By EMMA HOPKINS-O’BRIEN

Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — In this month’s quarterly meeting of Indiana’s State Board of Animal Health (BOAH), its members discussed the present highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) situation and other topics, adopted a new rule and considered another new rule pertaining to bovine tuberculosis (TB).

At the top of the agenda was the consideration and adoption of a rule concerning enteric coronavirus disease (SECD) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv). As of April 17, it is no longer required to report positive diagnoses of these diseases. The board voted to re-adopt the rule, which was to expire July 16.

A new rule up for consideration is one involving bovine TB. The rule modifies the definition of “test eligible cattle” to exclude sexually intact female cattle of dairy breeds and dairy crosses that are 6 months old or older for moving them from approved states or zones.

It also extends the validity of the accredited herd status from 365 to 730 days from the date it is earned. Sarah Simpson, BOAH’s legal affairs and licensing advisor who presented the rule, said it will align Indiana’s rule with USDA policy. A final vote is scheduled at BOAH’s next meeting on Oct. 16.

BOAH’s Mike Kopp, DVM shared the World Organization for Animal Health’s recent report on HPAI that showed recent concerning developments on the HPAI front, including:

•The number of subtypes of HPAI reported in the last five years was three times higher than those reported in previous HPAI epidemics

•As of February, 11 countries and territories have been affected: Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, India, Iraq, South Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Vietnam

•Eight countries and territories have reported HPAI detected in wild birds

•Unlike in previous HPAI epidemics, the disease has been breaking out year-round; previously, HPAI adhered to a more seasonal trend

•As of February, a total of 2479 humans have been infected with H7N, H5N6 or H5N1 from poultry

Kopp said the viruses that have shown up in China and other parts of Asia and parts of Africa pose the most serious public health risks.

He also said in mid-May, the California Department of Food and Agriculture reported detection of virulent Newcastle Disease (vND) in a small flock of backyard exhibition chickens. Through June, 27 flocks of chickens have been reported as testing positive for vND.

Kopp said this is the first time since 2003 this disease has been detected.

On a positive note, the National Poultry improvement Plan (NPIP) held a conference recently in Franklin, Tenn., where several significant proposals were passed. Indiana State Veterinarian Dr. Bret D. Marsh attended the conference.

“The NPIP is being evaluated by the pork industry as a potential model for pork producers,” he said. “BOAH has been asked to serve on the advisory committee to the pork industry in this initiative.”

Also taking place in this quarter, for the first time in the United States, chronic wasting disease was found in a reindeer, in Illinois. Marsh said BOAH is changing the state law to now identify reindeer as a susceptible species.

But that was not the only “first” of the quarter: A scrapie-positive flock of sheep in North Carolina was found. This is the first scrapie finding nationally since 2016.

Finally, Jennifer Strasser, DVM gave BOAH’s quarterly aquaculture report. She said for the first time, an aquaculture producer was recognized by the State Department of Agriculture as a Certified Livestock Producer. Also, for the first time in Indiana, the koi herpes virus was diagnosed on a koi fish production facility. Strasser said the facility was depopulated, cleaned and disinfected.

The virus is species-specific and does not pose a human health risk. Strausser said neither BOAH nor USDA require any specific response to a positive diagnosis, other than reporting it.