Annual costs associated with disease incidence and prevention in Colorado cow-calf herds participating in rounds 2 and 3 of the National Animal Health Monitoring System from 1986 to 1988

Thirty-nine and 47 randomly selected Colorado cow-calf operations were monitored for health events and their associated costs during rounds 2 and 3, respectively, of the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS). Data were collected from each operation for a one-year period by NAHMS veterinarians through monthly interviews, and the costs associated with the incidence and prevention of disease conditions were determined and expressed on a per cow basis. The beef producers involved in this study spent an average of $32.75 per cow in round 2 and $40.97 per cow in round 3 on an annual basis for the treatment of disease conditions. These costs were not different between the 2 rounds because of the wide ranges in the individual herd costs for disease incidence in each round. In both years of the study, the largest contributor to the total mean annual cost of disease incidence was the cost of death of diseased animals, and this cost accounted for approximately two-thirds of the total mean annual cost in each round. The total mean annual costs of disease prevention in these herds were $11.24 and $11.19 per cow in rounds 2 and 3, respectively. There were wide ranges in both rounds in the amounts of money spent per cow by individual herds for disease prevention. The largest individual cost of disease prevention in each year was the cost of vaccines/drugs, whereas the smallest individual cost in each round was the cost of veterinary services.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Costs of veterinary services and vaccines/drugs used for prevention and treatment of diseases in 86 Colorado cow-calf operations participating in the National Animal Health Monitoring System (1986-1988)

Eighty-six cow-calf operations involved in the Colorado National Animal Health Monitoring System were monitored for a 12-month period, and data were collected on the incidence, prevention, and costs of disease. The costs of veterinary services and vaccines/drugs used in the treatment and prevention of disease conditions in these beef herds were determined and expressed on a per cow basis. Beef producers in this study spent an average of $2.04 ($0 to $29.88) per cow annually on veterinary services for treatment of disease conditions. The cost of veterinary services was a relatively small percentage (5.4%) of the total mean cost of disease incidence. The reproductive tract disease class was the most costly class in terms of veterinary services for disease treatment ($0.99/cow). Dystocia was the disease condition with the largest veterinary treatment cost. The total mean annual cost of drugs used in the treatment of disease conditions was $1.22/cow. The enteric, miscellaneous, and respiratory tract disease classes had similar mean drug costs for disease treatment and ranged from $0.31 to $0.39/cow. The total mean annual cost of veterinary services for administration of preventive measures in these herds was $1.85/cow ($0 to $12.03). Pregnancy examination, breeding soundness examination in bulls, brucellosis vaccination, pulmonary arterial pressure test, and campylobacteriosis vaccination accounted for over 90% of the money spent for preventive veterinary services. Approximately 60% of the total mean annual disease prevention cost was attributed to the purchase of vaccines/drugs ($6.59/cow).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Veterinary and nonveterinary costs of disease in 29 California dairies participating in the National Animal Health Monitoring System from 1988 to 1989

Twenty-nine California dairy herds were studied over a 12-month period from 1988 to 1989 as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System. Monthly interviews administered to dairy producers were used to measure the costs of all health-related expenditures and disease incidence in these herds. Of the total $1,523,558 reported, $1,355,467 (89%) was attributed to cost of disease events and $168,091 (11%) to cost of disease prevention. Most (78%) of the cost of disease events was attributable to death and culling losses. Veterinary services accounted for only $54,099 (4%) of total costs, 64% of which was used for disease prevention, compared with 36% for disease treatment. Udder disease was the most costly category of diseases reported at an average of $49.85/head at risk annually, followed by reproductive problems at $38.05. Through the use of sampling strategies less biased than those used in other surveys, the National Animal Health Monitoring System is designed to provide statistically-valid estimates of disease incidence and costs across broad geographic areas, potentially benefiting all those interested in the economics of livestock diseases in the United States.     

