CAHSS Podcast Series - Animal Health Insights
The Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System (CAHSS): A shared national vision leading to effective, responsive, integrated animal health surveillance in Canada. Le Système canadien de surveillance de la santé animale (SCSSA): Une vision nationale commune qui mènera à une surveillance efficace, souple et intégrée de la santé animale au Canada.
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Episodes
Sunday Nov 27, 2022
Sunday Nov 27, 2022
Medical doctors and veterinarians both include antimicrobials (antibiotics) in their medical tool-kits to treat bacterial infections. In this age of antimicrobial resistance, both types of medical professionals are keenly aware of the necessity for judicious use of antimicrobials for their patients. Zoonotic bacteria are of particular interest to both human and vet medicine as they can infect a variety of species. To practice excellent antimicrobial stewardship, veterinary and public health specialists work together to monitor and assess the prevalence of zoonotic bacteria and resistance patterns of these bacteria to different antimicrobials. The Canadian Dairy Network for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Resistance was created with input from experts, producers and veterinarians across Canada, and will provide valuable information to improve herd health and public health in the years to come. Drs. Javier Sanchez and Luke Heider spearheaded this collaborative project to develop a scaffold for monitoring zoonotic bacteria of public health significance and the use of antimicrobials on Canadian dairy farms.
Links of Interest:
Canadian Dairy Network for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Resistance (CaDNetASR): An On-Farm Surveillance System Fonseca Mariana, Heider Luke C., Léger David, Mcclure J. Trenton, Rizzo Daniella, Dufour Simon, Kelton David F., Renaud David, Barkema Herman W., Sanchez Javier. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Vol. 8, 2022. DOI=10.3389/fvets.2021.799622 ISSN=2297-1769
Surveillance of antimicrobial use and resistance to improve stewardship practices and animal health on dairy farms
Surveillance in Action: Can. Dairy Network of Antimicrobial Stewardship & Resistance, Dairy Research Seminar. Oct 12, 2022
CadNetDASR information from University of Calgary, One Health Consortium
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Most people are at least vaguely familiar with Rabies - a fatal zoonotic disease that affects thousands of people and animals around the world. In North America, we are lucky to think about rabies rarely – usually in the context of an animal bite, or maybe faint memories of “Old Yeller” the movie, or when and if a bat gets into the house. Canadian veterinarians may see a case or two of rabies every few years in horses, cattle, dogs or cats, and occasionally in other mammalian species.
With the surge of dogs imported into Canada through the pandemic the possibility of people being exposed to rabies from a pet dog has become more of a risk. Dr. Martin Appelt, the Senior Director of the Animal Health Programs Division at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, reviews the recent changes to import requirements for dogs, and the reasons for their implementation to protect Canadians.
Links of Interest:
CFIA Notice to industry: New measure prohibiting the entry of commercial dogs from countries at high-risk for dog rabies
Countries at High Risk for dog rabies
Questions to ask before you purchase or adopt an imported dog
CVMA Information on Canine Importation into Canada
CVMA Dog importation checklist
Preventing Rabies in Imported Dogs - Dr. Scott Weese
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Chaque année, une journée est dédiée à une campagne internationale de sensibilisation pour souligner l'importance de la rage, une zoonose mortelle qui touche des milliers de personnes et d'animaux dans le monde. En Amérique du Nord, nous avons la chance de rarement penser à la rage - généralement lors d'une morsure d'animal, ou peut-être de faibles souvenirs du film "Old Yeller", sinon quand une chauve-souris entre dans la maison. Les vétérinaires canadiens peuvent voir un ou deux cas de rage à quelques années d'intervalle chez des chevaux, des bovins, des chiens ou des chats, et occasionnellement chez d'autres espèces de mammifères. Avec l'afflux de chiens importés au Canada pendant la pandémie, la rage et la possibilité que des personnes soient exposées à ce virus sont devenues un risque réel. Le Dre Nancy Rheault,Directrice principale et Vétérinaire en chef adjointe, à la Division de l’importation et de l’exportation des animaux pour les affaires internationales à l’Agence Canadienne d’inspection des aliments, s'entretient avec nous aujourd'hui pour nous expliquer certains changements récents apportés aux exigences d'importation de chiens et les raisons de leur mise en œuvre pour protéger les Canadiens.
Liens d’intérêt:
ACIA Avis à l'industrie : Nouvelle mesure interdisant l'entrée de chiens commerciaux en provenance de pays à haut risque pour la rage canine
Pays considérés à haut risque pour le variant canin du virus de la rage
Posez des questions avant d'acheter ou d'adopter un chien
ACMV Importation de chiens
ACMV Liste de contrôle des vétérinaires pour l'importation d'un chien (2018)
Preventing Rabies in Imported Dogs - Dr. Scott Weese
Centre d'expertise et de référence en santé publique - La Rage
Rage chez les animaux
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
Wild pigs are known to wreak environmental havoc across all types of landscapes, and they can be difficult to find, let alone to manage once they’re established in an area. Information about the habitats that Canadian wild pigs utilize can help inform decisions about how best to manage wild pig populations, and perhaps may also be useful to decrease crop damage or livestock interactions at the wildlife-agricultural interface.
