ANIMALNET APRIL 23, 1999

Resistance monitoring in Denmark, 1997 - DanMap
Influenza A(H9N2)
Leptospirosis, Australia, January 1998-March 1999
Experts fear Newcastle epidemic could spread to native Australian birds
Are 6,500 pigs too many?
Man sentenced for part in costly raid on mink farm
Greens in meaty dispute
In defence of our fur farmers
Too many geese!
Politician takes up cause of elk breeders
Pacific killer whales and others added to endangered list
Canada/New Zealand reach long-term partnership on livestock research
Adoptathon '99: helping animals find homes - looking to adopt a shelter
pet?
Week for protests quiet in U.S. so far, possible activist attack on home
in U.K.
MAb report on line
Activists pursue two anti-research lawsuits


AnimalNet is produced by researchers at the Agri-Food Risk Management and
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RESISTANCE MONITORING IN DENMARK, 1997 - DANMAP
April 23, 1999
WEEKLY EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RECORD, No. 16, 125
DANMAP (the Danish Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring and Research
Programme) has issued its second report. The programme collects data on
human and ani-mal antibiotic consumption and antibiotic resistance in
bacteria from humans, animals and foodstuffs. In addition to human and
zoonotic pathogens, normally-occurring bacteria (indicator bacteria) that
permit a direct compari-son of resistance levels are collected from the 3
sources.  The programme has now been in existence for 3 years and has
received considerable international attention. A selec-tion of results
from the report are presented below.
Antibiotic consumption
The consumption of antibiotics in human treatment con-tinues to be low in
Denmark in comparison with other countries. There was a definite drop in
consumption from 1995 to 1996. Contributing factors could be the extra
focusing on antibiotic use that took place during that period, and the
change in health services prescription sub-sidies from 1 January 1996.
In comparison with other countries, the distribution of consumption over
different groups of antibiotics has been favourable for the avoidance of
resistance problems. There is, however, some variation between counties.
In 1997 consumption of penicillins made up 65% of the total anti-biotic
consumption in the primary sector. In the period 1994-1997, consumption of
the broad-spectrum qui-nolones and cephalosporins fell by 39% and 13%
respec-tively.  In 1997 these accounted for only 2% and < 1%,
respectively, of total consumption. The first 9 months of 1998, however,
have seen a 5% rise in antibiotic consump-tion in the primary sector, with
increases in quinolone and cephalosporin consumption of 2.9% and 9.5%
respec-tively.  This calls for increased vigilance.
Antibiotic use in animals, whether as therapy or to promote growth, rose
in 1997. A direct comparison of antibiotic consumption in animals and
humans requires the conversion of animal consumption into defined daily
doses. This is difficult, however, both because there are no defined daily
doses for animals and because no informa-tion is available on the
distribution of consumption between animal species and age groups.
Antibiotic resistance
Four indicator bacteria have been chosen because they are readily isolated
from humans, foodstuffs and animals.  These are Enterococcus faecium, E.
faecalis, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Escherichia coli. Bacterial
zoo-noses are represented by the most commonly occurring:
Salmonella enteritidis, S. typhimurium and Campylobacter spp. The
pathogenic bacteria have been chosen for their frequent occurrence and
virulence in either humans or animals. For the human pathogens, data are
collected both nationally and from Aarhus and Roskilde counties, which
have been chosen as key counties.
Indicator bacteria
Enterococci. Baseline material has been collected, consist-ing of isolates
from army recruits, nurses, slaughterhouse workers and pig farmers.
Isolates from pig farmers show a higher frequency of resistance to
macrolides and nitro-furantoin than those from the other groups, a
difference that is statistically significant. This is probably because pig
farmers are exposed both to large amounts of antibiotics and to many
resistant bacteria from their animal stock.  Even with a sensitive method,
only 1 enterococcus isolate was shown to have acquired vancomycin
resistance. This may indicate that Denmark has a lower faecal carrier
frequency for vancomycin-resistant enterococci than some other countries.
E. coli. The resistance level was generally low. No differ-ences in
resistance were found between strains isolated from the different
occupational groups: 31% of strains were resistant to sulphonamide, 19% to
ampicillin and < 1% to gentamicin or quinolones..
Zoonotic bacteria
Campylobacter jejuni. Resistance levels were generally low.  However, a
