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Avian influenza in dairy cattle, the opinion of Quebec specialists
The risk of Canadian herds being infected is real
By Marie-Josée Parent
Published: 3 days ago
With eight US states having confirmed dairy cows infected with avian influenza, the situation is of concern to authorities and producer and veterinary associations. Not just in the United States, but here in Canada as well.
The president of the Association of Veterinary Doctors of Quebec (AMVPQ), Jean-Yves Perreault, explains that since the first case in Texas (March 25, 2024), organizations working in the cattle sector have been on alert. The AMVPQ is linked to the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) which covers North America, the Canadian Association of Bovine Veterinarians (ACVB), as well as the Dairy Farmers of Canada (PLC), the Dairy Producers du Québec (PLQ), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec (MAPAQ).
“Since the first case in Texas, almost every day there have been communications from the AABP, governments, various associations that we relay and follow up with producers and veterinarians,” explains Jean-Yves Perreault. On Friday, the PLC even organized a webinar to explain the situation to its members.
Currently, there are no cases of cattle infected with avian influenza in Canada. In the United States, 24 dairy herds were declared infected in three weeks.
Professor Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, a specialist in biosecurity on farms and strategies for controlling notifiable infectious diseases, is not very worried about the health of dairy cattle.
However, the fact that the virus which has been raging for several years does not behave in the classic way worries him more. This virus affects waterflies more, which do not die quickly. This is what allowed the virus to arrive in North America where it was not expected, and that it was able to spread throughout America.
Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt is worried about possible mutations of the virus. “If pigs were to become infected, that would concern me because humans share the same receptors as pigs,” he says. Receptors are what allow the virus to infect a species.
According to Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, the first cases in American dairy cows were detected somewhat by chance. The possibility that a sick cow moved to another state is the cause of spread in dairy herds is unlikely. It is the presence of infected birds near the farm that is targeted as the cause.
According to him, the recent increase in infected farms is linked to a greater number of tests. “The reason why they tested the cows was because they saw that there were lots of dead birds around these cows,” he explains. And when cows tested positive, other cases were tested.
High alert level
Jean-Yves Perreault explains that the alert level is currently high. He anticipates a drop in the level of risks with the hot season, because the virus survives less long in summer. “Considering that there is still a fairly significant presence of the pathogen in wildlife – wild animals – there is a high degree of vigilance and alert,” explains Jean-Yves Perreault.
For a cattle herd infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, the animals are not very sick. Older animals are more affected than young ones. The virus attacks the respiratory tract and causes a rise in temperature. As a result, cows may demonstrate a slight drop in milk production. Transmission from one cattle to another is low, compared to avian species.
Unlike poultry farms, affected cattle herds are not slaughtered. The policy is to confine the site to quarantine the herd and to put in place biosecurity measures. Sick cows recover after some time.
According to Jean-Yves Perreault, the fact that dairy herds are confined indoors provides a certain protection. However, he points out that the tendency to turn animals outside for an improvement in animal welfare, with animals grazing or exercising, can increase the risk. The virus is present in wildlife. “There is no such thing as zero risk,” he says.
According to Jean-Yves Perreault, it would be imprudent to say that there will be no cases in Quebec and Canada. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt also thinks that Canada will not be spared.
Jean-Yves Perreault also explains that the cattle associations would like to rename the virus since it is no longer just an avian virus. The virus can be present in several species and demonstrate different clinical signs in one species compared to others. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt explains that there are currently more than 40 mammals infected with the virus and some 272 avian species.
The CFIA reminds that pasteurized dairy products pose no risk for consumption. Only one farm worker has been infected so far.
https://www.lebulletin.com/elevage/mobilisation-influenza-aviaire-bovins-laitiers-133122
Avian influenza in dairy cattle, the opinion of Quebec specialists
The risk of Canadian herds being infected is real
By Marie-Josée Parent
Published: 3 days ago
With eight US states having confirmed dairy cows infected with avian influenza, the situation is of concern to authorities and producer and veterinary associations. Not just in the United States, but here in Canada as well.
The president of the Association of Veterinary Doctors of Quebec (AMVPQ), Jean-Yves Perreault, explains that since the first case in Texas (March 25, 2024), organizations working in the cattle sector have been on alert. The AMVPQ is linked to the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) which covers North America, the Canadian Association of Bovine Veterinarians (ACVB), as well as the Dairy Farmers of Canada (PLC), the Dairy Producers du Québec (PLQ), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec (MAPAQ).
“Since the first case in Texas, almost every day there have been communications from the AABP, governments, various associations that we relay and follow up with producers and veterinarians,” explains Jean-Yves Perreault. On Friday, the PLC even organized a webinar to explain the situation to its members.
Currently, there are no cases of cattle infected with avian influenza in Canada. In the United States, 24 dairy herds were declared infected in three weeks.
Professor Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, a specialist in biosecurity on farms and strategies for controlling notifiable infectious diseases, is not very worried about the health of dairy cattle.
However, the fact that the virus which has been raging for several years does not behave in the classic way worries him more. This virus affects waterflies more, which do not die quickly. This is what allowed the virus to arrive in North America where it was not expected, and that it was able to spread throughout America.
Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt is worried about possible mutations of the virus. “If pigs were to become infected, that would concern me because humans share the same receptors as pigs,” he says. Receptors are what allow the virus to infect a species.
According to Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, the first cases in American dairy cows were detected somewhat by chance. The possibility that a sick cow moved to another state is the cause of spread in dairy herds is unlikely. It is the presence of infected birds near the farm that is targeted as the cause.
According to him, the recent increase in infected farms is linked to a greater number of tests. “The reason why they tested the cows was because they saw that there were lots of dead birds around these cows,” he explains. And when cows tested positive, other cases were tested.
High alert level
Jean-Yves Perreault explains that the alert level is currently high. He anticipates a drop in the level of risks with the hot season, because the virus survives less long in summer. “Considering that there is still a fairly significant presence of the pathogen in wildlife – wild animals – there is a high degree of vigilance and alert,” explains Jean-Yves Perreault.
For a cattle herd infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, the animals are not very sick. Older animals are more affected than young ones. The virus attacks the respiratory tract and causes a rise in temperature. As a result, cows may demonstrate a slight drop in milk production. Transmission from one cattle to another is low, compared to avian species.
Unlike poultry farms, affected cattle herds are not slaughtered. The policy is to confine the site to quarantine the herd and to put in place biosecurity measures. Sick cows recover after some time.
According to Jean-Yves Perreault, the fact that dairy herds are confined indoors provides a certain protection. However, he points out that the tendency to turn animals outside for an improvement in animal welfare, with animals grazing or exercising, can increase the risk. The virus is present in wildlife. “There is no such thing as zero risk,” he says.
According to Jean-Yves Perreault, it would be imprudent to say that there will be no cases in Quebec and Canada. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt also thinks that Canada will not be spared.
Jean-Yves Perreault also explains that the cattle associations would like to rename the virus since it is no longer just an avian virus. The virus can be present in several species and demonstrate different clinical signs in one species compared to others. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt explains that there are currently more than 40 mammals infected with the virus and some 272 avian species.
The CFIA reminds that pasteurized dairy products pose no risk for consumption. Only one farm worker has been infected so far.
https://www.lebulletin.com/elevage/mobilisation-influenza-aviaire-bovins-laitiers-133122