Quarantine requirements for the importation of black rhinoceros from Zimbabwe into Australia

SUMMARY The proposal by the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales to import 10 southern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from Zimbabwe as part of an international project for conservation of the species presented the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) with a unique challenge. This importation is, at least in the modern era, the first importation of live herbivores from the African continent. Many of the serious animal diseases in the world are endemic in parts of Africa. Knowledge of which of these diseases infect wild species and may be transmitted from the wild species to domesticated species, is limited. This paper describes the strategies adopted by AQIS to facilitate the importation of rhinoceros while maintaining protection of Australian consumers, rural industries, domestic livestock and fauna against the entry and spread of unwanted pests and diseases.     

Review: The strobilurin fungicides

The original article to which this Correction refers was published in Pest Management Science 58 (7): 649–662 (2002).Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Selenium effects on glutathione peroxidase and the immune response of stressed calves challenged with Pasteurella hemolytica

The present study was conducted to determine whether a marginal Se deficiency affects health, blood characteristics and the immune response of calves subjected to stresses associated with weaning, shipping (332 km) and Pasteurella hemolytica inoculation. Treatments were 1) -Se, 2) -Se/P. hemolytica, 3) +Se (.1 mg Se/kg feed) and 4) +Se/P. hemolytica. Previous Se intake was controlled; dams of -Se calves were fed diets marginally deficient in Se (.03 to .05 mg/kg), whereas dams of +Se calves received a s.c. injection of 30 mg Se (as sodium selenite) every 60 d. Calves were inoculated with P. hemolytica intratracheally on d 3 following weaning and transport. Inoculation with P. hemolytica increased (P less than .05) body temperatures, platelet counts, serum IgM concentrations and serum antibody titers and decreased serum albumin concentrations at 4 to 7 d postinoculation. Weight gains for the 21-d study were not affected by Se status, although whole blood and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were higher (P less than .05) for +Se calves. Plasma GSH-Px increased (P less than .01) in calves showing signs of morbidity. Increases in plasma GSH-Px were correlated positively with body temperature. Serum IgM concentrations were higher (P less than .05) in +Se calves on d 17, but Se-supplemented calves had lower (P less than .05) anti-P. hemolytica titers on d 17 than -Se calves. Selenium status did not affect body temperatures, plasma creatine phosphokinase or serum IgG and albumin concentrations. These results indicate that Se status can affect IgM concentrations following stress.     

Failure of a recombinant Schistosoma bovis-derived glutathione S-transferase to protect cattle against experimental Fasciola hepatica infection

The potential of a recombinant Schistosoma bovis 28-kDa glutathione S-transferase (rSb28GST) to protect cattle against Fasciola hepatica was tested in a vaccination trial. Thirty two calves were randomly divided into four groups of eight animals. Calves of the three vaccine groups received two intramuscular injections at 3 weeks interval, of 0.250mg rSb28GST in either aluminium hydroxide (Al(OH)(3)), Quil A, or PBS emulsified in an equal volume of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA).Animals of the control group received injections of Al(OH)(3)/PBS only. All animals were challenged orally with a total of 360 metacercariae of F. hepatica, spread over 6 weeks.All groups of vaccinated animals produced measurable IgG antibody titers to rSb28GST after vaccination. Animals immunised with FCA adjuvanted vaccine had the highest and more durable antibody titers and only sera from this group recognised an approximately 24kDa protein band from F. hepatica, that is thought to be a F. hepatica GST. Despite a good antibody response differences in cumulative faecal egg output between the groups were not statistically significant. In addition, no significant difference was found between groups in terms of total worm numbers or percentage of immature flukes recovered at necropsy. In conclusion, the recombinant S. bovis 28kDa GST was not found to adequately protect cattle against experimental F. hepatica challenge, using either aluminium hydroxide, Quil A or FCA as adjuvant.     

Sites of digestion in beef steers fed bermudagrass hay and supplemented with high-nitrogen feeds alone or mixed with tallow

Five crossbred beef steers (329 kg) were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square experiment with 14-d periods to determine the effects of supplementation with high-nitrogen (N) feeds alone or mixed with tallow on sites of digestion with a basal diet of bermudagrass hay. Hay was 1.93% nitrogen, 75% neutral detergent fibre and fed at 1.83% of body weight (dry matter; DM). Supplements were basal (B; 105 g DM): 81.8% dried molasses product (DMP) and 18.2% calcium carbonate (CC); soybean meal (S; 942 g DM): 88.0% soybean meal, 9.8% DMP and 2.2% CC; S mixed with 9.8% tallow (SF; 1041 g DM); corn gluten and blood meals (CB; 662 g DM): 62.5% corn gluten meal, 20.8% blood meal, 13.6% DMP and 3.0% CC; CB mixed with 13.2% tallow (CBF; 757 g DM). Total N intake was 117, 185, 187, 174 and 172 g/d, and duodenal N flow was 121, 148, 143, 162 and 169 g/d for B, S, SF, CB and CBF, respectively, being lower for B than for other treatments and higher for supplements with the corn gluten and blood meal mix than for soybean meal (P less than 0.05). Duodenal microbial N flow was 39, 51, 49, 38 and 45 g/d for B, S, SF, CB and CBF, respectively, being greater (P less than 0.05) for supplements with soybean meal than with corn gluten and blood meals. Duodenal flow of feed N was greater (P less than 0.05) with than without high-N feeds and for supplemental corn gluten and blood meals than for soybean meal (78, 90, 86, 117 and 116 g/d for B, S, SF, CB and CBF, respectively). In conclusion, mixing of tallow and high-N feeds did not affect the extent of ruminal N disappearance, and soybean meal supplementation increased duodenal N flow less than did supplementation with corn gluten and blood meals. Increased duodenal N flow with soybean meal was associated with about equal elevations of ruminal outflow of microbial and feed N, whereas the corn gluten-blood meal mix affected the intestinal protein supply by increasing ruminal escape of feed protein.     

