January 5, 2012

Volume IX, No. 10

New Illinois Law Adds Tramadol, Other Drugs to List of Class IV Controlled Substances

Public Act 97-0334, which became effective on January 1, 2012 added several new drugs to the list of Class IV Controlled Substances. Illinois became the sixth state in the country to add Tramadol to the list of controlled substances. The underlined drugs in the following section of the law are the newly scheduled drugs:

(720 ILCS 570/210) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 1210)
Sec. 210.
(a) The controlled substances listed in this Section are included in Schedule IV.
(b) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in
another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or
preparation containing limited quantities of any of the
following narcotic drugs, or their salts calculated as the free
anhydrous base or alkaloid, as set forth below:
(1) Not more than 1 milligram of difenoxin (DEA Drug
Code No. 9618) and not less than 25 micrograms of atropine
sulfate per dosage unit.
(2) Dextropropoxyphene (Alpha-(+)-4-dimethylamino-1,
2-diphenyl-3-methyl-2-propionoxybutane).
(c) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in
another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or
preparation which contains any quantity of the following
substances having a potential for abuse associated with a
depressant effect on the central nervous system:
(1) Alprazolam;
(2) Barbital;
(2.1) Bromazepam;
(2.2) Camazepam;
(2.3) Carisoprodol;
(3) Chloral Betaine;
(4) Chloral Hydrate;
(5) Chlordiazepoxide;
(5.1) Clobazam;
(6) Clonazepam;
(7) Clorazepate;
(7.1) Clotiazepam;
(7.2) Cloxazolam;
(7.3) Delorazepam;
(8) Diazepam;
(8.05) Dichloralphenazone;
(8.1) Estazolam;
(9) Ethchlorvynol;
(10) Ethinamate;
(10.1) Ethyl loflazepate;
(10.2) Fludiazepam;
(10.3) Flunitrazepam;
(11) Flurazepam;
(11.1) Fospropofol;
(12) Halazepam;
(12.1) Haloxazolam;
(12.2) Ketazolam;
(12.3) Loprazolam;
(13) Lorazepam;
(13.1) Lormetazepam;
(14) Mebutamate;
(14.1) Medazepam;
(15) Meprobamate;
(16) Methohexital;
(17) Methylphenobarbital (Mephobarbital);
(17.1) Midazolam;
(17.2) Nimetazepam;
(17.3) Nitrazepam;
(17.4) Nordiazepam;
(18) Oxazepam;
(18.1) Oxazolam;
(19) Paraldehyde;
(20) Petrichloral;
(21) Phenobarbital;
(21.1) Pinazepam;
(22) Prazepam;
(22.1) Quazepam;
(23) Temazepam;
(23.1) Tetrazepam;
(23.2) Tramadol;
(24) Triazolam;
(24.5) Zaleplon;
(25) Zolpidem; .
(26) Zopiclone.

Novartis Temporarily Suspends Production of Interceptor, Sentinel

(Courtesy VIN) January 4, 2012 - Novartis Animal Health has ceased production of Interceptor, Sentinel and several other drugs manufactured in its plant in Lincoln, Neb., while the facility undergoes "process and compliance improvement activities," a spokesman for the company confirmed today. (Read more)

Report Shows the Veterinary Industry is on the Rise

(Courtesy AAHA) The veterinary industry can expect to see a $28 billion spike in the global veterinary health products market by 2017, according to new research from TriMark Publications.

The Jan. 3, 2012 report, entitled "Veterinary Health Markets", covers a wide range of veterinary growth areas, including common diseases in cattle, pigs, poultry, dogs, cats and horses, veterinary non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, veterinary antifungal drugs, veterinary anthelmintics (parasiticides), veterinary biologics (vaccines), veterinary diagnostics and animal feed additives.

The report studied companies ranging from Abbott and Bayer to IDEXX and PetSmart. (Read More from TriMark Publications)

Drugs in Livestock Feed Links: Reports on the FDA's Decision to Back Off Proposed Limits

The FDA announced it would withdraw a proposal to reduce the amount of antibiotics used in animal feed and use other regulatory strategies to address microbial food safety issues. The move drew harsh criticism from environmental and consumer groups concerned about the potential for developing drug-resistant bugs, while industry publications pointed out that there are still strict guidelines for antibiotic use in food animals. (Read More)

ISVMA Monthly Legislative Report

In an effort to keep ISVMA members more aware of Illinois politics and legislative and regulatory actions that impact their practices, ISVMA publishes a monthly legislative report. Please read the December Legislative Report.

More Aflatoxin-Related Dog Food Recalls Revealed

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted two dog food recall notices on its website Wednesday, including one dated Dec. 12 and an "updated" alert dated Dec. 14, more than two weeks ago.

Both recalls of dry dog food were the result of elevated levels of aflatoxin, caused by fungus on grains such as corn that in significant quantities can cause liver damage in pets. These recalls are apparently related to the Dec. 7 announcement by manufacturer Cargill Animal Nutrition that it was pulling dry dog food off the market because of excess amounts of aflatoxin.

Aflatoxin, which cannot exceed 20 parts per billion under FDA standards, has been found in levels above that in dog food produced at Cargill's plant in LeCompte, LA and in Iams puppy food manufactured by Proctor and Gamble in Henderson, N.C. Advanced Animal Nutrition recalled its Dog Power food, also for elevated aflatoxins.

All the companies have said that, to date, no illnesses or adverse affects have been reported in connection with the recalled dog food, but did not explain why dog food was on the market for more than a year before it was tested for aflatoxins.

