North Carolina Poultry Industry

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1 Inside this issue: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Dr. Sara J Mason discusses HPAI and how to protect your poultry flock HPAI A guide to help you understand the response process Drinking water qualitywhat s new? Insect control priorities during a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus outbreak Fall 2015 North Carolina Poultry Industry Joint Area Newsletter Editor: Dan Campeau Layout: Tiffany Hancock HPAI and how to protect your poultry 1"#" 3 3 3"#" 4 5"#" 7 Dr. Sara J Mason NC Dept of Ag & Consumer Services Veterinary Division Raleigh, NC Poultry growers and their communities in Midwestern states are working to recover from the most seri- ous animal disease outbreak in US history. The disease, highly pathogenic avian influ- enza (HPAI), entered the US in De- cember of 2014 and has resulted in the loss of nearly 50 million birds, mostly layers and turkeys, primarily in Minnesota and Iowa. HPAI is carried by wild waterfowl, and can infect most species of birds. Wild ducks are not killed by the virus, but become infected and can help to spread the virus in their droppings and respiratory secretions. The disease has not affected humans and is considered a low risk for doing so. No birds affected by this disease have entered the food chain. 1

2 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza To avoid HPAI infection, poultry growers should be especially careful of biosecurity on their farms. Farmers have always known that it is important to protect the entry to their farm from unwanted visitors. While this is still important, there is now an added biosecurity risk of tracking virus into a poultry barn by walking or moving equipment through droppings left by wild waterfowl. Wild ducks may defecate while flying, so you may not even be aware that they have been near your farm. To protect your flocks, it is important to use dedicated boots for each barn, or to disinfect your boots at the entry to each barn. You can protect your flock by preventing exposure to wild birds of any type, because even small birds such as sparrows can carry the virus inside houses to infect a poultry flock. Poultry affected with HPAI may not appear sick until a short time before death, though they can shed virus for several days before becoming sick. Farmers affected by HPAI in the Mid west reported that their flocks appeared normal, then within a few hours became "sleepy" or depressed and began dying in large numbers. Typical respiratory signs like labored breathing or sneezing have not been observed in flocks in most cases with this virus. Poultry affected with HPAI may not appear sick until a short time before death, though they can shed virus for several days before becoming sick. Farmers affected by HPAI in the Mid west reported that their flocks appeared normal, then within a few hours became "sleepy" or depressed and began dying in large numbers. Typical respiratory signs like labored breathing or sneezing have not been observed in flocks in most cases with this virus. If you notice unusual behavior or sudden mortality of unknown cause, it is important to contact your contract company, your extension agent, the USDA or the State Veterinarian's office immediately. A simple swab from a sick or dead bird's mouth can be tested for the presence of HPAI virus. With the virus that has affected so many flocks in the US, it is better not to "wait and see" if the birds become worse. Testing is easy and can be completed quickly to rule out this devastating disease. As the fall migration south of wild waterfowl begins, flocks will be at higher risk for exposure to HPAI, though good biosecurity practices on farms can protect them. 2

USDA "? J u..d- ofaqrlculbn ' Detect Youseeunusual signsofillnessor suddendeathsin your flock. You reportit to your privateorstate veterinarian. Samplesaretaken andtested.

we assignyouacaseworl<er, whowillbe yourmainpoint ofcontactonsite,answer yourquestions,and guide youthroughtheneeded paperwork.