Mr. Corey Kramer, previously a Masters student from the University of Saskatchewan, and currently a Biology PhD student at San Diego State University, investigated the habitat use and movements of invasive wild pigs in Canada, and he shares the results from this research with us on Animal Health Insights.
Links of Interest:
Understanding resource selection, resource use, and landscape connectivity for invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in the prairies; implications for management. Corey Kramer, April 2021.
Mr. Corey Kramer, Dr. Melanie R. Boudreau, Dr. Ryan S Miller, Mr. Ryan Powers, Dr. Kurt VerCauteren, and Dr. Ryan K. Brook. Summer habitat use and movements of invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in Canadian agro-ecosystems. Canadian Journal of Zoology. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2021-0116 (March 2022)
Reporting Invasive Wild Pigs in B.C.
Wild Boar in Alberta
Reporting Wild Boar in Alberta
SCIC Feral Wild Boar Control Program (Saskatchewan)
Squeal on Wild Pigs, Manitoba
Reporting Invasive Wild Pigs in Ontario
Wild pig iNaturalist page for Ontario
Wild pigs/wild boar in Quebec
Report feral pigs/wild boar in Quebec
Reporting details for other provinces/territories from the CWHC
iNaturalist app (wild pig sightings can be added into this app)
Canadian Wild Pig Research Project
Sunday Jun 12, 2022
Sunday Jun 12, 2022
Our veterinary patients deal with the effects of “worms” in a number of ways – we frequently see animals who suffer from gastrointestinal illness, weight loss, blood loss, and occasionally kidney, cardiac, muscular or neurologic diseases that all may relate to parasitic infections. If you’re a pet parent or animal producer – your eyes may glaze over a bit when your vet discusses the health risks associated with parasites – but these risks are significant. Many parasites have zoonotic potential – they can be shared between animals and humans – and this is part of why veterinarians continue to discuss these creatures with our clients – we want to protect animal health AND the health of humans who care for and interact with animals.
The parasite risks in a specific region constantly change as parasites migrate (along for the ride in an infected animal) around the province, country, continent, or around the world. In many species, including dogs, there is evidence that some parasites are developing resistance to certain types of deworming medications. One of these parasites is the canine hookworm – known as Ancylostoma caninum. Dr. John Gilleard from the University of Calgary has been involved in investigations into the emergence and diagnosis of these drug-resistant canine hookworms over the past few years. In addition to working as a Professor of Parasitology and the Associate Dean of Research at the faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Calgary, his research focusses on drug-resistant parasites and ways to investigate the emergence and spread of these in animal populations including cattle, other ruminants, and dogs.
Links of Interest:
Persistent or Suspected Resistant Hookworm Infections, Clinician's Brief
Multiple drug resistance in hookworms infecting greyhound dogs in the USA
Pablo D. Jimenez Castro, Abhinaya Venkatesan, Elizabeth Redman, Rebecca Chen, Abigail Malatesta, Hannah Huff, Daniel A. Zuluaga Salazar, Russell Avramenko, John S. Gilleard, Ray M. Kaplan, Multiple drug resistance in hookworms infecting greyhound dogs in the USA, International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, Volume 17, 2021, Pages 107-117, ISSN 2211-3207, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.08.005
Multiple Drug Resistance in the canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum: an emerging threat? Jimenez Castro, P.D., Howell, S.B., Schaefer, J.J. et al. Multiple drug resistance in the canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum: an emerging threat?. Parasites Vectors 12, 576 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-019-3828-6
Information about Dr. Gilleard's laboratory at the University of Calgary and his research
Note: A. caninum photo credit: Dr Pablo Jimenez-Castro and Dr Ray Kaplan
Friday May 06, 2022
Friday May 06, 2022
Spring has sprung in North America – and with the return of these migrating birds, we see predictable waves of poultry infections with influenza. Each year there is the potential for different strains of this flu to impact the health of our egg and meat producing birds – whether they are raised in small backyard flocks or in commercial poultry production systems.
Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt – a veterinarian, epidemiologist, and professor of veterinary medicine at the Université de Montreal, is an expert in poultry health and biosecurity – and focuses on developing strategies to help to control the risk of infection with diseases such as Avian Influenza. He joins us in this episode to review actions and essential biosecurity steps to help maintain healthy flocks and minimize the chance of Avian Influenza infections on farm.
