News Update
June 8, 2011

Effects of Leptospira hardjo-bovis Can Linger

The U.S. cattle industry has not seen significant changes in the clinical syndrome caused by Leptospira hardjo-bovis (LHB); yet, the disease continues to burden cow-calf producers with reproduction implications that can become costly and widespread within the herd.

Acute LHB infection may cause sudden temperature spikes, anorexia and lethargy. But, these symptoms can go unnoticed, and often the only indication of infection is a repeat breeder. Once the embryo is lost, LHB causes infertility and delayed breeding. This makes the disease especially damaging for cow-calf operators, who struggle to get cows pregnant due to the reduced fertility caused by the disease.

“When left unvaccinated, cattle are vulnerable to [L.] hardjo-bovis infection when given access to streams and stagnant water, or pastures and facilities are exposed to raccoons, opossum or rodents,” says Joe Campbell, senior professional services veterinarian, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI). “With exposure risk factors as common as standing water or raccoons in pastures, it’s important to vaccinate cattle with a vaccine that includes protection for all strains of leptospires that affect cattle.”

Once cattle become infected with LHB, they are considered “maintenance hosts” and can spread LHB among the herd through urinary shedding. A single infected animal can shed the virus in its urine for long periods of time and is a major source of infection for other animals.

The Express® FP family of vaccines is one of the most complete modified-live product lines on the market. It protects the cow herd against major reproductive and respiratory diseases, including urinary shedding of L. hardjo-bovis and persistently infected (PI) calves caused by BVD Types 1 and 2. Express FP also aids in the reduction of infertility, abortion and delayed conception caused by Campylobacter fetus var. venerealis, and leptospirosis caused by five serovars of Leptospira.

“Express FP was the first modified-live viral (MLV) vaccine to offer a written guarantee that calves born to a dam properly vaccinated with Express FP would be free of BVD-persistent infection. This vaccine was created with your herd’s health in mind, protecting your cows against all major reproductive and respiratory diseases,” Campbell says. “The efficacy of Express FP vaccines has always been our top priority, and we will continue to offer that guarantee on our product.”

— Release by BIVI.

Injectable Now FDA-approved to Fight BRD Associated with Mycoplasma bovis

Baytril® Injectable, manufactured by Bayer Animal Health, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of Mycoplasma bovis — a major pathogen for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) that has a significant health and economic effect on cattle operations across the country.

“Mycoplasma bovis is often overlooked, but can be a very opportunistic and damaging pathogen,” said Fiona Maunsell, of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida. “It presents itself in a wide range of clinical manifestations, including mastitis and respiratory, ear and joint infections. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical with Mycoplasma bovis to prevent irreparable damage.” 

M. bovis is a slow-growing, very contagious infection that is easily spread throughout herds via nose-to-nose contact, contaminated water and feed and, even inhaled by calves as they suckle dams shedding the infection. Symptoms can be similar to other BRD indicators, such as coughing, depression and fever, but also can include head tilt, ear droop and ocular and nasal discharge. Recent data have shown that M. bovis plays a larger role in respiratory and other infections in beef cattle than previously thought, with an estimated $32 million a year in damage to the U.S. beef industry, primarily through losses in weight gain and carcass value.   

With this approval, Baytril 100 (enrofloxacin) is now labelled and proven effective as a single-injection treatment for all major pathogens of BRD in cattle and non-lactating dairy heifers less than 20 months of age, including Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni and M. bovis.

Clinical field studies of single-injection treatment efficacy results against M. bovis indicate the injectable was effective on more than 70% of calves treated by Day 6; and 88% of calves treated with the single-injection treatment were considered continued successes on Day 102.

“Baytril® 100 has long been valued by veterinarians and producers as a quality single-dose therapy for BRD,” said Cary Christensen, senior director, Food Animal Products Business Unit at Bayer Animal Health. “With the approval of Baytril® 100 for treatment of the critical pathogen Mycoplasma bovis, they now have assurance that using Baytril 100 as their first line BRD treatment can provide the results needed for an efficacious response to the infection.”  

Baytril® 100 has been the choice for many bovine veterinarians and beef cattle producers since its introduction in 1998 and is the largest-selling, single-dose antibiotic in its class. It is the first FDA-approved fluoroquinolone antimicrobial for use against BRD.

For more information, call Bayer Veterinary Services at 1-800-422-9874 or visit www.Baytril100.com.

