New research article published in Apidologie journal

Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) are key players in crop pollination and in the maintenance of global biodiversity. Their viability is threatened by Varroa destructor, which acts as a vector of the deformed wing virus (DWV). Several genetic DWV variants have been reported, but it is unclear whether their virulence differs. We examined the prevalence of V. destructor and DWV as well as bee health in two colonies over 21 months and then characterizing DWV variants from each colony using phylogenetics. Colony H showed no signs of disease or mortality, and DWV sequence from this colony clustered with VDV/DWV-B sequences previously reported in healthy colonies. Colony W showed DWV symptoms, and DWV sequence clustered with DWV-A sequences previously reported in colonies with symptoms. These results suggest that nucleotide variations in the DWV genome can affect its virulence. Genotyping DWV variants in colonies may be an effective tool to assess risk and initiate preventive measures early.

 Access to the article

 High Load of Deformed Wing Virus and Varroa destructor Infestation Are Related to Weakness of Honey Bee Colonies in Southern Spain (open access)

The devastating outbreak of the disease that has led to millions of pig deaths in East Asia has intensified efforts to develop a vaccine quickly, but the virus presents several challenges that are yet to be overcome.

Read here the full new

During May 22, 23 and 25, Prof. José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno has held a series of seminars in South Korea, organized by the company Dodrom, on the prevention and control of African swine fever. At the same time, he has held a meeting with those responsible for animal health of the Ministry of Agriculture of the country.

The seminars taught were the following:

• Global situation of African Swine Fever
• African Swine Fever Control and Erradication. Routes of Transmission
• Analisis of Clinical signs and pathological lessions
• Laboratory Diagnosis. 
• African Swine Fever: Present and Future control. 

A delegation of Chinese breeders and veterinarians have visited our center to learn about the status of the African Swine Fever and the improvements that could have been made in China.

New in the media:

• Veterinarios y ganaderos chinos se forman en España sobre la PPA (Animal´s Health, spanish text)
• Veterinarios chinos visitan España para formarse en peste porcina africana (Diario Veterinario, spanish text)

The international scientific journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science has published the study "First Oral Vaccination of Eurasian Wild Boar Against African Swine Fever Virus Genotype II", which is being developed in Spain under the direction of the Professor of Animal Health José Manuel Sánchez Vizcaíno at the Complutense University of Madrid.

 Open access article

The news has had a great impact on the media:

• New in Animal´s Health journal (spanish text)
• New in the "Diario Veterinario"  (spanish text)
• New in "Caza World" (spanish text)
• Noticia publicada en la revista Animal´s Health
• Noticia publicada en el Diario Veterinario
• Noticia publicada en Caza World

Numerous veterinary representatives attended the presentation of the new campaign to raise awareness of the importance of MSD vaccination during the World Immunization Week

Read the full new in Animal's Health journal

This congress was held from 17 to 20 April 2019 in Svetlogorsk (Russia) and José Manuel Sánchez participates with the presentation: "Innovative tools for the diagnosis of infectious diseases in pigs" and in the panel discussion on African Swine Fever as an expert of the OIE.

 Programme

On April 3th, a Spanish delegation headed by Professor José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno meets with the Minister of Agriculture of Romania to discuss the issue of the African Swine Fever.

Translation of the press release from the ministry:

Petre Daea, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, received a delegation of African swine fever experts headed by Dr. Jose Manuel Sanchez-Vizcaino, an animal health professor at the University of Madrid and expert at the MADR headquarters on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. World Organization for Animal Health on African swine fever. The invited delegate also included engineer Iani Chihaia of the National Association of Combined Fruit Manufacturers in Romania, Megan C. Niederwerder (Kansas State University), Enric Marco Granell (EAPHM President) and Gonzalo Mateos.

In addition to the Minister Petre Daea were Secretary of State Daniel Dumitru Botanoiu, Alexandru Ţachianu, Undersecretary of State Maricel Floricel Dima, Director General of the Directorate General for Agricultural Policies, Elena Tatomir, Director General of the European Affairs Department, International Relations and Roxana Zarma , Deputy General Director of the Agricultural Policy Directorate, Mihai Neagu, Director of the Animal Welfare Policy Maria Toma, as well as the vice-presidents of ANSVSA, namely Dr. Csutak Nagy Laszlo and Dr. Octavian Ilisoi.