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Animal Health (animal + health)
Selected AbstractsIridovirus infections in finfish , critical review with emphasis on ranavirusesJOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES, Issue 2 2010R J Whittington Abstract Viruses in three genera of the family Iridoviridae (iridoviruses) affect finfish. Ranaviruses and megalocytiviruses are recently emerged pathogens. Both cause severe systemic disease, occur globally and affect a diversity of hosts. In contrast, lymphocystiviruses cause superficial lesions and rarely cause economic loss. The ranavirus epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV) from Australia was the first iridovirus to cause epizootic mortality in finfish. Like other ranaviruses, it lacks host specificity. A distinct but closely related virus, European catfish virus, occurs in finfish in Europe, while very similar ranaviruses occur in amphibians in Europe, Asia, Australia, North America and South America. These viruses can be distinguished from one another by conserved differences in the sequence of the major capsid protein gene, which informs policies of the World Organisation for Animal Health to minimize transboundary spread of these agents. However, limited epidemiological information and variations in disease expression create difficulties for design of sampling strategies for surveillance. There is still uncertainty surrounding the taxonomy of some putative ranaviruses such as Singapore grouper iridovirus and Santee-Cooper ranavirus, both of which cause serious disease in fish, and confusion continues with diseases caused by megalocytiviruses. In this review, aspects of the agents and diseases caused by ranaviruses are contrasted with those due to megalocytiviruses to promote accurate diagnosis and characterization of the agents responsible. Ranavirus epizootics in amphibians are also discussed because of possible links with finfish and common anthropogenic mechanisms of spread. The source of the global epizootic of disease caused by systemic iridoviruses in finfish and amphibians is uncertain, but three possibilities are discussed: trade in food fish, trade in ornamental fish, reptiles and amphibians and emergence from unknown reservoir hosts associated with environmental change. [source] Dose determination and confirmation of a long-acting formulation of ceftiofur (ceftiofur crystalline free acid) administered subcutaneously for the treatment of bovine respiratory diseaseJOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 3 2002B. HIBBARD Hibbard, B., Robb, E. J., Chester Jr., S. T., Dame, K. J., Boucher, J. F., Alaniz, G. R. Dose determination and confirmation of a long-acting formulation of Ceftiofur (Ceftiofur crystalline free acid) administered subcutaneously for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.25, 175,180. The objective of this work was to determine and confirm an effective dose of ceftiofur crystalline free acid sterile oil suspension (CCFA-SS, 100 mg ceftiofur equivalents (CE)/mL], a long-acting single-administration ceftiofur formulation, for the treatment of the bacterial component of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Study 1 was a dose determination study that used an intratracheal Mannheimia haemolytica (Pasteurella haemolytica) challenge model to evaluate single-administration doses of CCFA-SS at 0.0, 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4 or 5.5 mg CE/kg body weight (BW) for the treatment of BRD. Data from this study were used to select doses for field testing in three multi-location clinical studies. In Study 2, the efficacy of a single administration dose of CCFA-SS at 4.4 mg CE/kg BW was compared with a negative control for the treatment of naturally occurring BRD in feedlot cattle. Treatments were administered when uniform clinical signs of BRD were present. Study 3 used a design similar to Study 2, and compared single-administration doses of CCFA-SS at 3.0 or 4.4 mg CE/kg BW with the positive-control tilmicosin (Micotil® 300 Injection, Elanco Animal Health) at 10 mg/kg BW. Study 4 compared the efficacy of single doses of CCFA-SS of 1.1,8.8 mg CE/kg BW with tilmicosin at 10 mg/kg BW. A total of 1176 cattle were included in these clinical studies. In Study 1, a dose of 4.55 mg CE/kg BW was determined to be effective. This was rounded to 4.4 mg CE/kg for field testing. In Study 2, a single dose of CCFA-SS at 4.4 mg CE/kg BW had a higher treatment success rate on day 14 (61%) than negative controls (26%, P < 0.01). However, in Study 3 this dose was judged to be at the beginning of an efficacious dose range for the treatment of BRD when compared with tilmicosin. In Study 4, day 28 treatment success rates were higher for CCFA-SS at 4.4,8.8 CE/kg BW than for tilmicosin (P=0.002) or the noneffective CCFA-SS dose of 1.1 mg CE/kg BW (P < 0.001). Based on decision criteria for Study 4, the effective dose was determined to be 4.4,5.5 mg CE/kg BW. These clinical studies demonstrated that a single dose of CCFA-SS (100 mg CE/mL) administered subcutaneously (s.c.) in the neck at 4.4,5.5 mg CE/kg BW is an effective treatment for BRD in feedlot cattle. However, this route of administration is no longer being considered for this formulation because of the ceftiofur residues that are present at the injection site for extended periods of time. [source] World Watch Annual Meeting of World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 7 2005Article first published online: 10 MAR 200 No abstract is available for this article. [source] Gastrointestinal