Hendra Virus Outbreak / Australia

http://meatsubs.blogspot.com/2011/07/hendra-virus-equine-australia-13.html

EVA Outbreak / France

EQUINE VIRAL ARTERITIS - FRANCE: (BOUCHES-DU-RHONE, HERAULT) REQUEST


FOR INFORMATION

************************************************************************************

A ProMED-mail post



ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases





Date: Tue 12 Jul 2011

Source: The Horse [edited]







French EVA outbreak stabilizing

-------------------------------

A stallion, several mares, and a foal have tested positive for equine

viral arteritis (EVA) at 2 French Lusitano farms in a new outbreak of

a disease not seen in France since 2007 [but see commentary below],

according to a European equine pathology surveillance network. The

mares suffered fertility issues, including abortion, and the foal

died.



"To our knowledge, several problems of reproduction were reported in

the breeding center where the foal died: embryonic reabsorption, low

fertility, and infertility," said Christel Marcillaud Pitel, director

of the Reseau d'Epidemio-Surveillance en Pathologie Equine [equine

pathology surveillance network] in Caen, France. "There was only one

case of an abortion causing an expulsed fetus, and the fetus was born

alive but very weak and it died within 48 hours."



The outbreak occurred in 2 neighboring farms in southeast France near

Marseille [Bouches-du-Rhone department] and Montpellier [Herault

department]. The outbreak appears to be limited to a Lusitano breeding

program in the area, Marcillaud Pitel said. The affected stallion's

semen was not shipped for artificial insemination because he only

provides live cover, she added.



Analyses revealed that both farms were affected by the same strain of

the virus, but the origin of the outbreak is unknown. The 2 farms have

been quarantined since the 1st case was detected in late June [2011].

Any horses that left the sites prior to the quarantine have been

tested for EVA. Results are pending, but the situation appears to be

stabilizing, Marcillaud Pitel said.



The last EVA outbreak in France [see commentary below] began in July

2007 and affected 26 farms in Normandy, including the French national

stud at Haras du Pin.



"For the moment (the current outbreak) is of a weaker amplitude

because it's localized in just these 2 sites," Marcillaud Pitel said.

"The virus also seems less virulent (than the one in 2007): the

symptoms are less remarkable, and it is less widespread among the

individuals."



The disease, which is caused by the equine arteritis virus, can cause

fever, edema, and abortion and is mainly transmitted through semen.

Affected horses can carry the virus for life after the acute stages of

the illness have passed. During the acute stage the virus can also be

transmitted via respiratory secretions.



[Byline: Christa Leste-Lasserre]



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail





[EVA has been annually reported to the OIE by France as present since

at least 1996. During 2010, 11 outbreaks were recorded from the

departments of Lot (2 outbreaks), Manche (1), Orne (1), Ardennes (1),

Bouches-du-Rhone (1), Calvados (1), and Correze (3). It will be

helpful to note if these records were related to clinical or

asymptomatic cases. The information by The Horse above, according to

which EVA is a "disease not seen in France since 2007", deserves

clarification. It will also be interesting to note if the introduction

of the agent may be attributed to national/international movements of

horses.



For detailed background on EVA, please refer to Mod.TG's commentary

in ProMED-mail posting 20100509.1513 and to OIE's Terrestrial Manual

at

.



Background on the Lusitano (Portuguese) horse breed can be accessed

at .



EVA is not zoonotic. - Mod.AS]



[Maps of France can be seen at

and

. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]



[see also:

2010

----

Equine viral arteritis - UK (02): (England), OIE 20101220.4481

Equine viral arteritis - UK, OIE 20100805.2650

Equine viral arteritis - Argentina ex Holland 20100509.1513

2008

----

Equine viral arteritis - Israel (02): OIE 20081111.3547

2007

----

Equine viral arteritis - France 20070714.2260]

.................................................sb/arn/mj/mpp

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Hihgly Contageous Equine Virus puts Washington State on Alert

http://madcowhorses.blogspot.com/2011/05/highly-contageous-horse-virus-puts.html

Donkey & Pony Pals Need New Homes / NY

Capital District, NY (Johnsonville:) An animal lover in eastern New York needs to re-home several rescued animals due to failing health. Paco is a 4-year-old standard size spotted donkey who is very gentle and loving. His pal Li’l Lightning is a 12-year-old pinto mini-horse. Both are intact stallions. They need to be adopted together in a home with no other equines. Six rabbits are also in need of good homes. They include four black and white rexes and two black lop-eared rabbits. For photos or more information, please contact Christine. See Paco & Pony here; http://www.youtube.com/user/MuleKist#p/u/8/3PEH-nd9EEg Contact: Christine Phone: 518-753-7791 E-mail: mulekist@gmail.com

Animal Angels Make Progress at "Sugarcreek Auction House of Cruelty"

Pow-wow with owner Leroy Baker, others; http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/owner-of-cruel-horse-auction-sits-down-with-equine-advocates/

Young Draft Mule in Nevada Needs New Home

In Dayton, Nevada (outside of Carson City) Our neighbor Carla Butler is having to find a good home for her beloved mule 'Spinner.' He's out of a belgian mare, he's 4 years old and NEEDS to be gelded. (haha) MUST have an experienced handler!! He has NO training, but overall very pretty and has LOTS of potential. He has to have to a home by sunday night- April 10th, 2011-, he will be going to the sale next week! (were trying to save him) No price, just a good home. We need help finding him one! Thankyou, Sandy and Jacque. P.s- Heres Carla's contact information: 1775-721-7993 (cell) Thanks again!

Campaign to Shut Down San Bernabe

INTERNATIONAL PETITION to CLOSE DOWN the MOST HORRIFIC SLAUGHTER AUCTION IN MEXICO

by Annie Mond on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 11:30pm.

