Study shows African swine fever can be transmitted through feedFebruary 15, 2019New information is being learned about how the currently circulating strain of African swine fever (ASF) could spread in feed and feed ingredients.
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Dangerous tick species could spread across North AmericaFebruary 13, 2019The long-horned tick could establish itself across North America if transported accidentally, according to a new study.
KSU, Biosecurity Research Institute researchers target African swine feverOctober 9, 2018Kansas State University researchers and the Biosecurity Research Institute have banded together to stop the spread of African swine fever virus to the U.S. The disease was reported in China in August and is positioned to spread throughout Asia and the Caucuses region of Eastern Europe. If African swine fever enters the U.S., it could cause billions in economic losses to swine and other industries, and devastate trade and international markets, animal disease experts say. There is no vaccine or cure for the disease, which causes hemorrhagic fever and high mortality in pigs (it does not infect humans). "African swine fever's introduction into China, poses an increased threat to the U.S.," said Stephen Higgs, PhD, director of the Biosecurity Research Institute. "Introduction of African swine fever virus into the U.S. would have an enormous impact on our agricultural industry. Research, education, and training at the Biosecurity Research Institute help to improve our understanding and preparedness for this threat." In 2013, the Biosecurity Research Institute became the first nonfederal facility to be approved for work with African swine fever virus, Higgs said. The university projects at the Biosecurity Research Institute are part of research that can transition to the National …
KSU veterinarian, interns help bald eagle soar after lead poisoningMay 8, 2018Thanks to action by staff of the Milford Nature Center and veterinary intervention at Kansas State University (KSU), a bald eagle suffering from lead contamination is flying once again. The eagle, brought to the Veterinary Health Center at KSU, was depressed, emaciated, not eating, and unable to fly, leaving it with a poor prognosis for regaining its health, according to James Carpenter, DVM, DACZM, professor of wildlife and zoological medicine. After the bird was admitted to the Veterinary Health Center, a physical examination and testing found it was suffering from lead poisoning. It was also determined that the eagle was a male around 4.5 years old. Birds acquire lead poisoning most commonly by consuming dead animals that were shot by lead bullets or from other sources of lead contamination, said Dr. Carpenter, adding that lead toxicity is a common ailment in eagles. Before joining KSU in 1989, Carpenter headed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Endangered Species Propagation Program at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland for 15 years. During this time, this program reintroduced 83 captive-produced eagles into the wild in 13 states. "While I was at Patuxent, a severely debilitated eagle was brought to us and we …
K-State research center cumulative gift reaches $1MApril 24, 2018The Kansas State University Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases, an interdisciplinary research center in the College of Veterinary Medicine, has received a $1 million cumulative gift ($250,000 for each of the last four years) from Abaxis to further its mission of combating vector-borne diseases with a focus on pathogenesis, surveillance, and disease prevention. The Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases is at the forefront of research on issues influenced by urban areas that continue their encroachment into animal habitats and can become unsuspecting starting points for vector-borne diseases, according to Ken Aron, chief technology officer at Abaxis. "We've identified several projects, including vaccine development to control canine infections with Ehrlichia species, Anaplasma species infections in dogs, and Rickettsia, the Rocky Mountain spotted fever disease agent, also in dogs," said Roman Ganta, Ph.D., professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, and center director. Additionally, Ganta identified a project for developing axenic, or cell-free, media growth of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species pathogens. The Abaxis gift also provided matching support for a K-State National Bio and Agro-defense Facility transition fund grant focused on vaccine development and a pathogenesis study to prevent heartwater, which is caused by Ehrlichia ruminantium. …
KSU study demonstrates loss of compounded drug potencyDecember 11, 2017A new Kansas State University (KSU) study funded by Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) shows a commonly compounded antimicrobial drug used in veterinary medicine may be losing potency over time. The study recently was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The KSU research team showed that compounded formulations of doxycycline lost potency within three weeks of receipt, with many dropping to sub-therapeutic content in that time, as defined by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards. The findings could have a significant impact for practicing veterinarians who rely on this antimicrobial to treat various infectious diseases in animals, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and leptospirosis, and as an adjunct therapy for heartworm disease. "These study results have important ramifications for practicing veterinarians," said John Reddington, DVM, Ph.D., president and CEO for MAF. "The study helped fill in a knowledge gap about compounded medications, and may lead to additional studies on this important but often overlooked topic." The research team at KSU included Tanner Slead, a MAF Veterinary Student Scholar, and his mentor, Kate KuKanich, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM. The team compared FDA-approved formulations of doxycycline with compounded doxycycline obtained from …
Kansas State University expands joint DVM training program with ChinaNovember 3, 2017A program initiated by Kansas State University that helps students from China earn veterinary medical degrees in the U.S. is increasing the number of students it serves. A memorandum-of-understanding signing ceremony was conducted Oct. 19 in Beijing, China, expanding the U.S.-China Joint Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship Program, which was initiated in 2012 by the U.S.-China Center for Animal Health at Kansas State University, along with the China Agricultural University and Chinese Veterinary Medical Association. The joint program has been sponsored by China Scholarship Council, Kansas State University, Zoetis and the International Veterinary Collaboration for China. Zoetis originally provided funding to the program for 30 students' pre-veterinary tuition and related activities. The China Scholarship Council has provided full-ride scholarships for four years of DVM tuition and five years for living stipends. Kansas State University has sponsored the program by providing program management service and additional scholarships. Under the new agreement, Zoetis will continue to support the program by providing pre-veterinary tuition funding for an additional 15 students with Kansas State University and the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association. The U.S.-China Joint Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program is a five-year training program with …
KSU to assume production of One Health NewsletterSeptember 19, 2017The One Health Newsletter will now be produced at Kansas State University, school officials announced. The newsletter was initiated in 2008 by the Florida Department of Health and published through the winter 2014. It was then transitioned to the University of Florida's Emerging Pathogens Institute, which published it until 2017. The first Kansas State University-developed edition of the One Health Newsletter is scheduled for release in October, in advance of International One Health Day on Nov. 3. "The One Health Initiative autonomous pro bono team collaborated with both former outstanding One Health Newsletter publishers and is delighted to continue associating with our longstanding friends and notable One Health colleagues at K-State," said Bruce Kaplan, contents manager/editor of the One Health Initiative website and co-founder of the One Health Initiative team/website. Kansas State University faculty, staff, and students plan to feature current One Heath issues in each newsletter. Each edition will be guided by a faculty editorial board at Kansas State University, including Paige Adams, research assistant professor at K-State Olathe; Jean-Paul Gonzalez, deputy director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases; and Ellyn Mulcahy, director of the Master of Public Health program. Colleagues from the University …
KSU sends students abroad for global perspectiveMay 30, 2017Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) students submitted a diverse group of globally minded projects for consideration for a travel-grant contest offered through the CVM’s International Programs Office.
Kansas State gets FDA OK for pilot project on antibiotic useSeptember 21, 2016Veterinary researchers at Kansas State University recently received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to monitor antibiotic use in beef feedlots and dairies. The grant extends for five years at $300,000 per year.
