COM 0295.007 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.0 ZOONOTIC DISEASE SURVEILLANCE Blood samples were taken from pigs caught in cage traps, leg snares and those that were shot to assist in updating the State of Hawaii, Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Industry's (HDOA-AI) established wildlife disease surveillance program. Blood was extracted from the neck area after proper euthanasia techniques were administered. A viable sample consisted of 30 ml. of whole blood (three 10 ml. test tubes) extracted from a pig with minimal coagulation. The whole blood was then spun down in a centrifuge, and blood serum samples were shipped to the Veterinary Laboratory Branch of the HDOA-AI located in Halawa Valley on Oahu with the assistance of an APHIS-WS Wildlife Disease Biologist. Test results were normally provided by the Laboratory within 2 weeks of submission. Of the 221 pigs captured, 11 pigs were captured before the blood sampling equipment was purchased and received, 29 pigs did not have enough blood to fill the required vials, and 27 pigs were killed and removed by landowners or neighbors before APHIS-WS could take samples (this is despite the instructions given to landowners by APHIS-WS personnel that trapped pigs are dangerous and should only be handled by trained APHIS- WSpersonnel). Over this report period, a total of 154 blood serum samples were submitted for disease surveillance. 6.1 Blood Serum Results for Swine Brucellosis and Pseudorabies Current results show that 18 pigs tested positive for swine brucellosis and 29 pigs tested positive for pseudorabies. Areas where brucellosis infected pigs were captured include Holualoa, Hawi, Pepe'ekeo, Kalopa, Paradise Park, Pauka'a and Kaumana in Hilo. Areas where pigs infected with pseudorabies were removed include Kaloko Mauka, Kalopa Mauka, Kohala, Kaumana, Ho'okena, Captain Cook, Mountain View, Hakalau and Holualoa. Refer to Table 2 and 3 for a detailed summary of disease surveillance results. 7.0 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT COMPLIANCE All federal actions (funding, operational, etc.) are subject the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA is a public planning and review process put in place by congress that allows the general public to comment on proposed and existing federal actions. APHIS-WS has recently completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) on the feral pig control pilot project with input from cooperative agencies. It will be available for public review and comment soon on the APHIS website, with public notifications published in the local newspapers. Hard copies of the EA will be sent to special interest groups and interested parties that contact APHIS-WS directly. Prepared by: Shayne Veriato, Supervisory Wildlife Specialist - Island of Hawaii Reviewed and submitted by: Mark Ono, District Supervisor -Hawaii