Links of Interest:
CFIA: Response to detections of avian influenza (H5N1) in Canada, and Information for Producers and Bird Owners
CFIA: Avian Influenza Fact Sheet
CFIA: Status of Avian influenza response by province
Chicken Farmers of Canada: Avian Influenza Information and Resources
Turkey Farmers of Canada: Avian Influenza, Just the Facts
British Columbia (Centre for Disease Control): Avian influenza summary
Alberta: Avian influenza in domestic birds, Updates
Saskatchewan: News Release re: Avian influenza detection in Sask, Apr. 8, 2022
Saskatchewan Health Authority: Avian influenza/Bird flu
Manitoba: Avian influenza and your small flock FAQ
Manitoba: Avian influenza updates
Western Canadian Animal Health Network: Avian influenza resources and
CAHSS/WeCAHN: Webinar for small flock producers and veterinarians
Ontario (OMAFRA): Avian influenza updates, control zones, and webinar
Ontario (Ministry of Health): Highly pathogenic avian influenza in people, FAQ
Ontario Animal Health Network: Avian Influenza resources 2022
Québec: Grippe aviaire
MAPAQ: Grippe aviaire surveillance
New Brunswick: Avian flu advisory in the Atlantic Provinces
Nova Scotia: Avian influenza
PEI: Avian influenza information and updates
Friday May 06, 2022
Friday May 06, 2022
Le printemps est arrivé en Amérique du Nord – et avec le retour de ces oiseaux migrateurs, nous assistons également à des éclosions prévisibles de grippe aviaire dans la volaille. Chaque année, différentes souches d’influenza aviaire peuvent avoir un impact sur la santé de nos oiseaux producteurs d'œufs et de nos poulets à chair - qu'ils soient élevés dans de petits troupeaux de basse-cour ou dans des élevages commerciaux.
Il peut sembler impossible de réduire les risques d'infections comme celles causées par la grippe aviaire - les maladies qui sont aussi présentes chez les animaux sauvages peuvent être difficiles à gérer. Heureusement, il existe un certain nombre de choses que les producteurs peuvent faire pour protéger leurs élevages - petits ou grands - et il y a des changements qui peuvent se produire au sein de l'industrie pour aider à minimiser les impacts de la maladie et à prévenir sa propagation. Un élément clé – prendre le temps de planifier et investir un peu d'argent pour mettre en place ces mesures avant qu'une infection ne se produise sera la meilleure décision à long terme!
Dr Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt – vétérinaire, épidémiologiste et professeur de médecine vétérinaire à l'Université de Montréal, est un expert en santé et biosécurité de la volaille. Il se concentre sur l'élaboration de stratégies pour aider à contrôler le risque d'infection par des maladies telles que la grippe aviaire. Son travail le fait voyager partout dans le monde où il aide les producteurs et les gouvernements à élaborer des plans de biosécurité régionaux qui améliorent considérablement la santé des oiseaux. Il a également étudié l’impact des traits sociaux et de la personnalité des humains sur le succès des mesures de biosécurité.
Liens d’intérêt:
l'Agence canadienne d'inspection des aliments (ACIA): Réponse aux détections d'influenza aviaire (H5N1) au Canada et Information pour les producteurs et au secteur de l'élevage et les propriétaires d'oiseaux
l'Agence canadienne d'inspection des aliments (ACIA):Fiche de renseignements – Influenza aviaire
l'Agence canadienne d'inspection des aliments (ACIA): Biosécurité de la volaille
Norme nationale de biosécurité pour les fermes avicoles
Plan spécifiquement lié aux risques concernant l'influenza aviaire à déclaration obligatoire
Producteurs de poulet du Canada: Information et ressources relatives à l’influenza aviaire
Les Éleveurs de dindon du Canada: Grippe Aviaire – Les faits uniquement
Québec: Grippe aviaire
MAPAQ: Grippe aviaire surveillance
L’Équipe québécoise de contrôle des maladies avicoles (ÉQCMA): Les protocoles de biosécurité
Le Nouveau-Brunswick: Avis d’information concernant la grippe aviaire dans les provinces de l’Atlantique
Friday Mar 11, 2022
Friday Mar 11, 2022
In 2019, a “new bug on the block” showed up in British Columbia, and an extensive effort was launched to locate and eradicate an intimidating non-native hornet species. You’ve likely heard of these Asian Giant Hornets as they were all over the news – a big wasp – with strong stingers and the buzzy potential to harm native pollinator species and honeybees in Canada. Paul van Westendorp, the provincial apiculturalist or “honeybee expert” for the province of British Columbia, helped to identify this species of wasp upon its discovery. Along with colleagues, Paul worked to locate and eradicate a hornet nest near Nanaimo, B.C., and continues to monitor for this insect species in B.C.
Links of Interest:
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture Pest Alert: Asian Giant Hornet
Information on Paul van Westendorp and his work
Asian Giant Hornet information from Ontario.ca
Asian Giant Hornet information from Invasive Species Centre
Reporting Invasive Species Sightings by Province