Validation of disease diagnoses reported to the National Animal Health Monitoring System from a large Colorado beef feedlot

Clinical observation and collection of biological specimens from a large beef feedlot (approximately 30,0000 animals) were used to evaluate 6 approaches for validation of a disease reporting system. Data collected during a 12-month period were used to evaluate each approach. A subsample of disease cases reported to the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) was compared with the clinical observations of the investigators. Although the agreement between clinical diagnosis by the NAHMS veterinarian and by feedlot health crews was high, the sensitivity and specificity of specific diagnoses varied from 100 to 18% and from 99 to 76%, respectively, which suggests that regular clinical observations by a veterinarian are needed to validate disease diagnoses reported to NAHMS by producers. Subsampling of a group of cattle by means of paired serologic determination of antibodies to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, and parainfluenza-3 virus revealed a high serologic conversion rate to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, and high levels of preexisting antibody to bovine respiratory syncytial and parainfluenza-3 viruses. It was concluded that the current method of data collection for Colorado feedlots provides an acceptable level of sensitivity and specificity for the program. However, disease events that are not of economic importance to the feedlot operator will be underestimated. If an objective of NAHMS is to develop a base line of animal health conditions, diagnosis of diseases by current methods will be satisfactory. Occasional validation through clinical observations by a veterinarian will suffice to monitor quality of collected data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Expenditures for veterinary services and other costs of disease and disease prevention in 57 California beef herds in the National Animal Health Monitoring System (1988-1989)

Data on costs associated with episodes of disease and disease prevention, including expenditures for veterinary services, were collected from 57 California beef cow-calf herds during 1988-1989 as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System. Mean cost associated with episodes of disease was $33.90/cow-year, with $0.78 and $1.37/cow-year being spent for veterinary services and drugs, respectively. The highest cost for veterinary services related to episodes of disease were for dystocia, lameness, and ocular carcinoma. For disease prevention, mean expenditures for veterinary services were $1.67/cow-year, nearly all of which was spent on prevention of reproductive tract conditions. Preventive expenditures for veterinary services related to female infertility (pregnancy examination), vaccination against brucellosis and male infertility (breeding soundness examination) were $0.72, $0.39, and $0.22/cow-year, respectively. Many costs associated with episodes of disease and disease prevention were similar to those reported from Colorado National Animal Health Monitoring System beef herds.     

California National Animal Health Monitoring System for meat-turkey flocks, 1988-1989: diagnostic testing results.

Six hundred fourteen meat turkeys were submitted for necropsy from 24 California ranches as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS). Enteritis was the most frequent pathologic diagnosis in birds 18 days old or younger and the second most frequent diagnosis in birds 19-70 days old. Hemorrhagic enteritis was the most frequent diagnosis in birds aged 19-70 days. Tibial dyschondroplasia, bronchopneumonia, and ascaridiasis were ranked one through three in frequency of diagnoses in birds over 70 days of age. Salmonella was isolated from 71% of flocks tested, and Mycoplasma meleagridis was isolated from 33% of tested flocks over 70 days of age. Antibodies to several disease agents were detected, including hemorrhagic enteritis (100% of flocks over 70 days old) and Newcastle disease (63% of flocks over 70 days old).     

Estimation of the costs of mastitis, using National Animal Health Monitoring System and milk somatic cell count data

Data collected by the National Animal Health Monitoring System in Ohio for a 12-month period during 1986 and 1987 were used to determine the relative magnitude of costs associated with mastitis in the following categories: milk production loss, veterinary services, drugs, producer labor, and "other" factors. The cost of milk loss associated with mastitis that was reported by producers cooperating in the National Animal Health Monitoring System program was compared with estimates based on bulk tank somatic cell counts and individual cow milk somatic cell counts. Using producer-reported estimates, milk loss accounted for about one third of the total cost associated with mastitis. When estimates of milk loss were replaced by estimates based on bulk tank somatic cell counts, milk loss accounted for over 80% of the total cost of mastitis. Estimates of the cost of milk loss based on studies relating milk yield to somatic cell counts differed considerably. Consequently, it was unclear how to best estimate the relative magnitude of the milk loss component of mastitis costs.     

