credits bmbl December 7 '06.doc - Central Michigan University

Appendix D
tick), A. cajennese, and A. dissimile, can transmit the organism, causing concern that
competent vectors could transmit E. ruminantium in the United States.
Severe HD comprises fever, depression, rapid breathing, and convulsions in
cattle, sheep, goats and water buffalo. Whitetail deer also are susceptible to E.
ruminantium infection and develop severe clinical disease. HD has not been diagnosed in
the United States but occurs in numerous Caribbean islands, as well as in most countries
of Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.
LABORATORY SAFETY
E. ruminantium can be found in whole blood, brain and experimentally in liver
and kidney. It is not a human pathogen.
Containment Recommendations
HD is considered a foreign animal disease in the United States. E. ruminantium
should be handled in vitro in BSL-3 laboratory facilities. Animal work should be
conducted in ABSL-3 animal facilities or in ABSL-2 animal facilities with special
modifications such as tick dams (where applicable).
SPECIAL ISSUES
The importation, possession, or use of this agent is prohibited or restricted by law
or by USDA regulations or administrative policies. A USDA/APHIS import or interstate
movement permit is required to obtain this agent or any livestock or poultry product, such
as blood, serum, or other tissues containing the agent.
Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) Virus
ISA is a disease of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) caused by an orthomyxovirus
in the family Orthomyxoviridae, genus Isavirus. Both wild and cultured Atlantic salmon
are susceptible to infection, as are brown trout (Salmo trutta), rainbow trout
(Oncorhynchus mykiss) and herring. The first clinical cases of ISA in Atlantic salmon
were reported from Norway in 1984. Since then, ISA has been observed in Canada
(1996), Scotland (1998), Chile (1999), Faroe Islands (2000) and the U.S. (2001). 25,26
There is significant molecular difference between virus isolates (i.e., “Norwegian”,
“Scottish” and “North American”). 27 Clinical signs of ISA include severe anemia,
swelling and hemorrhaging in the kidney and other organs, pale gills, protruding eyes,
darkening of the posterior gut, fluid in the body cavity and lethargy. The infection is
systemic and most noted in blood and mucus, muscle, internal organs and feces. The
principal target organ for ISA virus (ISAV) is the liver. Signs usually appear two to four
weeks after the initial infection.
Reservoirs of ISAV infection are unknown, but the spread of infection may occur
due to the purchase of subclinically infected smolts, from farm to farm, and from fish
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