Bacterial Transmission among Humans, Mountain Gorillas, and Livestock in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, UgandaCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2008INNOCENT B. RWEGO ecología de enfermedades; Escherichia coli; primates; salud del ecosistema; zoonosis Abstract:,Habitat overlap can increase the risks of anthroponotic and zoonotic pathogen transmission between humans, livestock, and wild apes. We collected Escherichia coli bacteria from humans, livestock, and mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, from May to August 2005 to examine whether habitat overlap influences rates and patterns of pathogen transmission between humans and apes and whether livestock might facilitate transmission. We genotyped 496 E. coli isolates with repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction fingerprinting and measured susceptibility to 11 antibiotics with the disc-diffusion method. We conducted population genetic analyses to examine genetic differences among populations of bacteria from different hosts and locations. Gorilla populations that overlapped in their use of habitat at high rates with people and livestock harbored E. coli that were genetically similar to E. coli from those people and livestock, whereas E. coli from gorillas that did not overlap in their use of habitats with people and livestock were more distantly related to human or livestock bacteria. Thirty-five percent of isolates from humans, 27% of isolates from livestock, and 17% of isolates from gorillas were clinically resistant to at least one antibiotic used by local people, and the proportion of individual gorillas harboring resistant isolates declined across populations in proportion to decreasing degrees of habitat overlap with humans. These patterns of genetic similarity and antibiotic resistance among E. coli from populations of apes, humans, and livestock indicate that habitat overlap between species affects the dynamics of gastrointestinal bacterial transmission, perhaps through domestic animal intermediates and the physical environment. Limiting such transmission would benefit human and domestic animal health and ape conservation. Resumen:,El traslape de hábitats puede incrementar los riesgos de transmisión de patógenos antroponótica y zoonótica entre humanos, ganado y simios silvestres. Recolectamos bacterias Escherichia coli de humanos, ganado y gorilas de montaña (Gorilla gorilla beringei) en el Parque Nacional Bwindi Impenetrable, Uganda, de mayo a agosto 2005 para examinar sí el traslape de hábitat influye en las tasas y patrones de transmisión de patógenos entre humanos y simios y sí el ganado facilita esa transmisión. Determinamos el genotipo de 496 aislados de E. coli con marcaje de reacción en cadena de polimerasa palindrómica extragénica (rep-PCR) y medimos la susceptibilidad a 11 antibióticos con el método de difusión de disco. Realizamos análisis de genética poblacional para examinar las diferencias genéticas entre poblaciones de bacterias de huéspedes y localidades diferentes. Las poblaciones de gorilas con alto grado de traslape en el uso de hábitat con humanos y ganado presentaron E. coli genéticamente similar a E. coli de humanos y ganado, mientras que E. coli de gorilas sin traslape en el uso hábitat con humanos y ganado tuvo relación lejana con las bacterias de humanos y ganado. Treinta y cinco porciento de los aislados de humanos, 27% de los aislados de ganado y 17% de los aislados de gorilas fueron clínicamente resistentes a por lo menos un antibiótico utilizado por habitantes locales, y la proporción de gorilas individuales con presencia de aislados resistentes declinó en las poblaciones proporcionalmente con la disminución en el grado de traslape con humanos. Estos de patrones de similitud genética y resistencia a antibióticos entre E. coli de poblaciones de simios, humanos y ganado indican que el traslape de hábitat entre especies afecta la dinámica de transmisión de bacterias gastrointestinales, probablemente a través de animales domésticos intermediarios y el ambiente físico. La limitación de esa transmisión beneficiaría a la salud de humanos y animales domésticos y a la conservación de simios. [source] Tests for the toxicity assessment of cyanobacterial bloom samplesENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 5 2001gorzata Tarczynska Abstract Cyanobacterial (blue,green algal) blooms are one of the common consequences of the increasing eutrophication of surface waters. The production of cyanobacterial toxins and their presence in drinking and recreational waters represents a growing danger to human and animal health. Due to a lack of toxin standards and to resource limitations on the wide-scale use of analytical methods (e.g., high-performance liquid chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)) in cyanobacterial toxin monitoring, it is necessary to assess and to develop additional methods for their detection and estimation. Microbiotests using invertebrates offer a possible approach for the inexpensive and straightforward detection and assessment of cyanobacterial bloom toxicity. Three microbiotests with: Thamnocephalus platyurus, Daphnia magna, and Spirostomum ambiguum were examined with bloom samples containing hepatotoxic microcystin-LR and up to five additional microcystin variants. Two kinds of cyanobacterial bloom sample preparations were tested: crude extracts (CE) and purified extracts (PE). The highest toxicity was found when CE was used for microbiotests. The sensitivity of microorganisms decreased from S. ambiguum to T. platyurus and to D. magna. A statistically significant correlation was found between microcystin concentration and T. platyurus biotest, and between mouse bioassay and S. ambiguum results. Addition of Me2SO (1%, v/v) is a possible method to increase the sensitivity of the microorganisms for microcystin-LR. