Are Endocrine Disrupting Compounds a Threat to Farm Animal Health,Welfare and Productivity?

Contents The sources and characteristics of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are reviewed and discussed with respect to their potential effects on farm animal health, welfare and productivity. The importance of certain properties of these compounds in relation to the expression of their biological effects is addressed together with potential routes of exposure. It is concluded that little is known of factors affecting the tissue concentrations of EDCs in farm animals, the concentrations that are required to perturb physiological function in these species, the effects of prolonged exposure to low doses, the effect of cocktails of EDCs and other pollutants or the responses of specific organs and physiological systems that are affected by EDCs. Much of the available information pertaining to EDCs is derived from epidemiological studies of wildlife species and from laboratory animal studies and while these studies have significant limitations, they are considered to be valuable indicators of potential effects in farm animal species. The results of such studies, together with the small amounts of data from studies of ruminants, indicate that there may be significant effects of exposure to environmental levels of EDCs on farm animal health, even although effects are not generally apparent in practice, at this time.     

The selection of sexual partners of different species by mammals

It appears biologically sensible that every animal seeks its mating partner within its own species. Sexual contact with alien species may occur when animals are isolated from members of their own species, particularly, however, after they have been raised in the environment of alien species. Copulations of this nature do not, as a rule, result in offspring, although an entire series of bastards among closely related species is known. Among domestic animals bastardization is partly planned systematically as this has advantages in comparison to original forms. Sodomy, i.e. interspecific sexual contact between a human being and an animal, was already described in ancient times.     

Emerging enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, causes and effects of the rise of a human pathogen

Shiga toxin (Stx) [Verotoxin (VT)]-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), also called enterohaemorrhagic E. coli or VTEC are emerging zoonotic agents and became most important as human pathogens, particularly in the industrialized countries. Production of cytotoxins, also called Stx or VT, is the major pathogenicity determinant of STEC, which can cause life-threatening haemorrhagic diseases in humans. The spectrum of STEC phenotypes is diverse and domestic and wildlife animals constitute important reservoirs for these bacteria. STEC are spread from animal faeces to the environment, water and food. Ingestion of contaminated foodstuff and water, as well as contact with the environment, STEC-excreting animals or humans are the major sources of human infection. Economical changes in animal and food production, alteration of consumer habits and lack of specific immune response, particularly in urbanized populations, have contributed to the recent spread of STEC as a zoonotic agent. Supranational surveillance networks as well as national reference laboratories as sentinels play an important role in the prevention and control of STEC infections in humans. Development of new vaccines and probiotics may serve as future tools to control the spread of STEC in animals and humans.     

Marine mammals as sentinel species for oceans and human health

The long-term consequences of climate change and potential environmental degradation are likely to include aspects of disease emergence in marine plants and animals. In turn, these emerging diseases may have epizootic potential, zoonotic implications, and a complex pathogenesis involving other cofactors such as anthropogenic contaminant burden, genetics, and immunologic dysfunction. The concept of marine sentinel organisms provides one approach to evaluating aquatic ecosystem health. Such sentinels are barometers for current or potential negative impacts on individual- and population-level animal health. In turn, using marine sentinels permits better characterization and management of impacts that ultimately affect animal and human health associated with the oceans. Marine mammals are prime sentinel species because many species have long life spans, are long-term coastal residents, feed at a high trophic level, and have unique fat stores that can serve as depots for anthropogenic toxins. Marine mammals may be exposed to environmental stressors such as chemical pollutants, harmful algal biotoxins, and emerging or resurging pathogens. Since many marine mammal species share the coastal environment with humans and consume the same food, they also may serve as effective sentinels for public health problems. Finally, marine mammals are charismatic megafauna that typically stimulate an exaggerated human behavioral response and are thus more likely to be observed.     