3 USDA "? J u..d- ofaqrlculbn ' Detect Youseeunusual signsofillnessor suddendeathsin your flock. You reportit to your privateorstate veterinarian. Samplesaretaken andtested.youfind outyourflock is positiveforhpai. QuaranUne USDAandStatepersonnel cometoyourfarm.we assignyouacaseworl<er, whowillbe yourmainpoint ofcontactonsite,answer yourquestions,and guide youthroughtheneeded paperwork.wewill also placeyouroperationunder quarantine,meaningonly authorizedworkersare allowedin andouand Appraise Weworkwithyouto createaflock inventory.this lists howmanybirdsyou have,what species theyare,theirage, and other keydetails thatwillhelpusgive you100percentof fairmarketvaluefor yourbirds. movementrestrictionsfor poultry,poultryproducts, andequipment go into effect. Wecontact neighboringpoultryfarms andstarttestingtheirbirds tosee they'vebeen affected.too. Depopulate Compensate Manage Infectedflocks are Youreceiveyourfirst Disposal depopulatedasquickly as possible-ideally within24hoursofthe firsthpaidet to getrid of thevirus. indemnitypaymentearty onintheresponse process.wealsopay youastandardamount for viruselimination activities{cleanupw OII<). Ail Eliminate VIrus USDA willhelpyou The nextstepisto disposeofthedeadbirds wipeout alltraces of safely.disposalmethods thevirusatyour indudecomposting, property. Tokillthe burial,incineration, virus,thoroughly rendering,orlandfilling. deananddisinfect Theoptionsyou11 have the bam,equipmen dependonseveralthings:and allaffectedareas whattypeofann you ofyourfarm.youcan have,thespecific dothisworkyourself conditionsthere,state orhirec ontractorsto andlocallaws, and what youprefer. handleil Test Assoonasyou're ready,letyour casewor1<er know you'refinishedwith deanup.yoursite mustthenstayempty for at least 21days. Duringthistime,we11 returntocollect and testenvironmental samples.weneedto confinmthatyour Restock Once USDAandthe Statebothapprove, youcanrestockyour facilitiesandstart productionagain. Stateofficialswill releaseyourfarm from quarantineafter allrequiredtesting andwaitingperiods aredone. propertyisc ompletely virusjfree...., Maintain BlosecuriiY After restocking,you'll need tocontinue maintainingthehighest biosecurity standards to keepthevirusfrom coming back. For biosecuritytips,goto publicationsand downloadthefactsheet 'P reventavian InfluenzaatYour Farm: How?Long?Does?the?Process?Take? Questions? Forgeneralinformationandcontacts,VIsit Ideally,thisentireprocesscouldbe completedinassoonas60j120days.however,thetimeframevariesdepending onmanythings(forexample,flocksize,depopulationanddisposalmethodsused,testresults,farm'slocation). We'recommittedtorestoringproductionasfastaswecanwhilealsoprotectingpoultryhealth. Talkwithyourcaseworkerorthe Stateor Federal officials responding tothediseaseeventinyour area. USDA? s?an?equal?opponunlty?ptovider?and?employer.? A111malandPlantHealthInspectionService APHIS lss.redseptember2015 w

By Dr. Susan Watkins Center of Excellence for Poultry Science Division of Agriculture University of Arkansas Drinking water quality-what s new?

Factors which impact drinking water quality include source or water supply, presence of natural contaminants such as minerals, ph, water distribution system, use of water additives including