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 16: 383,390, 2001 [source] Apoptotic effect of cyanobacterial extract on rat hepatocytes and human lymphocytesENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Joanna Mankiewicz Abstract Toxic cyanobacterial blooms are an increasing problem in Poland. The production of cyanobacterial toxins and their presence in drinking and recreational waters represent a growing danger to human and animal health. This is connected with the increase of cyanobacterial biomass caused by excessive eutrophication of the water ecosystem. There is evidence that cyanobacterial hepatotoxins can act as a potent promoter of primary liver cancer. The apoptotic effect of microcystins in Polish cyanobacterial bloom samples on rat hepatocytes and human lymphocytes was observed using light and fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and electrophoretic analysis. The incubation time needed to observe the first morphological apoptotic changes in hepatocytes was approximately 30 min; however, the characteristic biochemical changes in DNA were not observed even after 120 min. In lymphocyte cultures the morphological changes characteristic for apoptosis were observed after 24 h of incubation and a 48-h incubation was found to be optimal for analysis of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, which is one of the main biochemical hallmarks of programmed cell death. These cells are an easily isolated and inexpensive material for medical diagnostics. Therefore the apoptotic changes, together with the clastogenic effect seen in lymphocyte cultures, are proposed as a future analytical method for these toxins. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 16: 225,233, 2001 [source] Control of arbovirus infections by a coordinated response: West Nile Virus in England and WalesFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006Dilys Morgan Abstract Although there is no recognized transmission of human arboviral infections in the UK, concerns about the possible spread of West Nile virus (WNV) have precipitated coordinated activities around both surveillance and response. The Department of Health has chaired a UK WNV task force since the end of 2000. This is a multidisciplinary group of senior representatives from Agencies and Government Departments involved in human and animal health, entomology and academic departments. Activities include surveillance for WNV infections in humans, and in dead birds, mosquitoes and horses. All have been negative for WNV. A WNV contingency plan was produced in 2004, and this could be used as a generic plan for an effective and coordinated response in the event of the emergence of a new vector-borne zoonotic infection. [source] Pharmacological characterization of cis -nitromethylene neonicotinoids in relation to imidacloprid binding sites in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugensINSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2010X. Xu Abstract Neonicotinoid insecticides, such as imidacloprid, are selective agonists of the insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and extensively used in areas of crop protection and animal health to control a variety of insect pest species. Here we describe that two cis -nitromethylene neonicotinoids (IPPA152002 and IPPA152004), recently synthesized in our laboratory, discriminated between the high and low affinity imidacloprid binding sites in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, a major insect pest of rice crops in many parts of Asia. [3H]imidacloprid has two binding sites with different affinities (Kd value of 0.0035 ± 0.0006 nM for the high-affinity site and 1.47 ± 0.22 nM for the low-affinity site). Although the cis -nitromethylene neonicotinoids showed low displacement ability (Ki values of 0.15 ± 0.03 µM and 0.42 ± 0.07 µM for IPPA152002 and IPPA152004, respectively) against [3H]imidacloprid binding, low concentrations (0.01 µM) of IPPA152002 completely inhibited [3H]imidacloprid binding at its high-affinity site. In Xenopus oocytes co-injected with cRNA encoding Nl,1 and rat ,2 subunits, obvious inward currents were detected in response to applications of IPPA152002 and IPPA152004, although the agonist potency is reduced to that of imidacloprid. The previously identified Y151S mutation in Nl,1 showed significant effects on the agonist potency of IPPA152002 and IPPA152004, such as a 75.8% and 70.6% reduction in Imax, and a 2.4- and 2.1-fold increase in EC50. This data clearly shows that the two newly described cis -nitromethylene neonicotinoids act on insect nAChRs and like imidacloprid, discriminated between high and low affinity binding sites in N. lugens native nAChRs. These compounds may be useful tools to further elucidate the pharmacology and nature of neonicotinoid binding sites. [source] Use of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to estimate the size of the house-fly Musca domestica genomeINSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006J. Gao Abstract House-flies, Musca domestica, are carriers of more than 100 devastating diseases that have severe consequences for human and animal health. A key bottleneck to progress in controlling the devastating