12% resistance to quinolones (ciprofloxacin) is giving rise to concern, as
quinolones are usually the preparations of first choice for treating
complicated gas-trointestinal infections in humans. Quinolone resistance
was lower in isolates from live chickens than from Danish and foreign
poultry meats or from humans. This is proba-bly due to resistant
Campylobacter from imported poultry and/or to the fact that about 20% of
human infections are associated with travel.
Salmonella. Resistance levels in S. typhimurium and
S. enteritidis were low and unchanged. There was a corre-spondingly good
agreement between the occurrence of resistance in S. typhimurium from pigs
and from humans.  No quinolone resistance was found in human isolates
dur-ing 1997. Typing of Salmonella from animal production and human
infections shows that pigs and pork are proba-bly the principal source of
foodborne S. typhimurium infec-tion in Denmark.
Pathogenic bacteria
E. coli is a frequent cause of both bacteraemia and urinary tract
infections. There are resistance data for isolates from both hospitals and
general practice. In isolates from blood the occurrence of ampicillin and
cefuroxime resistance was generally higher in Aarhus county than in
Roskilde county.  This may be explained by the different hospital
structures in the 2 counties. Some hospitals in Aarhus county have a
regional function and thus a higher degree of specializa-tion.
This could be the reason for a higher use of broad-spectrum
antibiotics. Despite a fall in the use of cephalo-sporins
in Aarhus county there was a rise in resistance to
ampicillin and cefuroxime. This may be due to a conjoint
selection of bacteria that are resistant to several antibiotics
at the same time, or to the fact that changes in antibiotic
use are first reflected as changes in resistance rates after
some time. The changes in resistance rates of blood iso-lates in Roskilde
county are not statistically significant, probably because of the low
number of isolates. In isolates from urine, the resistance of E. coli from
urinary tract infections diagnosed in either general practice or hospitals
was nearly identical, and ampicillin resistance was similar to that of
blood isolates. This may be due to the fact that the vast majority of
urine specimens from the primary sector are sent in because of treatment
failure, so that the source material has undergone a preselection. The
rise in the occurrence of quinolone-resistant E. coli calls for increased
vigilance. In this case data from the Roskilde county primary sector are
not comparable with those from Aarhus, as the samples from Roskilde were
collected to assess the resistance of E. coli from untreated urinary tract
infections in the primary sector.
Streptococcus pneumoniae. Penicillin-resistant pneumococci constitute an
ever-growing problem on a world scale.  There has been a rise in
erythromycin and penicillin resis-tance from 1990 to 1997, with the
proportion of strains with reduced sensitivity to penicillin doubling over
this period. In Denmark, however, resistance remains low in comparison
with other countries. It is still of great import-ance to monitor the
resistance of pneumococci, and the Statens Serum Institut is investigating
which factors have contributed to this rise.
Coagulase-negative staphylococci. There were no appreciable differences
between resistance rates in the 2 counties.
Summary
In the human isolates, resistance levels were generally low in comparison
with those from other countries. There is nevertheless a need in several
areas for an increased drive to curtail the rise in the number of
penicillin-resistant pneumococci and quinolone-resistant E. coli. In the
veteri-nary sector of medicine, guidelines have now been drawn up for the
treatment of animals with antibiotics, as has been the case for many years
in human medical care. In addition work is in progress to facilitate a
better registra-tion of antibiotic consumption in the treatment of
animals.  DANMAP has been able to demonstrate that the banning in May 1995
of the use of avoparcin as a growth promotor has resulted in a fall in
resistance rates to this agent.  Resistance in E. faecium from chickens
fell from 52% in the first half of 1996 to 12% in the second half of 1997.
A less significant fall has been seen in E. faecium from pigs, which may
be connected to the fact that the pig stock is main-tained by continuous
breeding, whereas chickens for slaughter are bred by a batchwise all in -
all out process.  On the basis of data including those from DANMAP, the
use of a further 4 growth promoters has been prohibited.  The DANMAP 97
report can be obtained from the Statens Serum Institut; e-mail:
tls@ssi.dk; fax:
 (Based on 2 articles published in EPI-NEWS No. 3 and No. 4, 1999, Statens
Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.)



