E. coli bacteria.

How did the E. coli outbreak happen in Calgary’s daycares?

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

Debacle is not a word I use much. It’s too harsh, especially when describing disease. Debacle denotes a “violent collapse” or “a fiasco.” However, I’m convinced — based on what I read about what consumed Calgary daycares — that debacle best describes what’s going on across town in one of Canada’s most modern cities, with […] Read more

cattle and sheep

Vet Advice: Disease control ineffective when puzzle pieces missing

Knowledge gaps remain on a bacterial pathogen known to affect sheep, but also found in cattle

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi or Movi) is a respiratory pathogen associated with variable degrees of pneumonia in domestic sheep and goats. Movi first appeared in 1972 and has been on the list of respiratory diseases for sheep and goats since. Healthy bighorn sheep populations, originally naive to Movi, suffer severe outbreaks of mixed microbial pneumonia […] Read more


(DimaSobko/iStock/Getty Images)

Major U.S. retailers limit infant formula purchases on shortage

Reuters — U.S. retailers including Target, CVS and Walgreens Boots Alliance said on Tuesday they have limited purchases of infant formula due to a supply shortage. The limits come after top supplier Abbott Laboratories in February recalled some baby formula including Similac made at its plant in Michigan over complaints of bacterial infections in infants […] Read more

A 3-D illustration of Bacillus anthracis bacteria. (Dr_Microbe/iStock/Getty Images)

Anthrax kills southeastern Saskatchewan sheep

Spores forced up by changes in soil moisture

Dramatic shifts in soil moisture are again bringing anthrax spores to the surface on the Prairies, this time in a southeastern Saskatchewan sheep pasture. Lab results on Wednesday confirmed anthrax as the cause of death of one animal in a flock of sheep in the R.M. of South Qu’Appelle, about 50 km east of Regina, […] Read more


E. coli bacteria.

Do cattle bacteria contribute to antibiotic resistance in human medicine?

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

E. coli live in the digestive tracts of warm-blooded animals and birds. Most are harmless, some are beneficial and some (such as E. coli O157:H7) can be very dangerous. E. coli are also involved in antibiotic resistance. “Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing” (or ESBL) E. coli are a major concern in human medicine. These bacteria are resistant […] Read more



One common vector of transmission for tularemia is a tick.

Tularemia, a potentially serious and life-threatening disease

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

Tularemia, sometimes called rabbit fever, is an uncommon but debilitating disease spread from animals to man caused by the bacteria Francicella tularensis. It can be found in a variety of animal hosts, notably lagomorphs (rabbits and hares), aquatic rodents (muskrats, beavers, and water voles), other rodents (water and wood rats and mice), squirrels, and cats. […] Read more

Hot weather and a stagnant water supply create prime conditions for cyanobacteria to form.

Hot weather increases livestock-poisoning risk

Several advisories were posted in 
North Dakota this month

High temperatures promote the growth of blue-green algae, which can produce harmful toxins. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, can produce toxins that are harmful to livestock, wildlife and people. This month North Dakota Department of Health has posted blue-green algae advisories for four lakes. In addition, several water samples associated with the death of […] Read more


Cow and a Calf

Lapses in biosecurity create long-standing risks

Reducing risk of transmission of salmonella and other diseases

Salmonella bacteria have been isolated from nearly all vertebrates, and infections have been associated with both animal and human disease. Not uncommonly, foods of animal origin have been implicated as the source of human illness caused by salmonella. Typical signs of salmonella infection in cattle and humans include fever and diarrhea. Severe cases can result […] Read more

The search continues for TB and JD vaccines

The search continues for TB and JD vaccines

Animal Health: Treatment for the elusive diseases grows closer

We could be lucky and find our vaccine candidates for bovine tuberculosis and Johne’s disease within a month, or it could take a year and a half. We hope within a two-year window we will have candidates ready to test out in the field.” These encouraging words come from Dr. Andrew Potter, CEO at the […] Read more