human diseases transmitted by house-flies is lack of knowledge of the basic molecular biology of this species. However, before sequencing of the house-fly genome can be seriously considered it is important to know the size of the genome. In this paper, we used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to calculate genome size of the house-fly in side-by-side experiments with Drosophila melanogaster (known genome size of 180 Mb). Our results indicate the size of the house-fly genome is 295 ± 10 Mb and that of D. melanogaster is 184 Mb. Thus, the house-fly genome is only about 1.6-fold larger than the genome of D. melanogaster. This indicates that the size of the house-fly genome makes it an excellent candidate for whole genome sequencing and that quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction is an accurate method for the estimation of the size of insect genomes. [source] Paleopathology and health of native and introduced animals on Southern Peruvian and Bolivian Spanish Colonial sitesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 5 2010S. D. Defrance Abstract Spanish colonial sites in southern Peru and Bolivia contain remains of native camelids and introduced bovids with examples of degenerative paleopathologies that are interpreted as reflecting changes in herd management, animal use and animal health following the Spanish conquest. The archaeological contexts include three Spanish colonial wineries from Moquegua in southern Peru and the nearby colonial village of Torata Alta where indigenous people were forced to resettle under Spanish control. Also from Peru is faunal material from the 14th to 16th century rural agropastoral village of Pillistay located near Camana. Animal remains with bone abnormalities are also present in residential, commercial and industrial sites associated with Spanish silver mining near Potosí, Bolivia at Tarapaya and Cruz Pampa. Eighteen pathological specimens are described including examples of degenerative changes to phalanges, vertebrae, tarsals, limb elements and ribs. Paleopathologies present include exostoses, osteophytes, porosity, grooving and eburnation. Examples of phalangeal exostoses on bovid phalanges indicate the use of these introduced animals as draught cattle. Exostoses on camelid first phalanges suggests their use as cargo animals as do thoracic vertebrae with severe cases of degenerative pathology. Introduced caprines contain few pathologies indicating their primary use as food animals. The bone abnormalities from colonial sites are more severe than those reported for prehispanic faunal assemblages. These data provide insights into the health and work behaviour of indigenous Andean camelids and introduced Eurasian animals following the Spanish conquest. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The role of zoos and aquariums in research into the effects of climate change on animal healthINTERNATIONAL ZOO YEARBOOK, Issue 1 2009A. BARBOSA The role that the zoos and aquariums can play in the study into the effects of global climate change, particularly on animal health, is discussed and examples of how this could be achieved are presented. Animals in zoos and aquariums often live under environmentally controlled conditions and may not be subject to the effects of climate change or exposed to the increased numbers of parasites or pathogens that might conceivably be a product of climate change. However, climate-change effects have been reported in both humans and livestock and so it is likely that some animals in zoos and aquariums will also be affected. In 2004, there was a report of 118 transmissible diseases affecting animals in zoos and aquariums, and 29 (25%) of these can be identified as likely to be affected by climate change. Because it is possible to simulate different environmental conditions in zoos and aquariums, and many such institutions have valuable data on animal health that have been collected historically, they may be particularly appropriate places to carry out climate-change studies. [source] The role of zoos in biosurveillanceINTERNATIONAL ZOO YEARBOOK, Issue 1 2007T. McNAMARA Zoos are ideally placed to act as epidemiological monitoring stations because for decades, many have been building up detailed collections of serum banks, tissue banks and medical record-keeping systems that could be mined for information that would be beneficial to public health. For example, in 1999 wild Crows Corvus brachyrhynchos in the United States of America started to die of unknown causes but it was not until some died in the grounds of a zoological institution that West Nile virus, which is a threat to both human and animal health, was identified. There is a serious disparity in the type and amount of biosurveillance provided for humans, agricultural livestock and wildlife agencies, often driven by economic factors. There is an argument for public-health entities to contribute funds to the cost of managing serum-banks and testing stations within zoos to enhance biosurveillance in urban settings, in a cost-effective and mutually beneficial manner. The key to sustainable and integrated biosurveillance lies in public-health professionals working with zoo professionals, who care for wild animals on a day-to-day basis, to create electronic surveillance networks. This could be of utmost benefit to everyone. [source] Rhinoceros behaviour: implications for captive management and conservationINTERNATIONAL ZOO YEARBOOK, Issue 1 2006M. HUTCHINS All species of rhinoceros are, to varying degrees, threatened with extinction