PLAGUE, PRAIRIE DOGS - USA (TEXAS)
From: James Alexander
James.Alexander@tdh.state.tx.us The Rita Blanca National Grasslands (RBNG), located in Dallam County in the
north west corner of Texas, is currently the site of a plague outbreak in
prairie dogs. So far plague has been confirmed in fleas from sites 9, 19,
23, and 35. Other sites are suspected to have experienced plague based on a
visual inspection of the towns where no, or minimal prairie dog activity
was observed. These sites are 7, 11, 14, 21, 22, 40, 46, and 89.
Warning posters have been placed throughout the area, but all areas with
prairie dog towns have not been inspected, and posters may not be at the
entrance to every site with a prairie dog town. All prairie dog towns in
the RBNG should be considered as potential sites of plague infection. While
infection has not been confirmed outside the RBNG, spread is possible to
adjacent areas.
Normally, the area is sparsely populated. In the past 2 weeks, however,
prairie dog hunting enthusiasts from multiple states have been frequenting
the RBNG to pursue their avocation. If a person presents with symptoms that
could be due to infection with _Yersinia pestis_, a history should be
obtained to determine whether the individual has recently been to the RBNG.
If affirmative, appropriate diagnostics and prophylaxis should be pursued
immediately.
VESICULAR STOMATITIS - USA (TEXAS)
From: Thomas E Walton
Thomas.e.Walton@usda.gov Source: USDA official release
Emergency management warning 1: positive case of vesicular stomatitis in
horses in Texas
On 18 May 2004, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in
Ames, Iowa, confirmed the finding of vesicular stomatitis (VSV) in horses
at one premises in the State of Texas.
VSV is a viral disease which primarily affects horses, cattle, and swine.
The virus that causes VSV has a wide host range. VSV also occasionally
affects sheep and goats. In affected livestock, VSV causes blisterlike
lesions to form in the mouth and on the dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils,
hooves, and teats. These blisters swell and break, leaving raw tissue that
is so painful that infected animals generally refuse to eat and drink and
show signs of lameness. Severe weight loss usually follows, and in dairy
cows, a severe drop in milk production commonly occurs. Affected dairy
cattle can appear to be normal and will continue to eat about half of their
feed intake.
On 10 May 2004, a foreign animal disease investigation was initiated at a
roping facility in Balmorhea, TX, just south of the New Mexico State line,
due to a report of tongue lesions in horses on the premises. There are 6
additional horses and 8 steers on the infected premises that show no signs
of lesions. Serum was taken from all 9 horses on the premises and submitted
to NVSL for testing.