AR-News: (U.S. - Fl.) illness at greyhound tracks

[Mary Finelli]

UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS, CANINE - USA (FLORIDA)
July 2, 2004
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail, a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date:30 Jun 2004
From: ProMED-mail Source:News-Press [edited]
http://www.news-press.com/news/local_state/040630dogs.html


Illness spreads at greyhound tracks: 3 dogs at Fort Myers show signs of 
disease
3 dogs at the Naples/Fort Myers Greyhound Track are showing signs of a 
respiratory illness that has spread through tracks across the state, a track 
official confirmed on Tuesday. While the sickness is being labeled "kennel 
cough," by racing staff and the state Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, the 
veterinary immunologist spearheading research into the outbreak isn't sure. 
"That's being determined, and it's too early to know the answer to that," 
said Cynda Crawford of the University of Florida, heading a research team 
including veterinary virologists from Cornell University and the national 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Blood tests taken from recovering dogs may determine that the illness is a 
variant of equine influenza virus. Crawford's team found that the virus 
probably caused the death of 8 greyhounds at the Jacksonville track in 
January 2004. The January outbreak was the first scientific report of the 
equine virus jumping the species barrier.

Because this latest bout of illness started 3 weeks ago and the disease 
takes about 4 weeks to run its course, the dogs can't be tested for flu 
antibodies for at least another week. Vets also are testing for the types of 
bacteria that cause the classic type of kennel cough, Crawford said. No dogs 
have died in this current round of illness, in comparison, an outbreak of 
kennel cough in spring 2003 was more severe, she said.

The Naples/Fort Myers Greyhound Track in Bonita Springs has been only 
slightly affected, said Larry Mosher, track racing secretary. "We hardly 
have it at all, if we have it." All races are set to go as scheduled but 
track officials have imposed a quarantine, Mosher said.

David Roberts, director of the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, said 
Tuesday that he has an investigator going to the Naples/Fort Myers track 
today. Roberts requested in a Monday memo that tracks statewide impose 
quarantine. He said that he doesn't have the authority by law to impose one 
himself. The quarantine means no greyhounds are allowed in or out.

The disease is "very fast-moving and can be transferred quickly," 
particularly when animals are in close quarters, Roberts said. "It's like 
kids in a day care. One day one has a runny nose. 2 days later they all have 
runny noses." This way the dogs can be isolated and treated so the illness 
can run its course, Roberts said. "If everything is caught at the proper 
time, it's like a very bad cold or sinus infection in humans."

Worst hit has been Tampa, which is the only track that has missed some 
performances. Other tracks had some dogs scratched from racing. Roberts said 
the other tracks reporting the illness include West Flagler track in Miami; 
Palm Beach; Derby Lane in St. Petersburg; the Sanford/Orlando Kennel Club; 
and the Washington County Kennel Club.

Mosher said that the Naples/Fort Myers track already had stopped accepting 
greyhounds in as of 18 Jun 2004. The 3 greyhounds with signs of the illness 
have been isolated, he said. The Naples/Fort Myers track houses about 800 
dogs in 12 kennels, Mosher said. Crawford said she could not estimate 
accurately the number of dogs affected statewide by this round of illness.
[byline: Mary Wozniak]

[Either of these diseases spreads quickly. Kennel cough is caused by 
bacteria, whereas the flu is caused by a virus. Flu can cross species lines. 
For example, avian flu has crossed into swine and into people. If this 
should turn out to be equine flu in dogs, then it will be asked whether this 
particular virus could mutate and affect other species, including people. 
The outcome of Dr Crawford's research is awaited with interest. - Mod.TG]

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