because of poaching, habitat loss, human-rhinoceros conflict, hunting and civil unrest. Clearly the threats facing the five remaining species (Black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis, White rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum, Greater one-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis, Javan rhinoceros Rhinoceros sondaicus and Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) are anthropogenic. Although many disciplines are important for conservation, understanding the behaviour characteristics of a species should be considered a key component when developing wildlife-management and conservation strategies. A general overview of the behaviour of rhinoceros is presented, addressing ecology and social organization, activity and habitat use, feeding strategies, courtship and reproduction, and anti-predator behaviour. The implications of behavioural studies for successful management and husbandry of rhinoceros in captivity are discussed in sections on group size and composition, enclosure design and enrichment programmes, activity patterns, introductions, reproduction, hand-rearing, and health and stress. Finally, there is some discussion about the implications of this knowledge for in situ conservation in relation to designing protected areas, further aspects of animal health and stress, and reintroduction and translocation. A detailed understanding of rhinoceros behaviour is important for survival both in range-country protected areas and captivity, and such knowledge should be used to provide the most appropriate animal care and environments for these species. [source] Consumer preference for production-derived quality: analyzing perceptions of premium chicken production methodsAGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009Brian Innes The authors assess consumer interest in a food product containing production-derived attributes. They use the French Label Rouge system in the Ontario chicken market as an example of a producer-controlled quality system. Conjoint analysis reveals a significant proportion of respondents value nonprice attributes; medication and housing had the highest importance scores, followed by price and brand ownership. Cluster analysis of the part-worth utilities revealed three consumer segments: price conscious consumers; consumers focused on naturalness; and those focused on animal health. Segments do not appear to differ on the basis of socioeconomic and demographic profile of respondents. However, multiitem scales reflecting attitudes towards production systems vary significantly across segments. Price-conscious respondents show agreement with use of medication and express concern over quality. Respondents in the naturalness segment express concern over quality, locality of production and impact of production methods on own health. Animal-health-conscious respondents show agreement with the use of medications, concern over quality, locality and impact of production methods on own health, but neutrality towards byproducts and traditional production methods. [EconLit citations: D120, Q130]. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Birds select conventional over organic wheat when given free choiceJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 11 2010Ailsa J McKenzie Abstract BACKGROUND: Global demand for organic produce is increasing by ,4 billion annually. One key reason why consumers buy organic food is because they consider it to be better for human and animal health. Reviews comparing organic and conventional food have stated that organic food is preferred by birds and mammals in choice tests. RESULTS: This study shows the opposite result,that captive birds in the laboratory and wild garden birds both consumed more conventional than organic wheat when given free choice. There was a lag in preference formation during which time birds learnt to distinguish between the two food types, which is likely to explain why the present results differ from those of previous studies. A further experiment confirmed that, of 16 potential causal factors, detection by birds of consistently higher levels of protein in conventional seeds (a common difference between many organic and conventional foodstuffs) is the likely mechanism behind this pattern. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the current dogma that organic food is preferred to conventional food may not always be true, which is of considerable importance for consumer perceptions of organically grown food. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Composition of European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) and association with health effects: fresh and processed productsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 10 2010Maria CBM De Vasconcelos Abstract Chestnut fruits are highly regarded and widely consumed throughout Europe, America and Asia. Various commercial forms are available, e.g. fresh and industrially processed. There have been various reviews on the composition of chestnut fruits but there has not been a comprehensive review of the different health benefits that this fruit can provide. This review is focused on the composition and associated health effects of European fresh chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) fruits and their home-processed and industrial products, e.g. boiled, roasted, frozen, and ,marron glacées'. We also expand the knowledge of chestnut uses by presenting data for other chestnut materials that have potential applications as new foods, as sources of antioxidants, and as sources of other useful bioactives. There is considerable literature data on nutrients in fresh chestnut fruits but less information on bioactive non-nutrients such as phenolics. Chestnuts are mostly consumed as processed forms, and the different types of processing clearly affect the nutrient and non-nutrient composition of the fruits. The benefits that this fruit can provide for human and animal health are numerous, but it is clear that improvements can be made for both production and quality of chestnut products, e.g. genetic selection and optimizing industrial processing. