1. Mission of the National Plant Diagnostic Network-NEPDN
This is the first module in a series of three to be used for the National Plant Diagnostic Plant Network’s First Detector Training Program.
Module 1: Crop Biosecurity and the Mission of the National Plant Diagnostic Network
McKellar. December 2006.
Update, August 2008.
NPDN Publication No. 0005

2. Need for Plant Biosecurity
Maintain profitability of
crop production
Invasive species cost
$ billions/year
Why do we need plant biosecurity?
To maintain profitability of crop production
To minimize costs due to the impact of invasive species
To maintain security of food production
Maintain security of
food production

3. Impact of Introduced Pathogens
Historical High Impact Epidemics
Late Blight of Potato
in Ireland
Dutch Elm Disease and
Chestnut Blight
in North America
There is a long history of natural introductions in the United States.
There are many historical examples of high impact epidemics due to the introduction of pathogens.
Phytophthora infestans the causative agent of Late blight of potato was introduced into Ireland resulting in the “Great Potato Famine.” The impact of this introduction was great resulting in the death of 100’s of thousands and the immigration of 1.5 million people to the U.S.
Both the epidemics of Chestnut Blight and Dutch Elm Disease have changed the face of the American landscape resulting in the disappearance of the American Elm and the American Chestnut.
We expect these introductions to continue and even increase.

4. Impact of Introduced Insects
Recently Introduced Insects
Asian Longhorn Beetle
Emerald Ash Borer
Soybean Aphid
Impact of ALB could surpass
Dutch Elm Disease
and Chestnut Blight
Pathogens are not the only introduced organisms. Recent insect introductions include: Asian Longhorn Beetle, Emerald Ash Borer and Soybean Aphid.
It is estimated that the impact of the Asian Longhorn Beetle could surpass that of Dutch Elm Disease and Chestnut Blight together.

5. Is Ag Bio-Terrorism a Real Threat?
USSR: production capability for plant and animal pathogens
U.S. developed agricultural bioweapons until 1969
Britain: extensive anticrop research
1940’s-60’s
Germans allegedly attempted to use a wheat fungus during WWI
Agricultural bio-weapons programs are not new: the threat is real
/Cuba (21 accusations; one formal complaint)
Tobacco blue mold
Sugarcane rust
Accidents are not the only way that pests and pathogens can be introduced. Introductions can also be intentional.
Many countries have invested time and money in agriculture bio-terrorism research programs. The United States developed agriculture bioweapons until Great Britian conducted extensive anticrop research from the 1940’s through the 1960’s. Other examples of agricultural bioterrorism programs:
/Argentina, Mesopotamia, Norway, Romania, USA
Germans allegedly attempted to use a wheat fungus during WWI
/Cuba (21 accusations; one formal complaint)
Tobacco blue mold
Sugarcane rust
/Sri Lanka
Tamil militants threatened use of foreign diseases into tea crop as well as the use of Leaf Curl into rubber trees
1996/Florida
Florida professor informed CIA that Citrus Canker was result of Cuban bio-weapons program; Cuba responds with similar claim for Thrips palmii
The fact that the superpowers invested heavily in offensive agricultural biological warfare is a stark testimonial to the rationale for concern.

6. 9/11 and Aftermath Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) formed in 2002.
Initial efforts focused on developing resources for Fire and Police Depts. and Hospitals
A year later, plant and animal production was recognized to be at risk.
After the tragedy of 9/11/2001, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was formed. Initially, this department started to focus its efforts on developing resources for fire and police departments as well as hospitals.
A year later, it was recognized that both plant and animal production was also at risk.