4 By Dr. Susan Watkins Center of Excellence for Poultry Science Division of Agriculture University of Arkansas Drinking water quality-what s new? Providing a clean, safe and sanitized water supply is crucial in assuring flocks perform their best. Factors which impact drinking water quality include source or water supply, presence of natural contaminants such as minerals, ph, water distribution system, use of water additives including vitamins, electrolytes, probiotics and antibiotics. Water supplies are dynamic and can change therefore it is important to monitor supplies to assure quality does not deteriorate. Naturally occurring contaminants such as iron as well as water additives such as electrolytes, vitamins, probiotics and acids can promote microbial growth in water systems which may not be beneficial to bird performance. Maintaining water quality involves testing water supplies to identify both mineral and microbial challenges. Drip samples can be pulled from the source and from the poultry barn. Comparing the results can help identify if contamination is occurring and needs to be addressed. Swab samples of water systems are very useful in identifying if biofilms are present which will be an indicator that systems need thorough cleaning. Daily water sanitation programs are an excellent tool in reducing health challenges introduced to flocks through the water system. Before implementing a daily water sanitation program, it is important to thoroughly clean as much of the water distribution system as possible. Proper line cleaning is critical for optimal success with water sanitation programs and this requires utilizing the recommended concentrations of products injected into the water systems and then allowed to sit in the lines adequate time to assure effectiveness. For stabilized hydrogen peroxides, it is recommended that the product be left in the water lines for hours. Also it is important to clean the underground distribution lines as they can be a significant source of microbial challenge. Swab systems pre and post cleaning to determine how well the job was done. Once the system is clean there are several options for daily water sanitation which include chlorine, hydrogen peroxide and chlorine dioxide. There is some indication that it may be beneficial to rotate sanitation products particularly on operations which have consistent health challenges that may be associated with the water supplies. Chlorine is still proving to be an effective water sanitizer but chlorine products should be properly stored and not mixed with other products. Recently a dry chlorine crystal product has been introduced by Green Kleen that is labeled for drinking water usage. This product is stabilized at a lower ph than traditional bleach, sodium hypochlorite, or calcium hypochlorite products so it creates less challenge for ph adjustment to optimize the chlorine efficacy. Initial testing shows the product works well as a daily drinking water sanitizer. 4

5 The Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) system has been introduced by the Silver Bullet Company. This system combines ultraviolet light with aeration and electricity to sanitize water with free radicals such as O 3, O - and OH -. One of the primary benefits has been its use in treating stored water or where possible, diffusing straight into a well. The beauty of this system is that it can continuously treat the water with no build-up of residuals that could be harmful or toxic to the birds. Chlorine dioxide technology has advanced in recent years so that the sodium chlorite products are being properly activated with acids to assure adequate conversion to chlorine dioxide prior to injection into the water system. When utilizing chlorine dioxide products, it is important to monitor free chlorine dioxide residual to assure at least ppm are present. Monitoring total chlorine dioxide residual may not detect whether there is enough free ClO2 residual to prevent recontamination post injection. One benefit of chlorine dioxide has been the removal of biofilm over time when the product is continuously used at a drinking water rate. A good monitoring program continues to be the best tool for verifying the effectiveness of a water sanitation program. The number one failure for most water sanitation programs is the lack of consistency. Some water systems have little forgiveness regarding microbial contamination issues and as little as one day of no water sanitizer present can be enough of a window for challenges to release from the protected biofilm and challenge the flock. Insect control priorities during a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus outbreak This information was in part developed in consultation with Multistate S-1060 participants, Roger Moon MN, Wes Watson Department of Entomology North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. 5 Depopulation and decontamination procedures for eradication of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) should include elements of insect control to prevent adult insects from spreading infectious virus into the surrounding area. The potential for insect disperse and spread virus will be great whenever air temperatures are much above 45 F. The following recommendations and background are offered to help responders minimize the opportunity that insects will spread HPAI virus off the facility. House flies, blow flies, and darkling beetles are commonly associated with poultry facilities. House flies are naturally attracted to feed, carcasses, eggs and aged laying hen manure; blow flies to carcasses and broken eggs; and darkling beetles to litter under turkeys and broilers. Under certain conditions darkling beetles are a problem in caged layers and breeder houses.

Insect control priorities during a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus outbreak continued Wes Watson Department of Entomology North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.

feeding house flies pick up virus particles on their feet and mouthparts, and contaminated flies harbor infectious virus in their guts and defecate those viruses for hours to days after ingestion.

In a separate mark and recapture study the same species was able to disperse about 2 miles distance. In the US house flies dispersal from a PRRSVcontaminated house flies exceeded one mile.