Effects of feeding programme and feeder space change at photo-stimulation using maize- or wheat-based diet on growth and reproductive performance of female broiler breeders

1. This study was carried out to determine the effects of breeder feeding programme to 29 weeks of age, and feeder space change at photo-stimulation using two sources of grain on breeder hen reproductive efficiency and egg characteristics.

2. Fast-feathering Cobb 500 pullet broiler breeders were housed in 16 pens of 81 females each during rearing, and fed on either maize- or wheat-based diet, formulated to have similar nutrient composition. Two feeding programmes, Fast and Slow, were used from 14 to 29 weeks of age. At 22 weeks of age, 69 females that represented the body weight (BW) distribution from each pen were placed in a layer house where feeder space either remained very similar (from 6.3 to 6.5 cm/female) or was increased (from 6.3 to 8.4 cm/female). Breeder growth performance, reproductive efficiency and egg characteristics were evaluated.

3. Data were analysed as a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with diet type, feeding programme and feeder space change as the main factors. The main effects of the treatments were found but there were no treatment interactions.

4. Breeders fed on wheat were consistently heavier than breeders fed on maize from 10 to 52 weeks of age and exhibited greater hen mortality during the layer phase. Breeders fed on wheat diets exhibited improved egg production while laying eggs with a greater yolk:albumen ratio compared to the maize group.

5. The Fast feeding programme increased female mortality and increased BW during the layer phase. Breeders fed according to the Slow feeding programme had better fertility, and laid eggs with lower percentage eggshell that might be associated with the lower early embryonic mortality observed in these hens as compared with the Fast feeding programme.

6. Breeders having increased feeder space at photo-stimulation matured earlier and produced more eggs compared to breeders with no change in feeder space.

7. It was concluded that the feeding of wheat, the use of the Slow feeding programme and an increase in feeder space improved some aspects of hen productivity and egg characteristics.     

Is That a Rodent in Your Luggage? A Mixed Method Approach to Describe Bushmeat Importation into the United States

Bushmeat, defined as meat derived from wild animals, is a potential source of zoonotic pathogens. Bushmeat from restricted animals is illegal to import into the United States under US federal regulations. We reviewed US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) port of entry surveillance records from September 2005 through December 2010 and conducted focus group studies to describe trends in and reasons for bushmeat importation into the United States. In total, 543 confiscated bushmeat items were recorded. Half of the confiscated bushmeat items identified were rodents. Africa was the most frequent continent of origin. Seasonality was evident, with bushmeat confiscations peaking in late spring to early summer. Four times more bushmeat was confiscated during an enhanced surveillance period in June 2010 compared with the same period in previous years, suggesting that routine surveillance underestimated the amount of bushmeat detected at US Ports of Entry. Focus groups held in three major US cities revealed that bushmeat importation is a multifaceted issue. Longstanding cultural practices of hunting and eating bushmeat make it difficult for consumers to acknowledge potential health and ecologic risks. Also, US merchants selling African goods, including bushmeat, in their stores have caused confusion among importers as to whether importation is truly illegal. Enhancing routine surveillance for bushmeat and consistent enforcement of penalties at all ports of entry, along with health education aimed at bushmeat importers, might be useful to deter illegal importation.     

Monitoring distances travelled by horses using GPS tracking collars

Objective The aims of this work were to (1) develop a low-cost equine movement tracking collar based on readily available components, (2) conduct preliminary studies assessing the effects of both paddock size and internal fence design on the movements of domestic horses, with and without foals at foot, and (3) describe distances moved by mares and their foals. Additional monitoring of free-ranging feral horses was conducted to allow preliminary comparisons with the movement of confined domestic horses. Procedures A lightweight global positioning system (GPS) data logger modified from a personal/vehicle tracker and mounted on a collar was used to monitor the movement of domestic horses in a range of paddock sizes and internal fence designs for 6.5-day periods. Results In the paddocks used (0.8–16 ha), groups of domestic horses exhibited a logarithmic response in mean daily distance travelled as a function of increasing paddock size, tending asymptotically towards approximately 7.5 km/day. The distance moved by newborn foals was similar to their dams, with total distance travelled also dependent on paddock size. Without altering available paddock area, paddock design, with the exception of a spiral design, did not significantly affect mean daily distance travelled. Feral horses (17.9 km/day) travelled substantially greater mean daily distances than domestic horses (7.2 km/day in 16-ha paddock), even when allowing for larger paddock size. Conclusions Horses kept in stables or small yards and paddocks are quite sedentary in comparison with their feral relatives. For a given paddock area, most designs did not significantly affect mean daily distance travelled.