Carolina Raptor Center Inc

PROJECT ABSTRACTGRANTEE NAME: CAROLINA RAPTOR CENTERGRANT NUMBER: G23AC00693-00PROJECT TITLE: PROVIDING SUPPORT TO USGS RESEARCH ON AVIAN INFLUENZA AND VULTURESAWARD PURPOSE: THE OVERALL GOALS OF THIS RESEARCH PROJECT ARE TO TRIAL VACCINE DEPLOYMENT IN CAPTIVE CONDORS AND CONDUCT A MORE THOROUGH EVALUATION OF VACCINE SAFETY AND EFFICACY IN SURROGATE VULTURES. THE RESEARCH WILL INVOLVE TESTS FOR IMMUNE RESPONSE AND ADVERSE EFFECTS WITH BOTH CONDORS AND VULTURES, AND DOSE-RESPONSE STUDIES WITH SURROGATE VULTURES. ANIMAL HOLDING FACILITIES, HIGHLY TRAINED ANIMAL HANDLING STAFF, AND AVIAN VETERINARIANS ARE CRITICAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT AND ENSURING THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVE VULTURE FLOCK. THE CONDOR STUDIES WILL BE LED BY THE SAME USGS SCIENTISTS LEADING THE TRIALS WITH VULTURES BUT THEY WILL BE CONDUCTED AT EXISTING CONDOR FACILITIES THAT ARE LOCATED AROUND THE WESTERN UNITED STATES AND IS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT. DEPLOYMENT OF A VACCINE MAY BE ESSENTIAL TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE CONDOR FLOCK. THIS OUTBREAK IS ONGOING AND ALREADY CATASTROPHIC. THUS, QUICK ACTION CAN MINIMIZE DEATHS, REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF THE OUTBREAK FOR THE CONDOR PROGRAM, AND POSSIBLY SAVE THE SPECIES FROM EXTINCTION.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: CAROLINA RAPTOR CENTER WILL ASSIST IN ACQUISITION OF VULTURES AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CARE DURING VACCINE TRIALS. DEVELOPMENT OF TRIAL METHODS WAS LED BY USGS SCIENTISTS IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS FROM USDA AND USFWS. SPECIFIC DETAILS ARE DESCRIBED IN USGS FRESC ANIMAL CARE AND USE PLAN (ACUP) 2023-002 TITLED SAFETY AND IMMUNE RESPONSE OF VACCINES IN VULTURES AND CALIFORNIA CONDORS AGAINST HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA AND APPROVED BY THE FRESC INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE (IACUC) ON 20 APRIL 2023. IN BRIEF, VULTURES WILL BE KEPT IN GROUPS OF 5-10 INDIVIDUALS. ALL CAGES ARE EXPOSED TO OUTDOOR CONDITIONS BUT PROVIDE BIRDS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO AVOID WEATHER EXTREMES AND ARE APPROVED BY USFWS INSPECTORS. VULTURES WILL BE FED CARRION IN THE FORM OF RATS, STILLBORN PIGS, AND OTHER FOOD SOURCES DEEMED SAFE FOR THE ANIMALS. FEEDING AND WATERING IS DAILY, WITH FOOD PLACED ON THE FLOOR OR ON A LEDGE AND IS CONSISTENT WITH STANDARD PRACTICES AND HUSBANDRY. CAGES ARE CLEANED FOLLOWING STANDARD FACILITY OPERATING PROCEDURES AND ZOOLOGICAL PRACTICES. VACCINE TRIALS WILL USE 28 BIRDS, IN TWO TRIAL AND ONE CONTROL GROUP, SAME AS FOR CONDORS IN COMPANION STUDIES. ONE TRIAL GROUP OF 10 BIRDS WILL RECEIVE A SINGLE DOSE WITH A BOOSTER, THE OTHER TRIAL GROUP OF 10 BIRDS WILL RECEIVE A DOUBLE DOSE OF THE VACCINE AND NO BOOSTER, AND A CONTROL GROUP OF 8 BIRDS WILL NOT BE VACCINATED. USGS, USFWS, AND USDA COLLABORATORS DESIGNED THE TRIAL AND WILL MANAGE DATA COLLECTION, PERMITTING, AND REPORTING. ONCE VULTURES ARE AT CRC, THEIR STAFF WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING. VULTURES WILL BE VISUALLY EXAMINED SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY FOR SIGNS OF MORBIDITY AND BIRDS WILL BE UNDER VETERINARY OVERSIGHT DURING THE STUDY. FOR THE FIRST 3 DAYS OF THE TRIAL, AND THEN EVERY OTHER DAY FOR A WEEK, ALL BIRDS WILL BE CAPTURED FOR CLOSER EXAMINATION OF THE INJECTION SITE. BLOOD SAMPLES WILL BE COLLECTED FROM ALL BIRDS AT THE TIME OF VACCINATION AND AT 10- AND 21-DAYS POST-VACCINATION AND SERUM WILL BE ISOLATED BY CENTRIFUGATION. SERUM SAMPLES WILL BE STORED AT 4C AND SHIPPED ON ICE PACKS TO THE USDA SOUTHEAST POULTRY RESEARCH LABORATORY (ATHENS, GA) FOR ANALYSIS. ANY BIRDS SHOWING SEVERE SIGNS OF ILLNESS WILL BE EUTHANIZED WITH APPROPRIATE VETERINARY OVERSIGHT. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: NO SPECIFIC DELIVERABLES ARE REQUIRED. CRC IS CONTRIBUTING AND MAINTAINING ADEQUATE FACILITIES AND HUSBANDRY ROUTINES IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE APPROVED ACUP AND THE IACUC INTER-INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION (APPENDIX 1). UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT, ALL STUDY ANIMALS WILL BE RETURNED TO USGS OR USDA. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: USGS, CAROLINA RAPTOR CENTER, AND THE PUBLIC.