Abstract

In Saint Lucia, livestock is affected by two tick-borne diseases: Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis (vector: Boophilus sp.). Heartwater has never been identified on the island, despite the presence of its vector (tropical bont tick, TBT). TBT is controlled through the use of extensive or strategic acaricide treatment: the Bayticol. The control efforts were successful in significantly reducing the prevalence of TBT. Read more »

Abstract

This project was conceptualized based on information received from Public Health, that approximately 90% of pigs slaughtered at the Basseterre abattoir exhibited lesions consistent with internal parasites.  Pig producers were perceived to be resistant to recommendations to control parasites, due to a lack of hard evidence of losses associated with parasites.

 The objectives of this study were to: Read more »

Abstract

Rabies is endemic in Grenada, maintained primarily in wild mongoose populations. Rabies exposure costs the government of Grenada approximately $ 500 per person exposed. In the past five years 7 people have been treated for rabies exposure. Current estimates indicate only about 25% of the dog population is vaccinated annually during the vaccination campaigns, despite over 30 years of national vaccination campaigns. Read more »

Abstract

Tropical Bont Tick (TBT), Amblyomma variegatum, is an invasive tick species of ruminants present in 10 Caribbean islands. TBT and the associated disease dermatophilosis, have been a major challenge to the development of the livestock sector in Nevis, Northern West Indies, for the past 30 years. After the end of the regional eradication program, active surveillance and control was conducted by veterinary services between 2007 and 2009. Read more »

Abstract

Outbreaks of severe Teschovirus encephalomyelitis in pigs began occurring in the Republic of Haiti in February 2009 and porcine teschovirus type 1 (PTV-1) was isolated from brain samples of sick animals.  A study was conducted to confirm the hypothesis that there are other disease agents circulating in the Haitian swine population in addition to classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and PTV and that the immunosuppressive effect of these agents has facilitated the expression of PTV.  Read more »

Abstract

During January – March 2009 an outbreak of Salmonella was diagnosed in four commercial layer farms in Barbados; 511 layers died and 3,257 layers were voluntarily culled. Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) was identified in avian tissues (ovaries, liver, uterus), and egg samples submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, and Water Resource Management (MAFFW) Veterinary Services (VS) Laboratory. Read more »