OCTOBER 3, 2024:
The cause of death for an animal from North Dakota that died at an auction barn in South Dakota has been confirmed as anthrax.
South Dakota State Veterinarian Dr. Beth Thompson says the dead animal was found after the sale, but before all livestock had been loaded and taken to their next destinations. She says a vet at the sale barn quickly sent samples to the SDSU Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory in Brookings for testing.
North Dakota State Veterinarian Dr. Ethan Andress says the diagnosis was confirmed Tuesday (Oct. 1, 2024). He says it’s that state’s first reported case of anthrax this year and it was found in beef cows from a herd in Adams County.
Thompson says South Dakota’s Animal Industry Board was able to determine the movement of exposed animals because the veterinarian on site took immediate action and the livestock auction barn had complete records. She says AIB staff tracked all cattle in the original group to their new locations and promptly notified owners of the potential threat.
As of late afternoon Wednesday (Oct. 2, 2024), Andress says the herd owner has not reported any deaths at their location in North Dakota. He says there are three more suspected cases, but the test results for those are not yet available.
Thompson would not say which livestock auction barn reported the dead animal that prompted the testing. She did say a consistent herd vaccination protocol is important to keep livestock free of disease.
North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said 24 cases of anthrax were reported in North Dakota in 2023, all in Grant, Adams and Hettinger Counties. He says cattle, bison, horses, sheep and llamas, as well as farmed deer and elk, can all be impacted by anthrax.
OCTOBER 2, 2024:
Anthrax has been confirmed as the cause of death for an animal from North Dakota that died at an auction barn in South Dakota.
Dr. Beth Thompson is the state veterinarian for South Dakota. She says the dead animal was found after the sale, but before all livestock had been loaded and taken to their next destinations. A vet at the sale barn quickly sent samples to the SDSU Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory in Brookings for testing.
Thompson says the initial, whole blood sample screening takes a few hours. She says the culture test used to confirm anthrax, takes roughly 24 hours.
Thompson says the Animal Industry Board was able to determine the movement of exposed animals because the veterinarian on site took immediate action and the livestock auction barn had complete records. She says AIB staff tracked all cattle in the original group to their new locations and promptly notified owners of the potential threat.
Thompson would not say which livestock auction barn reported the dead animal that prompted the testing. She did say a consistent herd vaccination protocol is important to keep livestock free of disease.
Anthrax can be an economically devastating disease for all livestock– not only cattle– because it can cause a large loss of animals in a short time. Anthrax spores survive indefinitely in soil and weather events such as drought, floods and winds, can expose the spores to livestock.
If you have a suspicious death in your herd, Thompson says do not move the carcass until a diagnosis is made. If Anthrax is suspected, contact your local veterinarian or the AIB at 605-773-3321 as soon as possible. She says proper handling of affected carcasses by burning and burying is important to help prevent additional spread of the disease.
AUGUST 8, 2024:
The first confirmed case of Anthrax in South Dakota this year (2024) has been found in a beef cattle herd in Meade County.
State Veterinarian Dr. Beth Thompson says herd vaccination, a quick response and veterinary oversight limited the number of affected animals to one calf in a herd of approximately 60 pairs. She says the adult cattle in the herd have been vaccinated within the past year.
Anthrax spores survive indefinitely in soil and significant weather events can expose the spores to livestock and become infectious. If left untreated, Anthrax can cause a large number of animals to die in a short amount of time.
Thompson says the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at South Dakota State University in Brookings confirmed the disease from samples submitted by the herd veterinarian. She says the Animal Industry Board has quarantined the affected herd, notified the neighboring herd owners and will quarantine any additional herds impacted.
Thompson says if a there’s a death in your herd, don’t move the suspect carcass until a diagnosis is made. She says if Anthrax did cause the death, the proper way to dispose of the dead animal is by burning and burying it.
If Anthrax is suspected, producers should contact their local veterinarian or the Animal Industry Board (605-773-3321) immediately.
Comments