Issue 25 Autumn 2006
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Vaccines for Gut Roundworm Infections of Sheep and Cattle Almost all grazing ruminants become infected with damaging gut round worms. These are nearly always dealt with by treating the livestock with drugs, called anthelmintics, which provide effective control if combined with appropriate pasture management. Unfortunately strains of worms resistant to these drugs have evolved and are spreading inexorably. Alternative means of worm control are being sought, one possibility being by vaccination. There are no commercially available vaccines for any round worm species of any host including man. In the last 15 years scientists at Moredun and elsewhere discovered that if proteins were extracted from the surface of the intestinal cells of blood–sucking Haemonchus contortus and used to immunise sheep, then these animals were successfully vaccinated against this important worm. When the worms fed they ingested antibodies the immunised sheep had synthesised in their blood. These antibodies bound to the parasite gut, fatally impairing worm digestion. Trials performed in collaboration with Australian scientists suggested that a Haemonchus vaccine of this type would be highly effective under field conditions in New South Wales, a part of the world where this parasite is rife and where drug resistance is a very serious problem. Unfortunately Haemonchus and the other gut round worm species of ruminants can’t be cultured in the laboratory and can only be obtained from infected animals, a procedure far too costly for making a commercially viable vaccine. The solution is to use biotechnology to engineer micro-organisms to synthesise the precise worm vaccine proteins required cost effectively. Although this procedure has been successfully adopted in Australia for vaccines against cattle ticks and tapeworms, so far no-one has made it work satisfactorily for round worms. Scientists at Moredun are therefore concentrating on overcoming this problem and several promising leads are being pursued. Meanwhile, parallel efforts have focused on trying to get the same vaccine principle adapted for non blood feeding species; the ones which are more important in temperate climes such as exist in the UK. Recent results have been highly encouraging for Ostertagia ostertagi, the most important cattle worm, but curiously the same principle did not work for its sheep equivalent, Teladorsagia circumcincta.
Haemonchus contortus; globally the most important parasite species of small ruminants.
In this Issue E coli infections ………… 3 Patron praises Moredun’s work ………… 3 Protecting your flock from disease ……………
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Moredun’s Viral Surveillance Unit ………
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Roadshow Dates ………
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Editors Comments Summer is still with us and the weather has been kind all over the UK. However we have been busy this summer with a number of events where we have been meeting old friends and recruiting new members to the Moredun Family. With that behind us we can now concentrate on the business side of things. The purchasing of new stock not only brings the pleasure of planning improvements and selecting prized animals, it also brings unseen dangers. The main article in this issue points out what these dangers are likely to be and suggests best practice for ensuring that your new animals bring you joy and not despair. While our focus continues to be research into the health and welfare of farm livestock we have been increasing our activities in knowledge transfer with more engagements with the industry and the public. We were nominated in the Scottish Farmer’s Agricultural Suppliers Awards this year and we picked up a prize at Scotsheep for our stand designed for schoolchildren. Continuing education is important for everybody and the Roadshows will be in your area sometime this year and you must check the programme of venues and dates for marking your diary. We look forward to meeting you. Your donations help enormously. Please check the catalogue for all those Christmas gifts and extras.
Professor Willie Donachie Deputy Director of Moredun and Editor
Moredun Chief Leads SEERAD Committee A Forward Strategy for Agriculture: Next Steps was launched by the Ross Finnie, Minister for the
International Collaboration with NZ Counterpart Over the last few months, Moredun has played host to a number of important visitors from AgResearch New Zealand, including the Chief Executive Dr Andy West, the Animal Health Manager, Professor Wayne Hein, the Commercial Manager, Dr Ian Boddy and the Chairman of the newly-founded Hopkirk Foundation, Mr Simon Beamish, a progressive sheep farmer. Moredun has had many links with AgResearch over the years, especially in projects relating to important roundworms in sheep, and the New Zealanders were here in Scotland to forge further research collaborations with Moredun scientists and to find out more about how the Moredun Foundation works to support the research undertaken at the Moredun Research Institute. 2
There are important similarities between Scotland and New Zealand, including a relatively small geographical area and a low human population density. Very significantly, grazing livestock, and especially sheep, remain important to the agricultural sector and to the national economy. Following many seminars, discussions and with just enough time for a quick visit to the Highland Show, it was decided that Moredun and AgResearch would move towards more formal links. This link will allow new opportunities to work together to fulfil the aims of both Institutes: AgResearch – “Farming and Food” and Moredun Research Institute - “To control and prevent infectious diseases of livestock”. Professor Willie Donachie with AgResearch Chief Executive Dr Andy West.
Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs (SEERAD) in March this year. In order to ensure that the forward strategy is actioned promptly and effectively, an Agricultural Strategy Implementation Group has also been established. Moredun’s director, Professor Julie Fitzpatrick has been appointed as Chair of the communications subgroup, where she intends to use some of the experiences gained by Moredun and SAC staff over the years on how best to communicate to a wide variety of groups including farmers, consumers and government ministers! More for Moredun will keep you updated on progress.
E. coli O157:H7 and Other Foodborne Zoonoses oodborne zoonoses continue to pose a threat to public health with E. coli O157:H7, Salmonellae and Campylobacters representing the 3 main bacterial causes. These organisms
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are found in livestock where they may cause little or no significant problem however when they are ingested by humans, serious disease can result occasionally resulting in deaths. Moredun has a pivotal position in Scotland’s foodborne zoonosis research and the Microbial-Cellular Interactions (MCI) group at Moredun has a key role in advancing understanding and reducing
the hazard presented by E. coli O157:H7 in particular. Scientists have discovered that host animals produce many factors designed to control unwelcome micro-organisms such as E. coli O157:H7. Among these are peptides with antimicrobial activity – these “natural antibiotics” are produced by many tissues including the intestinal sites that E. coli O157:H7 colonises. Moredun’s MCI group are currently assessing the presence, nature & activities of antimicrobial peptides in the bovine intestinal tract to determine whether this is a “chink in the armour” of E. coli O157:H7 infection.
Scientists are interested to find out why infections like E.coli cause little problem to cows but cause serious disease in humans.
Scottish Farmer Awards recognises Moredun’s work Moredun was delighted to be nominated for an award in the Scottish Farmers Agricultural Suppliers awards in 2006. Voted for by readers of the Scottish Farmer and a panel of industry
representatives, Moredun reached the final of the ‘animal health providers of the year’ category. Moredun was singled out for praise for ‘past and continuing work in the fight against livestock
diseases and their cures plus its pioneering work on animal vaccines’. Thank you to all of you who may have voted for us.
During her visit Moredun’s Patron spent some time chatting with some of Moredun’s regional advisors. From left to right Ewan Brewis, John Maxwell and John Sproat.
RH Princess Anne congratulated Moredun for its ongoing support of animal health and welfare when she made her annual visit in March. The aim of this
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private visit was for the Princess to have a tour of Moredun’s clinical
facilities and learn about some of the research institute’s current projects.
group that is leading the UK’s research effort into scrapie and BSE.
The Princess Royal’s visit began with a walk around one of Moredun’s farms where she had the opportunity to meet and chat with some of the stockmen who care for the animals housed there. She then mingled informally with over 80 of Moredun’s staff and spoke with several scientists including the group who are studying Neosporosis; an emerging disease that causes abortion in cattle and a team that is researching the food borne pathogens (including E. coli O157). Moredun’s Patron also spent some time with a
Before the Princess Royal left she met some of the Foundations volunteer regional advisors as well as representatives from VETAID and The Equine Grass Sickness Fund, two other charities that are part of the Moredun group. Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, Scientific Director and Chief Executive of Moredun was thrilled to welcome HRH Princess Anne back to Moredun, “We are delighted to have such an active Patron and her regular visits are a welcome illustration of her support of our work.” 3
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Royal Patron praises Moredun’s Acheivements
Buyer Beware If is vital that buying replacement stock for a farming enterprise that you are aware of the health status of the animals you may purchase. Even the finest looking pen of sheep or ram may bring with them new infections then will threaten the health of your entire flock.