7. Agricultural Bioterrorism Act of 2002
Federal Register, December 13, 2002
Possession, Use and Transfer of Biological Agents and Toxins.
Lists Select Agent Pathogens for Animals and Plants.
7 CFR Part 331
Agricultural research, Laboratories, Plant diseases and pests, Reporting and record keeping requirements.
9 CFR Part 121
Agricultural research, Animal diseases, Laboratories, Medical research, Reporting and record keeping requirements.
The Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 is a subpart of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness Response Act of 2002, which was signed into law by the President on June 12, Both require that entities, such as private, State, and Federal research laboratories, universities, and vaccine companies, that possess, use, or transfer agents or toxins deemed a threat to public health or animal or plant health or products register these agents with the appropriate Federal Department.
The USDA has generated a list of high consequence livestock and plant pathogens and toxins. This list was generated based on the following criteria:
• The effect of an agent or toxin on animal or plant health or products. • The virulence of an agent or degree of toxicity of the toxin and the methods by which the agents or toxins are transferred to animals or plants. • The availability and effectiveness of medicines and vaccines to treat and prevent any illness caused by an agent or toxin. Agents or toxins on this list fall into 3 categories: Livestock pathogens and toxins, plant pathogens and toxins and overlap pathogens and agents. Overlap pathogens and agents not only pose a risk to animal health but also pose a public health risk.

8. National Animal & Plant Diagnostic Laboratory Networks Animal Network Plant Network Information Center
Cornell University
Animal-Satellite Regional Plant Diagnostic Hub
Kansas State University
Regional Plant Diagnostic Hub
University
Of Wisconsin
Animal-Core
Iowa State University
Animal-Satellite
NVSL
Michigan State University
Regional Plant Diagnostic Hub
Washington State University
Animal-Satellite
North-central
Region
Northeastern
Region
Western
Region
Colorado State University
Animal Core
NAPIS
UC Davis
Regional Plant Diagnostic Hub
Animal-Core
Rollins Laboratory, North Carolina
Animal-Satellite
Southern
Region
Both an animal diagnostic network and plant diagnostic network were established in response to the Agricultural bioterrorism act of 2002.
The National Animal Health Laboratory Network is led by five core labs (University of Georgia, Texas A&M University, the University of California-Davis, University of Wisconsin, and Colorado State University), seven satellite labs (Cornell University, Rollins Laboratory in North Carolina, Louisiana State University, Florida Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Arizona, Washington State University, and Iowa State University), and one support lab (Oklahoma State University
University of Arizona
Animal-Satellite
University of Georgia
Animal-Core
Texas A&M University
Animal-Core
Texas Tech University
Plant Diagnostic Support
University of Florida
Regional Plant Diagnostic Hub
Louisiana State University
Animal-Satellite
Oklahoma State University
Animal Diagnostic Support
Florida Diagnostic Laboratory
Animal - Satellite
NVSL – Nat'l’ Vet Science Lab
NAPIS – Nat'l Ag Pest Info System

9. What Does NPDN Look Like?
Apologies to Alaska, Hawaii, PR and Guam
North Eastern Plant Diagnostic Network Cornell University
North Central Plant Diagnostic Network Michigan State University
Western Plant Diagnostic Network University of California, Davis
NPDN Database
Purdue University
Great Plains Diagnostic Network Kansas State University
The National Plant Diagnostic Network is led by five regional labs (Cornell University, University of Florida, Michigan State University, Kansas State University, and the University of California-Davis) and one support lab (Texas Tech University). CERIS (Center for Environmental and Regulatory Information Systems) at Purdue University serves as a repository of all the data collected from each region. Major financial and logistical support for the network comes from USDA Cooperative States Research Economics, and Extension Service.
The NPDN has collaborated with APHIS-PPQ on the development of diagnostics techniques and communication protocols.
The NPDN encourages relationships between the state department of agriculture and land grant univeristy within each state.
NPDN:
Founded 6/2002 USDA/H
NPDN:
Founded 6/2002 USDA/CSREES
South Eastern Plant Diagnostic Network University of Florida

10. Northeast Region NH VT ME NY MA RI PA CT NJ WV DE MD
University of
New Hampshire
Cheryl Smith
Northeast Region
University of Maine
Bruce Watt NH
Regional Center at Cornell
11 additional LGU Labs VT ME
University of Vermont
Ann Hazelrigg
University of Massachusetts
Rob Wick
Cornell University
Karen Snover NY MA RI
University of Rhode Island
David Hughes PA CT
Pennsylvania State University
John Peplinski
University of Connecticut
Robert Durgy NJ
The Northeast Plant Diagnostic Network consists of the Regional Center Laboratory at Cornell University and plant disease diagnostic labs in each of the eleven remaining state’s land grant university.
Rutgers University
Rick Buckley &
Sabrina Tripak
West Virginia University
John Baniecki WV DE
University of Maryland
Ethel Dutky MD
University of Delaware
Bob Mulrooney