— Release by Bayer Animal Health.

Be Wary of Identity Theft and Scams Following a Weather Disaster

Many people across the country are dealing with massive destruction from floods and tornadoes that have ravaged their area during the past several weeks.

One thing those people may not have on their mind is the greater risk of identity theft during these tough times, said Sissy Osteen, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension resource management specialist.

“Natural disasters such as tornadoes and floods leave an amazing amount of destruction in their paths. In many cases, personal documents such as birth certificates, Social Security cards or driver’s licenses are destroyed and disaster victims are left to start rebuilding their lives from scratch,” Osteen said. “When it comes time to prove who you are, you need some sort of documentation. Unfortunately, it’s times like this that thieves can take advantage of those who have already lost so much.”

The Identity Theft Resource Center recommends that everyone take a few minutes to photocopy all of their important documents. It is a good idea to store the originals someplace such as a safe deposit box and keep the copies in a portable locked box that can quickly be scooped up and taken with you to a shelter. Make copies of everything in your wallet, including your driver’s license and sentimental photos. Other important papers to consider include passports, important legal documents, adoption papers, Social Security cards or immigration papers. Also, be sure to program your insurance company’s phone number into your cell phone.

Osteen said if your wallet or purse were missing after a storm you would still have access to important information in a lockbox.

“Another idea is to scan copies of all your important paperwork and store it on either a portable hard drive for your computer or a zip or flash drive. These are easy to grab on your way to the shelter and they are capable of holding a lot of information. Better still, keep the flash drive on your key chain,” she said. “Consider videoing all of your belongings in your home as well. This will come in handy when it’s time to deal with the insurance company.”

Something else consumers should be aware of is a phishing scam. Be wary of any caller who says they are representing a company that has lost your personal data.

Make sure you have a hard copy of all important phone numbers. In today’s society everyone simply stores phone numbers in their cell phones. This will not do you any good in the event your phone battery goes down and you do not have access to electricity so you can charge it.

“Going through a weather crisis and losing your home and possessions is hard enough, so take some extra precautions so that you don’t have to rebuild your identity along with your home,” Osteen said.

— Release by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

U.S. Voters Value Forests, Woodlands

A nationwide, bi-partisan poll has revealed striking agreement among U.S. voters on the value of forestlands. 

Commissioned by the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), the survey found 92% of Americans believe forests play a very important role in keeping the nation’s air clean. Of those, 58% rate the benefit as extremely important.

Just one point behind, 91% believe forests fill an equally important role in filtering water to keep it clean.

“That suggests an interesting degree of sophistication. Most of us have driven past a line of trees growing between a crop field and a creek or river. But that didn’t teach us about what trees do to keep crop debris, soil and pesticide runoff out of our water resources,” said Bob Atchison, rural forestry coordinator with the Kansas Forest Service.

The pollsters found solid majorities think other forestland benefits also are very important. The support for those assets led with the following reasons:

•  86% — providing a place for wildlife to live;

•  73% — providing a source of good-paying jobs;

•  73% — supplying products such as wood and paper;

•  71% — providing a place for recreation; and

•  60% — reducing global warming.

The NASF created an odd-couple team to conduct its research. The members were a leading Democratic polling firm — Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) of California — and the leading U.S. Republican pollsters with Public Opinion Strategies, headquartered in Alexandria, Va.

“According to the team’s analyses, voters’ appreciation for the economic benefits provided by forests is higher now than it’s been in previous years,” Atchison said. “The respondents also recognize America’s forests are facing a variety of serious threats: wildfires, harmful insects, diseases.

“In fact, seven out of 10 of them support either maintaining or increasing efforts to protect the forests and trees in their state. And, only 4% think too much is already being done — despite the states’ and nation’s current economic woes.”

Perhaps because he’s a Kansan, Atchison was a bit surprised by one survey finding: Most voters are personally familiar with the nation’s forests. Two-thirds (67%) actually live within 10 miles of a forest or wooded area.

In descending order, the recreational activities that voters say can take them to forested areas include viewing wildlife, hiking on outdoor trails, fishing, overnight camping, hunting, using off-road vehicles, snow-shoeing or cross-country-skiing, and mountain biking.

More information about the study is available in the polling firms’ summary report and graphs, posted online.

— Release by Kathleen Ward for K-State Research & Extension News.

— Compiled by Linda Robbins, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.