INFLUENZA A(H9N2)
April 15, 1999
WER
China. Further genetic analysis has been carried out on the human virus
isolates from 2 hospitalized children in Hong Kong SAR in March 1999,
confirmed to be influen-za A(H9N2) by the WHO collaborating centres in
London (United Kingdom) and Atlanta (United States). 1
This has revealed that the viruses are genetically closely related to, but
distinct from, influenza A/Quail/Hong Kong/GI/ 97(H9N2) isolates detected
in 1997 during the influenza A(H5N1) outbreak in Hong Kong SAR.  Studies
on the spread of A(H9N2) viruses between cages of chickens indicate that
quail H9N2 virus is trans-mitted by aerosol more effectively than by
faecal transmis-sion.  In Guangdong province, 5 human cases of influenza
A(H9N2) were apparently identified in March 1999, but laboratory
confirmation of the virus was not reported. Of the 5 cases, the youngest
was 1 year old and the oldest a man in his 70s. All patients apparently
had mild influenza-like symptoms and recovered with no medical
complications.
1 See No. 14, 1999, p. 111.



LEPTOSPIROSIS, AUSTRALIA, JANUARY 1998-MARCH 1999. 1
April 16, 1999
WEEKLY EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RECORD, No. 15, 115
The WHO/FAO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on
Leptospirosis, accredited since 1958, is involved in many ongoing aspects
of leptospiral research, surveillance and diagnosis in the human and
veterinary fields. The laboratory is part of Queensland Health Scien-tific
Services which provide tertiary level support in epide-miology,
surveillance, training and diagnosis for hospitals and pathology
laboratories across the State. Extensive col-laborations with universities
and government departments throughout Australia have contributed to
significant re-search into the epidemiology of the disease in domestic,
native and feral animals and their direct relationship with disease
transmission to humans through occupational or recreational exposures. The
laboratory has also recently started work on molecular classification of
isolates by PCR and on public health related aspects of the disease in the
community. As part of its collaboration with WHO, the laboratory assists
public health authorities in other coun-tries to monitor disease
outbreaks, and provides training and leptospiral reagents as required by
countries in the region. Tertiary services for Queensland and other
Austra-lian States are provided on request. The reference labora-tory
processes annually approximately 5 000 serological tests against a panel
of 21 serovars, both endemic and exotic. A culture service is provided for
urine and blood specimens with ongoing development of specialized media
for these purposes. Computer databases for leptospirosis on a global,
Australian and State-wide basis are operated and held on site. These
databases support public health authorities in Australia, WHO and the
International Leptospirosis Society.
Leptospirosis was first recognized in Queensland in 1934 among
cane-cutters. It is an acute febrile disease occurring in humans and
animals worldwide. The disease is potentially lethal with involvement of
the hepatic, renal and central nervous systems. Leptospirosis occurs in
all parts of Australia with the highest incidence of the disease in
Queensland and Victoria. Leptospirosis is a notifiable disease in all
States and territories of Australia.  This article is a summary of the
Queensland data collated and analysed from leptospirosis questionnaires,
followed by a brief overview of Australian data based on questionnaire
responses for notified cases from 1998. The increase in notifications of
leptospirosis (44%) during 1998 possibly signals an increasing awareness
of the disease by clinicians. This phase of the surveillance pro-gramme
has highlighted the high rate of hospitalization for leptospirosis cases.
The clinical aspects associated with the disease for these
hospitalizations warrant further evalua-tion.  There was a significant
increase in leptospirosis noti-fications for children and students.  The
clinical information reconfirms the polymorphic presentation of the
disease with the severe presentation of pulmonary haemorrhage still
occurring, associated in 1998 with the serovar australis. Serovar zanoni
continues to be a major cause of leptospirosis, further compounded by the
severe clinical aspects often associated with this particular serovar.
Several cases were diagnosed in tourists, high-lighting the need for
clinicians to consider leptospirosis in the assessment process. One of
these cases presented with severe respiratory distress and required 14
days in hospital.
Fig. 1 Leptospirosis, Queensland and Australia as a whole, 1998
Common symptoms reported
A. Queensland
Percentage  Pourcentage
Headache  Cphales 79.6
Sweats  Sueurs profuses 72.2
Chills  Frissons 70.4
Myalgia  Myalgies 67.6
Severe fever  Forte fivre 67.6
Arthralgia  Arthralgies 51.9
Nausea  Nauses 50.9
Vomiting  Vomissements 47.2
Back pain  Dorsalgies 40.7
Renal involvement  Problmes rnaux 29.6
Conjunctival suffusion  Epanchement conjonctival 26.9
Mild fever  Fivre modre 23.1
Vision disturbance  Troubles visuels 17.6
Respiratory disturbance  Troubles respiratoires 15.7
Rash  Eruptions cutanes 9.3
Diarrhoea  Diarrhes 6.5
Pulmonary haemorrhage  Hmorragies pulmonaires 2.8
B. Australia as a whole
Percentage  Pourcentage
Headache  Cphales 75
Myalgia  Myalgies 67.7
Sweats  Sueurs profuses 66.5
Chills  Frissons 65.2
Severe fever  Forte fivre 57.9
Arthralgia  Arthralgies 47.6
Nausea  Nauses 45.7
Vomiting  Vomissements 40.9
Back pain  Dorsalgies 35.4
Mild fever  Fivre modre 28
Renal involvement  Problmes rnaux 23.8
Conjunctival suffusion  Epanchement conjonctival 19.5
Respiratory disturbance  Troubles respiratoires 13.4
Vision disturbance  Troubles visuels 12.8
Rash  Eruptions cutanes 7.9

The response rate of clinicians, laboratory staff and public health units
to the questionnaire in Queensland was exceptional at 98%. Response rates
are steadily increasing for the Australia-wide aspect of the programme.
The real incidence of the disease is still unknown in Queensland (and
Australia) but can gradually be ascertained, now that clinicians and the
community have been made aware of it.  The general nature of the symptoms
and traditional as-sumptions concerning the occupational linkage of the
dis-ease are perhaps the main issues responsible for a missed presumptive
assessment of leptospirosis.
Queensland
For the year 1998, a total of 108 notifications was re-ported.  This is a
44% increase in cases compared to 1997, when 61 cases were notified. The
108 notifications repre-sent an incidence rate of 3.17 per 100 000
population, compared to a rate of 2.2 per 100 000 for 1997. The Queensland
notifications represent 60% of all Australian cases for 1998.
The average ages at diagnosis were slightly lower in 1998 (possibly
reflecting the increased number of notifica-tions for children), namely
30.4 years for males and 35.6 for females, with an average age of 35.25
for all notifications.
The most common symptoms reported for Queensland during 1998 are shown in
Fig. 1A. These symptoms re-semble those of many other fevers of unknown
origin, and as a result leptospirosis may not be considered in the
diagnosis by the clinician.
Hospitalization information has only recently been col-lected
through the questionnaires. Of the 44 respondants,
57% had been hospitalized for an average of 5.5 days. The
maximum time of hospitalization was 19 days and the
minimum 2 days. Serovars zanoni and pomona accounted

Fig. 2 Leptospirosis, Queensland and Australia as a whole, 1998
Animal contacts reported
A. Queensland
Percentage  Pourcentage
Cattle  Bovins
65.6Rats
48.9 Dogs  Chiens 44.4
Feral pigs  Cochons sauvages 26.7
Cats  Chats 26.7
Mice  Souris 24.4
Pigs  Porcs 20
Horses  Chevaux 3.3
Goats  Chvres 3.3
Sheep  Moutons 2.2

B. Australia as a whole  Ensemble de lAustralie
Percentage  Pourcentage
Cattle  Bovins 58.1
Dogs  Chiens 27.4
Rats 27.4
Pigs  Porcs 15.9
Cats  Chats 15.8
Feral pigs  Cochons sauvages 14.6
Mice  Souris 14
Sheep  Moutons 3
Horses  Chevaux 1.8
Goats  Chvres 1.8