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Despite any health warranties that may be supplied by the vendor, all new sheep must go into strict isolation/quarantine for at least 21 days. It is accepted that this can be difficult in the case of newly purchased tups as some of the Autumn sales are so close to tupping dates. However ignoring quarantine for these important animals is done at your peril!! During this quarantine period diseases with short incubation periods may manifest themselves. The stress of movement may be enough to trigger a latent disease, which can be an advantage, as it appears before the new arrivals are mixed with the resident animals. It is much easier (and cheaper) to treat a few animals in quarantine that an entire flock!
All quarantined sheep should be footbathed regularly before introducing them to the rest of the flock.
Essential Quarantine Treatments During the quarantine period there are some basic steps which must be taken to safeguard against sheep scab, resistant internal parasites, footrot and where appropriate lice and fluke. There is no way to know if sheep coming onto a farm are carrying resistant internal parasites (worms). It is also very difficult to detect the early stages of a sheep scab infection if there are only a few mites present. Thus on arrival all sheep should be treated sequentially with both a levamisole based (yellow) and ivermectin based (clear) drench. This should clear any resistant internal parasites. Treatment for scab can be either by plunge dipping in an organophosphorus (OP) dip, (not showered or sprayed) or by using one of the approved injectable products. These will of course also act as the equivalent of the clear drench in internal parasite control.
Finally, all quarantined sheep should be footbathed three times at five days interval in either 3% formalin or 10% zinc sulphate to prevent the introduction of footrot and scald. At the same time vaccination programs can be instituted in new animals to match the status of the home flock. Be aware when buying sheep that although sheep may be fit and healthy on leaving the vendors farm they can, in theory, conceivably contract disease either in the market or in the transporter on their way to your farm so again quarantine is essential. For a free copy of a 12 page newssheet on maintaining the health of your flock, please contact Margaret Bennett on 0131 445 5111 or email info@moredun.org.uk
Moredun supports RASE/Waitrose Producer Workshops Moredun was pleased to be a partner in a series of one day conferences for sheep farmers which were held throughout England in May. The main aim of these events was to provide sheep producers with information that they will be able
to use in their own businesses to improve either financial or environmental efficiency.
an expert panel of speakers that covering aspects such as marketing, carcass quality, production costs and breeding for improvement.
Speaking on the importance of maintaining a healthy flock, Dr Peter Nettleton from Moredun was one of
These free events were attended by a range of sheep producers and sponsored by Waitrose.
Promoting Sheep Health Messages to Children
Ross Finnie MSP enjoyed trying to ‘guess the bug’ at the Royal Highland Show. 4
Moredun has developed a hands-on exhibition and fun educational presentation as part of a new initiative designed to highlight the importance of healthy animals to children throughout Scotland. With the tag line ‘Health Animals are Happy Animals’ the exhibition was launched at the Scotsheep event in Huntley this year and also made an appearance at the Royal Highland Show. The exhibition and presentation were designed by a team of Moredun science communicators and highlighted what sort of things make sheep sick before going on to explain how Moredun scientists develop medicines and vaccines to keep UK sheep healthy and happy.
Over 500 schoolchildren have visited Moredun’s education stand and took part in the interactive presentation so far. Moredun hopes to take this exhibition into schools over the next twelve months and there are plans to develop more resources for school children in the future.
Children were eager to take part in Moredun’s interactive educational exhibition.
Virus Surveillance Unit Protecting Livestock and Wildlife T
first of these is the control of endemic disease in domestic livestock and the second is through the effect of viruses on the biodiversity of wildlife. In addition the resources at Moredun and the experience of the staff are invaluable for advising on the diagnosis of any new animal disease that may emerge. The identification of new diseases also relies heavily on Moredun’s Pathology Unit which is integrated with the VSU.