Annual incidence, prevalence and transmission characteristics of Streptococcus agalactiae in Danish dairy herds

Contagious mastitis pathogens continue to pose an economic threat to the dairy industry. An understanding of their frequency and transmission dynamics is central to evaluating the effectiveness of control programmes. The objectives of this study were twofold: (1) to estimate the annual herd-level incidence rates and apparent prevalences of Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) in the population of Danish dairy cattle herds over a 10-year period from 2000 to 2009 inclusive and (2) to estimate the herd-level entry and exit rates (demographic parameters), the transmission parameter, β, and recovery rate for S. agalactiae infection. Data covering the specified period, on bacteriological culture of all bulk tank milk samples collected annually as part of the mandatory Danish S. agalactiae surveillance scheme, were extracted from the Danish Cattle Database and subsequently analysed. There was an increasing trend in both the incidence and prevalence of S. agalactiae over the study period. Per 100 herd-years the value of β was 54.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 46.0-63.7); entry rate 0.3 (95% CI 0.2-0.4); infection-related exit rate 7.1 (95% CI 5.6-8.9); non-infection related exit rate 9.2 (95% CI 7.4-11.5) and recovery rate 40.0 (95% CI 36.8-43.5). This study demonstrates a need to tighten the current controls against S. agalactiae in order to lower its incidence.     

Managing lead exposure and toxicity in cow-calf herds to minimize the potential for food residues.

Lead poisoning is commonly diagnosed in cattle. In this study, 3 groups of cattle from different herds accidentally exposed to discarded lead batteries on pasture were intensively studied to determine the extent and severity of exposure. The losses from acute death due to lead toxicity were substantial in all the 3 study groups at 12%, 17%, and 4%. Blood samples were taken from all cattle around the time of the first diagnosis and then later in 2 of the 3 herds to monitor the change in lead concentrations over time. Asymptomatic lead toxicosis was observed in these herds. In these 3 groups, between 4% and 12% of asymptomatic cattle had blood lead concentrations consistent with acute lead poisoning (> 0.35 ppm), and between 7% and 40% of these asymptomatic animals were in the high-normal range (0.1-0.35 ppm). Because of the consistently high number of asymptomatic cattle with elevated lead levels, all cattle potentially exposed to a lead source should be tested before sale or slaughter to minimize the entry of lead into the food chain. The blood lead concentrations, which were monitored for months after the initial diagnosis, decreased slowly after the cattle were removed from the lead source. The prolonged retention of lead may be due to continued release and absorption of lead from metal particles in the reticulum or rumen. The mean reduction in the lead level was 0.046 ppm (95% CI, 0.017-0.075 ppm) every 30 days for these 2 herds. Using a single-component exponential model, the half-life of lead in the animals retested from Herds 1 and 2 was highly variable. The median half-life was 63 days (interquartile range, 34-107 days). One out of 8 pregnant heifers with high blood levels had a stillborn calf. There were no abortions or calf mortalities in this group. Blood samples were'collected from the calves around the time of birth. The concentrations of lead in the blood of the calves exposed in utero were low (0.010-0.095 ppm).     

National survey of clinical and subclinical mastitis in Jamaican dairy herds, 1985–1986

Summary Between April 1985 and August 1986, 89 Jamaican dairy herds with 10 or more cows were visited, 1, 645 lactating cows were examined using the CMT test and 254 composite milk samples collected for bacteriological examination. Widespread management faults were noted, especially of milking machine usage and maintenance and the abuse of antibiotics. Fifty-six per cent of all quarters were found to have CMT scores of one or higher, 0·8% showed clinical mastitis and 3·2% were blind. The most common bacterial pathogenStaphylococcus aureus, was recovered from 31% of sampled cows. The resultant milk loss from clinical and subclinical mastitis was estimated to be 20% of the potential national production.

