Unknown Disease In Dairy Cows (Texas, Kansas & New Mexico) - USDA confirmed HPAI on March 25, 2024 - Hx of Influenza In Cattle

[Michael Coston]

Curious Reports of Unknown Disease In Dairy Cows (Texas, Kansas & New Mexico)

Credit Wikipedia



#17,964

While we tend to focus primarily on diseases infecting humans, we live in a diverse, and highly interconnected eco-system. Diseases that currently only affect other species have a bad habit of eventually spilling over into humans - and even when they don't - they can have huge impacts on our lives in other ways.

In 2018 we watched as African Swine Fever swept across China, which led to the loss of more than 50% of China's pig production (African Swine Fever In China: Epizootic or An EpicZootic?), increasing food insecurity while causing tremendous economic losses.​

Although avian influenza remains primarily a disease of birds, we've seen a few thousand spillovers (H5, H7, H9, etc.) to humans over the past 30 years - and a growing number of mammalian infections - raising concerns that our current global HPAI H5 epizootic could eventually lead to a pandemic.

The same can be said for the myriad of swine-influenza viruses circulating in pigs around the world (see EID Journal: Zoonotic Threat of G4 Genotype Eurasian Avian-Like Swine Influenza A(H1N1) Viruses, China, 2020).​

While most of these diseases will never successfully jump to humans, the WHO warns:

It is estimated that, globally, about one billion cases of illness and millions of death occur every year from zoonoses. Some 60% of emerging infectious diseases that are reported globally are zoonoses. Over 30 new human pathogens have been detected in the last three decades, 75% of which have originated in animals [1].​

So reports, such as we are seeing this week from Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico of an as-yet-unidentified disease affecting dairy cattle in the American Midwest are worthy of our attention. There are no indications that it can infect humans at this time, but scientists are just beginning to recognize its presence.

Dairy owners are reported their cows are suffering from a `flu-like' condition, with a concurrent drop in milk production. The disease was apparently first reported in the Texas Panhandle. The following notice appeared this week on the Texas Animal Health Commission's website.

TAHC is aware of reports of a condition lending to a loss of milk production among some dairy cattle. Government, industry, and veterinary medical practitioners are working together to monitor reported cases, develop a case definition, and conduct additional diagnostics. TAHC and the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) urge dairies to promptly report affected animals to TVMDL-Canyon and submit samples for testing.

Dairy Level Guidance:​

• In addition to biosecurity best management practices, it is recommended that dairies implement enhanced biosecurity measures to protect their facilities. It is recommended to limit persons coming onto dairies to employees and essential personnel only.

• If you believe dairy cattle within your herd are showing signs of this condition, contact your herd veterinarian immediately. Veterinarians at the dairy facility level can best assess these animals, decide on appropriate supportive care, and determine the appropriate samples to be taken and diagnostics to be performed.

• • Veterinarians may call Dr. Alexis Thompson at TVMDL-Canyon, 806-651-7478, to make case specific diagnostic plans and receive guidance on sample collection.

• General situational updates will be provided here, on the TAHC website. General and media inquiries should be directed to public_info@tahc.texas.gov, or 800-550-8242.

New Mexico's Livestock board provides additional details:

New Mexico’s State Veterinarian Issues Update on Animal Health Situation​

Illness impacting some dairy cattle in New Mexico and Texas is under investigation

The New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB), working in conjunction with other local, state and federal agencies, is aware of an ongoing Animal Health Situation at dairies in Texas and New Mexico. The NMLB is utilizing its vast resources to ensure the food supply chain remains safe and secure.

Veterinarians in New Mexico are being urged to check with other states on receiving requirements of all cattle prior to shipment.

Recently, dairy farms in the Texas Panhandle experienced a still undefined illness in some dairy cows. Affected dairy facilities are reporting that only a portion of the herd (an estimated 5% to 20%) is showing clinical signs. Observed symptoms include:​

• Reduced milk production
• Unexpected drop in feed intake
• Thick, colostrum-like milk
• Tacky feces +/- diarrhea
• Low-grade fever
• Dehydration
• Mild respiratory symptoms

The New Mexico Agriculture Livestock Incident Response Team (NM-ALIRT) – a cooperative effort between NMLB, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and New Mexico State University’s College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (NMSU ACES) – has been activated. Together they will help provide a timely response throughout this Animal Health Situation.

