Abstract Title
Implementation of Biosecurity Protocols in a Wildlife Rehabilitation Setting During an Ongoing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak
Abstract
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI; strain EA/AM 2.3.4.4 H5N1) outbreak presented an extraordinary challenge for wildlife rehabilitators. In order to safely accept wildlife patients during an expansive infectious disease outbreak, they needed to enact intensive biosecurity measures in an industry that is often resource limited. The Raptor Center (TRC) at the University of Minnesota is the largest raptor rehabilitation center in the United States, admitting over 1,000 wild raptors annually. TRC admitted 215 HPAI positive patients within 9 months without any documented cases of disease transmission outside of the quarantine facility. While testing all wildlife patients for HPAI on admission would be the gold standard practice, affordable polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with timely results is not available to the majority of wildlife rehabilitators. TRC collected clinical signs data paired with PCR results to develop parameters for the use of clinical signs and a quarantine period in place of PCR testing as an indicator of possible HPAI infection in raptors. A patient side avian influenza test (Zoetis FluDETECT®) was compared to PCR results and was found to have a high false negative rate in raptor patients, limiting its utility in wildlife rehabilitation. Throughout the two years of this ongoing outbreak, TRC has continually gathered data to refine our biosecurity and quarantine processes, making adjustments according to seasonal risks. These data driven biosecurity measures have been summarized in a way that can be adapted to multiple types of wildlife facilities.
Co-Author(s)
Annette Ahlmann-Garcia, DVM, MS, The Raptor Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota
Kelsey Rayment, DVM, The Raptor Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota
Carol Cardona, DVM, PhD, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota
Kristelle Mendoza, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota
Victoria Hall, DVM, MS, DACVPM, Oiled Wildlife Care Network, Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis
Abstract Category
Notable outbreaks, field and molecular epidemiology, and surveillance in wild birds