|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ohio Department of Ag earns first U.S. patent |
|
|
|
By JANE HOUIN
Ohio Correspondent REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) recently received its first-ever U.S. patent for discovering a method to identify a potentially fatal strain of Equine Herpes Virus. The patent acknowledges the department’s pioneering work in identifying the strain and gives an opening to future research on developing vaccines.
“This discovery is a great accomplishment for our department and our diagnostic lab,” said Ohio Agriculture Director Robert Boggs. “We have top-of-the-line scientists working in our labs, and this patent proves the high-caliber work they perform every day for Ohio’s citizens.”
Scientists from the department’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) worked quickly to isolate and characterize the Equine Herpes Virus strand that caused the notable equine disease outbreak at the University of Findlay in 2003. The outbreak – which was a rare case of the virus that led to neurological disorder – was fatal for 13 horses and caused neurological disease in 100 more.
The virus, which is common in horses, only typically causes respiratory and reproduction problems. According to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus type 1 (EHV-1) is enzootic throughout the world, and almost all horses older than age two have been exposed.
APHIS reports, however, the horse industry has voiced concern that EHV-1 may be increasing in prevalence and/or mortality and morbidity, based on an increased number of neurological cases reported in recent years, as well as several high-profile outbreaks. Prior to 2003, U.S. reports of EHV-1 were sporadic, with typically zero to few outbreaks identified annually, according to APHIS.
But in 2005, seven outbreaks were reported in five states, and in 2006 those numbers grew to 11 outbreaks in eight states.
EHV-1 is primarily a respiratory pathogen associated with a variety of clinical manifestations in horses. In addition to being a significant cause of respiratory illness and abortion in horses, it is also responsible for paralytic neurological disease, according to APHIS.
Following an animal’s initial exposure, EHV-1 has the ability to develop into an unapparent latent infection. It is this ability to reside as a silent and persistent infection in horses that provides a reservoir of virus for continual transmission.
The incubation period is one to 10 days for EHV-1, with typical signs seen within days one to three. Viral shedding occurs for seven to 10 days, but can occur up to 28 days from the onset of symptoms.
Neurological symptoms include uncoordinated muscle movement and reduced tail tone; in severe cases horse may be unable to stand, though horses with symptoms this severe have a very poor prognosis.
Vaccinations are available to prevent these troubles but are not available to prevent neurological problems that certain strands of the virus can cause. In the University of Findlay instance, the horses had been vaccinated but still fell ill to the neurological disease.
The discovery of the identification method by ADDL virologist Dr. Yan Zhang led to the invention and patent of a test to identify the EHV strand that causes the rare neurological symptoms.
In addition, Zhang has laid the groundwork and has even suggested a method for producing the first vaccine to protect horses from neurological effects of the virus.
“Diagnostic work is an important component of protecting Ohio’s livestock and equine, and an important part of the work performed by the department,” ADDL Director Dr. Beverly Byrum said.
“We are proud to be part of this historical and unique opportunity.”
Ohio’s nationally accredited ADDL, housed at and operated by the ODA, provides regulatory testing support for disease control programs and diagnostic laboratory services for veterinarians and livestock and poultry producers.
The federal patent was issued to the ODA on Jan. 29 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
This farm news was published in the April 16, 2008 issue of the Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
| 4/16/2008 |
|
|