You can find information on the San Bernabe animal auction and the animal suffering at http://www.facebook.com/mercadodesanbernabe and the Youtube video, enclosed.

■VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxukvLG4f1I&feature=searc

The enclosed link to the petition

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/por-la-clausura-del-mercado-de-san-bernab/

is about a slaughter auction in Mexico with many horses and donkeys at the auction...the pictures in the video are horrible. They are hoping an international petition will put more pressure on the government to close this horribly cruel auction. Please help and sign their petition. Some of these horses may come from the US.

Elizabeth Forel Mar 12 08:00PM -0500

This is an International Petition to shut down this very cruel Mexican slaughter facility.

The San Bernabe auction is a source of violence that has permeated not only

other animal auctions of the State of Mexico but also most of the MexicanRepublic.

It is the largest animal auction in Mexico. It is the central dissemination point of

sale for slaughter animals.

■TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Since October of 2007 and through multiple witness reports, television and

newspaper headlines, animal protection groups of Mexico have been alerting

the Mexican community of the terrible animal abuse and extremely poor

sanitary conditions at the San Bernabe animal auction in Mexico (Mercado de

San Bernabe). The San Bernabe auction is located in the Almoloya de Juarez

municipality, about 100 kilometers west of Mexico City. Here, an environment

of violence and impunity persists before the eyes of the Governor of the

State of Mexico, *Enrique Peña Nieto*. The local authorities with

jurisdiction over the auction, in spite of having full power to inspect

operations, enforce humane regulations, and impose sanctions on the numerous

extreme violations have thus far been totally apathetic. Regulations aimed

at providing a somewhat sane level of humane animal treatment and sanction

the extreme brutality currently exist but have never been enforced.Therefore,

in effect, extreme animal cruelty persists unchecked without reprieve or recourse

at the San Bernabe auction.

Domestic animals as well as wildlife are sold every Monday at the auction

with the majority of domestic animals being horses and donkeys. Many animals

are of unclear origin and visibly sick, although suspected starting point

for most are states in central and northern Mexico, with some horses

traveling from locations as far north as the United States. They travel

thousands of miles to the San Bernabe auction to either be sold for various

domestic uses as live animals or butchered in clandestine slaughterhouses

throughout Mexico for their meat. It is possible that some of these horses

are ultimately sold to state slaughterhouses in Zacatecas and Aguascalientes

where they are processed and their meat is exported to markets overseas.

Horses and donkeys arrive at the auction in appalling condition.* *Those

that arrive alive are sadistically dragged out of the trucks despite

exposed fractures, bleeding open wounds and sores observed on

some of them. Horses are often suspended with ropes along truck

walls as they are too weak to remain standing. These so-called

"disposable animals" are kept alive because the price of a kilo of living meat is

$20.00 pesos, or about $2 USD, which is almost twice the price for a kilo of dead

meat. When the agony finally ends and an animal dies, it is immediately cut open

and its viscera is thrown to the ground where it remains without prompt subsequent

removal. Even more alarming is the disposal of animal entrails and blood in the

nearby Lerma River which creates a* *serious environmental and health threat.

The beatings, kicking, and use of electric cattle prods on the animals at

the auction are constant. Terrified and panicking donkeys and mules

regularly beaten to death.

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxukvLG4f1I&feature=searc

* PETITION: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/por-la-clausura-del-mercado-de-san-bernab/

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/mercadodesanbernabe

We believe that it is mandatory to comply with Mexican federal and state

legislation regarding animal health and humane treatment, wildlife and

environmental preservation issues. An animal auction like San Bernabe with

no adequate health standards and with such pervading intense brutality must

be regularly inspected and adequate sanctions imposed without excuses to

overlook these severe violations.

The Governor of the State of Mexico, *Enrique Peña Nieto*, in coordination

with the City Council of Almoloya de Juarez and all other regulatory

entities with jurisdiction over the San Bernabe auction must assert their

authority and, for the sake of the physical and mental health of the

community, enforce the Federal Law of Animal Health; General Law of Wild

Animals; Law for the Environmental Balance; Biodiversity Code of the State

of Mexico; and the Mexican official regulations concerning the sale,

transport and handling of working and slaughter animals. They must also

sanction the numerous blatant violations occurring at the auction.

State and municipal governments are fully responsible for enforcing existing

regulations. For example, the Biodiversity Code of the State of Mexico,

stipulates the obligation of the municipalities, the Ministry of Health and

the State Environmental Ministry to immediately ensure proper care of the

animals and shut down animal auctions where cruelty or abuse take place, and

the life or safety of animals is at risk. Concerned Mexican citizens have

repeatedly asked Governor *Enrique Peña Nieto* for the enforcement of

existing laws as well as the implementation of a strong animal rights and

welfare educational campaign among the San Bernabe animal auction traders

and animal owners. Unfortunately, the Governor has thus far ignored all

urgent requests and pleas by citizens mainly because animal cruelty,

politically speaking, is not an important matter on his agenda.

The San Bernabe auction is a source of violence that has permeated not only

other animal auctions of the State of Mexico but also most of the Mexican

Republic. It is the largest animal auction in Mexico. It is the central

dissemination point of sale for slaughter animals.* *Here a Dantean scenario

of cruelty and filth rules undeterred where existing laws are not enforced

and supervision of auction operations, animal treatment or sanitary practices,

is nonexistent. The San Bernabe auction in Almoloya de Juarez makes

a mockery of humanity and is one of the most shameful examples of

animal brutality and ill health in Mexico. We have fought alone for a long

time and are now reaching out to the international community to please help us

make a change for San Barnabe’s animals. Their suffering is immense.



Thank you!



Sincerely,

Name of the group that is sending this letter

City

Country

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/por-la-clausura-del-mercado-de-san-bernab/