Seroprevalence and Toxoplasma gondii-IgG avidity in sheep from Lajes, Brazil

Sheep are important domestic animals in the Northeast region of Brazil due to their minimal rearing and maintenance costs, and to their production of both meat and milk. In animals, Toxoplasma gondii infection results in significant reproductive and economic losses. The epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in sheep in the Northeast of Brazil has been little studied; particularly in Rio Grande do Norte State. Sera from 102 sheep intended for consumption in Lajes were subjected to the Toxoplasma-ELISA test to detect anti-T. gondii specific IgG confirming a past infection. Of the total tested, 30 (29.41%) sera were positive for IgG with an increasing number of positive animals with advancing age. We used IgG avidity ELISA in 30 positive samples and observed that 6 (20%) had low avidity antibodies and 24 (80%) had high avidity antibodies. Epidemiological studies are required in order to identify sources of infection for these hosts as well as their impact on animal breeding in the region and risk of transmission to humans.     

Hepatitis E virus and related viruses in wild,domestic and zoo animals: A review

Hepatitis E is a human disease mainly characterized by acute liver illness, which is caused by infection with the hepatitis E virus (HEV). Large hepatitis E outbreaks have been described in developing countries; however, the disease is also increasingly recognized in industrialized countries. Mortality rates up to 25% have been described for pregnant women during outbreaks in developing countries. In addition, chronic disease courses could be observed in immunocompromised transplant patients. Whereas the HEV genotypes 1 and 2 are mainly confined to humans, genotypes 3 and 4 are also found in animals and can be zoonotically transmitted to humans. Domestic pig and wild boar represent the most important reservoirs for these genotypes. A distinct subtype of genotype 3 has been repeatedly detected in rabbits and a few human patients. Recently, HEV genotype 7 has been identified in dromedary camels and in an immunocompromised transplant patient. The reservoir animals get infected with HEV without showing any clinical symptoms. Besides these well‐known animal reservoirs, HEV‐specific antibodies and/or the genome of HEV or HEV‐related viruses have also been detected in many other animal species, including primates, other mammals and birds. In particular, genotypes 3 and 4 infections are documented in many domestic, wildlife and zoo animal species. In most cases, the presence of HEV in these animals can be explained by spillover infections, but a risk of virus transmission through contact with humans cannot be excluded. This review gives a general overview on the transmission pathways of HEV to humans. It particularly focuses on reported serological and molecular evidence of infections in wild, domestic and zoo animals with HEV or HEV‐related viruses. The role of these animals for transmission of HEV to humans and other animals is discussed.     

Behavioural adaptation in the domestic horse: potential role of apparently abnormal responses including stereotypic behaviour

Classically, biologists have considered adaptation of behavioural characteristics in terms of long-term functional benefits to the individual, such as survival or reproductive fitness. In captive species, including the domestic horse, this level of explanation is limited, as for the most part, horses are housed in conditions that differ markedly from those in which they evolved. In addition, an individual horse's reproductive fitness is largely determined by man rather than its own behavioural strategies. Perhaps for reasons of this kind, explanations of behavioural adaptation to environmental challenges by domestic animals, including the capacity to learn new responses to these challenges, tend to concentrate on the proximate causes of behaviour. However, understanding the original function of these adaptive responses can help us explain why animals perform apparently novel or functionless activities in certain housing conditions and may help us to appreciate what the animal welfare implications might be. This paper reviews the behavioural adaptation of the domestic horse to captivity and discusses how apparently abnormal behaviour may not only provide a useful practical indicator of specific environmental deficiencies but may also serve the animal as an adaptive response to these deficiencies in an “abnormal” environment.     

Endocrine Disruptors and Other Food-contaminating Environmental Pollutants as Risk Factors in Animal Reproduction

Pollutants of many chemical classes, derived primarily from anthropogenic activities, are ubiquitous in the environment, persistent, biologically available and can exert adverse effects on the reproductive and other, indirectly related, physiological systems. Food is generally considered to be the major route of animal exposure in vertebrate species but the relative contributions of other routes of exposure such as through lungs, gills or skin are not well studied and may be of importance for certain animal groups, depending on their immediate environment. Animals are particularly sensitive to exposure during developmental stages but the pattern of exposure to chemicals is likely to be different to that of adults. Quantification of the risk posed by the ingestion of pollutants in food is complex and depends on many factors including species, diet composition, duration of exposure to the food, efficiency of pollutant absorption, subsequent metabolism, sensitivity of target organs and stage of development. While the effects of high doses of single chemicals are proven, dietary exposure to pollutants generally involves prolonged, low-level exposure to a large number of compounds, each of which has different chemical characteristics, exerts different biological effects and is present at varying concentrations. Thus, while exposure to pollutants through feed is undoubtedly a significant risk factor for many species and may be the most important one for many terrestrial vertebrates, other routes of exposure may be more important in other groups.     

