OAHN Update March 2016

2015 was a very busy and rewarding year for OAHN, with all networks assembled, a successful annual meeting, the launch of our official website, and many reports, infographics, and podcasts published. To learn more about what OAHN was up to in 2015, check out our 2015 in Review Podcast.  In addition to this podcast, we have also published a 6-part series on swine influenza, featuring talks with the AHL’s Dr. Josepha DeLay, the OVC’s Dr. Zvonimir Poljak, as well as veterinarians, researchers, and health professionals from around Canada and the U.S. Listen to it here.

We have now published 34 podcasts, which have been downloaded nearly 11,000 times. We’re looking forward to publishing 2 podcasts per month throughout 2016.

On OAHN.ca , we are now allowing registered veterinary technicians, as well as all Canadian and American veterinarians to access our veterinary reports and veterinary resources. 2016 is off to a very productive start, as we have already completed surveys, conference calls and reports for many of our networks. To keep up with what we are doing, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for the OAHN Updates Newsletter.

The bee network held its latest quarterly conference call on March 9.

The Q4 2015 survey was distributed and completed by 14 veterinarians, with a successful distribution across Ontario.  Top items of discussion were: Cache Valley virus, and diarrhea in goat kids. Check the OAHN website for veterinary and producer reports.

The OAHN bovine network had its Q3 quarterly call and released its veterinary report in January. The report outlined recent findings of Salmonella Dublin in Ontario, animal health updates, and the importance of Premises Identification. The Q4 bovine survey is available now.

The OAHN Fish Network had its 5th quarterly conference call in January.  Main points of discussion were the upcoming fish project, development of a producer report.  It was otherwise quiet for disease outbreaks.

The OAHN swine network completed its Q4 2015 veterinary survey and had its quarterly conference call in January. The network’s reports are available now.

In addition, the network published a 6-part series on swine influenza, which highlighted perspectives from veterinarians, pathologists, and researchers, and outlined swine influenza in Ontario, Canada, and North America.

Watch for the Q1 2016 swine survey, which will be released at the beginning of April.  In case you missed it (ICYMI): Senecavirus A bulletin can be accessed here.

CWHC has released its latest quarterly report, combined with an annual report.  Check them out here.

The OAHN alternative species network held a conference call in January, with mink veterinarians discussing important issues with experts in the field. Dr. Hugh Hildebrandt presented on Clostridium and anaerobes in North American mink.

The OAHN Poultry Network held its Q1 2016 conference call in February. The 2015 reports were used in the 2015-16 Poultry Producer Health updates.

If you have small flock owners in your practice, please click here to learn about subsidized postmortem testing being offered by the AHL.

The equine network held its Q4 conference call in January. The main topics of concern were: Eastern equine encephalitis, box elder toxicity, and equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). The owner and veterinary reports are available on the OAHN website. Watch for the Q1 2016 survey in April.

The OAHN companion animal network had its second quarterly conference at the beginning of February, and released its veterinary report. Disease issues discussed included: tick-borne diseases, leptospirosis spike due to warmer weather this winter, sudden acquired retinal degeneration, and a rabies update.

Want to receive veterinary reports?  Email oahn@uoguelph.ca

OAHN expert network projects for 2015-16

As announced at the October 1, 2015, “Staying ahead of the curve” annual Disease Surveillance Plan - Ontario Animal Health Network meeting, we are pleased to be able to provide up to $50,000 per network, for our 10 networks, in support of filling gaps in surveillance. Each network core group, which typically consists of experts from OMAFRA, OVC, the AHL and private practice, was tasked with developing and submitting a project proposal by Dec. 1 to fill a need in their sector.

We’re pleased to be able to publicize the approved projects, and we look forward to sharing updates and final reports with our stakeholders.