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Genetic approaches and technologies for improving the sustainability of livestock production,JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 9 2004Stephen C Bishop Abstract Livestock production industries worldwide face considerable conflicting challenges and pressures. In developed countries the challenge is to remain sustainable and competitive in the face of declining prices and increasing costs, competition and public pressures. In developing countries the strong increase in demand for livestock products must be met in circumstances where infrastructure is often minimal, there are limitations on inputs and the environment places demands on management and on the adaptive fitness of the livestock. In both situations, solutions to these problems must be sustainable and appropriate, yet be technically feasible, cost-effective and publicly acceptable. This paper summarises the impact of two technologies that will make considerable contributions to sustainable livestock production systems, namely information technology and genetic technologies that utilise naturally occurring genetic variation. Genetic technologies are inherently sustainable owing to the permanent and cumulative nature of genetic change, and range from simple to sophisticated. They include breed choice, within-breed selection and the use of genetic markers linked to gene variants conferring favourable attributes. Breeding goals include increased output, where required, enhanced product quality and increased disease resistance. These goals are illustrated by examples for the hill sheep and pig sectors in the UK and by challenges facing animal health in developing countries. Central to all examples is the gathering, management and interpretation of information, ie information technology, which enables rational genetic and management decisions to be made. Additionally, in all sustainable livestock production systems the maintenance and utilisation of biodiversity will help manage the risks of today as well as the challenges of the future. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Reflection paper on the use of third and fourth generation cephalosporins in food producing animals in the European Union: development of resistance and impact on human and animal healthJOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2009Scientific Advisory Group on Antimicrobials of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use Resistance to third and fourth generation cephalosporins is rapidly increasing in bacteria infecting humans. Although many of these problems are linked to human to human transmission and to use of antimicrobials in human medicine, the potential role of community reservoirs such as food producing animals needs to be scrutinized. Resistance to third and fourth generation cephalosporins is emerging in enteric bacteria of food producing animals and also in food of animal origin. The genes encoding resistance to these cephalosporins are transferrable and often linked to other resistance genes. Systemic use of third and fourth cephalosporins selects for resistance, but co-selection by other antimicrobials is also likely to influence prevalence of resistance. Although there are many uncertainties, the potential consequences of a further increase of resistance to this critically important class of antimicrobials in bacteria colonising animals are serious. Measures to counter a further increase and spread of resistance among animals should therefore be considered. [source] Under the Microscope: ArcobacterLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006W.J. Snelling Abstract This review describes characteristics of the genus Arcobacter. Unlike its close phenotypically related neighbour Campylobacter, Arcobacter is not currently a major public health concern, but is considered as an emerging human pathogen, and is of significance towards animal health. This review focuses on the public health significance, culturing and typing, reservoirs, and antimicrobial studies of Arcobacter. Collectively, increasing knowledge in these areas will help to develop measures, which can be used to control this emerging pathogen. [source] New strategies for the control of arthropod vectors of disease in dogs and catsMEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2008D. OTRANTO Abstract Arthropod-borne diseases (ABDs) in cats and dogs have a major impact on animal health and welfare and, in many cases, also on human health. Many ABDs are expected to increase in prevalence as a result of changing social habits, habitat modifications, introductions of exotic vectors and climate change. Control has, historically, focused on the use of insecticides and chemotherapy. We review alternative, emerging approaches to ABDs that currently offer promise, particularly modelling and molecular techniques and the development of novel vaccines that target molecules produced by