Posted on 01/31/2004 7:58:20 PM PST by Lessismore
ANTHRAX, BOVINE - CANADA (SK) (02) ************************************** A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
Date: Fri 30 Jan 2004 3:36 PM From: Jim McLane
In addition to my first report on this unusual outbreak of anthrax in the dead of winter, for completeness of the story I would like to walk you through the process of confirming the final diagnosis. I believe this is important to show how a concerted effort by all the players involved speaks clearly that the veterinary infrastructure in our country is [excellent].
When the private practitioner, Dr Sharon Sawtell, posted [necropsied] 2 of the dead cattle on the farm, she took care to submit proper laboratory samples to the provincial veterinary laboratory in Saskatoon, Sask.
By 23 Jan 2004 the provincial laboratory, Prairie Diagnostic Services, had ruled out clostridial infection and were almost certain they were dealing with anthrax. PDS pathologist Chris Wojnarowicz and bacteriologist Musangu Ngeleka had identified anthrax- like organisms on their direct smears. The lab prepared culture plates for the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) and, since we were dealing with the likelihood of a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, the culture plates were quickly dispatched to the Animal Disease and Research Institute in Lethbridge, Alberta, which is one the main federal laboratories of the CFIA in western Canada.
The diagnosis was confirmed on 25 Jan 2004 with almost pure cultures of anthrax from the submitted samples.
So, a quick coordinated effort by the farmer, the attending veterinarian, the provincial PDS lab, and the federal lab led to a positive confirmation. The herd was quarantined and will be vaccinated as soon as the weather warms (-40 C today with the windchill). There have been no more deaths since 26 Jan 2004. The cattle are being fed a different feed source at present.
--- Dr. Jim McLane District Veterinarian, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
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