Monitoring Endemic Disease Through Surveillance The VSU provides specialist virological support to the laboratories of the Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services (SACVS). In cattle the three most important viruses studied are bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), a pestivirus which principally causes reproductive loss, bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) which causes infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), an important cause of calf pneumonia. Amongst sheep important viruses include orf, border disease (BDV) a pestivirus related to BVDV, louping ill (LIV) and Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV).
than 4000 LIV tests were undertaken with infection being recorded in sheep, cattle, red grouse, red deer, roe deer, mountain hares, dogs and horses. Approximately 60% of all tests were done to investigate the prevalence of LIV on moorland estates through the auspices of the Game Conservancy Trust. Such testing makes a useful contribution to understanding the role of disease on biodiversity in Scotland’s upland habitat which is increasingly seen as an important economic and leisure resource.
The Effect of Viruses on the Biodiversity of Wildlife A spin-off from Moredun’s expertise on orf virus of sheep has been its ability to characterise a squirrel pox virus (SQPV) associated with deaths in red squirrels. The development of an assay to measure antibody to SQPV in squirrel serum showed that grey squirrels in England had a high prevalence of antibody while those in Scotland were free of antibody. Also, healthy red squirrels never had antibody but those dying of the poxvirus disease did have antibody. This has led to the hypothesis that grey squirrels carry SQPV without suffering any disease but that the virus is lethal to red squirrels. Moredun scientitsts demonstrated that grey squirrels with antibody to SQPV had crossed the border from England and were now threatening the large population of red squirrels in the Scottish Borders. The situation is being monitored in collaboration with conservation officers running the Red Squirrels in South Scotland Project. Louping ill virus (LIV) is a tick transmitted disease of many domestic animals, wildlife and man. Moredun is the sole UK resource for the diagnosis of louping ill and plays a crucial role in surveillance of the virus in wildlife and the diagnosis of new manifestations of disease. In addition it has a pivotal input into research projects on the lethal effects of LIV in red grouse and the ecology of LIV in upland areas. In the last year more
Copyright: Jim Wilson
he Virus Surveillance Unit (VSU) at Moredun contributes to two important aspects of the Scottish rural economy. The
Squirrel pox virus has been found to be lethal to red squirrels whereas greys are unaffected.
The Beasts Within Us – People and Parasites A series of free public events highlighting the very diverse relationships between people and parasites in the modern world has been developed, thanks to an initiative lead by a Moredun scientist. The programme of events developed by the British Society for Parasitology, Moredun and the University of Glasgow
launched in August with a series of public lectures at Glasgow’s SECC and an exhibition celebrating the parasitic discoveries of Scottish scientists through the years. The exhibition will travel around various science centres and take part in science festivals throughout the UK over the next year accompanied by a full series of public lectures.
Dr Lee Innes from Moredun’s Parasitology Division was the driving force behind this project, successfully securing funding from the Wellcome Trust as part of their Engaging Science programme. More from Moredun will keep you updated on future events.
