- Someone stole vials of bacteria from an MSU lab, and
authorities don't know what they plan to do with it. The bacteria was being
processed into a vaccine to fight Pneumonia in pigs when it was stolen
late last week. Someone broke into a secure lab, took several vials of
the bacteria, a note pad and a computer disk. And nobody seems to know
why.
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- The bacteria was stolen from the Biomedical and Physical
Sciences Building on campus sometime between last Thursday evening and
Friday morning. The stolen material is called APP, it usually causes respiratory
infection in young pigs. The bacteria could be deadly to swine, but veterinarian's
say, not to humans.
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- Lonnie King, DVM, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine:
"You can't be hurt by direct contact with the bacteria, or by eating
meat from an infected animal."
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- MSU officials have already contacted local swine producers
and state and federal authorities.
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- First posted 9-18-02 http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=940240
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- And this from FreeRepublic.com -
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- Bacteriological Disease Alert (Swine)
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- Dr. John Schiltz John.Schiltz@idals.state.ia.us> State
Veterinarian - Iowa 9-20-2
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- I have been informed that the infectious agent Actinobacillus
(Hemophilus) pleuropneumoniae (APP) may have been acquired by unauthorized
individuals from a laboratory in the United States. This particular strain
causes encephalitis and rapid mortality in pigs. The bacteria is not known
to cause a threat to human health.
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- Producers and veterinarians should pay specific attention
to swine populations and be alert to any unusual symptoms in pigs such
as encephalitis, acute pneumonia, and sudden death. Any APP diagnosis that
causes unusual clinical conditions, encephalitis, and sudden death must
be reported to the State Veterinarian.
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- The endemic strain of APP causes outbreaks of respiratory
disease in grower and finishing pigs. Clinical signs of the endemic strain
of APP are dyspnea, fever, reduced appetite, and rapidly occurring death,
with an elevated mortality rate. Cough and, in some cases, frothy and blood-stained
nasal discharge can also be seen.
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- APP can be treated with injectable antibiotics. Vaccines
are also available for specific serotypes for use as tools in prevention.
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- Most cases of infection occur by nose-to-nose contact
after the introduction of infected carrier pigs. APP can be found in the
tonsil, necrotic tissue, and nasal cavity of recovered carriers or sub-clinical
cases. Some reports concerning indirect transmission via contaminated clothing
and airborne transmission do exist, but the major mode of transmission
of APP infection is by the introduction of a carrier pig.
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- Please notify my office at (515) 281-8615 if you have
any consideration that you may be suspecting the new strain of APP.
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- Thank you for your help and assistance.
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- John J. Schiltz, DVM State Veterinarian, Iowa
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- http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/753710/posts
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