豆科牧草的植物雌激素含量及其影响因素

豆科牧草尤其是三叶草属和紫花苜蓿含有丰富的植物雌激素.植物雌激素因化学结构与动物雌激素相似而发挥雌激素和抗雌激素的生物学功能.在畜牧生产中,适量的植物雌激素具有促进家畜生长以及提高机体免疫能力等作用,但家畜采食过多,则会引起家畜特别是反刍家畜繁殖功能的紊乱.然而,豆科牧草的植物雌激素含量在植物生育期变化幅度大,且受到许多因素影响,如植物、生态和栽培管理等,这些因素可能提高或降低豆科牧草的植物雌激素含量,因此了解这些因素对豆科牧草植物雌激素含量的影响,可以在畜牧生产中利用植物雌激素有利的作用和避免不利的作用。     

布鲁菌病及其研究进展

布鲁菌病常发生于牛、羊、猪等家畜,且可传染给人和其他家畜,主要特征是生殖器官和胎膜发炎,从而导致繁殖障碍,给畜牧业和人类健康带来严重危害。主要结合文献对布鲁菌病相关知识进行介绍,以期为有效防控该病提供参考。     

豆科牧草的植物雌激素含量及其影响因素

豆科牧草尤其是三叶草属和紫花苜蓿含有丰富的植物雌激素。植物雌激素因化学结构与动物雌激素相似而发挥雌激素和抗雌激素的生物学功能。在畜牧生产中,适量的植物雌激素具有促进家畜生长以及提高机体免疫能力等作用,但家畜采食过多,则会引起家畜特别是反刍家畜繁殖功能的紊乱。然而,豆科牧草的植物雌激素含量在植物生育期变化幅度大,且受到许多因素影响,如植物、生态和栽培管理等,这些因素可能提高或降低豆科牧草的植物雌激素含量,因此了解这些因素对豆科牧草植物雌激素含量的影响,可以在畜牧生产中利用植物雌激素有利的作用和避免不利的作用。     

The effect of phytoestrogens on the reproductive tract

Environmental estrogens may be derived from plants (phytoestrogens), pharmaceuticals or synthetic compounds. They exert estrogenic and/or potentially antiestrogenic effects on farm animals, wildlife and humans. Exposure to these compounds results in some abnormalities in the reproductive tract, changes in the estrous cycle, and possibly protection against the development of hormone-dependent cancer. The data obtained from animal studies suggest that the timing of exposure to phytoestrogens is important, and neonatal exposure causes the most pronounced effects.     

Implications of mycotoxins in animal disease

Mycotoxins are formed on animal feeds when conditions of moisture and temperature permit the growth of naturally occurring toxigenic fungi. In general, mycotoxins are low molecular weight, nonantigenic substances, many of which are relatively heat stable. Mycotoxins can cause acute disease episodes when animals consume critical quantities of them. Specific toxins affect specific organs or tissues such as the liver, kidney, oral and gastric mucosa, brain, or reproductive tract. In acute mycotoxicoses, the signs of disease often are marked and directly referable to the affected target organs. Most frequently, however, concentrations of mycotoxin in feeds are below those that cause acute disease. At lower concentrations, the effects of mycotoxins are more protean. They reduce the growth rate of young animals, and some interfere with native mechanisms of resistance and impair immunologic responsiveness, making the animals more susceptible to infection. These effects on immunity and resistance are difficult to recognize because the signs of disease are associated with the infection rather than with the mycotoxin that predisposed the animal to infection. Animals vary in their susceptibility to some mycotoxins, according to the species and age of animal; young growing animals are more susceptible to certain mycotoxins than are adults. The major effects, sources, and dose response relationships of mycotoxins important to the health of food-producing animals are presented in accompanying tables.     