for the majority of hospitalizations. It is hoped that previous
notifications can be followed up and hospitaliza-tion information collated
for 1998, also for Australia as a whole.
Of the 108 notifications, 83% reported contact with animals. Significant
exposures were to cattle (65.6%), rats (48.9%) and dogs (44.4%) (Fig. 2A).
In many instances the contacts were occupational, especially in the
abattoir and meat-processing industries.. In the agriculture indus-try,
exposure may be incidental (e.g. the banana industry where rats, feral
pigs and mice are associated with crops being harvested).
Notifications peaked during July, with serovar zanoni accounting again for
the majority of cases for the month. In October, November and December the
number of notifi-cations was unusually high, with serovars pomona and
hardjo being the major sources of infection.  For 1998, meatworkers
accounted for the majority of notifications (23.1%) (Table 1A). The
clinician needs to be aware of the other occupations not traditionally
associ-ated with the disease but comprising 13.6% of the notifica-tions.
The number of notifications for children (4.5%) was a noted increase when
compared to earlier surveillance data, with the likely source of infection
being rodents.
Table 1 Leptospirosis, Queensland and Australia as a whole, 1998
Occupational groups affected
A. Queensland
Occupational group  Groupe professionnel (%) Occupational group  Groupe
professionnel (%)
Meatworker  Employ dans lindustrie de la viande 23.1
Dairy farmer  Producteur laitier 13.8
Banana farmer  Producteur de bananes 12.9
Student  Etudiant 4.5
Cane farmer  Producteur de canne  sucre 4.5
Child  Enfant 4.5
Grazier  Eleveur 4.5
Transport worker  Agent de transport 3.7
Agricultural worker  Ouvrier agricole 2.8
Farmer  Exploitant agricole 2.7
Labourer  Ouvrier non qualifi 1.9
Meat inspector  Inspecteur des viandes 1.9
Unknown  Non connu 5.6
Other a  Divers a 13.6
B. Australia as a whole  Ensemble de lAustralie
Meatworker  Employ dans lindustrie de la viande 29.3
Dairy farmer  Producteur laitier 15.2
Banana farmer  Producteur de bananes 8.5
Cane farmer  Producteur de canne  sucre 3.0
Child  Enfant 3.0
Farmer  Exploitant agricole 3.0
Station hand/stockman  Ouvrier agricole (levage) 3.0
Student  Etudiant 3.0
Transport worker  Agent de transport 2.4
Grazier  Eleveur 2.4
Agricultural/rural worker  Ouvrier agricole 1.8
Unknown  Non connu 11.0
Other b  Divers b 14..7
--
a Other includes: clerical worker, doctor, environmentalist, feedlot
operator, forestry worker, geophysicist, home worker, landscape gardener,
nursery worker, service worker, shipping manager, station
hand, tourist, unemployed.
b Other includes: clerical worker, environmentalist, forestry worker,
geophysicist, home worker, labourer, landscape gardener, medical worker,
nursery worker, retiree, service worker, shipping
manager, tourist, unemployed.
--
In occupations based on the animal industry, serovars pomona, tarassovi
and hardjo accounted for the majority of cases (Table 2A). Serovar zanoni
accounted for most of the cases in the agriculture industry. Serovar
pomona has reemerged as a significant cause of the disease in various
occupations, especially in the animal industry. The 3 sero-vars zanoni,
hardjo and pomona accounted for at least 60% of the notifications for
1998. Further investigations need to be undertaken to better determine the
serovar carrier sta-tus of many species. Results to date suggest canines
har-bour a broad range of serovars but their role as carriers and the
associated public health risk needs to be further evalu-ated.  The
reference laboratory supports the attempt to iso-late the organism both
through blood and urine culture.  Modified media were developed for urine
culture and are currently under further modification to reduce
contamina-tion problems following specimen collection. The labora-tory
recovered 12 isolates from the 258 submissions. The isolates recovered in
many cases were the only confirma-tion of disease, as blood (sera)
specimens were not submit-ted for serology.
The rate of isolation can be greatly improved by better understanding of
the optimum collection phases for the disease. Unfortunately urine samples
for culture have been collected in the first 10 days when leptospires are
more likely to be circulating in the blood. Between 10 and 14 days, the
organisms are more likely to be recovered from the urine of a patient.
The WHO/FAO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on
Leptospirosis has seen a significant rise in human cases for Queensland in
1999. The reference labo-ratory reports 86 confirmed cases for the first 3
months in comparison to 24 cases for the same period in 1998. The majority
of cases are from North Queensland and involve a range of agricultural and
animal-based industry occupa-tions.  The increase in cases is likely to be
associated with heavy, prolonged rainfall and flooding in the region. At
least 8 different serotypes of leptospiral infection have been recorded
for this period. Serotypes zanoni and hardjo account for over 50% of the
cases.
Australia as a whole
The Australian leptospirosis surveillance programme is well under way and
there has been a significant increase in the questionnaire response rate,
with at least 91.6% return on the reported notifications of the States for
the year. This is however biased by the large number of notifications
recorded for Queensland, where the questionnaire return rate was high.
The average age of leptospirosis cases notified was 35.4 years for males
and 28.8 years for females. The average age of all notifications in
Australia was 35 years.  The most common symptoms for the disease reported
through the questionnaire are shown in Fig. 1B. Again the polymorphic
nature of the symptoms could easily result in the clinician discounting
leptospirosis in the differential diagnosis.
Meatworkers accounted for almost 30% of the cases in the country with
dairy farmers and banana industry work-ers accounting for a further 23.7%
(Table 1B). The agricul-ture-based industries need to be further evaluated
as sources of infection, as indicated by the Queensland re-sponses.
Students and children accounted for 6% of the notifications. The data
demonstrate clearly the broad range of occupations associated with the
disease.  The leptospiral serovars most commonly reported were hardjo,
zanoni, pomona, australis and tarassovi. In the dairy and meatwork
industries, hardjo and pomona accounted for the majority of notifications,
with 53.8% and 56.3% re-spectively (Table 2B). The 2 overseas cases were
both diagnosed with serovar djasiman.
The most frequent animal contact reported was with cattle (58.1%) (Fig.
2B). It is interesting to note the rela-tively high proportion of contacts
with rats (27.4%) and dogs (27.4%). The real public health risk associated
with dogs has yet to be fully determined, whereas rats and mice are
recognized sources of infection worldwide.
---
1. Report prepared by the WHO/FAO Collaborating Centre for Reference and
Research on Leptospirosis, Leptospirosis Reference Laboratory, Centre for
Public Health Sciences, Queensland Health Scientific Services, 39 Kessels
Road, Coopers Plains, Queensland 4108, Australia (fax: +617 3274 9175,
e-mail: smythel@health.qld.gov.au). The website is continually updated and
holds all previously published quarterly and annual reports from the
surveil-lance
programme. The homepage address is: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/
qpssb/sciensrv/who/home.htm.



