Email from David Alt, NADC Veterinary Medical Officer to Richard Auwerda, NADC Animal Caretaker Supervisor - February 28, 2006
From: David Alt <dalt@nadc.ars.usda.gov>
Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 15:30:40 -0600
To: Richard Auwerda
<rauwerda@nadc.ars.usda.gov>
Cc: <Michelle.L.Crocheck@aphis.usda.gov>,
<Ronald.L.Morgan@aphis.usda.gov>, Diana Whipple
<dwhipple@nadc.ars.usda.gov>, Amirali Hamir<ahamir@nadc.ars.usda.gov>,
Justin Greenlee
<jgreenlee@nadc.ars.usda.gov>, Lawayne Nusz <lnusz@nadc.ars.usda.gov>,
Marcus Kehrli
<mkehrli@nadc.ars.usda.gov>, Terry Krausman<tkrausma@nadc.ars.usda.gov>
Subject: Re: Elk at NVSL
Rich,
I have spent much of today seeking input on our end for your questions. I have forwarded your information on to Dr. Kehrli (RL for Virus and Prion Diseases) and Diana Whipple (Assistant Center Director and Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee).
It is my opinion (as I have been unable to get input from Dr. Nusz today),
that:
1) NVSL is acting as a contracting facility for us in the housing of these
animals and therefore our care and housing procedures should be exactly the
same as theirs (as long as their procedures are not less stringent than our
own).
2) Based on input from Terry Krausman and Dr. Hamir, modification of the
housekeeping procedures (ie bedding material and upkeep) at this point in
the experiment would constitute an additional stress on these animals, and
should be avoided.
If additional information becomes available to me, I will pass it along to
you at that time.
Thank you,
David Alt