12. AVIAN INFLUENZA:  HI PATH VERSUS LO PATH

Avian Influenza

Low Pathogenic H5N1 vs. Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Latest UPDATE September 1, 2006

 

A few weeks ago, a low pathogenic strain of H5N1 avian influenza was discovered in mute swans in Michigan.  It is important to note that “low path” strains have been found in the US and Canada previously, and this strain is not the same as the high pathological Asian strain of H5N1 that experts are concerned about in regard to human health.  The article below from USDA helps explain the differences between low path avian influenza (LPAI) and high path avian influenza (HPAI).  Here is the article below as it was released:

 

 

There are two types of avian influenza (AI) that are identified as H5N1. A difference exists in the virus classification; one is low pathogenic (LPAI) and the other is highly pathogenic (HPAI). Pathogenicity refers to the ability of the virus to produce disease.

     

HPAI H5N1, often referred to as the "Asian" H5N1, is the type causing worldwide concern.  LPAI H5N1, often referred to as the "North American"

H5N1, is of less concern. Following is an explanation of the differences between them.

 

LPAI H5N1 ("North American" H5N1)

 

LPAI, or "low path" AI, commonly occurs in wild birds. In most cases, it causes minor sickness or no noticeable signs of disease. It is rarely fatal in birds. LPAI strains are not a human health concern. This includes LPAI H5N1.

 

Evidence of LPAI H5N1 has been found in wild birds in the United States in recent years and is not closely related to the more severe HPAI H5N1 circulating overseas.  Examples of historical reports of LPAI H5N1 received by USDA include:

 

1975 - LPAI H5N1 was detected in a wild mallard duck and a wild blue goose in Wisconsin as part of routine sampling, not as a result of noticeable illness in the birds

 

1981 and 1985 - the University of Minnesota conducted a sampling procedure in which sentinel ducks were monitored in cages placed in the wild for a short period of time and LPAI H5N1 was detected in those ducks in both years.

 

1983 - LPAI H5N1 was detected in ring-billed gulls in Pennsylvania.

 

1986 - LPAI H5N1 was detected in a wild mallard duck in Ohio as part of routine sampling, not as a result of noticeable illness in the birds.

 

2002 - LPAI H5N1 antibodies were detected in turkeys in Michigan but the virus could not be isolated; therefore this detection could not be confirmed. 

 

2005 - LPAI H5N1 was detected in ducks in Manitoba, Canada.

 

2006 - LPAI H5N1 was confirmed in two Michigan mute swans sampled as part of USDA's expanded avian influenza surveillance.

 

In the past, there was no requirement for reporting or tracking LPAI H5 or H7 detections in wild birds so states and universities tested wild bird samples independently of USDA.  Because of this, the above list of previous detections might not be all inclusive of past LPAI H5N1 detections.  However, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recently changed its requirement of reporting detections of avian influenza.  Effective in 2006, all confirmed LPAI H5 and H7 AI subtypes must be reported to the OIE because of their potential to mutate into highly pathogenic strains.  Therefore, USDA now tracks these detections in wild birds, backyard flocks, commercial flocks and live bird markets.

 

HPAI H5N1 ("Asian" H5N1)

 

HPAI, or "high path" AI, spreads rapidly and is often fatal to chickens and turkeys. This includes HPAI H5N1. Millions of birds have died in countries where HPAI H5N1 has been detected. This virus has also infected people, most of whom have had direct contact with infected birds.

 

HPAI H5N1 has not been detected in the United States. However, other strains of HPAI have been detected and eradicated three times in the United States: in 1924, 1983 and 2004.  No significant human illness resulted from these outbreaks. 

 

The 1924 HPAI H7 outbreak was contained and eradicated in East Coast live bird markets.

 

The 1983-84 HPAI H5N2 outbreak resulted in humanely euthanizing approximately 17 million chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl in Pennsylvania and Virginia to contain and eradicate the disease.

 

In 2004, USDA confirmed an HPAI H5N2 outbreak in chickens in Texas. The disease was quickly eradicated thanks to close coordination and cooperation between USDA and State, local, and industry leaders.

 

TERMINOLOGY

 

Avian influenza (AI)--the bird flu--is a virus that infects wild birds (such as ducks, gulls, and shorebirds) and domestic poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese).  There is flu for birds just as there is for humans and, as with people, some forms of the flu in birds are worse than others.

 

AI viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins:

the hemagglutinin or H proteins, of which there are 16 (H1-H16), and neuraminidase or N proteins, of which there are 9 (N1-N9). 

 

Pathogenicity:  the ability of the virus to produce disease.  AI strains also are divided into two groups based upon the ability of the virus to produce disease: low pathogenic (LP) and highly pathogenic (HP). 

 

Low Pathogenic or "low path" avian influenza (LPAI):  LPAI occurs naturally in wild birds and can spread to domestic birds.  In most cases it causes no signs of infection or only minor symptoms in birds.  These strains of the disease pose little significant threat to human health.

These strains are common in the U.S. and around the world.

 

Highly Pathogenic or "high path" avian influenza (HPAI): HPAI is often fatal in chickens and turkeys.  HPAI spreads rapidly and has a high death rate in birds than LPAI.  HPAI has been detected and eradicated three times in U.S. domestic poultry.  HPAI H5N1 is the subtype rapidly spreading in some parts of the world.

 

 

 

 

13. Hulless barley: An ethanol option?

Aug 31, 2006 9:15 AM
By Roy Roberson

Southeast Farm Press

Farm Press Editorial Staff

One of the more interesting combinations of crops for ethanol is year around production of corn and hulless barley.

Hulless barley varieties produce higher starch content per acre than corn and could fit ideally into a double-crop system. Virginia Tech released the first winter hulless barley cultivar, "Doyce," in 2003.

Doyce, is a hulless barley that is high yielding, mid-season maturity, and short in stature with stiff straw. Doyce provides winter barley producers and end users with a new value-added crop having grain that is lower in fiber, higher in starch and metabolizable energy than traditional hulled winter barley, and having potential for use in feed, food and ethanol production.

The high starch component makes hulless varieties highly desirable for conversion to ethanol.

The first Southeastern ethanol plant, now under construction in Aurora, N.C., faces a challenge of supplying enough corn year-around to produce the desired 108 million gallons of ethanol a year. North Carolina is a corn-deficient state, creating an instant demand for an alternative source of starch for ethanol production.

As the fuel crisis continues to grow in the U.S., it is likely the interest in alternative fuel crops will also escalate. With corn for ethanol leading the way, the need for a winter crop, like hulless barley, is going to be high.

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14. Organic Food Database (OFDB) – A resource to source organic foods AND a place for you to list your organic farm and organic products.

I want to take the time to tell you about The Organic Food Database (OFDB) which might be of interest to you. The OFDB is a new project created by volunteers to help organic food farms, organic restaurants and organic food product makers/manufacturers get in touch with consumers seeking Organic food products and/or services. The OFDB is currently free of advertisements.

We get most of our help from volunteers and donations. If you would like to have your farm listed on The OFDB, you can submit your farm to our database which requires registration or we can do it for you by e-mail, both options are free. If you have any questions or comments about the OFDB, feel free to e-mail me back any time at [log in to unmask]

 

You can check out the OFDB at the link below:

http://www.organicfooddatabase.net/

 

 

 

Vicki Morrone

Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist

Michigan State University

C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems

303 Natural Resources Bldg.

East Lansing, MI 48824

517-353-3542

517-282-3557 (cell)

517-353-3834 (fax)

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