EXPERTS FEAR NEWCASTLE EPIDEMIC COULD SPREAD TO NATIVE AUSTRALIAN BIRDS
THREAT MAY BRING NATIONWIDE VACCINATION
April 23, 1999
AAP/ Sydney Morning Herald
SYDNEY -- Agriculture authorities are, according to these stories,
concerned the  deadly Newcastle epidemic affecting chickens on the New
South Wales  central coast could spread to native Australian birds.
But the New South Wales Department of Agriculture was cited as saying that
the  problem might not stop at chickens and native birds were being
watched closely.
The Department's chief  veterinary officer Dick Jane was quoted as telling
ABC radio tonight, "Oh yes, we're certainly concerned (about the spread to
native  birds) and that's why we'll keep looking. You can't order native
birds not to go near an infected  premises. We haven't found (Newcastle
disease) in any of the native birds  so far, and we would have expected
that to have happened if that  was the case. But we haven't finally ruled
it out as a possibility."
Procedures for managing the disease are being reviewed, and the NSW
Agriculture Minister, Mr Amery, said yesterday that poultry nationwide
might have to be vaccinated. The proposal has been prompted by the spread
of the deadly viral disease to an additional two large broiler farms in
the Mangrove Mountain quarantine zone.
Poultry farmer John Madsen is about to lose 60,000 chickens but  was cited
as saying that he was also concerned about the potential impact on the
country's tourism industry if the disease spread, adding, "From a national
point of view, yes I'm concerned ... an outbreak  in our native birds
could impact on our tourist industry. Australia wide ... thousands of
birds could start dying. What we are told is that the virus is carried in
dust and can be  transmitted in the air and therefore can be transmitted
to birdlife  very quickly."



ARE 6,500 PIGS TOO MANY?
April 23, 1999
The Moncton Times and Transcript
A1
The Canaanites, residents of the rural area known as Canaan,  are,
according to this story, raising a stink about the planned expansion of
the Metz Farms in New Canaan.
This story explained that the farm is currently home to about 1,400 pigs.
With the addition of a new barn, that number will rise to about 6,500 pigs
when the farm is in full swing.
The group which organized the meeting was cited as saying that the stench
from the pig farm is hurting their quality of life. And they fear
pollution from the farm may leach into Alward Brook, a tributary of the
Canaan River.
But Gunter Metz, who owns the farm, was cited as saying that he is only
doing what farmers have done for centuries. And he says his operation is
run according to the environmental standards set down by the Province of
New Brunswick.
This story further explained that this is not the first time in New
Brunswick that farmers and residents have been at odds over the issue of
smell.  In 1990, a Charlo hog farmer named Terry Sullivan committed
suicide after years of financial struggle. Sullivan's troubles began after
he lost a lawsuit in 1985. In that case, 22 of his neighbours sued him,
claiming the smell from his farm was deflating their property values. Even
though his land was zoned for agriculture and even though he met all
provincial regulations, Sullivan lost the case. He was ordered to pay
$34,000 to his neighbours because of an old nuisance law that guaranteed a
landowner's right to the "enjoyment of his property. "
The New Brunswick legislature subsequently introduced right-to-farm
legislation. But former Agriculture Minister Doug Tyler, also the MLA for
the Canaan area, was cited as saying that the legislation was never
proclaimed, adding, "It is a general principle on the basic need for
farmers to be able to operate. "




MAN SENTENCED FOR PART IN COSTLY RAID ON MINK FARM
April 22, 1999
CP Wire
Chatham Daily News
CHATHAM, Ont. -- A Michigan man's part in a 1997 raid on an
area mink farm will, according to this story, cost him nearly $50,000.
Allan Hoffman, 49, was fined $5,000, ordered to pay $34,000 restitution
and his $10,000 bail money was put in a fund for the farm owners in
sentencing Thursday.
Justice John Kerr was cited as describing Hoffman's part in the raid on
Eberts Mink Farm near Blenheim, Ont., as a ``stupid, naive act. This whole
thing is stupid. I suppose at a future date someone will decide it's not
right to kill vegetables and we will have to eat air. But I will be long
gone - I hope.''
Kerr accepted a joint submission by the Crown and defence lawyer to impose
a fine rather than a jail term.
Hoffman was, according to this story, charged with break, enter and theft.
The judge noted that Hoffman assisted the Crown in the prosecution of four
others involved in the raid.
Hoffman was a Crown witness in this week's trial against his nephew, Gary
Yourofsky, of Michigan, who has pleaded not guilty to break, enter and
theft and mischief.
A decision in Yourofsky's case is expected Tuesday.  Before sentencing,
Hoffman publicly apologized to Bill and Tom McLellan, owners of the Eberts
Mink Farm.  More than 1,500 mink were released in the raid. Close to 500
mink died and 60 were never recovered.
Last September, a civil court judge assessed more than $770,000 in damages
to the owners of Eberts Fur Farm to compensate for the destructive raid.
In February of this year, two Detroit-area women involved in the case were
given jail terms, and each ordered to pay more than $34,000 in
restitution.



