Infectious Diseases & Epidemiology

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.

The feline retroviruses, FeLV and FIV, today are well recognized for their ability to cause profound immune-suppressive disease in cats throughout the world. Clearly among the most complex infections affecting the cat, a retroviral infection demands an immune response that is robust and sustained if the infected cat is to survive long-term.

In shelters, there are many causes of diarrhea in felines. The predominant player that is of most significance is feline panleukopenia, but there are other pathogens that should not be overlooked when faced with an ill cat with diarrhea.

While both parenteral and topical vaccines prevent signs of illness in exposed dogs, there are significant differences between the two products. First: in the only comparative challenge study published to date, it was shown that dogs vaccinated with a single dose of a topical (intranasal) vaccine were protected from infection and bacterial shedding.

Keeping cats indoors has become common veterinary advice to reduce the risk of exposure to infectious diseases and injury from vehicles or other animals. This advice may not be completely beneficial for cats, however. As early as 1925, Kirk suggested that "too close confinement to the house" increased the risk of lower urinary tract signs (LUTS). Results of subsequent epidemiological studies have confirmed his observations.

Polk County, Mo. -- A Missouri farm was quarantined and is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after an outbreak of Avian influenza (H7N3).

Why you should be on the lookout for this condition in cats.

Animals can become infected with leptospirosis through direct and indirect transmission.