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November Roadshow - Dates Released Moredun is pleased to announce the details of its 2006 animal health Roadshow. There are eleven meetings in all, some of which will be held in conjunction with SAC and the Welsh Assembly’s Farming Connect. Entrance to all of the roadshow meetings will be free of charge and all will begin at 7.30pm. For further information about any of these events contact Margaret Bennett at the Foundation office or log onto the forthcoming events pages of the Moredun website www.moredun.org.uk/events.asp Monday 6 November Thainstone Centre, Inverurie Johne’s Disease Speakers – Dr Karen Stevenson and George Caldow Tuesday 7 November The Royal Hotel, Bridge of Allen Johne’s Disease Speakers – Dr Karen Stevenson and George Caldow Wednesday 8 November Rugby Club, Stranraer Maximising Sheep Health Through The Year Speakers – Dr Frank Jackson, Professor Willie Donachie and Neil Sargison
Thursday 9 November The Lodge, Carfraemill Maximising Sheep Health Through The Year Speakers – Dr Frank Jackson, Professor Willie Donachie and Neil Sargison Tuesday 14 November Ashford Market, Ashford Controlling Disease Through Vaccination
Monday 20 November Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, Carmarthen Know Your Sheep Ectoparasites Speakers – Chris Lewis and Peter Bates Tuesday 21 November MaesMawr Hotel, Caersws near Newtown Know Your Sheep Ectoparasites Speakers – Chris Lewis and Peter Bates
Speaker – David Henderson Wednesday 15 November Duchy College, Stoke Climsland Controlling Disease Through Vaccination
Wednesday 22 November Whoop Hall, Kirby Lonsdale Minimising Ill Thrift In Lambs Speaker – Neil Sargison
Speaker – David Henderson Thursday 16 November The Royal Oak Hotel, Leominster Controlling Disease Through Vaccination
Thursday 23 November Millstones Restaurant, Felliscliffe near Harrogate Minimising Ill Thrift In Lambs
Speaker – David Henderson
Speaker – Neil Sargison
Beautiful Bovines As dawn comes over the African landscape the silence is broken by the murmurs of the Maasai woman and the jingling of the cattle bells. The day slowly comes to life with the milking of the cows, sweet tea being served with milk straight from the udder. As the day goes on Maasai children can be spotted wearing their distinctive red and blue cloths, miles from home looking for green shoots for the animals. Cows have always been central to VETAID’s work and we are thrilled to have played a major role in Edinburgh’s CowParade. CowParade is an event which has happened in many countries over the past few years but which has never before reached Scotland. The Parade consists of a collection of over 100 fibre-glass cows. These are decorated by artists and local community groups, attached onto concrete blocks and displayed throughout the city for two months. The decoration of the cows is spectacular. Characters amongst the Scottish herd were; Al Cowpone complete with Trilby, a stunning bronze Highlin’ coo and Salty the Satire cow. 6
‘Moosai on safari’ Moredun’s very own cowparade cow.
VETAID was thrilled to be sponsored by supporters to decorate six cows with local school groups. We also took up the opportunity to reach a wider audience by working with the National Galleries Education staff. Young visitors considered the importance of cattle in Africa through an interactive cattle trading game. Gazing down from lofty heights, Moosai on Safari (sponsored by Moredun) had a prime location in the Edinburgh CowParade. The stunning cow, decorated by pupils at Penicuik’s Cuiken Primary, was suspended between the pillars of
the National Galleries on Princes Street. Its bold design was inspired by the pupil’s studies of East African climate, landscape and animals. Their learning was enriched by a visit form an African drummer and a day workshop with VETAID’s education coordinator. On the Seventh of September the Cows will go to Public auctioned at a prestigious Edinburgh location. From the auction 75% of funds raised will be going to the associated charities. CowParade Edinburgh is supporting VETAID and Edinburgh’s OneCity trust. For more information contact VETAID 0131 445 6244.
Moredun Student Makes Runner Up In National FameLab Competition Lindsay Stenhouse; runner up in UK Famelab competition.
science presenters of tomorrow, challenging each competitor in a seriesof rounds to try and explain complex scientific ideas simply to nonscientists. During the finals, Lindsay, who has just completed her PhD in Molecular Parasitology at Moredun, was tested in the skills required for both traditional television and radio as well as the emerging world of podcasting, including explaining a range of tricky scientific subjects – in just 99 seconds!
Foundation Prize Winners
Bristol winner Tom Beale being presented with the Foundation prize by Frank Taylor, Head of Vet School.
Thank you to all the Moredun members and supporters who came to say hello to us at the various agricultural events we were exhibiting at over the Summer. Congratulations to the following people who won the prize draws held at following events – each received a collection of Moredun books and videos. Mrs J Davidson Ms H Weaver Miss L Howells Mr I Smith
Scotsheep Royal Highland Show Royal Welsh Show National Sheep Event
The Moredun Foundation also offers an annual prize to graduates from each of the seven vet schools in the UK and Ireland that have excelled in large animal veterinary medicine.