11. NEPDN Regional Center Provides support and training for: Diagnostics
Photo Karen Snover-Clift, Cornell University
Provides support
and training for:
Diagnostics
Education
Information technologies
Photo Carrie Harmon, University of Florida
The NEPDN regional center works to support the activities of the Northeast region diagnostic laboratories. The regional center laboratory is always prepared to receive samples from member states in case of an emergency situation. IT support and training is also offered through the regional center. The regional center also houses all of the educational materials and first detector trainings are coordinated from the regional center at Cornell University. Annual regional meetings are held with members and stakeholder groups to recap the regions accomplishments and discuss future goals.

12. NPDN Mission Enhance national agricultural security
by quickly detecting and identifying
introduced pests and pathogens.
The mission of the NPDN is to quickly detect and identify introduced pests and pathogens.

13. Method Create a nationwide network of land-grant universities
Provide training to first detectors and diagnosticians
Establish protocols for reporting to responders and decision makers
This will be accomplished through the creation of nationwide network of land grant universities, by providing training to first detectors and diagnosticians and establishing protocols for reporting to responders and decision makers.

14. Network Responsibilities
Outbreak detection and identification
Secure communications system
Information storage and management
Data analysis
Reporting and alerts
Training
Minimize Impact
The responsibilities of the NPDN include:
Providing secure communications during outbreaks
Creating information storage and management
Analysis of data collected at a National repository
Providing first detectors and others with up to date alerts and reporting
Providing training to first detectors and diagnosticians
These responsibilities in combination support the overall mission of the NPDN by minimizing impact.

15. Importance of Early Detection
critical control point
time (weeks)
amount of disease (%)
100
high
impact 80
pathogen
detection 60
economic
threshold 40
The importance of early detection is clearly demonstrated by this animation. If detection of a pathogen occurs at an early time point then we would expect the amount of disease and the impact to be low. If detection does not occur for several more weeks, we would expect the amount of disease to be high resulting in a higher impact. Therefore early detection does make a significant impact.
low
impact 20 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

16. Your role as a First Detector
Be alert to the unusual or different
Receive NPDN First Detector or First Detector Educator training
Be placed on a national notification registry of First Detectors
Receive pest alerts and other relevant updates
If a select agent or a pest of great agricultural concern enters a given region of the U.S. by accidental or intentional means, early detection and identification is crucial for either 1) regulatory agencies to implement eradication procedures or 2) specialists to develop appropriate control and response strategies. An alert First Detector can recognize the pest as something unusual and immediately begin the diagnostic protocol. A First Detector is anyone who, in the course of their duties, is in a position to notice an unusual outbreak, a pest of concern, or symptoms of a pest of concern. This includes a wide variety of private, commercial, university and government people such as cooperative extension personnel, crop consultants, certified crop advisors, pest control advisors, agricultural inspectors, growers, commercial seed representatives, Master Gardeners, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) staff, county agricultural commissioner staff, and others involved in plant growth or management. Anyone walking the fields: PCAs, Crop Consultants, growers
The NPDN offers both First Detector and First Detector Educator training and certification. Once training is completed, First Detectors will be placed on a national notification registry and may be contacted when there is an incident in their area. First Detectors also receive pest alerts and other relevant updates and information.

17. Acknowledgments
Some of the material for this presentation was adapted from the NPDN core Module 1
Holmes, G., K. Wright, H. Beck, and T. Creswell. (February 2004). Module 1: The NPDN Mission and Agricultural Biosecurity. Available currently on the NPDN Training and Education Subcommittee page login and password required.
Some of the material for this presentation was adapted from a modified version of the NPDN Core Module 1 by Dr. Jim Stack, Kansas State University.

18. Author
Mary McKellar, Education and Training Coordinator, NEPDN, Cornell University

19. Publication Details
This publication can be used for non-profit, educational use only purposes. Photographers retain copyright to photographs or other images contained in this publication as cited. This material was developed as a topic-based training module for NEPDN First Detector Training. Authors and the website should be properly cited. Images or photographs should also be properly cited and credited to the original source.
Publication Number: 0005
Publication Date: December 2006