ANIMALNET JULY 29, 1999 -- II New grass on menu for western cattle and wildlife Two bald eagles reared near PP&L Inc. Power plant take first flight New tests quickly diagnose Bluetongue, related diseases Environmentalists slam UK for 'Franken-Fish' Monkey dispute halts Indian drug tests Plea to UK government on cloning research Transgenic boom Bulgaria not aware of Romania Livestock imports ban More Anthrax found in Alberta Bullfight `criminal,' foes warn Law makes animal-baiting illegal I defend right to go Foxhunting, Hague tells Blair Who is collecting data on Leptospirosis Fish gamble yields award AnimalNet is produced by researchers at the Agri-Food Risk Management and Communication Project at the University of Guelph, is edited by Wendy Powell (wpowell@uoguelph.ca) and Douglas Powell (dpowell@uoguelph.ca), and is supported by the Ontario Cattlemen's Association, the U.S. National Pork Producers, U.S. National Food Processors Association, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited (Canada), Canadian Animal Health Institute, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Meat & Livestock Australia, Canadian Pork Council, Ontario Farm Animal Council, the U.S. National Cattlemens Beef Association, the Rutgers University Food Safety Extension Program, Ag-West Biotech, Capital Health, the Ontario Soybean Growers Marketing Board, Food Indsutry Environmental Network, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors, Chicken Farmers of Canada, MDS Nordion, American Meat Institute, and the Agricultural Adaptation Council (CanAdapt Program). archived at: http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/courses/ansc481/animal_net.html NEW GRASS ON MENU FOR WESTERN CATTLE AND WILDLIFE July 28, 1999 USDA ARS News Service Cattle and wildlife on western rangelands may soon be grazing on CD-II, a rugged and leafy crested wheatgrass from plant breeders at the Agricultural Research Service, USDA's chief research agency. The six companies licensed to produce CD-II seed are moving to make larger quantities of the grass widely available. CD-II tolerates drought, insects and diseases. One visible sign of its tolerance: it produces few purple leaves in cool spring or fall weather. In crested wheatgrass, purple leaves are a symptom of stress and reduced growth, according to plant geneticist Kay H. Asay of the ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory in Logan, Utah. He led the CD-II research, working with ARS and Utah State University colleagues. CD-II adapts well to rangelands of the Intermountain region and northern Great Plains that get about 10 to 16 inches of precipitation a year. It is suitable for planting at elevations up to 6,000 feet. It needs to be planted in combination with other grasses, not only to keep ecosystems diverse, but also to provide alternate forage in mid-summer when CD-II becomes dormant. ARSQin collaboration with Utah State UniversityQoffered initial supplies of CD-II seed to plant breeders in 1996, after more than a decade of plant breeding and testing. Two of the six companies licensed to sell CD-IIQRound Butte Seed Growers, Inc., Culver, Ore., and Wheatland Seed, Inc., Brigham City, UtahQsold CD-II for the first time in 1998. Three of the companies plan to market CD-II this year: Big Sky Wholesale Seeds, Inc., Shelby, Mont.; Rainier Seeds, Inc., Port Orchard, Wash.; and Newfield Seeds Company, Ltd., Nipawin, Saskatchewan, Canada. Grassland West Company, Clarkston, Wash., will sell CD-II next year. An article in the July issue of the ARS monthly journal, Agricultural Research, tells more. The article is also on the web at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul99/forage0799.htm TWO BALD EAGLES REARED NEAR PP&L, INC. POWER PLANT TAKE FIRST FLIGHT July 29, 1999 from a press release ALLENTOWN, Pa -- Two bald eagles born in a nest near a PP&L, Inc. power plant have taken their first flightQstrong evidence of the comeback cited by President Clinton recently when he announced plans to remove the bald eagle from the endangered species list. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19981015/PHTH025 ) "This is the first successful bald eagle nest on PP&L, property," said Mark Arbogast, superintendent of the nature and recreation area that surrounds the Holtwood power plant along the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County. "The first flight is an important milestone for these young eagles, and a key milestone in PP&L's restoration efforts for threatened species," Arbogast said. "We are proud to be a part of the strong comeback this majestic species is making nationwide." President Clinton, saying that the bald eagle is "back from the brink," announced plans over the July 4 weekend to remove our national bird from the endangered species list. He credited good environmental stewardship nationwide as the reason for the bird's resurgence. Named America's national bird in 1782, the bald eagle was threatened with extinction by hunting, loss of habitat and use of the pesticide DDT. In 1963, only 417 breeding pairs remained in the lower 48 states. Today, that number has climbed to 5,800, including the pair that set up housekeeping on a