Importantly, there is no known threat to the state’s milk supply nor have there been any known deaths of cattle linked to the illness. Furthermore, symptoms are only being reported primarily in mid-lactation cows and older milkers. Other livestock such as horses, beef cattle, sheep and goats are not being impacted. There is also no known threat to human health.

In Texas, which was the first to report the illness, most dairy cows are recovering within two to three weeks. However, in some cases, milk production has been slow to return. This could cause a financial strain on some dairy producers in the state.

Dairy producers are encouraged to implement enhanced biosecurity measures by limiting the amount of traffic into and out of their properties and restricting visits to employees and essential personnel only. Routine and quality testing continues to occur to ensure that only safe milk and meat enter the food supply. Impacted dairy cows are being segregated, as is normal practice with any animal health concern.

New Mexico producers and veterinarians who observe any of the symptoms listed above are strongly encouraged to contact the New Mexico Livestock Board.

Updates will be posted to the NMLB website.​

Even though it hasn't yet been reported in their state, we get the following from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, which (unlike New Mexico) suggests that some cattle deaths may have occurred.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has been made aware of several cases of an unusual disease in dairy cattle in Texas. UDAF is monitoring the situation and is working with our cattle industry groups to provide accurate information to producers and veterinarians. There are no restrictions on cattle imports from Texas at this time.​

The cause of this disease has not been determined, but, to date, dairies in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico have reported cattle with the same or similar symptoms. This disease has only affected dairy cattle so far. Symptoms of this disease include a sudden drop in milk production, thickened colostrum-like milk, a drop in feed consumption, reduced rumen motility, tacky feces or diarrhea, and some fever. Some cows also developed pneumonia or mastitis. Older cows appear to be the most severely affected, while dry cows and heifers (non-milk producing) do not appear to be affected. Instances of death in these cattle have been rare.​

Likewise, the Pennsylvania State Extension office posteda reportlate last week, which included the following advice:

The Texas Animal Health Commission, along with other organizations are investigating the epidemiology of this disease to determine how it spreads. Once this information is released, the next steps for dairy farms will be much clearer. Until that time, dairies should focus on watching for signs of this disease and ramping up biosecurity.​

A few important biosecurity practices are:​

• Provide boots or boot covers for visitors regardless of whether they will enter animal areas or not.
• Provide all workers, both employees and family, work boots dedicated to the farm that do not go elsewhere.
• Keep a log of visitors to the operation.
• Should this spread beyond Texas, further biosecurity measures may be warranted including:

• • Limit visitors to those essential to the operation and exclude visitors from animal areas when possible.
  • Discuss biosecurity options with your veterinarian if new cattle enter the herd or heifers return from a mixed-source heifer grower.

Whether this is just a flash in the pan, or the start of a wider outbreak is impossible to say. It has, however, captured the attention of dairy farmers and agricultural departments well beyond the 3 affected states.

Hopefully we'll have better answers next week.


https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/03/curious-reports-of-unknown-disease-in.html
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[sharon sanders]

I am not implying the above phenomena is HPAI but of interest is:

"Young goats on a Stevens County farm recently tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health." - March 19, 2024

"This is the first U.S. detection of HPAI in a domestic ruminant (cattle, sheep, goats, and their relatives)."​

 

[sharon sanders]

From:
"APHIS Stakeholder Registry" <aphis@subscribers.usda.gov>[Add to Address Book or Unsubscribe]
To: "FluTrackers" <flutrackers@earthlink.net>
Subject: Federal and State Veterinary, Public Health Agencies Share Update on HPAI Detection in Kansas, Texas Dairy Herds
Date: Mar 25, 2024 3:52 PM​ [TABLE="align: center, border: 0, cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
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[TD]Wild migratory birds believed to be source of infection; viral testing and epidemiologic efforts continue

Commercial milk supply remains safe due to both federal animal health requirements and pasteurization

Contact:
APHISpress@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state veterinary and public health officials, are investigating an illness among primarily older dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico that is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms.

As of Monday, March 25, unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as an oropharyngeal swab from another dairy in Texas, have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Additional testing was initiated on Friday, March 22, and over the weekend because farms have also reported finding deceased wild birds on their properties. Based on findings from Texas, the detections appear to have been introduced by wild birds. Initial testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans, which would indicate that the current risk to the public remains low.

Federal and state agencies are moving quickly to conduct additional testing for HPAI, as well as viral genome sequencing, so that we can better understand the situation, including characterization of the HPAI strain or strains associated with these detections.

At this stage, there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health. Dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption; milk from impacted animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the food supply. In addition, pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce.

