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
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
1975 - LPAI H5N1 was detected in a
wild mallard duck and a wild blue goose in
1981 and 1985 - the
1983 - LPAI H5N1 was detected in
ring-billed gulls in
1986 - LPAI H5N1 was detected in a
wild mallard duck in
2002 - LPAI H5N1 antibodies were
detected in turkeys in
2005 - LPAI H5N1 was detected in
ducks in
2006 - LPAI H5N1 was confirmed in
two
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
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
In 2004, USDA confirmed an HPAI H5N2
outbreak in chickens in
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
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
Source: USDA Press Office,
Release No. fs0334.06
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
As the fuel crisis continues to grow in the
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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
C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems
303 Natural Resources Bldg.
517-353-3542
517-282-3557 (cell)
517-353-3834 (fax)