August 1, 2024

 

Cornell University leads fight against avian flu threat in New York, US dairy cattle

Cornell University researchers are stepping up efforts to combat avian influenza in New York, US dairy cattle using state funds, despite no confirmed cases yet in the state, Spectrum News reported.

 

New York legislators approved a US$19.5 million funding package to expand the Animal Health Diagnostic Centre at Cornell University. This decision comes in response to the spread of avian influenza to dairy cattle, confirmed earlier this year in Texas, US.

 

Richard Ball, New York Commissioner of Agriculture, highlighted the urgency of expanding the facility to meet the increasing demands posed by the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and other diseases.

 

In March, the Animal Health Diagnostic Centre reported a positive case of HPAI in a Texas dairy herd. This development has prompted concerns about the disease potentially affecting dairy herds, traditionally seen in the poultry industry. The need for enhanced diagnostics to understand and manage this threat has become evident.

 

Although no cases of HPAI have been detected in New York's dairy cattle, the disease has been reported in 13 other states. Commissioner Ball expressed concerns about the potential spread and emphasised the importance of biosecurity measures within the dairy industry. He noted that lactating dairy animals moving between states are required to be tested for HPAI to prevent transmission.

 

Pasteurisation plays a crucial role in eliminating the virus from milk, ensuring a safe supply. Commissioner Ball assured that extensive testing has been conducted both nationally and within the state to safeguard the milk supply. However, further research is needed to understand the transmission mechanisms of the virus.

 

Diego Diel, director of the virology laboratory at the Animal Health Diagnostic Centre, was among the first to identify mammal-to-mammal transmission of HPAI after analysing milk samples from Texas farms. Initial tests targeting common cattle respiratory pathogens returned negative results, leading to the use of next-generation sequencing, which detected avian influenza sequences.

 

Researchers are still investigating how the virus spreads among cattle, with aerosols produced during milking and mechanical transmission through milking equipment as possible pathways. Infected cows could transmit the virus to others during milking, impacting milk production.

 

Diel mentioned that, to his knowledge, beef cattle have not been affected. He suggested that beef cows might be less susceptible due to the virus's preference for mammary glands, though lactating beef cows could still transmit the virus.

 

Additionally, Diel's research identified domesticated cats and raccoons as positive for the virus. In response, New York requires lactating dairy cattle participating in county and state fairs to test negative for HPAI within seven days. Many of these tests will be processed through the Animal Health Diagnostic Centre.

 

Commissioner Ball urged caution to prevent exacerbating the situation and noted that several states have implemented similar policies. Regulations are also in place for poultry attending fairs, as HPAI poses a significant threat to birds, often resulting in depopulation as the only solution.

 

-      Spectrum News