Federal agencies are also working with state and industry partners to encourage farmers and veterinarians to report cattle illnesses quickly so that we can monitor potential additional cases and minimize the impact to farmers, consumers and other animals. For the dairies whose herds are exhibiting symptoms, on average about ten percent of each affected herd appears to be impacted, with little to no associated mortality reported among the animals. Milk loss resulting from symptomatic cattle to date is too limited to have a major impact on supply and there should be no impact on the price of milk or other dairy products.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, and USDA and federal and state partners will continue to share additional updates as soon as information becomes available. More information on biosecurity measures can be found here.[/TD]
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[Michael Coston]

A Brief History Of Influenza A In Cattle/Ruminants




The host range for all four types (IAV, IBV, ICV, and IDV) of influenza viruses.




#17,967

The report yesterday that dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, (and likely) New Mexico have been infected with HPAI H5N1 - which followed the previous week's report of infected goat kids in Minnesota - is surprising, but not entirely without precedent.

As noted previously, in 2008 researchers at Germany's FLI successfully infected four calves with an older clade of HPAI H5N1 (see EID Journal Experimental Infection of Cattle with HPAI H5N1), but reports of natural infection have been rare.​

Admittedly, cattle are only rarely tested for HPAI, but a 2013 an H5N1 seroprevalence study in Egypt found that - while some horses, donkeys, and swine in the region showed evidence of past infection - cattle, sheep, goats and buffalo did not (see Sero-prevalence of Avian Influenza in Animals and Human in Egypt).

Although not influenza A - for the past dozen years we've been following research on the newly discovered Influenza D virus - which was first detected in swine, but is now believed to primarily infect cattle (see Viruses: Influenza D in Domestic and Wild Animals).​

While we haven't seen any evidence that Influenza D can cause symptomatic illness in humans, in the summer of 2016 - in Serological Evidence Of Influenza D Among Persons With & Without Cattle Exposure - researchers reported finding a high prevalence of antibodies against Influenza D among people with cattle exposure. They wrote:

IDV poses a zoonotic risk to cattle-exposed workers, based on detection of high seroprevalence (94–97%). Whereas it is still unknown whether IDV causes disease in humans, our studies indicate that the virus may be an emerging pathogen among cattle-workers.​

Relatively little has appeared recently in the literature regarding influenza A infection in cattle and/or ruminants, but in 2019 the Journal Viruses carried a detailed review of the literature going back decades.

While some of these reports are spotty, they cite a number of papers on both influenza and influenza-like illnesses in cattle and goats. In some cases, viruses were identified, while in other cases they were not.​

This is a lengthy and detailed review, and I've only reproduced some excerpts below, so you'll want to follow the link to read the report in its entirety. I'll have a postscript after the break.

Viruses. 2019 Jun; 11(6): 561.
Published online 2019 Jun 17. doi: 10.3390/v11060561
PMCID: PMC6631717
PMID: 31213032

Influenza A in Bovine Species: A Narrative Literature Review

Chithra C. Sreenivasan,1 Milton Thomas,2 Radhey S. Kaushik,1 Dan Wang,1,3 and Feng Li1,3,*​

Abstract

It is quite intriguing that bovines were largely unaffected by influenza A, even though most of the domesticated and wild animals/birds at the human–animal interface succumbed to infection over the past few decades. Influenza A occurs on a very infrequent basis in bovine species and hence bovines were not considered to be susceptible hosts for influenza until the emergence of influenza D.

This review describes a multifaceted chronological review of literature on influenza in cattle which comprises mainly of the natural infections/outbreaks, experimental studies, and pathological and seroepidemiological aspects of influenza A that have occurred in the past.​

The review also sheds light on the bovine models used in vitro and in vivo for influenza-related studies over recent years. Despite a few natural cases in the mid-twentieth century and seroprevalence of human, swine, and avian influenza viruses in bovines, the evolution and host adaptation of influenza A virus (IAV) in this species suffered a serious hindrance until the novel influenza D virus (IDV) emerged recently in cattle across the world.

Supposedly, certain bovine host factors, particularly some serum components and secretory proteins, were reported to have anti-influenza properties, which could be an attributing factor for the resilient nature of bovines to IAV. Further studies are needed to identify the host-specific factors contributing to the differential pathogenetic mechanisms and disease progression of IAV in bovines compared to other susceptible mammalian hosts.​

(Excerpts)​

5. Natural Cases of Influenza A in Bovines​

First recorded evidence of influenza in cattle occurred in 1949, where 160,000 cattle were infected in the western and middle part of Japan [76]. This incidence of cattle influenza ran for a short course with recovery in 2–3 days and the documented symptoms included high temperature (40–42 °C), blepharitis, nasal discharge, anorexia, tympanites, pneumonia, joint problems, and a decrease in lactation.



