Infectious Diseases & Epidemiology

Davis, Calif. - In a first study of its kind, veterinarians across the country reported on the prevalance of certain common pathogens among the equine population.

Davis, Calif. - Veterinarians at the University of California-Davis (UC-Davis) say they have developed two genetically engineered vaccines to combat Rift Valley fever, a mosquito-borne disease that affects livestock in the Middle East and Africa.

National Report - Parvovirus cases have spiked in some parts of the country, with veterinarians in New York and Arizona reporting increases of 75 percent and 330 percent, respectively.

Helena, Mont. -- The Montana Department of Livestock has quarantined a herd of 150 cattle after six tested positive for brucellosis.

Knoxville, Tenn. -- The Equine Hospital at the University of Tennessee (UT) Veterinary Medical Center was placed under a 7-day quarantine Sept. 16 by the Tennessee State Veterinarian following a confirmed case of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1).

Rome -- A major resurgence of the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza through a mutant strain of the virus is spreading through Asia and global leaders are warning against a possible marriage between the highly lethal bird flu strain and the highly infectious H1N1.

Atlanta, Ga. - Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning consumers and veterinarians to be cautious about buying African dwarf frogs from a California breeding facility.

Lawmakers are forcing groups who bring animals into Connecticut for adoption to have them examined by a veterinarian within 48 hours of importation.

Madison, Wis. - A new vaccine to protect against dengue fever has proven safe and effective in preclinical studies

From the 2011 ACVIM Forum: This test may help differentiate vaccine vs. infection

Athens, Ga. - Veterinary researchers at the University of Georgia will collborate with several universities as part of a nearly $5 million, five-year grant to study a curative vaccine for rabies that could be administered late in the disease process.

Davis, Calif. - Bacteria that cause Lyme disease can hide in lymph nodes, triggering immune responses not quite strong enough to kill the infection, according to a new study from the University of California-Davis (UC-Davis).

Sonoma County, Calif. -- Three cases of the same neurotropathogenic strain of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) that sickened more than two dozen horses during an outbreak in May have been confirmed on a single ranch in Sonoma County, but animal health officials say the two outbreaks are unrelated.

Between 6 and 8 million dogs and cats are admitted to animal shelters each year in the United States. Often the animals admitted are unvaccinated, undernourished, stressed, and carrying one or more diseases. Infection disease control should be an essential component of the care of any animal admitted to a shelter.

Infectious diseases can often be insidious in their clinical presentation. Case studies will be used to highlight some interesting infectious diseases that can affect the feline patient.

Nosocomial or hospital-acquired infections (HAI) are defined as infections that occurred during hospitalization. HAI lead to increased morbidity, mortality and costs. Rates of HAI vary by country, region, and facility.

International Report -- A new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases reports that animals can act as a reservoir to a novel strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Austin -- Swine brucellosis has been completely eradicated in Texas, veterinary officials report.

Outbreaks of equine viral arteritis can be devastating to the equine industry.

Veterinary associations, ACVIM and AAEP, have compiled resources to help veterinarians respond to an equine herpes virus outbreak.

The California state veterinarian's office confirmed 10 new equine herpes virus (EVH-1) cases today, expanding the scope of the outbreak.

Timely initiation of rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is critical to preventing disease in persons exposed to rabid animals.

National Report - Re-emergence of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on American farms may be inevitable, reports a public health expert.

Over the past 3 decades, the number of vaccines licensed for use in dogs and cats has increased significantly. Today, in the United States, the list of companion animal vaccines (proprietary products) numbers about 180.

Chronic bronchial disease (CBD) is a general term used to describe a complex, progressive respiratory syndrome characterized by excessive mucous secretion within airways and thickening (hyperplasia of smooth muscle and epithelium) in the bronchial tree and frequent coughing.

As long as we've known about, tried to diagnose, and attempted to treat feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), it still eludes us! This complex (?.and getting more complex all the time) infection of kittens and adult cats is caused by a feline Coronavirus (FCoV).

Since the original companion animal vaccines were developed and licensed more than 50 years ago, there has been a continuing effort to make vaccines safer and more efficacious. Today, it is generally agreed that the vaccines licensed for dogs and cats have not only saved millions of lives but also have an excellent safety record.

Ringworm is rarely life threatening in household pets, but in the shelter, it can lead to almost unmanageable outbreaks, excessive costs, and euthanasia due to its zoonotic potential.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) poses a serious threat in animal shelters, as a double stranded DNA virus that has rapid spread and the ability to persist in the environment for months to years. Vaccination is the cornerstone to keeping this virus at bay. Although parvoviruses evolve, they tend to be antigenically stable so vaccination confers reliable protection even against newer strains such as CPV 2c.

In just the past 3 to 5 years, advanced diagnostic capabilities have enhanced our ability to detect infectious pathogens in the dog and have given credence to the term "emerging" infections. However, the ever-expanding list of "emerging infectious diseases", in fact, may not be emerging at all?as it appears; many of these infections have, quite likely, existed in dogs for several years.