6 Insect control priorities during a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus outbreak continued Wes Watson Department of Entomology North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. Studies of insect acquisition and retention with HPAI, turkey coronavirus (TCV), exotic Newcastle disease virus (ENDV), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) indicate feeding house flies pick up virus particles on their feet and mouthparts, and contaminated flies harbor infectious virus in their guts and defecate those viruses for hours to days after ingestion. Two species of blow flies netted in the vicinity of a H5N1 outbreak in Kyoto were contaminated with the virus. In a separate mark and recapture study the same species was able to disperse about 2 miles distance. In the US house flies dispersal from a PRRSVcontaminated house flies exceeded one mile. It is prudent to presume that adult flies and beetles of all kinds that are present on the premises at time of outbreak will be contaminated with infectious HPAI virus. In turn, insect control measures should be undertaken to confine and kill those contaminated insects before they can disperse naturally or be transported off the premise. cals.ncsu.edu cals.ncsu.edu Recommended control measures cals.ncsu.edu 1. If responders determine upon arrival that populations of adult blow flies or house flies are present, then a suitable insecticide should be applied to kill as many adult flies as possible. This should be done before depopulation, composting and disinfection procedures are undertaken. The goal is to kill contaminated flies before agitated birds and human activity drive the flies into the surrounding environment. Knock-down fogs or space sprays with short-lived pyrethrin, pyrethroid or organophosphate insecticides will provide temporary control. Residual sprays with water-based formulations of pyrethroid or organophosphate insecticides will provide longer acting control. Residual sprays should be applied to interior building ceilings and walls, and to exterior walls and eves where flies perch, as indicated by fly specks on horizontal and vertical surfaces. Continue on page 7 6

Recommended control measures continued A search for products registered as premise applications for fly and litter beetle control in North Carolina http://content.ces.ncsu.

7 Recommended control measures continued A search for products registered as premise applications for fly and litter beetle control in North Carolina revealed several organophosphate insecticide and pyrethroid insecticides to choose from. Response teams in other states will need to check with their state s regulatory authorities to determine which specific insecticide formulations are registered for application in and around poultry facilities. Everywhere, applicators will need to comply with label instructions. Insecticides should not be tank mixed with disinfectants Accepted composting procedures should prevent blow flies from developing in bird carcasses, assuming all carcasses from natural deaths or euthanasia are properly buried in the carbon source the same day they die. Heat of composting will kill any maggots that develop from eggs that might be on carcasses before interment. Later, a compost pile itself will be a physical barrier to colonization that might otherwise occur where heat of composting is inadequate. If composting fails for any reason, then the problem with the composting process should be remedied immediately. If inspection indicates blow flies were developing in the carcasses, then a residual insecticide could be sprayed on the pile and surrounding structures to kill blow flies that did or might yet emanate from the pile. Blow fly maggots can disperse as far as 5-20 yards from their food sources, so areas surrounding failed compost piles should be searched to find and destroy clusters of potential blow fly pupae. 3. Darkling beetles in litter or manure could also spread the virus outward from an infected premise. Eggs, larvae and many adult beetles will be killed if infested litter is incorporated into compost piles, but some adults around the building s perimeter will crawl and potentially fly away from the premises. If beetle populations warrant remedial actions, perimeter sprays with organophosphate or pyrethroid insecticides could be applied as a barrier treatment around interior and exterior building perimeters. 4. Responders should minimize transport of insects in responder and service vehicles away from outbreak premises. Park passenger and other vehicles as far away from infected barns as possible. Make sure all vehicle windows are closed while on the premises. Similarly, keep vehicle doors closed, except when occupants are exiting or leaving their vehicles.

8 NCSU Field Faculty/ Extension Contacts Mike Williams Professor Department Head Director, Animal & Poultry Richard Goforth Area Specialized Agent Agriculture - Poultry Home - Union County Center 8 Waste Management Center On campus Area - South Central North Carolina richard_goforth@ncsu.edu Dan Campeau Area Specialized Agent Agriculture - Poultry Home - Chatham County Center Area North Central North Carolina dan.campeau@chathamnc.or Margaret Ross Area Specialized Agent Agriculture - Poultry Area - Eastern North Carolina margaret_ross@ncsu.edu North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Outbreak Prevention Protocol September 2015

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak Prevention Protocol September 2015 BACKGROUND In November 2014 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was discovered in British Columbia. By December the virus had