This report also mentioned about some major cattle influenza outbreaks occurred previously in the Fall of 1889 and 1893, and some minor outbreaks in 1914–1916 in Japan [76]. The same study also mentioned an experimental infection of 11 calves, using nasal discharge/defibrinated blood from diseased animals and the successful virus isolation in mice, characterized by few deaths and lung and liver lesions at the 20th serial passage.

The first report on influenza virus isolation from animals was documented by Romvary et al. [88] from Hungary in 1962, which described the isolation of IAV strains similar to human H2 HA glycoprotein from pigs and sheep during 1959–1960. Romvary et al. [46] also isolated porcine IAV strains bearing human H3 HA glycoprotein.​

Lopez and Woods reviewed influenza viruses from cattle and the first cattle-origin influenza isolate was reported by Barb et al., 1962, cited in [47]. Furthermore, there were reports on cattle influenza from several countries primarily from the old Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and the publications were mostly in the Russian language, with the rare occurrence of English abstract and keywords.

Among these, the earliest report was on the seroepidemiological study of influenza in domestic species of animals in 1969 [25]. During the period 1970–80, cattle isolates of influenza A have been reported from different parts of the world, post/around the time 1968 Hong Kong H3N2 pandemic occurred in humans.

In 1973, the isolation and identification of the A/Hong Kong/1/1968 (H3N2) virus from cattle suffering respiratory diseases were reported in Russia [45]. The earliest cattle influenza A strain studied under experimental conditions was A/calf/Duschambe/55/71 (H3N2) from Russia. This strain was derived from a natural case of respiratory illness in a terminally ailing calf and was isolated in embryonated chicken eggs [45].​

Both H1N1 and H3N2 strains were isolated from cattle later. Few of these isolated strains reported include Sw/Shope (H1N1) from Hungary and several H3N2 strains from the USSR. The two viruses isolated from Hungary and the USSR possessed type 2 neuraminidase; however, HA glycoproteins were unidentified [47]. The H3N2 strains were similar to the prototypic human H3N2 strain A/Hong Kong/1/1968 (Schild G, C., World Influenza Center, London).

(SNIP)

In 1997, an idiopathic condition manifested in dairy cows in Bristol, southwest England with a sporadic drop in milk production [95]. Brown et al. [96,97] also reported seroconversion against influenza A in cattle from Great Britain, which was markedly associated with reduced milk yield and respiratory disease. However, the virus isolation from these seroconverted animals was unsuccessful. Interestingly, these cattle seroconverted to influenza A virus alone, with no detectable antibodies against BVD, IBR, PI3, and BRSV, suggestive of the etiological role of influenza A in the reduction of milk yield.

Furthermore, in 1999, Gunning et al. [98] also reported that the natural cases of influenza in milking cows increased with an annual incidence rate of 10–20% in some herds of England with a sudden drop in milk yield, mild pyrexia, anorexia, occasional respiratory signs such as nasal discharge and increased respiratory rate. High levels of neutrophils and haptoglobin were present in the blood in most of these cases. Serological screening of paired sera collected from five cattle herds with the same clinical history against IBR, PI3, BRSV, adenovirus, M. bovis, H. somnus, C. psittaci, C. brunetti, P. hemolytica, P. trehalosi, treponemes revealed antibodies against BRSV and PI3 in all herds, while BVD and IBR were detected only in some herds. On the other hand, these cattle sera demonstrated significantly high antibody titer to two human IAVs: 60% for A/England/333/80 (H1N1) and 65% for A/England/427/88 (H3N2) and only 5% of the cows were seronegative against both viruses [98].

These observations clearly indicated the exposure and natural susceptibility of cattle to human influenza A viruses.​

Concurrently, Dr Ian Brown and his colleagues at Veterinary Laboratories Agency near Weybridge, United Kingdom reported the presence of influenza genes in cattle around the late 1990s (https://www.nature.com/news/1998/020107/full/news020107-4.html. accessed January 21, 2019). However, no related peer-reviewed records were available.

