Biosecurity for the birds. Avian influenza.

2 pages.Guidelines for preventing an outbreak of avian influenza in the American bird population

Questions and answers: highly pathogenic avian influenza

2 pages.FAQ about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Highly pathogenic avian influenza: a threat to U.S. poultry

8 pages.Description of avian influenza, with guidelines for preventing an outbreak of avian influenza in the United States. Includes pictures of infected birds

How to protect your birds

1 page.Six guidelines for preventing an outbreak of avian influenza in the American bird population

Wildlife Damage Management (WDM) in the Northern Utah ADC District

Across the United States, wildlife habitat has been substantially changed as human populations expand and land is used for human needs. These human uses and needs often compete with wildlife which increases the potential for conflicting human/wildlife interactions. In addition, segments of the public strive for protection for all wildlife; this protection can create localized conflicts between human and wildlife activities

Wildlife Damage Management (WDM) in the Southern Utah ADC District

Across the United States, wildlife habitat has been substantially changed as human populations expand and land is used for human needs. These human uses and needs often compete with wildlife which increases the potential for conflicting human/wildlife interactions. In addition, segments of the public strive for protection for all wildlife; this protection can create localized conflicts between human and wildlife activities

Maintenance of Brucellosis in Yellowstone Bison: Linking Seasonal Food Resources, Host-Pathogen Interaction, and Life-History Trade-Offs

The seasonal availability of food resources is an important factor shaping the life-history strategies of organisms. During times of nutritional restriction, physiological trade-offs can induce periods of immune suppression, thereby increasing susceptibility to infectious disease. Our goal was to provide a conceptual framework describing how the endemic level bovine brucellosis (Brucella abortus) may be maintained in Yellowstone bison based on the seasonality of food resources and the life-history strategies of the host and pathogen. Our analysis was based on active B. abortus infection (measured via bacterial culture), nutritional indicators (measured as metabolites and hormones in plasma), and carcass measurements of 402 slaughtered bison. Data from Yellowstone bison were used to investigate (1) whether seasonal changes in diet quality affect nutritional condition and coincide with the reproductive needs of female bison; (2) whether active B. abortus infection and infection intensities vary with host nutrition and nutritional condition; and (3) the evidence for seasonal changes in immune responses, which may offer protection against B. abortus, in relation to nutritional condition. Female bison experienced a decline in nutritional condition during winter as reproductive demands of late gestation increased while forage quality and availability declined. Active B. abortus infection was negatively associated with bison age and nutritional condition, with the intensity of infection negatively associated with indicators of nutrition (e.g., dietary protein and energy) and body weight. Data suggest that protective cell-mediated immune responses may be reduced during the B. abortus transmission period, which coincides with nutritional insufficiencies and elevated reproductive demands during spring. Our results illustrate how seasonal food restriction can drive physiological trade-offs that suppress immune function and create infection and transmission opportunities for pathogens

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (Factsheet)

3 pages.Brief description of avian influenza, with guidelines for preventing an outbreak of avian influenza in the United States

APHIS biotechnology: permitting progress into tomorrow (BRS factsheet)

4 pages.Describes the process for introducing new genetically-engineered plants through the Biotechnology Regulatory Services program