The University of Arizona will support a national effort against the outbreak of New World screwworm after the Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory was named one of three sites in the country selected to aid the U.S. Department of Agriculture by screening for the pest. Part of the College of Veterinary Medicine and a member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, the Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory conducts diagnostic testing to detect and manage animal diseases for livestock producers and owners, regulatory agencies and the federal government. New World screwworm fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax, is endemic to Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and countries across South America. Named for the way its larvae burrow into living flesh, the fly can cause disease in livestock, wildlife, pets and humans. New World screwworm was eradicated in the United States in the 1960s, in Mexico the following decade and throughout Central America by the early 21st century. For years, the U.S. and Panama have collaborated to manage outbreaks and prevent the pest’s northward spread by releasing sterilized insects to gradually eliminate populations. Last October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a resurgence of the fly across Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras, with cases spreading north since its initial detection. The CDC also confirmed several travel-associated cases of people returning to the U.S. carrying larvae, raising additional concerns about potential reintroduction of the parasite. In June, the USDA announced its five-part initiative to eradicate New World screwworm, which includes stopping the spread in Mexico, strengthening protections along the southern U.S. border, maximizing domestic readiness to respond to an outbreak, expanding the use of sterile insect techniques to actively suppress the pest and investing in research and innovation to ensure long-term success. A key step in the mission is screening for the pest at the Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which specializes in microbiology, cytology, histopathology and molecular diagnostics. “In addition to providing high-quality diagnostic services, our lab conducts surveillance of important animal diseases that can cause significant damage to the economy,” said Dr.
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