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Resumen Se visitaron 89 hatos lecheros con 10 o más, vacas en Jamaica, entre abril 1985 y agosto 1986. Se examinaron un total ede 1·645 vacas lactantes, por medio de la prueba California para mastitis, colectando a la vez 254 muestras compuestas de leche, para exámenes, bacteriológicos. Se detectaron un sinnúmero de fallas en el manejo, especialmente relacionados con el uso y mantenimeiento de las máquinas de orde?o, y con el abuso de antibióticos. Cincuenta y seis por ciento de todos los cuartos tenían mastitis clínica y 3·2% estaban ciegos. El patógeno más común fue elStaphylococcus aureus, el cual se recuperó de 31% de las vacas examinadas. La pérdida de leche resultante de mastitis clínica o subclínica, se calculó en un 20% de la producción nacional potencial.

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Résumé Entre avril 1985 et ao?t 1986, 89 troupeaux laitiers jama?cains de 10 vaches et plus, ont fait l'objet d'une enquête. 1645 vaches en lactation ont été contr?lées à l'aide du test californien pour le dépistage de la mammite (CMT) et 254 prélèvements de lait de mélange ont été récoltés pour un examen bactériologique. Des erreurs fréquentes de conduite du troupeau ont été notées particulièrement dans l'emploid des machines à traire et dans leur entretien ainsi que dans l'abus des antibiotiques. 56 p. 100 des quartiers avaient un résultat égal ou supérieur à 1 ou plus au test californien (CMT), 0,8 p. 100 étaient atteints d'une mammite clinique et 3,2 p. 100 étaient “secs”. Le germe pathogène le plus fréquent,Staphylococcus aureus a été trouvé chez 31 p. 100 des vaches examinées. On estime a 20 p. 100 du potential national de production la perte de lait résultant de ces mammites cliniques et subcliniques.

     

动物健康体系建设与公共卫生一体化

动物健康体系最初在澳大利亚和加拿大等国建立,在动物疾病防控方面起到了十分重要的作用。本文对澳大利亚已建立的动物健康体系和我国兽医医疗体制进行对比,分析在我国建立更合理的官方兽医制度和动物健康体系以加快兽医与人医公共卫生一体化进程的对策。     

Characterization of Minnesota dairy herds participating in a Johne's disease control program and evaluation of the program risk assessment tool

The objectives of this study were to: (1) characterize Minnesota dairy herds participating in a Johne's disease control program (JDCP) based on herd size, milk production, and clinical Johne's disease (JD) history, (2) evaluate if change in farm management practices, expressed in risk assessment (RA) total score, is associated with the change between the first and most recent ELISA test herd seroprevalence or change in clinical JD culling rate, and (3) identify farm factors associated with ELISA seroprevalence. A total of 1234 RA, performed between January 2000 and February 2004, were available for analysis from 714 dairy herds. ELISA test results from herd sampling between 2000 and 2004 were obtained from the Minnesota board of animal health (MBAH) database, and were available for 474 herds. Both the first and the most recent ELISA test results for herds with more than one RA were available for 262 herds. Mean herd size and mean annual milk production per cow was higher in JDCP dairy herds (161 milking cows) than either all Minnesota dairy herds or Minnesota dairy herd improvement association (DHIA) herds. For herds with more than one RA available, the most recent RA total score was significantly lower (mean 11% less) than the first. The change in RA total score (and any RA subtotal scores) between the first and most recent RA was not associated with the change between the first and the most recent ELISA within-herd seroprevalence or the change in JD culling rate between the first and most recent RA. The most recent ELISA test results were positively associated with postweaned heifer score and JD culling rate. The RA score was not found to be an effective tool for the prediction of ELISA seroprevalence.     