arthropods during the bloodmeal. We argue that there is an urgent need to establish effective surveillance systems for most ABDs across various countries in order to facilitate a detailed risk analysis, which should include evaluation of potential spread to new areas and the possible introduction of new exotic species or disease agents. This will require clear and exhaustive knowledge on the distribution of ABDs in different areas, understanding of the diagnostic limitations pertaining to ABDs and standardization of techniques among reference laboratories in different countries. Continuous monitoring of insecticide resistance and the development of management strategies to minimize its onset are also essential. Ultimately, it is probable that approaches which attempt to reduce vector abundance or treat hosts with chemotherapy alone are unlikely to be effective in the long term. More suitable approaches may include greater use of a range of mutually compatible options in integrated management programmes. [source] Strategies for development of vaccines for control of ixodid tick speciesPARASITE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 7 2006J. DE LA FUENTE SUMMARY Ticks are distributed worldwide and impact human and animal health, as well as food animal production. Control of ticks has been primarily by application of acaricides, which has resulted in selection of resistant ticks and environmental pollution. Vaccines have been shown to be a feasible tick control method that offers a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative to chemical control. However, identification of tick-protective antigens remains the limiting step in vaccine development. Tick antigens exposed naturally to the host during tick feeding and those concealed have both shown promise as candidate vaccine antigens. Development of vaccines against multiple tick species may be possible using highly conserved tick-protective antigens or by antigens showing immune cross-reaction to different tick species. Vaccines made from a combination of key protective antigens may greatly enhance vaccine efficacy. Preliminary studies have suggested the possibility of vaccine strategies directed toward both tick control and the blocking of pathogen transmission. Characterization of the tick genomes will have a great impact on the discovery of new protective antigens. The future of research directed toward tick vaccine development is exciting because of new and emerging technologies for gene discovery, and vaccine formulation and delivery. [source] High-fiber diet promotes weight loss and affects maternal behavior in vervet monkeysAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Lynn A. Fairbanks Abstract The dramatic increase in obesity in western societies has shifted the emphasis in nutrition research from the problems of undernutrition to the adverse consequences of being overweight. As with humans, Old World monkeys are at increased risk for type II diabetes and other chronic diseases when they gain excessive weight. To prevent overweight and obesity, promote animal health, and provide a more natural level of fiber in the diet, the standard commercial monkey chow diet at a vervet monkey breeding colony was changed to a higher fiber formulation in 2004. The new diet was also higher in protein and lower in carbohydrate and energy density than the standard diet. Because maternal behavior is known to be sensitive to differences in resource availability, data on weight and mother,infant interactions for 147 mothers with 279 infants born from 2000 through 2006 were assessed for effects of the diet change. The results showed that, even though food was provided ad libitum, the mean body weight of breeding females was 10% lower after the transition to the high-fiber diet. Behaviorally, mothers on the high-fiber diet were significantly more rejecting to their infants, and their infants had to play a greater role in maintaining ventral contact in the first few months of their lives. The effects of the diet change on maternal rejection were significantly related to the mother's body weight, with lower-weight mothers scoring higher in maternal rejection. These results demonstrate that maternal behavior is responsive to changes in maternal condition, and that beneficial changes in the diet may have unintended consequences on behavior. Am. J. Primatol. 72:234,241, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effect of ketamine anesthesia on daily food intake in Macaca mulatta and Cercopithecus aethiops,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2007Danielle A. Springer Abstract Ketamine hydrochloride is frequently administered to non-human primates as a means of chemical restraint. This procedure can be a frequent source of stress to monkeys at research facilities, impacting animal health, well-being and research quality. This study was designed to measure ketamine's effect on daily food intake, a parameter that reflects and influences animal well-being and directly impacts research studies. On five occasions, baseline daily food intake was compared to daily food intake occurring 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120,h after an intramuscular injection of 10,mg/kg ketamine in male African green monkeys (AGMs) (Cercopithecus aethiops) and male and female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). AGMs and female rhesus macaques had significantly reduced daily food intake during the first 4 days after receiving ketamine. The AGMs continued to display significantly reduced daily