Congratulations the following recipients of the Moredun Foundation Prize in 2006; John Joy MVB University College Dublin Hannah Geere BVM&S, MSc, MRCVS Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh Elisabeth Lock BA VetMB MRCVS University of Cambridge Morvan McGregor BVMS, MRCVS University of Glasgow Maxwell Hardy BVSc MRCVS University of Liverpool Rebecca Donaldson BVetMed MRCVS Royal Veterinary College Tom Beale BVSc MRCVS University of Bristol
Congratulations of Moredun’s Dr Arvind Mahajan who recently won the University of Edinburgh Ker Memorial Prize Dr Arvind Mahajan. for outstanding research work undertaken in the field of infectious diseases. The prize was awarded in recognition of Avrind’s outstanding PhD thesis ‘Interaction of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) with bovine intestinal epithelium’. Arvind is now continuing his research in this area within the Bacteriology Division at Moredun.
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Congratulations to Moredun’s Lindsay Stenhouse who was runner up in 2006 FameLab competition – UK science’s equivalent of Pop Idol. The annual competition aims to find the broadcast
FameLab is the brainchild of the Cheltenham Science Festival and NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) and supported by Pfizer, Channel 4, The Daily Telegraph, Research Councils UK and The British Council.
Top PhD Award for Moredun Scientist
2006 Christmas Card and Gift Range Now Available The Moredun Foundation is delighted to showcase ‘Sheep at Sibton’ as its main Christmas card for sale to members and supporters this year. This stunning image of sheep caught in a heavy snow storm on Sibton Park Cricket Field in Kent was taken by local photographer Mike Leadbetter. The Foundation is extremely grateful that Mike has kindly agreed to let Moredun have exclusive use of this image this year. Please see the enclosed merchandise leaflet for further details about this cards as well as other gifts we have on offer this year. Remember that all items are available for sale through our website www.moredun.org.uk/shop If you would like extra leaflets to distribute to your family, friends or colleagues please contact Margaret Bennett at the Foundation office Tel: 0131 445 5111.
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Moredun Foundation Newsheet Book - VOLUME 3 The Foundation has launched the latest volume of newsheets to be produced in book form. This third compendium of Moredun news sheets contains twenty of our most recent popular articles sent to Moredun Foundation members each quarter as part of their membership package. The topics are a mix of novel articles or an update on earlier publications relating to the diseases which afflict our flocks and herds. Titles include CLA, lameness, sheep scab,
ble Now Availa worm control strategies, liver fluke and orf. Volume 3 is available to members for just £10.00 (plus £1.00 postage and packing).
The Moredun Foundation
Please send orders to: Margaret Bennett The Moredun Foundation Pentlands Science Park Bush Loan Penicuik EH26 0PZ Tel: 0131 445 5111 Fax: 0131 445 6235 Email: margaret.bennett@moredun.org.uk
News Sheets 1-20 Volume 3
Moredun Foundation Newsheet Books - VOLUMES 1 & 2 Earlier newsheets produced by the Moredun Foundation are also available as paperback books.
The Moredun Foundation
News Sheets 1-30 Volume 1
The Moredun Foundation
News Sheets 1-30 Volume 1
Subjects covered in Volume 1 include ‘Jaagsiekte’, ‘Watery Mouth’, ‘Detection and Treatment of Hypothermia’, ‘Border Disease’, ‘Footrot’ and lots more. Volume 2, launched in October 1999, contains newsheets on subjects like’Maedi Visna’, ‘Pasteurellosis’, ‘Scrapie’, ‘Effective Ectoparasite Control’ and ‘Ovine Abortion’.
ble Now Availa Each volume is available to members for just £10.00 (plus £1.00 postage and packing). Please send orders to: Margaret Bennett The Moredun Foundation Pentlands Science Park Bush Loan Penicuik EH26 0PZ Tel: 0131 445 5111 Fax: 0131 445 6235 Email: margaret.bennett@moredun. org.uk