transmission tower at Holtwood. "For the next several weeks, the adults will be teaching the young eagles to hunt, and they'll be practicing flying as their feathers grow," said Arbogast. "Then, they'll be on their own." If all goes well, the adult eagles will return to their nest next year and breed again, Arbogast said, and the juveniles will develop into mature eagles and seek mates of their own after a few years. As part of its environmental stewardship program, PP&L has been helping the Pennsylvania Game Commission monitor the nest and keep curious visitors from getting too close. "We're happy to do anything we can to help the bald eagle population increase," Arbogast said. PP&L has played host to several other bald eagle nests at Holtwood and at other company nature and recreation areas in years past, but those nests were not successful in producing baby eagles that eventually left the nest. PP&L also has done extensive work with osprey and peregrine falcons, and recently completed work on its Holtwood Hydroelectric Dam to allow American shad to get over the dam on their annual migration up the Susquehanna. "Our species restoration work is part of our philosophy to operate in harmony with the environment," said Arbogast. "It's just one component of our overall environmental program." NEW TESTS QUICKLY DIAGNOSE BLUETONGUE, RELATED DISEASES July 29, 1999 ARS News Service Agricultural Research Service, USDA http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. Kathryn Barry Stelljes stelljes@asrr.arsusda.gov New laboratory tests will allow scientists, regulators and livestock producers to quickly identify animals with bluetongue or epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). ARS scientists in Laramie, Wyo., have developed the first single genetic test that distinguishes all five types of the virus that causes bluetongue in the U.S. They've also developed rapid tests that distinguish bluetongue from EHD.. Bluetongue, so named because it can cause a loss of oxygen and a blue tinge to the tongue, affects sheep, goats, deer, elk and antelope. Cattle can carry the virus, usually without becoming ill. Worldwide, there are 24 strains of bluetongue virus. Countries without bluetongue strictly regulate import and export of livestock and related products, costing U.S. producers about $125 million annually. Previous tests were not always definitive, requiring additional testing. The new test, developed by ARS microbiologist William C. Wilson, reduces the time it takes to identify the virus type from several days to a single day. All official bluetongue testing in the U.S. is performed at the USDA's National Veterinary Service Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, and the lab has incorporated Wilson's test into its procedures. Wilson and ARS microbiologist James O. Mecham also developed tests that identify the two types of EHD present in the U.S. and distinguish them from bluetongue viruses. Both scientists work at ARS' Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Laboratory in Laramie. EHD can cause a bluetongue-like disease in cattle and is often fatal to white-tailed deer. Correctly identifying which virus an animal harbors is important for trade purposes. There is no cure for either bluetongue or EHD. ARS is USDA's chief scientific research agency. A detailed story on the research appears in the agency's July Agricultural Research magazine and on the Internet at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul99/blue0799.htm ENVIRONMENTALISTS SLAM UK FOR 'FRANKEN-FISH' July 29, 1999 Reuters David Luhnow EDINBURGH, Scotland -- Environmental groups were cited as reacting angrily Thursday to news Britain had allowed experiments in Scotland to create genetically modified salmon that grew four times as fast as normal. While the practice is widespread in the United States, many European consumers are uneasy about GM foods. Environmentalists were cited as saying that too little is known about the potential effects on human health or the environment itself. The Daily Mail tabloid was cited as saying Thursday, "Now it's the Franken-fish," echoing the term "Frankenstein foods" often used by British newspapers to describe GM food. Doug Parr, campaign center director for Greenpeace in London, was quoted as telling Reuters, "This government has a pro-GM engineering agenda and is not the umpire that it pretends to be on the issue. This whole experiment seems to have been done fairly quietly and with no public debate. That is clearly not the way most people want to go." Greenpeace landed itself in legal trouble this week when its executive director Lord Melchett was arrested on charges connected with the destruction of GM crops in an English field. Although Reid was cited as saying that the Scottish salmon tests posed no risks, environmentalists said it would encourage other countries eager to boost revenue from fast-growing salmon to bow to pressure from mostly U.S. and Canadian companies to carry out tests. Robin Harper of the Scottish Green Party was cited as telling Reuters, "If you accidentally let loose 'super salmon' in the seasQsalmon that eat four times more than othersQthe damage they could do