The lab is accepting suspect specimens from veterinarians and animal owners. Specimens should be preserved in 70% ethanol and must include detailed information about where the specimen was found. More information on the submission process can be found on the lab’s website. ■
Yan Zhang, lab director. “We also investigate zoonotic pathogens and diseases – which is defined as those that infect both humans and animals. These are the kinds of illnesses that, if not treated, can cause significant economic loss due to disease, and even death.” To aid in the effort, the lab will process captured adult flies to determine whether or not they are New World screwworm. “When we receive a fly, we’ll look for very specific morphological features like stripes on the back or specific colorations,” said Patrick Maes, the lab’s molecular diagnostic scientist, who will soon begin screening flies. “This information allows us to isolate a specific genus. We then rely on our training and our collaborative partners from the University of Arizona, especially from the Insect Collection. At that point, if we think the fly is suspect, it is forwarded on for confirmation.” If the lab suspects a fly is New World screwworm, the sample is sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for confirmation. That information is then used by the USDA to track the insect. While there are no subsidies to pay for testing costs outside of the federal initiative, Dr. Emily Janovyak, the lab’s assistant director, said it is well worth the small fee for any concerned veterinarian to test for New World screwworm. She added that livestock or pet owners who notice larvae in or around open wounds, or a foul smell from the sore, immediately contact their veterinarian. Janovyak estimated the screening process would cost a private party roughly $35. “If cattle are getting eaten up, it is worth the time and money to investigate for this pest,” she said. “You will save your friends, your neighbors, your colleagues, your livestock and even possibly your own physical body from being infected by these flies.” Janovyak added that staff at the Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory are currently reviewing updated protocols for screening New World screwworm and will work with the USDA in the coming weeks to track the pest’s movement.
To learn more about New world screwworm flies, see this Extension publication. To learn more about the Arizona Livestock Incident Response Team, see the team’s web page. To learn more about the Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, visit the lab’s website.
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