O'Neal's Feeders Supply of DeRidder, LA, said it has recalled dry Arrow Brand dog food manufactured over an entire year -- between Dec. 1, 2010, and Dec. 1, 2011 -- because it contains corn detected to have higher than acceptable levels of aflatoxin.

O'Neals said the recall applies only to dog food distributed in Louisiana and Texas with packaging date codes lot numbers 4K0341 through 4K0365 and 04K1001 through 4K1325.

It said retailers have already been instructed to remove the following affected brands and products from store shelves:

-- ARROWBRAND 21% Dog Chunks SKU #807 40 lb. bag
-- ARROWBRAND Super Proeaux Dog Food SKU #812 40 lb. bag
-- ARROWBRAND Professional Formula Dog Food SKU #814 50 lb. bag

Consumers may return the recalled dog food - in opened or unopened packages - to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information contact 800-256-2769 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Petrus Feed and Seed Stores, in what was described as an updated alert, said it has recalled its dry dog food - 21% Protein Dog Food in 40 lb Petrus Feed bags because the product was manufactured with corn that tested above acceptable levels for aflatoxin.

The company said the affected products were manufactured by Cargill in LeCompte, LA between Dec. 1, 2010 and Dec. 1, 2011.

The recall is only for 21% Dog Food, packaged in 40 lb. Petrus Feed bags, with the packaging date codes (lot numbers) 4K1011 through 4K1307. Updated lot numbers are 4K1011 through 4K1335. The affected dry dog food was distributed in Petrus Feed and Seed in Alexandria, LA.

Consumers may return the recalled dog food - whether in opened or unopened packages - to their place of purchase for a full refund. For more information contact 318-443-2259, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Both companies advised that pets that have consumed any of the recalled products and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian.

About the Photo

ISVMA Executive Director Peter Weber is, by avocation, a Canon Professional Photographer, focusing his work on birds and other wildlife. In this issue, there is a picture of a Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) that Weber took near Chatham, IL in December 2002. This photograph was recently chosen as Canon's "Fan Photo of the Week" and highlighted on the Canon website.

The Short-eared Owl is a medium-sized hunter, inhabiting open fields, meadows, marshes, prairies, and tundra. With its widespread range and diurnal habits it is one of the most readily observed species of owl though serious declines across its range may place it in jeopardy.

Often first seen in flight, low to the ground over a grassland, marsh, or agricultural area, Short-eared Owls, though relatively small (15" in length), appear quite large with the broad wings typical of owls. The plumage is brown with buffy mottling and streaking on the breast. Short ear tufts are rarely visible. In flight, this bird shows an overall rich, buffy brown color with light and dark patches on the upper sides of its wings. Short-eared Owls have a buoyant flight style and are noticeably large-headed in flight. Eyes are yellow.

One of the world's most widespread owls, the Short-eared Owl breeds across northern North America, northern Eurasia, southern and Andean South America, and the Greater Antilles. In North America it breeds from Alaska to Labrador south across approximately the upper third of the U.S., though its is now a rare breeder in the northeast U.S. Wintering birds migrate as far south as Florida, central Mexico, and Baja California. Short-eared Owls are regular breeders at the North Mojave Dry Lakes California IBA. Point Peninsula, an Important Bird Area (IBA) in New York, supports up to 30 wintering Short-eared Owls, while the Boundary Bay - Roberts Bank - Sturgeon Bank (Fraser River Estuary) IBA in British Columbia regularly supports as many as 75 wintering Short-eared Owls.

This is a species in serious decline over much of its range. Breeding Bird Survey data show a statistically significant 3.5% per year decline from 1966-2001 across the overall range and an even steeper decline of 11.4% per year in Canada. In the northeastern U.S. the species was listed as threatened in 7 states as of 1993.

A partially diurnal owl, this bird can be seen hunting over fields, marshes, meadows, prairies, and tundra in the late afternoon and early evening hours. In winter, it sometimes also forages over fallow agricultural fields. Its primary food is small rodents and in areas where there is an abundance of its food birds may concentrate even roosting together. Breeding commences with dramatic spiraling courtship flights from the male. Nests are constructed by the female and merely involve scraping a bowl in the ground and lining it with grasses and feathers. Clutch size is highly variable, ranging from 3-11 depending on food availability. Adults can be quite aggressive to intruders near the nest, sometimes even diving at humans.

Like many species dependent on grasslands or other open lands, the primary threat to the Short-eared Owl is the destruction and degradation of open habitat. From agriculture to human development to successional reforestation, this species is losing open fields, meadows, and marshes where it prefers to nest and spend winters. The species may also be affected by pesticides accumulated through its prey, especially during winter when Short-eared Owls often occur in agricultural areas but this has not been studied.

Conservation efforts undertaken are usually similar to those of other grassland breeding birds. Management protocols such as prescribed burns, periodic mowing, and efforts to maintain waterfowl breeding sites all lend aid to preserving habitat necessary for Short-eared Owls. However, because these birds are partially nomadic in winter and could appear anywhere in suitable habitat, habitat should be preserved in both known and potential breeding and wintering sites.

Efforts to protect grassland habitat are underway through a number of initiatives including several Audubon state offices. In Illinois, Chicago Wilderness Audubon is partnering with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County to restore a 600-acre grassland. Audubon Connecticut has convened a Grassland Working Group to identify the current status of grassland birds in the state and to examine ways to protect and enhance grasslands. Audubon New York was successful in its bid to turn the former 600-acre Galeville Airport Important Bird Area (a wintering site for Short-eared Owls) into the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge. Massachusetts Audubon initiated a Grassland Conservation program in 1993 that has produced many excellent outreach materials for public land managers and private land owners interested in managing their lands for grassland birds and much of this information is available via their website.

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