to the world's fisheries is incalculable." Harper, Britain's first elected green politician, was cited as saying that he planned to introduce a bill in the upcoming session of Scotland's new parliament to impose a moratorium on further development of GM foods. MONKEY DISPUTE HALTS INDIAN DRUG TESTS July 29, 1999 Nature 400, 393 (1999) K. S. JAYARAMAN NEW DELHI -- A number of drug research projects in India have, according to this story, been halted because of a conflict between a government animal-welfare committee and a Hyderabad centre that supplies animals to research institutes. Under rules introduced in December 1998, all laboratories that breed or experiment with animals must register with the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals. The committee is chaired by Maneka Gandhi, the minister for social justice and herself an animal activist. This story explained that although the National Centre for Laboratory Animal Science (NCLAS) has twice applied for registration, this has been refused on the grounds that the centre uses monkeys caught in the wild rather than laboratory bred, and that these are kept in cages that fall below international standards. The committee's secretary, A. P. Singh, last week was cited as ordering NCLAS to release all monkeys back to the wild as a condition of registration. But the centre has refused on the grounds that the monkeys were caught with permission from the forest department, and are being used for research under contract with drug companies. Without registration, NCLAS chief scientist S. Hariharan was cited as saying that normal activities at the centre cannot continue, adding, "We have stopped breeding laboratory animals and supplying them to our clients, and have also halted on-going projects." NCLAS is, the story says, recognized as a centre of excellence by the International Council of Laboratory Animal Sciences and the World Health Organization, and trains scientists from several countries besides India. The centre has more than 30,000 animals, including strains of mice and rats that have been bred over several decades. "If they are lost, it will take another 20 years to establish similar colonies," says Hariharan. Singh was quoted as saying that his committee does not want to harm biomedical research, adding, "We have to implement the rules. And I cannot shut my eyes to how the monkeys are kept in NCLAS." But NCLAS scientists say the committee's conditions amount to closing down the facility. PLEA TO UK GOVERNMENT ON CLONING RESEARCH July 29, 1999 Nature 400, 396 (1999) LONDON -- A complete ban on all cloning research would, according to this story, be "unethical", according to the scientific adviser to Britain's Association of Medical Research Charities. Sir Leslie Turnberg, former president of the Royal College of Physicians, argues in a letter to the Times newspaper that cloning research for therapeutic purposes ought to be continued, given its potential to treat diseases. The letter follows a recent announcement by the UK government that it needs more time to decide whether to allow 'therapeutic' cloning techniques to be used on human embryos, even though they are permitted under current legislation (see Nature 400, 4; 1999). Turnberg was cited as writing that it would be "shameful" if all forms of cloning research were banned because "society could not trust itself or its scientists to maintain the law". TRANSGENIC BOOM July 31, 1999 New Scientist This story explained that the number of experiments on genetically engineered animals is soaring in Britain. According to figures released last week, the number of procedures using transgenic animals rose by 27 per cent in 1998, reaching 447 000, or 17 per cent of all animal experiments. The 1998 surge in transgenics was so large that it caused an increase of 1 per cent in the total number of animals used--the first time there has been an overall increase since 1976. BULGARIA NOT AWARE OF ROMANIA LIVESTOCK IMPORTS BAN July 29, 1999 Reuters SOFIA -- Bulgaria was cited as saying on Thursday that it had not been notified of a temporary livestock imports ban imposed by Romania after Sofia reported cases of so-called blue tongue disease. A Bulgarian National Veterinary Service (NVS) official was quoted as telling Reuters, "We have not been officially informed of any bans on import of Bulgarian livestock introduced by Romania or any other country." Romania's agriculture ministry was cited as saying on Thursday that it had ordered the ban on all livestock, effective immediately, after being informed by Bulgaria's veterinary authorities on Wednesday of an outbreak of the disease, which is fatal to animals. The official was quoted as saying, "Unilateral bans should be enforced only after official notifications of all sides concerned." Bulgarian Agriculture Minister Ventsislav Varbanov was cited as saying earlier this week that the outbreak was contained and saw no danger of it spreading. Bulgaria's NVS was cited as saying that the first cases of blue tongue disease were detected in June in the Bourgas region, where 537 sheep have been slaughtered. More than 250,000 animals have been given preventive treatment. Some 7,500 have