New trouble ahead with bovine leukemia virus? Part 1

The headline “Virus in cattle linked to human breast cancer” is chilling. For the first time, a research team at the University of California, Berkeley, established a link between infection with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) and human breast cancer. The study, published September 2015 in a respected, peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE, will draw attention to […] Read more


preparing a livestock vaccine

Understanding the value of vaccines

Although vaccines have been used commercially for more than 70 years, the bulk of vaccines available on the market has not changed significantly. They are still mostly the products of either live or killed whole virus or bacterial culture. Research has yielded improvements to adjuvants (components that stimulate immunity), introduction of genetically engineered subunit and […] Read more

Anthrax detected in northern Alberta

Anthrax detected in northern Alberta

Two cases confirmed from two separate beef cattle farms in the Fort Vermillion area

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has been notified of confirmed cases of anthrax in two separate beef cattle farms in the Fort Vermillion area. Given these findings and recently confirmed cases in Saskatchewan, producers are reminded to be on the look-out for anthrax. The recent hot, dry weather has led to conditions that are favourable for […] Read more


Animals front and centre on emerging human diseases

In less than two decades, perspectives on the relationship of disease emergence in humans and domestic animals has changed dramatically. Toward the end of the 20th century, the underlying causes of emerging infectious disease were primarily attributed to aberrations in human behaviour. Methods of control and prevention were all too often centred on changing human […] Read more