野生动物资源保护相关的若干人工辅助生殖技术

利用低温生物学与人工辅助生殖技术（ART）保护生物资源,被证明是保护野生动物遗传资源的有效手段之一。野生动物的种质（卵母细胞、精子）或胚胎,相关的组织（卵巢、睾丸或附睾等）和体细胞均可以在-196℃超低温的环境下长期保持。人工辅助生殖技术除低温生物学技术外,还包括：人工授精技术;卵母细胞的体外成熟技术;体外受精技术以及胚胎移植;产前诊断等众多复杂的技术。但是,应用于野生动物的低温生物学和ART与应用与经济动物和实验动物时有很大差异,特别是某些需保种的珍稀或濒危野生动物数量有限,野生动物冷冻保种时有许多技术困难急待克服。例如：野生动物种质冷冻样品的采集问题;各种野生动物冷冻胚胎和冷冻精子时可能采取的最佳冷冻保护程序及不同的冷冻保护剂。特别是如何选取适当的野生动物受体成为制约其发展的一个瓶颈。     

Issues and special features of animal health research

ABSTRACT: In the rapidly changing context of research on animal health, INRA launched a collective discussion on the challenges facing the field, its distinguishing features, and synergies with biomedical research. As has been declared forcibly by the heads of WHO, FAO and OIE, the challenges facing animal health, beyond diseases transmissible to humans, are critically important and involve food security, agriculture economics, and the ensemble of economic activities associated with agriculture. There are in addition issues related to public health (zoonoses, xenobiotics, antimicrobial resistance), the environment, and animal welfare.Animal health research is distinguished by particular methodologies and scientific questions that stem from the specific biological features of domestic species and from animal husbandry practices. It generally does not explore the same scientific questions as research on human biology, even when the same pathogens are being studied, and the discipline is rooted in a very specific agricultural and economic context.Generic and methodological synergies nevertheless exist with biomedical research, particularly with regard to tools and biological models. Certain domestic species furthermore present more functional similarities with humans than laboratory rodents.The singularity of animal health research in relation to biomedical research should be taken into account in the organization, evaluation, and funding of the field through a policy that clearly recognizes the specific issues at stake. At the same time, the One Health approach should facilitate closer collaboration between biomedical and animal health research at the level of research teams and programmes.     

Mammalian microsporidiosis

The phylum Microspora contains a diverse group of single-celled, obligate intracellular protozoa sharing a unique organelle, the polar filament, and parasitizing a wide variety of invertebrate and vertebrate animals, including insects, fish, birds, and mammals. Encephalitozoon cuniculi is the classic microsporidial parasite of mammals, and encephalitozoonosis in rabbits and rodents has been and continues to be recognized as a confounding variable in animal-based biomedical research. Although contemporary research colonies are screened for infection with this parasite, E. cuniculi remains a cause of morbidity and mortality in pet and conventionally raised rabbits. In addition, E. cuniculi is a potential pathogen of immature domestic dogs and farm-raised foxes. The recent discovery and identification of Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitozoon hellem, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi, in addition to E. cuniculi, as opportunistic pathogens of humans have renewed interest in the Microspora. Veterinary pathologists, trained in the comparative anatomy of multiple animal species and infectious disease processes, are in a unique position to contribute to the diagnosis and knowledge of the pathogenesis of these parasitic diseases. This review article covers the life cycle, ultrastructure, and biology of mammalian microsporaidia and the clinical disease and lesions seen in laboratory and domestic animals, particularly as they relate to Encephalitozoon species. Human microsporidial disease and animal models of human infection are also addressed. Often thought of as rabbit pathogens of historical importance, E. cuniculi and the related mammalian microsporidia are emerging as significant opportunistic pathogens of immunocompromised individuals.     