been sprayed with insecticides. Animals contracting the virus develop a distinctive blue tongue, mucus membranes swell and they die within about three days. Analysts were cited as saying that the disease required the slaughter of an entire herd even if only a single animal was infected. Romania said it had been free of the disease, which is spread by mosquitoes. Bucharest also banned grazing on a five kilometre strip of land along the Danube, which forms the border between the countries. It introduced spot checks of livestock in a broader 30-km strip, and ordered spraying of insecticides on lakes in the area. An earlier ban on Bulgarian livestock exports imposed by the European Union over an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease three years ago, was still in effect and was due to be lifted this year. MORE ANTHRAX FOUND IN ALBERTA July 29, 1999 GLOBE AND MAIL/ NATIONAL POST Anthrax has, according to these stories, been found on a third cattle farm in central Alberta. Veterinarians were cited as confirming this week that a bull has died of anthrax in the Caroline area, 17 kilometres from where seven cattle and one horse died June 25. An additional 13 cattle on a neighbouring farm died of the same disease on July 8. Doug Scott, veterinary programs officer with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Calgary, was cited as saying he does not know what day the Caroline animal died or how closely its home environment compared to the first two farms. Other animals on the farm, about 35 cow-calf pairs, have been vaccinated and have not shown any symptoms, Mr. Scott said. Anthrax can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation or open wounds. It is not usually transferred from animal to animal, Mr. Scott added. CP BULLFIGHT `CRIMINAL,' FOES WARN July 29, 1999 The Gazette (Montreal) A5 EGLE PROCUTA This story explained that turning up the heat to stop a bullfight from coming to town, animal-rights activists will take to Victoria Square outside the office of the municipal-affairs minister on Monday. Louise Harel is the minister responsible for the Olympic Stadium, where the bloodless bullfight is to take place on Aug. 21. Plans for the Portuguese-style bullfight - where fighters on horseback use Velcro-covered spears to ``stab'' bulls, also covered in Velcro - have, according to this story, resulted in howls of protest from animal-lovers. These grew louder when it was revealed that Montreal's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would get 25 cents from every ticket sold to the event, even though the SPCA is officially opposed to bullfights. This payment was, the story says, part of a deal between the SPCA and the organizers. SPCA executive director Pierre Barnoti was cited as explaining that since the association couldn't stop the fight, it would work with the organizers to look after the animals. But other animal-rights groups are mobilizing to stop the event, just as they did with a bullfight the same organizers had planned for Molson Centre last year. On Monday, demonstrators will, according to this story, give Harel's officials warnings from lawyers that any kind of bullfight - bloodless or not - violates the Criminal Code, said Andrew Plumbly of Global Action Network, an animal-rights group that claims 2,300 members in Montreal. According to Section 446 of the Criminal Code, it is an offence to wilfully cause unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal. Plumbly was cited as warning that the officials of the Olympic Installations Board could be charged. LAW MAKES ANIMAL-BAITING ILLEGAL July 29, 1999 The Gazette (Montreal) B2 Editorial / Op-ed Andrew Plumbly, Director, Global Action Network Montreal wrote this related editorial about bullfighting. Pierre Barnoti, executive director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has, according to this editorial, used every media opportunity to put forth the idea that nothing can be done to prevent the bullfight scheduled for the Olympic Stadium Aug. 21 (Letters, July 27). While this may help the public to stomach his actions, it could not be farther from the truth. There does not yet exist a formal contract between the promoter and the Olympic Stadium, and there have, this editorial says, been no import permits for the bulls issued by Agriculture Canada. The first three criminal lawyers to whom Global Action Network spoke were cited as advising us that not only is an injunction possible, but that the event will be in direct violation of two subsections of the Criminal Code. They went on to underscore the fact that the promoter and anyone who facilitates this event, including officials of the Olympic Stadium, may, this editorial says, be open to criminal prosecution. Global Action Network has initiated an international campaign, with over 50 national and international signatory organizations, to apply massive public pressure to cancel the bullfight. We have submitted legal opinions to the Olympic Installations Board, Agriculture Canada and Louise Harel, minister of state for municipal affairs and greater Montreal. We urge every person in Montreal to immediately call the stadium to insist the law be observed and