The effects of induced parturition on the incidence of clinical disease and mortality in dairy cows from commercial herds in south-western Victoria

SUMMARY The effects of induced parturition on clinical disease and mortality of cows were studied in 51 winter-calving, pasture-fed, dairy herds in south-western Victoria. Parturition was induced when most cows were between 27 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Control groups were selected from herdmates that were not induced to calve. The incidence of retained placenta was much greater among induced cows of all ages. The proportion of cows affected by any clinical disease other than retained placenta, and the incidence of mortality were much greater after induction among cows aged over 6 years but not among cows aged 3 to 6 years.     

Seroprevalence of Trichinella infection in domestic swine based on the National Animal Health Monitoring System's 1990 and 1995 swine surveys

Swine sera collected by the US Department of Agriculture's Center for Animal Health Monitoring during 1990 and 1995 was tested for antibodies to Trichinella spiralis using an enzyme immunoassay. From a total of 3048 sera collected from lactating sows in 1990, five sera tested positive for a prevalence of 0.16%. From a total of 7987 sera collected from both finishing pigs and gestating sows in 1995, one serum was positive for a prevalence of 0.013%. Responses to questionnaires administered at the time of serum collection showed that seropositive farms had management variables consistent with known risk factors for exposure to trichinae.     

Situation of bovine salmonellosis in Germany from 1995-2003 according to the data from the National Animal Disease Reporting System

The communication gives an overview on the epidemiological situation of bovine salmonellosis in Germany. Bases for the data presented are the information of the officially confirmed outbreaks of salmonellosis in cattle collected in the National Animal Disease Reporting System since 1995. From 1995 to 2003 the number of annually registered outbreaks of salmonellosis in cattle in Germany amounted on an average to 221,2 +/- 26,5. Because of the decrease in cattle population in this period the number of reported outbreaks of salmonellosis increased significantly (P < or =) in ratio to the number of cattle keeping farms. In Germany, Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Typhimurium var. copenhagen caused approximately 50 % of the annually reported outbreaks of bovine salmonellosis between 1995 and 2002 and therefore represent the most important serovars. The cattle adapted Salmonella serovar Dublin was responsible for about 15 % to 20 % of the outbreaks from 1995-2000, afterwards its share increased continuously to 38 % in 2003. Between 1995 and 2003 Salmonella Abony was the causative agent of 7 % to 21 % and Salmonella Enteritidis very constantly of 5 % to 6 % of the annual outbreaks. Numerous other serovars also may cause outbreaks of bovine salmonellosis, however, that were mostly single cases which did not result in further outbreaks in other years of the period observed. The temporal distribution of the reported cases of salmonellosis reveals a strong correspondence over the years. The lowest number of new cases is registered annually in months April/ May. Afterwards the number of outbreaks increases steadily until September/ October, followed by an decrease in the monthly reported cases of salmonellosis in cattle.     

美国国家动物卫生实验室网络组建与发展现状

2002年,为提升动物外来病入侵和生物恐怖袭击的应对能力,美国以联邦、州立和大学动物卫生诊断实验室为基础,组建了国家动物卫生实验室网络(NAHLN)。十多年来,NAHLN几乎覆盖了美国所有公立动物疫病诊断实验室,网络体系趋于完善;通过联邦和各州持续投资,NAHLN实验室强化了生物安全设施、标准化快检技术、质量体系、电子报告系统、人员素质和应急监测预案等6方面建设,能力大幅提升;按照早发现、快反应、有序恢复(无疫)的理念,设置了风险监测、应急监测、无疫监测3种模式,对10余种优先防范和控制病种实施分类监测,在发现疫情和证实无疫方面发挥了重要作用,HANLN的名字由此得到了美国政府、国会和行业的认可。同时,HANLN也面临着经费支持不足、被动监测组织性不够等问题。     

动物饲料对控制动物和人类健康危害的重要性

动物饲料是动物性食品安全生产过程中的重要环节,加强动物饲料中危害的控制,才能保障动物和人类健康。论文通过对世界动物卫生组织2009年《陆生动物卫生法典》有关章节进行翻译和整理,强调动物饲料对控制动物和人类健康危害的重要性,介绍OIE关于动物饲料管理的基本原则,以提高我国对动物饲料危害的重视程度,也为进一步完善动物饲料的安全控制措施提供参考。     

A questionnaire on the health, management, and performance of cow-calf herds in Québec.

