First EHDV Detection of 2021
Melanie Prarat, M.S., ADDL Central Receiving Section Head
In early September, the ADDL had its first detection of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) of 2021. The detection occurred in a white-tailed deer submitted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. Typing revealed it is EHDV serotype 2 (EHDV-2).
EHD is a viral infection (genus Orbivirus, family Reoviridae) caused by EHDV that is primarily transmitted by biting midges (genus Culicoides) to several species of cervids, especially white-tailed deer. Major geographic expansion of EHDV has occurred during the past 40 years, associated with increasing frequency of large-scale outbreaks. Typically, outbreaks are caused by EHDV-2 in Ohio in the late summer and early fall. Occasionally, EHDV-1 has also been detected in Ohio in the past. In 2020, Ohio had its first detection of EHDV-6, an emerging serotype first documented in the United States in 2006.
If you see dead/sick deer in your area, reporting this helps ODNR track potential disease outbreaks. You can report dead/sick deer by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or by filling out the ODNR Wildlife Species Sighting Report.
For more information about EHD, visit the ODNR Wildlife Diseases EHD webpage.
In September, ADDL hosted Dr. Genet Yamir, Director of the Global One Health Initiative East African regional office and Saro Abdella, Director for HIV and TB directorate at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute for a tour of the lab and a discussion on OneHealth initiatives. (From L to R: Dr. David Newman, Dr. Jing Cui, Melanie Prarat, Saro Abdella, Dr. Genet Yamir, Dr. Alice Roudabush, and Dr. Yan Zhang.)
Federal Cooperative Agreement Updates
Melanie Prarat, M.S., ADDL Central Receiving Section Head
In July, the ADDL received federal funding from the FDA to conduct wastewater surveillance testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) near agricultural communities in Ohio. Since then, the lab has been preparing for the project by purchasing an automated virus concentrating pipette and digital qPCR instrument required for testing. Twice a week, composite samples will be collected from a wastewater plant and shipped to the ADDL for testing. Positive samples will undergo whole genome sequencing to monitor for prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants over time. Results and sequencing will be shared with FDA GenomeTrakr and the Ohio Coronavirus Wastewater Monitoring Network, and sequence data will also be publicly available via NCBI BioProject PRJNA761415.
Columbus Day Holiday
Ohio ADDL will be closed on Monday, October 11th in observance of Columbus Day.
If you need to contact us regarding an urgent matter, please use our after hours phone number: (888) 456-3405.
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