the bullfight canceled. The law is clear. Section 446 of the Criminal Code states that it is illegal to encourage in any way, aid or assist at the fighting or baiting of an animal. The only question is: were we a more progressive society in 1872, when this law was written, than we are today? I DEFEND RIGHT TO GO FOXHUNTING, HAGUE TELLS BLAIR July 29, 1999 Electronic Telegraph ISSUE 1525 Charles Clover and Polly Newton Tony Blair faces a huge battle if he bans foxhunting as planned, William Hague was cited as warning today as he defends the right of people to enjoy country sports. The issue, says that the Conservative leader, will mobilise support in every village across the country. Writing in the latest issue of Country Illustrated, Mr Hague was cited as saying that to judge by the anger of country sports enthusiasts at the prospect of a ban, the Countryside Rally of 1997 and the Countryside March of last year "are just a foretaste of what is to come". Mr Hague was further cited as saying that he respects the right of those who hold views on both sides of the argument about hunting but he defends "absolutely" the right of people to take part in traditional country sports. He was quoted as writing, "For me, it is above all a matter of freedom. A fair-minded and tolerant country should not outlaw a sport, be it hunting or shooting or fishing, which has been lawful for years and which hundreds of thousands of law-abiding people enjoy. So although I do not hunt, I will fight for the rights of those who do." He was cited as dismissing the argument that a majority of people want hunting banned. He says the true test of a democracy is how the majority treats its minorities. Hunting is part of the social fabric of rural communities, keeps rural industries alive, and controls the fox population without the use of uncertain methods such as trapping and shooting, he says. None of these appeared to have occurred to Tony Blair before he "blurted out" his plan to ban hunting on the BBC's Question Time, which in Mr Hague's view "amounts to one of the most cynical and vindictive acts of political opportunism of recent times". He was quoted as writing, "The Government's attack has everything to do with pleasing Labour activists and the animal rights pressure groups that give huge donations to the Labour Party, and nothing to do with what is right or democratic." Mr Hague was further cited as warning that the plans to ban hunting would affect the future of all field sports, adding, "It is pretty clear that if the pressure groups get their way on hunting, they will turn their attention to shooting and fishing." WHO IS COLLECTING DATA ON LEPTOSPIROSIS July 29, 1999 Eurosurveillance Weekly The term leptospirosis covers a group of spirochaetal zoonoses with many different presentations, which are often confused with meningitis, encephalitis, and influenza (1). Many cases are asymptomatic, but liver and kidney damage may be severe and fatal (1). These diseases occur worldwide, often in workers who are exposed to livestock, wild animals, and water exposed to animal urine, but increasingly among water sports enthusiasts (1). The International Leptospirosis Society held its first meeting in 1996, at which delegates lamented the lack of data on morbidity and mortality, and decided to find out what was going on (2). Questionnaires were sent out, in collaboration with the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, Western Pacific Region, and the results have now been published in the Weekly Epidemiological Record (1). The report's tables include data from several European Union countries, which are summarised here. The cumulative incidence (per 100 000 population, but over varying periods of time) range from 0.084 in the United Kingdom, 0.22 in Italy, 2 in France, 8.92 in Belgium, 22.5 in Portugal, to 23 in the Netherlands. Most countries reported that 80% to 90%of cases were male, but the proportion was lower in Portugal ( 61.4%). Cases of all ages were reported, but middle aged cases were commonest. Several animal hosts were identified - rats, pigs, wild boar, cattle, horses, mice, buffaloes, sheep, shrews, foxes, hedgehogs, and dogs. Several serogroups were mentioned. References 1. Benenson AS. Control of communicable diseases manual. 16th ed.. Washington DC: American Public Health Association, 1995. 2. WHO. Leptospirosis worldwide, 1999. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 1999; 74: 237-42. (http://www.who.int/wer) To subscribe to AnimalNet, send mail to: listserv@listserv.uoguelph.ca leave subject line blank in the body of the message type: subscribe animalnet-L firstname lastname i.e. subscribe animalnet -L Doug Powell To unsubscribe to AnimalNet, send mail to: listserv@listserv.uoguelph.ca leave subject line blank in the body of the message type: signoff animalnet-L For more information about the AnimalNet research program, please contact: Dr. Douglas Powell dept. of plant agriculture University of Guelph Guelph, Ont. N1G 2W1 tel: 519-824-4120 x2506 fax: 519-763-8933 dpowell@uoguelph.ca http://www.oac.uoguelph.ca/riskcomm archived at: http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/courses/ansc481/animal_net.html