GREENS IN MEATY DISPUTE CALGARY ENVIRONMENTALIST DEFENDS HIS RIGHT TO EAT
BEEF
April 23, 1999
The Edmonton Sun
pg. 19
Davis Sheremata
PETA co-ordinator Alison Green from New York yesterday, taking a break
from handing out veggie burgers to customers at the front door of a
Manhattan McDonald's and urging them to "break the flesh habit," was
quoted as saying, "There's no such thing as a meat-eating
environmentalist. Because of the toll the meat industry is taking on the
planet. Self-proclaimed 'environmentalists' who eat meat are doing more to
damage the planet than ozone depletion and global warming put together."
Sawyer, a Calgarian, chafed at the accusation that he's worse than global
warming. He was quoted as saying, "I'm a hunter. I go out and kill
animals. I eat meat. I don't do it for philosophical reasons. I do it for
health reasons. The original conservationists were hunters. Most of the
efforts to conserve  ildlife come from hunters. PETA is simply wrong."
Sawyer doesn't take his environmental responsibilities lightly. A Green
Party candidate in the 1993 provincial election, he was, according to this
story, arrested the day before the election for stepping in front of
Premier Ralph Klein's car. Sawyer refused to budge and sat on the hood of
Klein's car, grappling with Tory supporters who pushed and punched him. He
was later charged with public mischief after the prosthetic hook on his
left wrist (he lost a hand in an accident) scratched the car's hood.
Sawyer isn't the only environmentalist who likes the occasional steak.
Sam Gunsch, Edmonton spokesman for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness
Society, was quoted as saying, "I eat meat and I drive a car. I also have
a bicycle."
Gunsch, who spent Earth Day lobbying the Alberta government to protect an
extra 15% of the province from resource development, dismissed PETA's
approach as too simplistic.  "You can't solve everything by wiping out
meat," said Gunsch. "I have no plans to become a vegetarian."



IN DEFENCE OF OUR FUR FARMERS
April 23, 1999
The Moncton Times and Transcript
D7
Bruce Williams of Salisbury, chairman of the Fur Institute of Canada,
responding to a recent letter by Kim Reid which quoted the propaganda of
an animal rights group whose publicly acknowledged mission is to destroy
the legal and environmentally sound trade in furs.
Please allow Williams to shed some light on the allegations and encourage
all the Times & Transcript readers to consider some allegations balanced
with the facts.
Allegation:
Approximately 4.9 million fur-bearing animals are killed each year by
trappers in the United States and 3.5 are raised on fur farms.
Fact:
Animals are, according to this story, trapped in every country of the
world for food, clothing, nuisance control and wildlife management
strategies. In many cases these animals are simply discarded as trash (the
Dutch destroy 500, 000 muskrat annually); however, North American trappers
demonstrate their respect for wildlife by ensuring full utilization of the
pelt, and the nutritional value of wildlife. Thus, the fur is sold into a
vibrant Canadian and international trade and the meat becomes an important
menu item for many families in rural and remote areas.
 Fur farming was, according to this story, pioneered in Prince Edward
Island and continues to be an important agricultural activity in North
America. There are some 75 fur farming families in New Brunswick today who
contributed $ 1.3 million "new dollars" to the provincial economy in 1998.
Additionally, they play an important role in the agricultural community.
Allegation:
Foxes are kept in cages only 2.5 feet square with up to four animals per
cage.
Fact:
Fur farmers are, according to this story, guided by a Recommended Code of
Practice established in conjunction with Agriculture Canada, the Canadian
Veterinary Medical Association, the Canadian Council on Animal Care, the
Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, fur farmers, the New Brunswick
Department of Agriculture and numerous other organizations.  Since the
quality of an animal's pelt is directly related to the quality of its
housing and nutrition, no responsible fur farmer would attempt to rear
livestock under less than ideal conditions.  Poor conditions would not
only cause harmful stress to the animals; they would severely affect the
farmer's income.
Allegation:
Animals can languish in traps for days. Up to a quarter of all trapped
animals escape by chewing off their own feet only to die later.
Fact:
This is, according to Williams, utter nonsense. Canadian trappers are far
more highly regulated than Canadian drivers. Trappers in most areas of
Canada are legally required to make daily trap-checks where restraining
traps are being used and severe penalties are imposed where regulations
are not respected.
With improved trapping technologies, trapper education programs and
ongoing research and development, Canadian trappers set an example for
excellence that is followed by the rest of the world!
Allegation:
Every year approximately five million dogs, cats, birds and other animals
are crippled or killed by traps.
Fact:
 It is most unfortu nate that, on occasion, non-target animal captures
have been known to happen. In many urban and agricultural areas, pet
owners have, according to this story, been known to allow their companion
animals to roam without supervision and accidents of this sort do occur.
It is important to remember that approximately 90 million animals die as
road-kill annually.
Allegation:
Trappers usually strangle, beat or stomp trapped animals to death.
Fact:
Nonsense! Trapping regulations limit, according to this story, the use of
restraining trap systems for the capture of wolf, fox, lynx, bobcat and
coyote and all other furbearers must be taken in lethal devices. When
animals are live-captured, the trapper upon arrival at the trap location,
will generally kill the animal with a small caliber bullet into the brain.
Allegation:
 Animals on fur farms may be gassed, anally electrocuted, poisoned with
strychnine, or have their necks snapped.
Fact:
Farmed furbearers are, according to this story, euthanized in accordance
with the Recommended Code of Practice as developed in conjunction with all
of the agencies named previously.
Allegation:
It takes more energy to make a fur coat than it does to make a fake fur
coat.
Fact:
There is, according to this story, no conclusive evidence to support this
claim; however, unlike synthetic fibres, which will last for thousands of
years in a landfill, a good quality fur will provide warmth, style and
comfort for about 30 years before recycling.
Our institute's web site is www.fur.ca.
When all the research is done, it's hard to believe that more people don't
wear fur!



