Occurrence of Campylobacter species from broiler chickens and chicken meat in Malaysia

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Campylobacter is reported as a major cause of foodborne illness worldwide. Consumption of contaminated chicken meat is considered a significant risk factor...     

Aetiological factors and perception of anaemia in Tunisian women of reproductive age

OBJECTIVES: To identify aetiological factors in anaemia and to explore knowledge, perceptions and attitudes towards anaemia. DESIGN: Two cross-sectional surveys and sixteen focus group discussions. SETTING: The two regions with the highest prevalence of anaemia in Tunisia, Greater Tunis (GT) and the South West (SW). SUBJECTS: Two representative samples of 687 (GT) and 729 (SW) women of reproductive age; 108 women were included in focus group discussions. RESULTS: Among anaemic women, 63.4% in the GT region and 80.2% in the SW displayed iron deficiency (ID). Genetic haemoglobinopathies accounted for 10.0% and 3.6% of the cases of anaemia in the two regions, respectively. After adjustment for confounders, the major factors for iron-deficiency anaemia were low dietary Fe intake (OR = 5.0, 95% CI 3.0, 8.4), drinking tea after eating (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 2.0, 5.7) and pica (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.1, 3.9). Most of the women related anaemia to the following causes: malnutrition, lack of hygiene, and their heavy workload and responsibilities in the household. Many women connected anaemia with hypotension. Few established a relationship between ID and anaemia. They had confidence in their doctor for treatment, but many complained they were not given sufficient information. Low dietary Fe intake, inappropriate food practices and inadequate perceptions contribute to the aetiology of anaemia in women. CONCLUSIONS: These results point out to the need for a strategy combining food fortification, Fe supplementation for pregnant women, nutritional education for the general public and at-risk specific target groups, and training of health professionals.     

Prevalence and risk factors of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in livestock and companion animal in high-risk areas in Malaysia

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is vector-borne zoonotic disease which causes encephalitis in humans and horses. Clinical signs for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection are not clearly evident in the majority of affected animals. In Malaysia, information on the prevalence of JEV infection has not been established. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted during two periods, December 2015 to January 2016 and March to August in 2016, to determine the prevalence and risk factors in JEV infections among animals and birds in Peninsular Malaysia. Serum samples were harvested from the 416 samples which were collected from the dogs, cats, water birds, village chicken, jungle fowls, long-tailed macaques, domestic pigs, and cattle in the states of Selangor, Perak, Perlis, Kelantan, and Pahang. The serum samples were screened for JEV antibodies by commercial IgG ELISA kits. A questionnaire was also distributed to obtain information on the animals, birds, and the environmental factors of sampling areas. The results showed that dogs had the highest seropositive rate of 80% (95% CI: ±?11.69) followed by pigs at 44.4% (95% CI: ±?1.715), cattle at 32.2% (95% CI: ±?1.058), birds at 28.9% (95% CI: ±?5.757), cats at 15.6% (95% CI: ±?7.38), and monkeys at 14.3% (95% CI: ±?1.882). The study also showed that JEV seropositivity was high in young animals and in areas where mosquito vectors and migrating birds were prevalent.     

Effects of clinical mastitis on reproductive and milk performance of Holstein cows in Morocco

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of clinical mastitis and time of first mastitis occurrence on reproductive and milk performance of Holstein cows. Data were collected in a dairy farm from 2008 to 2012 on 1725 cows, among which 464 cows with mastitis. To determine the influence of clinical mastitis on reproductive and milk performance, models included fixed effects of parity, calving season, calving year, and group (cows with and with no mastitis). To determine the effect of time of 1st mastitis occurrence on reproductive performance, the mastitic cows group was further reclassified into three groups: prior to 60 days, between 60 and 90 days and greater than 90 days postpartum. For milk performance, the mastitic cows group was divided into two groups: before and after peak milk yield. Clinical mastitis had significant effects on calving to first AI interval, milk yield, and fat yield, but a non-significant effect on days open, number of inseminations per conception, and milk fat percentage. Mastitic cows had a calving to first AI interval 6.1 days longer and 549.6 kg milk and 20.4 kg fat per 305 days of lactation lower than those with no mastitis. Time of 1st mastitis occurrence did not have any significant effect on reproductive performance. Further, milk and fat yields of cows diseased before peak milk yield were 506 kg and 23.9 kg, respectively, lower than those of cows affected after peak milk yield. Extra attention needs to be paid to mastitis during the early postpartum period.

     

The distribution of important sero-complexes of flaviviruses in Malaysia

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Flaviviruses (FVs) are arthropod-borne viruses of medical and veterinary importance. Numerous species of FVs have been isolated from various host; mainly...     

Survey on the importance of mange in the aetiology of skin lesions in goats in Peninsular Malaysia

Summary A survey on mange mite infestations in the aetiology of skin lesions in goats in Peninsular Malaysia is described. Skin lesions were observed in 25 (93%) of the 27 goat farms investigated. Mange mites were found in 22 (88%) of these goat herds.Chorioptes texanus was found in 20·7%,Psoroptes cuniculi in 19·3%,Sarcoptes scabiei in 18·6% andDemodex canis var.caprae in 0·4% of the samples, taken from the skin lesions. Thirteen cases of generalised mange were diagnosed, from which 9 were caused byS. scabiei, 2 byP. cuniculi and one byC. texanus. All other cases had more or less localised lesions. No significant differences could be found in incidence and distribution of skin lesions between age classes.

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Encuesta Sobre La Importancia De Sarna En La Etiologia De Lesiones De Piel En Caprinos De La Peninsula De Malasia

Resumen Se describe una investigación sobre la importancia de infestaciones por ácaros de la sarna en la etiología de la patología cutánea de cabras de la peninsula de Malasia. Se observaron lesiones cutáneas en 25 (93%) de los rebaños investigados. Se encontraron ácaros de la sarna en 22 (88%) de estos rebaños.Chorioptes texanus se encuentró en 20·7%,Psoroptes cuniculi en 19·3%,Sarcoptes scabiei en 18·6% yDemodex canis var.caprae en 0·4% de los muestros sacados de lesiones cutáneas. Se diagnosticaron trece casos de sarna generalizada, nueve de los cuales con causaS. scabiei, dosP. cuniculi y unoC. texanus. Los otros fueron todos más o menos localizados. No se pudo demostrar ninguna diferencia significativa ni en la incidencia ni en la localización de las lesiones cutáneas entre las varias categorías de edad.

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Etude Sur L'importance De La Gale Dans L'ethiologie Des Dermatites (Lesions De La Peau) Chez Les Caprines En Malaisie Peninsulaire

Résumé Une enquête sur l'importance d'infestations à acariens dans l'étiologie d'affections cutanées des chèvres en Malaisie péninsulaire est décrite. Des lésions cutanées ont été observées dans 25 (93%) des 27 élevages de chèvres visités. Des acariens ont été mis en évidence dans 22 (88%) de ces élevages.Chorioptes texanus a été trouvé dans 20,7%,Psoroptes cuniculi dans 19,3%,Sarcoptes scabiei dans 18,6% etDemodex canis var.caprae dans 0,4% des échantillons prévelés des lésions cutanées. Treize cas de gale généralisée ont été observés, dont neuf étaient causés parS. scabiei, deux parP. cuniculi et un parC. texanus. Les autres cas étaient plus ou moins localisés. Il n'y avaient pas de différences significatives dans la prévalence ni dans la distribution des lésions cutanées entre les différentes catégories d'âge des chèvres.