Zearalenone--undesirable substances in feed

The main arguments, discussed by different international organizations, which confirm the significance of problems connected with the presence of zearalenone in animal feed materials and their influence on the safety of food materials are shown in this review article. The main world research trends focused on zearalenone, as undesirable substances, are also presented. A variety of Fusarium fungi produce a number of different mycotoxins, for example zearalenone. Is not true that Fusarium fungi are they the most prevalent toxin-producing fungi only in the northern temperate regions, are also commonly found on cereals grown in the temperate regions of America, Europe and Asia. Zearalenone have been shown to cause a variety of toxic effects in both experimental animals and livestock, and have also been suspected of causing toxicity in humans. Zearalenone is a stable compound, both during storage/milling and the processing/cooking of food, and it does not degrade at high temperatures. Studies of metabolism indicate that zearalenone is fairly rapidly absorbed following oral administration, with the formation of alpha- and beta-zearalenol and alpha- and alpha-zearalanol, which are subsequently conjugated with glucuronic acid. This mycotoxin and some of these metabolites have been shown to competitively bind to estrogen receptors in a number of in vitro systems. Binding to specific receptors has been demonstrated in the uterus, mammary gland, liver and hypothalamus of different species. Additionaly alterations of immunological parameters were found at high zearalenone concentrations in vitro. Zearalenone causes alterations in the reproductive tract of laboratory animals and domestic animals. Various estrogenic effects such as decreased fertility, increased embryolethal resorptions, reduced litter size, changed weight of adrenal, thyroid and pituitary glands and change in serum levels of progesterone and estradiol have been observed, and teratogenic effects were found in pigs and sheep. It may be that the safety of zearalenone could be evaluated on the basis of the dose which had no hormonal effects in pigs, the most sensitive species, and a temporary Tolerable Daily Intake for zearalenone of 0.2 microgram/kg of body weight, could be established.     

Liposarcoma in the nasal cavity of a cow

Liposarcomas are rare neoplasms in domestic animals, but have been reported to occur in many species. In humans, liposarcoma is one of the most common malignant mesenchymal tumors. Classification of liposarcomas in humans has been well established and categorization by type can be of prognostic value; no such unique classification scheme has been established for liposarcomas in animals. Liposarcoma of the head and neck in humans are uncommon, and are rarely reported in the nasal cavity, sinuses, and nasopharynx. To our knowledge, a liposarcoma has never been reported in the nasal cavity of a domestic animal. In this report we describe a liposarcoma that developed in the nasal cavity of a cow, with local invasion into the oral cavity.     

The role of wildlife in transboundary animal diseases

This paper identifies some of the more important diseases at the wildlife-livestock interface and the role wildlife plays in disease transmission. Domestic livestock, wildlife and humans share many similar pathogens. Pathogens of wild or domestic animal origin that can cause infections in humans are known as zoonotic organisms and the converse are termed as anthroponotic organisms. Seventy-seven percent of livestock pathogens and 91% of domestic carnivore pathogens are known to infect multiple hosts, including wildlife. Understanding this group of pathogens is critical to public health safety, because they infect a wide range of hosts and are most likely to emerge as novel causes of infection in humans and domestic animals. Diseases at the wildlife-livestock interface, particularly those that are zoonotic, must be an area of focus for public health programs and surveillance for emerging infectious diseases. Additionally, understanding wildlife and their role is a vital part of understanding the epidemiology and ecology of diseases. To do this, a multi-faceted approach combining capacity building and training, wildlife disease surveillance, wildlife-livestock interface and disease ecology studies, data and information sharing and outbreak investigation are needed.     

The occurrence and significance of Campylobacter jejuni in man and animals

Campylobacter jejuni, which is now recognized as a discrete species, is a gram negative, microaerophilic, thermophilic, nalidixic acid sensitive, hippurate positive pathogen requiring special selective media for propogation. The organism is widely distributed in avian species, experimental and companion animals and in humans. Mammalian campylobacteriosis is characterized by an enterocolitis of variable severity. The prevalence of the condition is relatively high in young individuals, in underdeveloped countries and in subjects with diarrhea. Food animals, especially poultry, are reservoirs of the organism and infection occurs following consumption of untreated surface water, unpasteurized milk, incompletely cooked meat or other contaminated food products. Close contact with infected immature companion animals is a significant cause of campylobacteriosis in children and direct intrafamilial transmission and occupational infection have been documented. Campylobacteriosis attributable to C. jejuni is a condition of emerging significance which arises principally from deficiencies in hygiene inherent in the environment and in the food chain which extends from domestic animals to the consumer.