Role of Veterinary Technicians in Regulatory Agencies. Alyson Boswell, BS, RVT Animal Health Technician USDA APHIS VS District 1 - Virginia

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1 Role of Veterinary Technicians in Regulatory Agencies Alyson Boswell, BS, RVT Animal Health Technician USDA APHIS VS District 1 - Virginia

2 Regulatory Medicine - Not focused on individual animals - Focused on the control and/or elimination of diseases and protecting the public from harmful diseases in animals - Involves the quarantine and inspection of animals brought into the U.S. from foreign countries - Ensures that meat, poultry and egg products are safe for human consumption - Emphasis on prevention and containment

3 USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services Promotes and protects animal health in the U.S. Promotes trade to support the U.S. economy Plant Protection and Quarantine Animal Care Wildlife Services Biotechnology Regulatory Services International Services

4 Surveillance, Preparedness and Response Services (SPRS) vs. National Import and Export Services (NIES) SPRS NIES Disease Control and Eradication Programs International Import and Export Activities Brucellosis, TB, Scrapie, etc. Animals Disease Surveillance Foreign Animal Disease Investigation Disease Response Activities Animal Disease Traceability and Interstate Movement Animal Products (feathers, pet food, eggs, etc.) Endorses International Health Certificates Sets animal Import Requirements for U.S. Entry of Livestock and Animal Products National Veterinary Accreditation Program Administers Export Requirements for Animals and Animal Products as Required by the Receiving Nation

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6 2014/2015 HPAI Outbreak

7 Virulent Newcastle Disease May 2018

8 New World Screwworm

9 New World Screwworm Cochliomyia hominivorax The Man Eater Eats living flesh, rather than decaying flesh Warm subtropical or tropical regions Seasonal intrusions into temperate areas Devastating economic losses as livestock pest Human health threat Threat to wildlife Females attracted to wounds, but also infest natural body orifices

10 Florida Keys - July 4 severe myiasis in a Key Deer hit by car - In subsequent months severe myiasis required euthanasia of 20 deer - Starting July 22 veterinarian observed severe myiasis in 2 dogs and a pot-bellied pig (1 dog euthanized, pig died) Cuba

11 Outbreak in Floriday Keys September biologist reported increased incidence of myiasis in endangered Key Deer on Big Pine Key to Florida animal health officials, FAD investigation initiated, larvae from deer submitted to NVSL, New world screwworm identified by NVSL October Inspection Station placed in Key Largo and other states notified, sterile fly release began

12 Inspecting at the check point 10,202 Vehicles stopped 9430 dogs 436 cats 270 birds and poultry 33 horses 2 swine 19 other mammals 12 cold-blooded animals

13 Endangered Key Deer Very Tame Sub-species of White Tailed Deer

14 Treating Deer with Doramectin Bread

15 Release of Sterile Flies

16 Spread to Florida Mainland December Miami-Dade County animal control picked up a 5 year old stray German Shepherd near Homestead, FL Brought to Miami-Dade Animal Shelter in Homestead Adopted by German Shepherd Rescue Group Taken to veterinary clinic in Hollywood, FL Diagnosed with severe wounds and extensive myiasis Treated with Capstar and larval samples collected Diagnosis of New World Screwworm made by NVSL

17 Haemaphysalis longicornis in Virginia

18 Haemophysalis Longicornis East Asian or Longhorned Tick Reddish-dark brown, no distinctive markings Small, hard tick measuring up to 4 mm when not fed Grows to size of a pea when engorged Nymphs are size of a poppy seed Three host tick Larvae, nymphs and adults must have blood meal Longhorned ticks in the U.S. are thought to be parthenogenic; the females do not need to mate in order to produce eggs

19 Habitat Prefer areas with tall grass and a high humidity level at the soil surface Pastures, hay fields, and similar unmowed areas Longhorned ticks appear to develop high densities within a given area, and infested animals may carry a high tick burden

20 Host Range Domestic Animals Wildlife Cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, cats, and dogs Opossums, bears, deer, foxes, rabbits, rats, and birds Humans Longhorned ticks will likely have a larger impact on livestock and wildlife than on humans and pets

21 First Detection of HL Ticks in the U.S. Not known how it arrived in the U.S. Not known how long it has been here before it was detected Was first known to be established in the mainland U.S. in November 2017 Tick was first found in Hunterdon County, NJ on sheep

22 First Detection of HL Ticks in Virginia March 2018 Cattle producer in Albemarle County found orphaned, bottle fed calf covered in ticks May 14, 2018 NVSL identified ticks as Haemaphysalis longicornis May 25, 2018 Multiple HL ticks found on a horse in Warren County Since then 10 counties have identified HL ticks

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24 Other Detections of HL Ticks in the U.S. Now known to be present in 8 states New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Maryland First known specimen in the U.S. was a tick collected and archived in West Virginia in 2010

25 Worldwide Distribution Native to China, Korea, and Japan Established in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, and Hawaii Associated with livestock and human disease It has been intercepted previously at ports on animals entering the U.S.

26 Disease Transmission Although this tick has been associated with a number of animal and human diseases in Asia and Australia, it has not yet been proven to be involved in disease transmission in the U.S. This may change in the future with additional testing of tick populations

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28 Other Experiences Working for APHIS

29 Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Deployment Summer 2017

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31 Rabies Clinics with Indian Health Services (IHS)

32 Assisting with Imports and Exports

33 Education and Outreach

34 If You Want to Work for the Government Visit to search for job openings and apply!

35 Thank you!