Myster Illness Killing Greyhound Racers
REVERE, Mass. May 12, 2005 — A mysterious respiratory disease is sweeping greyhound tracks across the country, killing dozens of dogs and forcing owners to halt racing as researchers hunt for a vaccine to control the outbreak.
Dr. Lisa Zerbel, a veterinarian in Massachusetts who is treating some of the sick dogs, said she thinks the illnesses are caused by a new strain of the influenza virus that is more virulent than the common one known as "kennel cough." But other experts say it is too soon to pinpoint the cause.
Wonderland Greyhound Park, in this blue-collar city north of Boston, has been the hardest hit. Since May 4, 16 of its dogs have died from the influenza-like illness, and the track has suspended racing indefinitely and quarantined its 1,200 greyhounds.
Racetracks in Colorado, Iowa and Rhode Island have also reported greyhound deaths over the past month, while other states are seeing a rash of nonfatal cases, according to Massachusetts officials.
"The reason this is happening is because greyhounds travel from track to track, and they may be incubating the illness without someone knowing," Zerbel said.
Autopsies on two of the greyhounds at Wonderland found the dogs died of pneumonia, a complication that can be caused by infection by either bacteria or a virus.
"The most frustrating thing about it so far is it tends to be very silent early on," Zerbel said. "It's not until the late stages that they start to show signs indicating that they need treatment." By then, she said, a sick greyhound may be racing at a track in another state.
Gary Guccione, secretary and treasurer of the National Greyhound Association in Abilene, Kan., said similar outbreaks have plagued racetracks for the past three years.
"A major outbreak like this used to happen once every six or seven years," he said. "Now it seems to be coming on with more frequency and with greater strength. We're in desperate need of a good vaccine."
There is already a vaccine for kennel cough, but the Massachusetts State Racing Commission does not require it, and it is unlikely it would be effective in this case, said Dr. Alexandra Lightbown, the commission's chief veterinarian. In the meantime, all greyhounds at Wonderland are being treated with antibiotics as a preventive measure.
Re: Myster Illness Killing Greyhound Racers
Quote:
Originally posted by lizbud
There is already a vaccine for kennel cough, but the Massachusetts State Racing Commission does not require it, and it is unlikely it would be effective in this case, said Dr. Alexandra Lightbown, the commission's chief veterinarian. In the meantime, all greyhounds at Wonderland are being treated with antibiotics as a preventive measure.
This is correct. This appears to be a new strain. Some have levelled criticism at the state's gaming commission which seems misguided. There was no way of predicting the strength of this particular outbreak.
Ultimately, I think U.S. racing is going to have to rethink its procedures for moving and housing dogs. In Ireland and England they have far fewer incidences of the cough. One reason, I believe, is because the kennels are not on the track premises. Tracks there do not provide kenneling except pre-race quarantine. Dogs are brought in from kennels throughout the region for races and then transported back after each race. The likelihood of dogs of different kennels spreading the cough is much reduced.
I'm sure this will be a major item at the next AGTOA conference.
