Ohio Department of Agriculture at 614-728-6220. ODA is working closely with the Ohio Department of Health and local health departments to increase awareness of WNV activity around the state so that public health issues can be addressed.
In addition to vaccinations, horse owners should work to reduce the mosquito population and eliminate possible breeding areas. Recommendations include: removing stagnant water sources; keeping animals inside during the bugs' feeding times, which are typically early in the morning and evening; and using mosquito repellents.
 Senecio glabellus or now called Packera glabella which occurs in some uncultivated Ohio fields.
Dr. Diane Gerken, DVM, ABVT Veterinary Toxicologist
This plant is Senecio glabellus or now called Packera glabella which occurs in some uncultivated Ohio fields. This is a picture indicating possible plant density in the springtime. If you made hay/haylage with this plant in it, the recommendation is to NOT feed it to livestock or horses. Also, do not use as pasture for any grazing animal.
ODA-ADDL personnel have been involved in two separate cases (one with classic pathology and the second with a positive chemical analyses for the specific pyrrolizidine alkaloids in this plant) with animals affected in the past year. This plant contains at least one toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA), senecionine but reported to contain more. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids cause liver disease in humans and animals after either acute or chronic exposure to contaminated feed/food.
The liver is the primary target tissue of toxicity resulting in the signs of anorexia, depression, icterus, visceral edema, and ascites in acute exposures. The chronic exposure signs are photosensitivity, icterus, increased susceptibility to other liver diseases or there may be no overt signs except failure to thrive. These alkaloids are liver-bioactivated to toxic metabolites (pyrroles), which remain in the liver for long periods of time (perhaps months to years) causing cumulative cellular cytotoxicity. Also In many animals (ruminants and horses), once ingested, absorption from the gastrointestinal tract can continue to occur over weeks even if not ingested again. Younger animals are more susceptible that older ones. Animals with marginal nutrition are more susceptible than ones with good nutrition. Poultry are also susceptible. Females excrete PAs in their milk so nursing animals will be exposed and for humans, there is a public health issue due to the milk contamination.
Why is this important now? To prevent further exposure to these plants in pastures and hay fields, the preferred time to control this plant is in the fall. A website for herbicide selection and timing of application from field trials is http://bulletin.ipm.illnois.edu/print.php?id=1232. Other sources of information - https://agnr.osu.edu/sites/agnr/files/imce/pdfs/Beef/Cressleaf.pdf and https://bygl.osu.edu/node/706.
 Tips Regarding Expedited Shipping to the ADDL
Anne Parkinson, BS, ADDL Serology Section Head
The ADDL is strongly recommending that any expedited
shipping to the laboratory be thru either UPS, FEDEX or private courier to
ensure that packages arrive in a timely fashion. When samples are shipped thru the United States
Postal Service (USPS) using Express Overnight or other USPS expedited services,
packages are NOT delivered directly to the laboratory and remain at the post office until picked up by the ODA campus mail service. This pick up is usually between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. in the
morning. Packages arriving to the post office after 9 a.m. will not arrive in the laboratory until the next morning.
Even with arrival to the laboratory the
next day, test deadlines may not be met for these samples, as testing for the
day in the laboratory begins at 7:30 a.m. Please be aware of this potential pitfall
and consider shipping by a courier for expedited samples. Also clients are advised to let the laboratory know ahead of time about
expedited samples – regardless of shipping method – so that our staff will be alerted,
and they will prioritize these requests so that clients in immediate need of
results will be assisted.
Please call 614-728-6220 if you have any questions and thanks for your help in ensuring we provide results to you in a timely fashion.
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ADDL
Participates in NAHLN Exercise for Newcastle Disease
Anne Parkinson, BS, ADDL Serology Section Head
The
ADDL recently had the opportunity to participate in a National Animal Health
Laboratory Network (NAHLN) tabletop exercise concerning a simulated velogenic Newcastle
Disease outbreak. The objectives of the exercise were to test BSL-3 laboratory capabilities, test capacity in handling large volumes of samples, zoonotic consideration with this virus and communications between county, state, and federal regulatory officials and stakeholders in the poultry industry. The exercise lasted three days and responses to the scenario and 'injects' were provided in real time periodically throughout the three-day time
period. Forty animal disease diagnostic laboratories across the participated in this event. Lessons learned from this exercise will help strengthen the United States preparedness and ability to respond to high risk, high consequence animal disease events.
Customer Service Contact: Good Bye/Hello
 Anne Parkinson (left) with Linda Barber (right).
Dr. Bev Byrum, DVM, PhD, ADDL Director
We are pleased and sad to announce the retirement of Linda Barber, Central Receiving Supervisor and Customer Service Coordinator effective October 1, 2018. Linda has been a dedicated employee at the ADDL for 31 years. Her dedication to service and our clients will be sorely missed and has contributed significantly to the continued success of the ADDL.
Linda’s plans for retirement include just taking some time OFF for a month or so, then volunteering with senior citizens and the developmentally disabled in Fairfield County. We wish her the very best as she enters a new chapter in her life.
We are excited to announce that Anne Parkinson, Serology Supervisor, has been named ADDL Customer Service coordinator. Anne has many years of experience with the ADDL and has served as Linda’s back up in this role. Anne can be reached directly at 614-995-1495. You may send inquiries regarding accessions, tests, and Portal Accounts to Anne at Agranimal@agri.ohio.gov.
Excellent customer service has been achieved at the ADDL through the dedicated efforts of people like Linda and Anne. We look forward to continuing to serve you.
 The Ohio ADDL will be closed on Monday, September 3rd, 2018 in observance of Labor Day.
For additional information and resources, please visit our website. If you need to contact us regarding an urgent matter, please use our after hours phone number: (888) 456-3405.
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