TOO MANY GEESE!
April 23, 1999
The Edmonton Journal
A18
Five animal rights groups lost, according to this story, their bid in
court last week to stop a spring hunt of snow geese in northern Manitoba
and Quebec.  The federal government is allowing for a spring hunt this
year to help reduce the exploding population of snow geese that are
denuding vast tracts of salt marshes along Hudson and James Bay and in the
Queen Maud Gulf Bird Sanctuary in the central Arctic.  Dave Duncan of the
Canadian Wildlife Service was cited as saying that the latest estimates
put the population of breeding geese in North America at 4.9 million, up
from an estimated 1.2 million in the 1970s. That doesn't include 1.2
million young geese that are not yet breeding.  Duncan was cited as saying
that the situation is going to get worse before it gets much better,
adding, "It's estimated that between 10 and 12 million lesser snow geese
will be flying back south in the fall." Most of the snow geese at
Beaverhill Lake fly to Banks Island in the High Arctic where the numbers
are rising, but not nearly at the rate as the mid-continental population.
About 20 per cent go to the Queen Maud Gulf sanctuary where serious
environmental damage has already resulted.



POLITICIAN TAKES UP CAUSE OF ELK BREEDERS
April 22, 1999
CP Wire
REGINA -- A Regina MP is championing the case of 36
 Saskatchewan elk breeders facing bankruptcy.  New Democrat John Solomon
was cited as saying that the breeders had boarded their animals at a farm
in Grafton, Ont., but one animal in the herd tested positive for bovine
tuberculosis.  That resulted in an order to slaughter the entire herd of
473 animals.
Solomon was cited as saying that the farmers have been offered the maximum
$2,000 a head under federal compensation. However, the purchase price of
the animals ranged from $9,500 to $13,000 each.  Solomon was further cited
as saying that collectively, the farmers stand to lose between $3.5
million and $5 million.



PACIFIC KILLER WHALES AND OTHERS ADDED TO ENDANGERED LIST
April 22, 1999
CP Wire
Sue Bailey
OTTAWA -- Pacific killer whales, the fox snake and the spring salamander
have, according to this story, been added to Canada's endangered species
list.  ``A whole bunch'' of other new plants and animals will appear when
the updated endangered list is released today, said a source familiar with
the contents.
This story explained that a panel of national experts spent the week
reviewing whether 80 species should be considered at risk, including
mammals, plants, amphibians, reptiles and fish. Of those, 46 have not been
reviewed before, while 34, including the polar bear, are already
considered at risk but are being reassessed.  About 300 Pacific killer
whales will be added to the list, partly because of pollutants and
declining salmon stocks that they eat.  Spring salamanders in Quebec are
threatened by agricultural runoff and clogged streams when woodlots are
chopped down.  And the harmless fox snake, yellowish-brown and up to two
metres long, is a victim of its nasty appearance. It lives along
shorelines in southern Ontario, shaking its tail at strangers.
David Green, head of the committee on the status of endangered wildlife,
was quoted as saying, ``People see one of these things and they hammer it
with a shovel.  They also like to warm themselves on roads, which is
pretty bad.'' Harbour seals, northern leopard frogs and the frosted elfin
butterfly are among those being assessed for the first time.  The
committee re-examines listed species at least every 10 years to see if
their status has changed.
Additions to the current roster of 307 at-risk plants and animals reflect
more knowledge - not necessarily increased pollution, Green explained.
``It doesn't mean that . . . the state of the environment in Canada has
gotten that much worse, it just means that we managed to get more up to
date.''
For example, killer whales off Canada's Pacific coast might have been
listed earlier if more was known about them, Green was cited as saying.
Species considered at risk are labelled vulnerable, threatened or
endangered.
 - Vulnerable means a plant or animal could be harmed by human activities
or natural events.
 - Threatened means a species is likely to become endangered if damaging
factors aren't reversed.
 - Endangered species face imminent extinction in specific areas or
altogether. In Canada, these include right whales, high Arctic peary
caribou, Ontario wood poppies, spotted owls and Lake Erie water snakes.
Species are removed from the list if their living conditions improve.  The
review committee includes wildlife experts representing government,
conservation agencies and independent researchers. It has worked for 21
years without the backing of a federal endangered species law, but that
may soon change.
Environment Minister Christine Stewart was cited as hoping to introduce
legislation before the summer, including expanded recovery plans to help
protect threatened species.
Critics of the proposed measures say they won't go far enough.  A federal
grant of $624,000 was announced this week to support 55 recovery projects
across Canada for species including the trumpeter swan, Eastern bluebird
and the white pelican.
Last year, 51 species were reviewed and 16 added to the at-risk list.
slb-BMG