Questionnaires were mailed to 520 cow-calf producers in Québec in order to compare management practices and herd performance according to herd size (small: < 40 females, or large: > or = 40 females) and in 4 geographic areas for the 1995 calving season. Owners of large herds adopted management practice and preventive measures more often than did owners of small herds. Average calving and weaning rates were 95% and 87% respectively. Average perinatal and preweaning mortality rates were between 4.9% and 5.6%. A greater percentage of owners with large herds than owners of small herds reported diarrhea and pneumonia problems. Among large herds, the number of herds experiencing pneumonia and calf mortality associated with diarrhea tended to be higher in areas of the northwest. Calf mortality due to pneumonia was higher in the northeast. No regional variation was found among small herds. Further research is needed to identify diseases risk factors.     

河南省动物卫生监督体系现状分析及思考

在农业综合执法改革和河南省直事业单位重塑性改革的背景下,河南省各级动物卫生监督体系完成了机构改革和职能调整。本文通过调研,从动物卫生监督机构性质、改革情况、人员队伍、工作经费、设备保障等方面,深入分析了河南省动物卫生监督体系现状,指出了当前存在的机构弱化、队伍不稳定、保障不到位、工作机制不健全等发展痛点。结合河南省探索开展的绩效评估、动物检疫工作专项整治、网络稽查、河南智慧兽医云平台等措施,提出了完善机构、健全工作机制、强化队伍建设、充分发挥信息化效能等对策建议,以期为构建动物卫生监督长效机制提供参考。     

An examination of the prevalence of and risk factors for shedding of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in cows and calves from western Canadian cow-calf herds

The primary objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence and risk factors for Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. infection in cows and calves during the calving season in western Canadian cow-calf herds. Through the calving season of 2002, fresh fecal samples were collected from 560 beef cows and 605 calves in western Canada. Feces were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. using a quantitative sucrose gradient immunoflourescent antibody test. Samples were collected from mature cows on 59 farms and from calves on 100 farms. Only 1.1% (5/560) of the cows were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. whereas 3.1% (19/605) of the calves were positive. Prevalence for Giardia spp. was much higher; Giardia spp. was detected in 17.0% (95/560) of the cow and 22.6% (137/605) of calf fecal samples. Data describing herd management practices, treatment and disease history, age, gender, breed and fecal consistency were gathered to assess potential risk factors associated with shedding. The association between the risk of shedding and average precipitation from December to June and ecological region were also evaluated. Risk factors for infection with Cryptosporidium spp. in either cows or calves could not be evaluated because the multilevel model would not converge due to the relatively low prevalence of the organism in this sample. The prevalence for Giardia spp. was sufficient to explore potential risk factors in both cows and calves. No risk factors were identified for Giardia spp. in beef cows following calving. After the construction of a multivariable model, the only significant predictors for Giardia spp. presence in beef calves was dam age and calf age. Calves born to 2-year-old heifers were 2.3 (95% CI, 1.09-5.06; P = 0.031) times more likely to be shedding Giardia spp. then calves born to cows that were 4-10 years of age. Calves that were 9-18 days of age and calves that were > 18 days of age were 22.4 (95% CI, 5.88-88.18; P < 0.001) and 150 (95% CI, 39.72-603.19; P < 0.001) times more likely, respectively, to be shedding Giardia spp. than calves < or = 4 days of age.