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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 19th July 2012
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New chicken virus created by vaccines
Hybrid of vaccines generating lethal new chicken disease

Two new strains of a poultry disease that have been plaguing chickens in Australia since 2008 have been revealed as hybrids of viruses from live vaccines - the first time such recombination has been seen between vaccine viruses in the wild.

In 2007, chicken farmers in Australia were using two commercial, live vaccines for infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) made from Australian strains of virus. However, after they started using a third live vaccine containing a European strain, outbreaks of two new ILT strains began. The hybrids have proved just as deadly as wild ILT, killing 18% of affected flocks.

Glenn Browning and a team from the University of Melbourne in Parkville, Australia, have sequenced the new viruses and found that in each case they arose when the European vaccine strain acquired genes from the Australian vaccine viruses.

He commented: "We were quite surprised. The newer strain is half European, half Australian, and has outcompeted the original strain - it now dominates outbreaks in Australia."

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.