Mental health in the veterinary profession: an individual or organisational focus?

The veterinary profession is experiencing a shortage of veterinarians, with attrition recognised as a substantial contributor. Research has also indicated increased levels of mental ill health and alarming suicide rates in practitioners. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of eleven modifiable workplace factors on mental health outcomes, job appreciation and intention to leave the veterinary profession. The second aim was to ascertain whether workplace factors influence mental health outcomes after controlling for individual resilience. An online survey was completed by 73 practising Australian veterinarians. Unfavourable workplace factors correlated with adverse outcomes including depression, stress, reduced job appreciation and increased likelihood of leaving both the role and the profession. Workplace factors remained linked with the outcomes of job appreciation, depression and stress whilst controlling for practitioner resilience. Job appreciation was a significant predictor of intention to leave both the current role and the profession. Via multiple linear regression, two categories were identified as associated with improved psychological outcomes and job appreciation. These were workplace factors that represent breaks from workload and control or decision latitude in the workplace. Whilst resilience represents a key area for intervention, workplace factors potentially represent an easier-to-modify area for intervention.     

Hepatitis E virus in Cuba: A cross-sectional serological and virological study in pigs and people occupationally exposed to pigs

Surveillance of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in risk groups is an important strategy to monitor its circulation pattern and to timely detect changes thereof. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to estimate the prevalence of HEV infections in pigs and humans from different regions of the country, to identify risk factors for increasing anti-HEV IgG prevalence and to characterize HEV strains. The presence of anti-HEV antibodies was assessed by commercial ELISA in serum samples from the general population, farm and slaughterhouse employees, as well as pigs sampled in the three regions of Cuba from February to September 2016. Overall, individuals with occupational exposure to swine or swine products (70/248, 28.2%) were 4 times more likely to be seropositive compared to the general population (25/285, 8.7%; OR: 4.18; p < .001). Within the risk group, risk factors included age, number of years working in a professional activity with direct exposure to swine, geographic region and distance between residence and closest professional swine setting, while wearing gloves had a protective effect. Prevalence of total anti-HEV antibodies in swine was 88.2% (165/187) and HEV RNA was detected by real-time RT-PCR in 9.2% (16/173) swine stools. All HEV strains sequenced clustered within genotype 3. Some strains clearly belonged to subtype 3a, while another group of strains was related with subtypes 3b and 3 k but partial HEV sequences did not allow unequivocal subtype assignment. These findings suggest that the high HEV exposure in Cuban individuals with swine-related occupations could be due to enzootic HEV in certain regions, direct contact with infectious animals or their products as well as environmental contamination.     

Comprehensive transcriptional profiling and functional study of lymphangiogenic growth factor in placentome of early-stage pregnant water buffalo

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression and localization of lymphangiogenic factors (VEGF-C and VEGF-D), their receptor (VEGFR3) and lymphatic endothelial marker (LYVE1) in buffalo placenta during early pregnancy [EP], and to investigate the functional role of lymphangiogenic growth factors in placental lymphangiogenesis. The mRNA and protein expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, their receptor VEGFR3 and LYVE1 showed significant expression in EP1 (29–42 days) and EP2 stages (51–82 days) both in caruncle (maternal part) and cotyledon (foetal part) of the buffalo placenta. Immunoreactivity of VEGF-C, VEGF-D and LYVE1 was observed around the endometrial gland, in lymphatics and trophoblast cells, whereas VEGFR3 mainly localized in lymphatics of the caruncle and cotyledons. Cultured trophoblast cells were treated with VEGF-C/VEGF-D (50, 100 and 150 ng/ml) and combined doses of VEGF-C and VEGF-D (150 ng/ml) each for different time durations (24, 48 and 72 h). The mRNA expression of LYVE1 and PCNA was significantly (p < .001) upregulated with VEGF-C and VEGF-D and combined treatment (@150 ng/ml), as well as significantly downregulating Caspase-3 at 48 and 72 h. Thus, the present study provides evidence that lymphangiogenic factors are expressed in buffalo placental compartments and they may play a significant role in the regulation of placental function in water buffaloes.     

香花槐生物学特性及其芽分化影响因素研究

研究了影响香花槐组织培养芽分化的主要因素,包括:外植体取材时期、消毒处理、基本培养基、细胞分裂素种类与浓度配比、细胞分裂素与生长素配比等。结果表明:M是最佳基本培养基;适合香花槐增殖分化的细胞分类素为浓度0.5mg L-1的6-BA;香花槐增殖培养的最佳组合为6-BA0.5mg L-1+IBA0.05mg L-1+2%蔗糖。     

森林旅游景区生态安全要素及其景观感知传递性分析

剖析森林旅游景区生物资源等要素的生态安全状态及其相应的景观感知,以及它们之间的传递关系,建立森林旅游景区生态安全与景观感知安全传递关系模型。通过对景区生态安全各要素的分析发现,在景区开发、游客干扰等人类活动的干扰下,我国一些森林旅游景区水体、土壤、空气、声音环境受到严重污染,动植物生长生存条件发生退化,并对游客的景观感知产生了显著的负面影响。对景区生态安全与景观感知安全的传递性分析表明,景观感知安全是人类活动对自然资源的影响转移到自身的一种反映,它对景区生态安全状态有一定的预知作用。在此基础上,结合景区生态安全与景观感知安全之间的传递关系,和对景区生态安全构念的分析,建立了包括生物生存环境安全和生物资源安全要素在内的森林旅游景区生态安全结构,及其与景观感知安全之间的传递关系模型。     

太岳山油松人工林林下植被生物量影响因子分析

通过调查和分析油松林下植被物种组成特征及生物量,运用灰色关联分析、主成分分析和系统聚类方法,研究了各影响因子不同梯度水平下林下生物量所呈现的分布规律。结果显示:油松人工林林下草本生物量大于灌木生物量,草本层植被生物量为0.339 8~1.322 9 t·hm-2,灌木层生物量为0.018 1~0.289 2 t·hm-2;加权后的关联度与原始关联度排序大致相同,关联性最为密切的因子同为林分均高、林分胸径及林龄,但加权后各单因子关联度数值间差异性增加;以样地作为各单因子聚合的系统进行聚类,样地划分为4个类型,分类结果可反映林下生物量的分布格局。