Additional updates from the CDC on the Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses in U.S. Dairy Cattle and Detection of Two Human Cases. 

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The University of Illinois VDL in Urbana will be closed on Monday, 

May 27th observing Memorial Day. For emergencies please

contact the on-call Pathologist at 217-333-1620.

 

Interstate movement of lactating dairy cattle

Milk is the only acceptable sample.  Nasal swabs are not acceptable.

Premises ID (PIN) is required on submission forms.

Samples must be tested through an approved NAHLN lab; our VDL is the NAHLN lab for Illinois.

Premovement testing of non-clinical animals does not need a FADI (Foreign Animal Disease Investigation) number.

 

Cows with potential H5N1 clinical symptoms

Referring veterinarian/clinic must obtain FADI number from State Veterinarian’s office or AVIC’s office prior to submission to the lab.  For Illinois, State Veterinarian’ office: 217-782-4944 or AVIC’s office: 217-547-6030.

 

 

Interstate movement of non-lactating dairy cattle

( if required by destination state; also check IDOA website below)

Nasal swabs are acceptable samples

Nasal swabs cannot be pooled

 

Sample submission

Milk:

Submit individual milk samples (3-10 ml each) in a leak-proof container such as a screw cap tube.

Milk samples can be tested individually or in pools as needed; Pooling must be done at the lab

based on the smallest epi unit (a maximum of 5 samples per pool). 

Milk must be collected from all quarters of the udder; such sample from a single animal is considered as one individual sample.

Ship on ice within 24 hours of collection.

 

Nasal swabs:

Submit individual swabs

Use Polyester/Dacron/Flocked swabs; Keep moist with a few drops of sterile saline to prevent drying out during transport (Cotton tipped swabs or swabs immersed in any gel or liquid medium are not suitable for PCR testing).

Ship on ice within 24 hours of collection.

 

Sample Testing and cost

Matrix PCR is performed first, followed by H5 PCR on Matrix non-negative samples. 

In the case of pool testing, individual samples from non-negative Matrix pools will be tested for Matrix followed by H5 as needed.

All presumptive positive samples will be sent to NVSL for further testing (Virus isolation, sequencing etc.) at no cost to the clients.

 

Movement testing of non-clinical dairy cows as well FADI testing of potentially clinical cows is funded by USDA/APHIS.

 

Influenza A ELISA for Antibody Detection in Bovidae-origin milk and serum samples.  This is a blocking ELISA. The test is currently being offered on Mondays and Thursdays, with samples to be in the lab by 9 am on testing day to have the same day results. Results will be notified to the submitting veterinarian, and State and Federal animal health officials in both the State where the laboratory is located and the State in which the animal was sampled.

 

Turnaround times:

Interstate Movement samples: 3 days

FADI samples: Varies depending on the priority status determined by the State Veterinarian’s office

NVSL turnaround times vary, usually 1 week minimum for confirmatory PCR/sequencing; virus isolation takes longer.

 

Resources:

IDOA guidance document for premovement testing: https://agr.illinois.gov/animals/animalhealth/alerts-and-important-animal-health-information.html

 

APHIS Requirements and Recommendations for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock For State Animal Health Officials, Accredited Veterinarians and Producers (April 26, 2024):

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/aphis-requirements-recommendations-hpai-livestock.pdf