CANADA/NEW ZEALAND REACH LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP ON LIVESTOCK RESEARCH
April 23, 1999
Lethbridge Research Centre Report
Lethbridge, Alta. -- Canada's livestock industry could soon benefit from
collaborative research with New Zealand.
The Lethbridge Research Centre, along with the Lacombe Research Centre,
has reached a long-term agreement with New Zealand's Pastoral Agricultural
Research Institute to encourage collaboration on livestock research
projects.
Each institution is a global leader in livestock research, particularly
with cattle, says Dr. Glenn Coulter, Lethbridge Research Centre Assistant
Director in charge of commercialization. Collaborative research will have
wide ranging benefits for livestock producers and industry in both
countries.
"The agricultural industry is evolving at a global level, and research is
no exception," he says. "To keep Canada at the leading edge, it's
important we take advantage of international partnership opportunities to
strengthen our resources."
The agreement is expected to be renewed after three years and can be
opened up to other areas of research, says Ken Lievers, Commercialization
Officer with the Lethbridge Research Centre, who helped design the
agreement. It provides templates for collaborative projects and includes
the development of a joint management committee to oversee those projects.
"This initiative paves the way for the scientists to work together," says
Lievers. "We have a detailed set of mechanisms in place so that projects
can move forward quickly and easily."
Dr. Peter Burnett, Assistant Director of the Lethbridge Research Centre in
charge of programs, and Dr. David Bailey, Director of the Lacombe Research
Centre, are currently in New Zealand to finalize details for implementing
the agreement. The Lethbridge Research Centre is Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada's (AAFC) national headquarters for beef production research. The
Lacombe Research Centre is AAFC national headquarters for meat research.
For further information contact:
Dr. Glenn Coulter, Assistant Director, phone: (403) 317-2210
Ken Lievers, Commercialization Officer, phone: (403) 317-2265
Lethbridge Research Centre, phone: (403) 327-4561, fax: (403) 382-3156
Acknowledgment: Communications sponsored in part by
The Canada Alberta Livestock Research Trust Inc.




ADOPTATHON '99: HELPING ANIMALS FIND HOMES - LOOKING TO ADOPT A SHELTER
PET? PETSHELTER NETWORK IS OPEN 24-7!
April 23, 1999
from a press release
http://www.petshelter.org/site/adoptathon/photo.htm/
SEATTLE -- On May 1 and 2, animal shelters nationwide will join together
in Adoptathon '99 to raise awareness of the importance of adopting
homeless animals. This is the fifth year of a national event started by
North Shore Animal League. All participating shelters extend their hours
for this event, and some of them lower their adoption fees.
"If you're thinking about adopting a pet during Adoptathon '99, you can
view animals prior to Adoptathon '99 on the PetShelter Network,
www.petshelter.org said David Baum, founder and webmaster of the site.
"The website lists animals available for adoptions from dozens of
shelters, and many of the listings have a photo and a brief description of
the animal," he said. "We think it's essential that people can see the
animals whenever they want; this is the beauty of the Internet. PetShelter
Network is open for viewing 7 days a week. 24 hours a day."
Shelters nationwide are members of the PetShelter Network. Shelters from
the Puget Sound area alone include animals from Seattle Animal Control in
Seattle, PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society) in Lynnwood, Kitsap
Humane Society in Silverdale, the Humane Society for Seattle\King County
in Bellevue, WAIF on Whidbey Island and Adopt-A-Pet in Shelton.
"Adoptathon '99 is instrumental in educating the public about responsible
pet ownership," said Deanna Davies, of the PetShelter Network. "Over 6
million animals were euthanized last year for lack of space in shelters.
People who adopt from a shelter save a life by opening up necessary kennel
space. Since shelters spay and neuter their animals, adopters are helping
to combat pet overpopulation by adopting an animal that will not
reproduce. But that same animal will also provide you with endless love
and devotion."
/Web site:  http://www.petshelter.org/




WEEK FOR PROTESTS QUIET IN U.S. SO FAR, POSSIBLE ACTIVIST ATTACK ON HOME
IN U.K.
April 23, 1999
AMP News
Americans for Medical Progress
Thus far it has been a very lackluster week for the activist-designated
World Week for Animals in Laboratories here in the United States.
Activities have centered on speeches and vigils on college campuses and
media stunts, such as the "Research Crime" leafleting of Southwestern
Medical Center in Dallas by a few people from Texas Establishment for
Animal Rights.  Activists last night staged a vigil at the University of
Minnesota labs hit by the Animal Liberation Front in an overnight raid two
weeks ago.
Several protests are scheduled arond the country
today and Saturday.  Specific information on individual
protests may be found on a site run by In
Defense of Animals at http://www.wwail.org
In the U.K., police are investigating an attack April 14 on the East
Yorkshire home of a former director of a laboratory animal breeding
company, B+K Universal.  Paul Sanders' name and home address had recently
been listed in an animal rights leaflet.  Bricks were thrown at his home
and acid was poured on his car.  His family, including three children,
were home at the time.  Sanders currently manages a recruitment firm for
laboratory techs and veterinarians.



MAb REPORT ON LINE
April 23, 1999
AMP News
Americans for Medical Progress
The new Institute for Laboratory Research report of the Committee on
Methods of Producing Monoclonal Antibodies is now available on the NIH web
site: http://www.nih.gov/grants/news/htm  A 60 day comment period is now
open.



ACTIVISTS PURSUE TWO ANTI-RESEARCH LAWSUITS
April 23, 1999
AMP News
Americans for Medical Progress
A May 3 hearing has been scheduled for a lawsuit seeking to stop Texas
Tech University researchers from studying the habits of fire ants.  PETA
has called the research "bizarre" and claims the study inflicts ants on
baby quails, pregnant deer and other animals.
Texas Tech Associate Vice Chancellor Cindy Rugeley said, "It's our effort
to try to find some way to eradicate fire ants so they don't post a risk
to wildlife. Our goal is to help the animals, not hurt them."
The Mississippi state Supreme Court reinstated a 1997 lawsuit opposing the
use of greyhounds in research by the Mississippi State University's
College of Veterinary Medicine.  Animal activists claim the dogs were
being used without the knowledge of the dogs' owners for hip transplant
research and as blood donors.
The suit, filed by In Defense of Animals and the National Greyhound
Adoption Network, had been dismissed on the grounds the university had
sovereign immunity. The state Supreme Court found that the initial judge
had given to broad a scope to the protections of sovereign immunity.  The
case has been returned for trial.

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