food intake on the fifth day after ketamine. The male rhesus macagues showed a trend toward reduced daily food intake, greatest during the first 2 days and remaining less than baseline intake through the fifth day following ketamine. The degree of observed food intake reduction was most severe at the 24,h (mean percent intake reduction: AGMs: 57%; rhesus males: 48%; rhesus females: 40%) and 48,h time points (AGMs: 24%; rhesus males: 14%; rhesus females: 13%). A subset of the AGMs that did not receive ketamine, but observed other animals in the room receive ketamine, showed reduced food intake at 24 and 48,h after ketamine, though not to the degree associated with ketamine administration. These results indicate that ketamine anesthesia is associated with a prolonged reduction in daily food intake in AGMs and rhesus macaques. Frequent use of ketamine in non-human primates may have a significant impact on animal health and well-being, and alternatives to its use warrant consideration. Am. J. Primatol. 69:1080,1092, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Fine mapping of the chicken salmonellosis resistance locus (SAL1)ANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 6 2009M. S. Fife Summary Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is a Gram-negative bacterium that has a significant impact on both human and animal health. It is one of the most common food-borne pathogens responsible for a self-limiting gastroenteritis in humans and a similar disease in pigs, cattle and chickens. In contrast, intravenous challenge with S. Typhimurium provides a valuable model for systemic infection, often causing a typhoid-like infection, with bacterial replication resulting in the destruction of the spleen and liver of infected animals. Resistance to systemic salmonellosis in chickens is partly genetically determined, with bacterial numbers at systemic sites in resistant lines being up to 1000-fold fewer than in susceptible lines. Identification of genes contributing to disease resistance will enable genetic selection of resistant lines that will reduce Salmonella levels in poultry flocks. We previously identified a novel resistance locus on Chromosome 5, designated SAL1. Through the availability of high-density SNP panels in the chicken, combined with advanced back-crossing of the resistant and susceptible lines, we sought to refine the SAL1 locus and identify potential positional candidate genes. Using a 6th generation backcross mapping population, we have confirmed and refined the SAL1 locus as lying between 54.0 and 54.8 Mb on the long arm of Chromosome 5 (F = 8.72, P = 0.00475). This region spans 14 genes, including two very striking functional candidates; CD27-binding protein (Siva) and the RAC -alpha serine/threonine protein kinase homolog, AKT1 (protein kinase B, PKB). [source] Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery in porcine expressed genesANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 3 2002S. C. Fahrenkrug High-throughput genotyping of swine populations is a potentially efficient method for establishing animal lineage and identification of loci important to animal health and efficient pork production. Markers were developed based upon single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are abundant and amenable to automated genotyping platforms. The focus of this research was SNP discovery in expressed porcine genes providing markers to develop the porcine/human comparative map. Locus specific amplification (LSA) and comparative sequencing were used to generate PCR products and allelic information from parents of a swine reference family. Discovery of 1650 SNPs in 403 amplicons and strategies for optimizing LSA-based SNP discovery using alternative methods of PCR primer design, data analysis, and germplasm selection that are applicable to other populations and species are described. These data were the first large-scale assessment of frequency and distribution of porcine SNPs. [source] Operation Tethys focuses on aquatic animal healthAUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2003Gardner Murray No abstract is available for this article. [source] New perspectives for estimating body condition from mass/length data: the scaled mass index as an alternative methodOIKOS, Issue 12 2009Jordi Peig Body condition is assumed to influence an animal's health and fitness. Various non-destructive methods based on body mass and a measure of body length have been used as condition indices (CIs), but the dominant method amongst ecologists is currently the calculation of residuals from an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression of body mass against length. Recent studies of energy reserves in small mammals and starlings claimed to validate this method, although we argue that they did not include the most appropriate tests since they compared the CI with the absolute size of energy reserves. We present a novel CI (the ,scaled mass index') based on the central principle of scaling, with important methodological, biological and conceptual advantages. Through a reanalysis of data from small mammals, starlings and snakes, we show that the scaled mass index is a better indicator of the relative size of energy reserves and other body components than OLS residuals, performing better in all seven species and in 19 out of 20 analyses. We also present an empirical and theoretical comparison of the scaled mass index and OLS residuals as CIs. We argue that the scaled mass index is a useful new tool for ecologists. [source] | ||||||||||||||||