AVIAN INFLUENZA (33): AMERICAS (USA) GOAT, HPAI H5N1
A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Tue 19 Mar 2024
Source: WATTPoultry [edited]
https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-meat/diseases-health/avian-influenza/article/15666658/us-has-first-instance-of-avian-influenza-in-goats
The first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic
livestock in the United States during the 2022-24 HPAI outbreak has
been confirmed.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reported that neonatal
goat kids on a farm in Stevens County, Minnesota, had been showing
unusual neurological signs. That same farm was the site of a backyard
poultry flock infection, which was confirmed by the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) on 27 Feb [2024].
According to the WOAH report, the goats on the premises shared the
same pasture and sole water source with ducks and chickens that were
infected with HPAI. The goats on the farm began to kid just days after
the birds on the property were depopulated.
Samples from the sick goats were tested at the USDA National
Veterinary Services Laboratories, which confirmed the presence of an
H5N1 variant of HPAI in the goats. Ten goats were affected, 5 of which
died. There were 165 susceptible goats on the farm.
Control measures put in place included quarantine, surveillance within
a restricted zone, disposal of carcasses, byproducts, and waste, and
disinfection.
While this is the first case of HPAI in US goats during the 2022-24
outbreak, other species of mammals have been affected, including
coyotes, cats, opossums, gray seals, bobcats, striped skunks, tigers,
harbor seals, racoons, pumas, bottlenose dolphin, bears, foxes,
leopards, fishers, otters, American martens, and squirrels.
According to WOAH standards, HPAI infections of backyard poultry, wild
birds, or mammals should not have an impact on international poultry
trade.
To learn more about HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks in the
United States, Mexico, and Canada, see an interactive map on
http://www.WATTPoultry.com.