In Northern Ireland, a seroepidemiological study conducted on 84 paired acute and convalescent cattle sera collected from 17 outbreaks, against A/England/333/80 (HIN1) and A/England/427/88 (H3N2) during 1998–1999, with clinical manifestations of respiratory disease, diarrhea, and milk drop syndrome demonstrated seroconversion in 56.5 and 58.8% of the convalescent sera against H1N1 and H3N2 respectively. While H3N2 antibody titers were higher compared to H1N1 in general, this study also revealed a higher rate of seropositivity against human H3N2 over porcine H3N2 strains. However, virus isolation in specific pathogen-free chicken embryos was unsuccessful from 142 cattle with similar clinical manifestations [99].

The association of human influenza A viruses with milk drop in cows was prevalent in the early 2000s. In 2008, Crawshaw et al. [100] demonstrated rising antibody titers against same human influenza viruses, A/England/333/80 (H1N1) and A/England/427/88 (H3N2) from a Holstein Friesian herd suffering from acute fall in milk production and tested seronegative against BRSV, BVD, IBR, and PI3 viruses.​

(SNIP)

11. Summary

Here, we conducted a comprehensive review of the literature available on the past influenza cases/studies occurring globally in ruminant (bovine, caprine, ovine) population, and have summarized the overall influenza A prevalence in bovines. In this review, we have discussed the host range of the four types of influenza, emphasizing the susceptibility/utility of bovine in vivo and in vitro models to influenza A studies over recent years.​

Even though natural cases of influenza occurred in bovines causing influenza-like respiratory disease with bronchopneumonia, epizootic cough, nasal discharge, lacrimation, or other extrapulmonary signs such as milk drop, only a few cases culminated in successful virus isolation.​

Cattle-origin IAV strains were isolated during the early 1970s, around the time when Hongkong/1968 human IAV strains (H3N2) were prevalent. Although the relatedness of HA glycoprotein of these cattle IAV strains to human H2 and H3 prototypes was reported, sufficient data/characterization studies were lacking to support the extent of genetic relatedness.​

Pigs, which were domesticated by humans 1500 years after cattle, are naturally susceptible to all four influenza types and are excellent mixing vessels of influenza. Hence, the refractory nature of bovines against influenza A could be due to species-specific host-associated interference as discussed before. Compared to IAV and IBV (eight segmented genomes), bovines are naturally susceptible to IDV, and lately to ICV (seven segmented genomes) as indicated by the seroprevalence studies and isolation of complete viral genomes, thus contributing significantly to the bovine respiratory disease along with other bacterial/viral pathogens.​

The transboundary occurrence of influenza D in bovines, compounded with its extraordinary thermal and pH stability [236] compared to other influenza types, demands further studies to study the pathobiological aspects of this virus and its predisposition in bovine species. The fact that bovines harbor some natural predisposing factors, amenable for the tissue tropism and pathogenesis of ICV and IDV, while detrimental to IAV and IBV, would make them a suitable model to delineate influenza type-specific host–pathogen interactions, and further studies are needed to address this differential disease pathogenesis at the cellular and molecular level.​

(Continue . . . )



Exactly why HPAI H5N1 is suddenly turning up in ruminants after 20 years is unknown. Some of it may be due to testing bias; since cattle have long been assumed to be poor hosts for influenza A, they are less likely to be tested, which only helps perpetuate the belief.

But we've also seen a dramatic shift in HPAI H5N1's ability to infect mammals around the globe over the past 2 or 3 years. It does appear to be expanding its host range. A genomic analysis of the viruses isolated from these ruminants will hopefully yield some valuable clues.​

An obvious concern now is, if H5N1 has adapted well enough to spillover into cattle and goats, are swine next? A year ago, the ECDC/EFSA Avian Influenza Overview December 2022 – March 2023 warned:

The additional reports of transmission events to and potentially between mammals, e.g. mink, sea lion, seals, foxes and other carnivores as well as seroepidemiological evidence of transmission to wild boar and domestic pigs, associated with evolutionary processes including mammalian adaptation are of concern and need to be closely followed up.​

While we've seen scattered reports of H5N1 in pigs (see here , here, and here), the virus has yet to gain a foothold (see EID Journal: Low Susceptibility of Pigs against Experimental Infection with HPAI Virus H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b).

In swine, HPAI would potentially have access to a plethora of other influenza A viruses, which could greatly increase the risk of viral reassortment.​

This is obviously a developing story, with investigations underway in several states. Right now, we have more questions than answers.

Stay tuned.

https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/03/a-brief-history-of-influenza-in.html
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