Tulathromycin: an overview of a new triamilide antibiotic for livestock respiratory disease

Tulathromycin is a novel triamilide antimicrobial that has been approved for use in the treatment and prevention of bovine respiratory disease and the treatment of swine respiratory disease in the European Union and the United States. The agent penetrates gram-negative bacteria well, and it exhibits mixed bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity. Tulathromycin is formulated as a ready-to-use, sterile aqueous solution, and the packaged concentration of 100 mg tulathromycin/ml allows low-volume dosing. This agent is characterized by rapid absorption from the injection site, extensive distribution to tissue, and slow elimination, thereby providing high, prolonged drug concentration in the lungs. Studies show that a single dose of tulathromycin is effective in treating cattle and swine with respiratory disease and in preventing high-risk cattle from developing respiratory disease.     

Gender issues in livestock production: a case study of Zimbabwe

The importance of main streaming gender issues in development programmes is now recognized by governments and development agents. This paper evaluates the role of gender in smallholder livestock production using Zimbabwe as a case study. It draws on several studies and assesses the gender dimension in terms of access and control, decision making and, division of labour. It is shown that for mainly traditional and historical reasons men continue to dominate livestock production although the situation is gradually changing. Men eclipse women in terms of ownership of more valuable stock, the making of decisions and the control of livestock production. This suggests that gender is important in livestock production and must be considered among other factors. The complexity of the system is noted but more gender disaggregated quantitative data is required if gender is to be effectively mainstreamed in livestock development programmes.     

The occurrence and antibiotic resistance of motile Aeromonas in livestock

The present study was carried out to assess the prevalence of motile Aeromonas spp. in the faeces of clinically healthy sheep, cattle and horses and evaluate their susceptibility to some anti-microbial agents. Rectal swabs from 120 sheep, 85 cattle and 20 horses were examined for Aeromonas species using alkaline peptone water (pH 8.4) as the enrichment medium and Aeromonas Selective Agar containing 5 mg/l ampicillin as the isolation medium. Identification and antibiotic resistance of motile Aeromonas strains was performed using Gram Negative Enteric ID panel. Motile aeromonads were isolated from 12 (10%) sheep, 7 (8.2%) cattle and 1 (5%) horse. Of these 20 aeromonad isolates, 13 were A. caviae, 6 were A.sobria and 1 was A. hydrophila. Aeromonas species in the faeces of livestock might pose a public health problem for humans who are in direct contact with contaminated animals. However, further studies should be performed on aeromonads relating to their transmission between animals and humans.     

畜禽产品中残留抗生素的危害及消除方法

人们在谈论抗生素的危害时,经常强调需要在动物饲料中限制使用抗生素。从2006年1月开始,欧盟要求全面禁止在动物饲料中添加抗生素,随后日本和韩国等发达国家也建立了相应的条例,国际奥委会也要求北京为2008年奥运会提供符合欧盟要求的抗生素含量极低的安全肉食品。     

畜禽粪便抗生素残留及其对环境的影响

随着我国畜禽养殖业迅速发展,畜牧业已成为农业和农村经济的支柱产业。在畜禽养殖业快速发展的同时,兽用抗生素的种类以及数量也在逐年增加,畜禽粪便中抗生素的残留所带来的环境问题已不容忽视。本文综述了国内外近年来畜禽粪便中抗生素残留情况,综合分析了畜禽粪便中抗生素残留对环境的影响及其处理方法,并对今后的研究重点做出了展望。     

Brucellosis seroprevalence in livestock in Uganda from 1998 to 2008: a retrospective study

A total of 17,359 samples were analysed serologically, of which 1,061, 15,758 and 585 samples were from Makerere, Entebbe and Tororo laboratories, respectively, were used to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis. The overall seroprevalence of brucellosis was 10% while from individual laboratories was 38%, 32% and 7% for Makerere, Entebbe and Tororo laboratories, respectively. Majority of these positive brucellosis test results were in the cattle corridor with P value = 0.399. There were significant differences in brucellosis seroprevalence among species (P value = 0.014). The trends of brucellosis seroprevalence among the different species were decreasing with time but were highest in bovine species (P value = 0.043). Brucellosis seroprevalence had a bimodal monthly pattern corresponding with rainfall. The study showed that brucellosis was prevalent, though the trend of the disease has declined over years. It was recommended that regular disease surveillance, control programmes and further studies be carried out in the country.     

Head-only electrical stunning of poultry using a waterbath: a feasibility study

1. The objective of this work was to investigate the feasibility of head only waterbath stunning as a means of generating immediate and long lasting unconsciousness while preventing wing flapping and avoiding carcass damage. 2. EEG measurements showed that immersion of the heads of the broilers for one second in a waterbath containing water of conductivity 2 x 5 mS/cm and a 50 Hz electric field of 10 V/cm resulted in immediate unconsciousness, and that increasing the electric field strength extended the duration of unconsciousness. 3. The passage of a 25-30 mA alternating current of frequency 2000 Hz through the broilers' bodies suppressed the wing flapping that followed a stun. 4. When the body current and electric field were applied simultaneously, wing flapping was prevented and EEG signals were suppressed for over 30 seconds indicating that the immediate unconsciousness lasted long enough to facilitate humane slaughter.     

The sustainability, feasibility and desirability of breeding livestock for disease resistance

The sequence encoding a truncated E2 glycoprotein of the Alfort/187 strain of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) was expressed in Escherichia coli using the pET expression system and the recombinant product purified by Ni-NTA agarose affinity chromatography. The antigenicity of this recombinant protein was demonstrated by immunoblot using anti- CSFV-specific antibodies. A monoclonal antibody was produced against the truncated E2 protein and used as competitor in an ELISA for the detection of antibodies to CSFV. Specific antibodies were demonstrated by competitive ELISA (C-ELISA) as early as 21 days post-infection (dpi) in experimentally infected pigs. Seroconversion was demonstrated by C-ELISA and neutralising peroxidase-linked assay (NPLA) in all infected animals by 4 weeks. No cross-reaction with antibodies to bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was seen in the C-ELISA using sera from experimentally infected pigs. The C-ELISA is not intended as a substitute for the NPLA. However, it is expected it will be useful for monitoring and prevalence studies. It will also assist in testing a large number of samples in the event of an outbreak.     

International trade in livestock and livestock products: the need for a commodity-based approach

International animal health standards designed to facilitate safe trade in livestock and livestock products are set by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and documented in the OIE's Terrestrial Animal Health Code. A core principle of the Code is the need for countries to eradicate important transboundary animal diseases (TADs) to reduce the risk of exporting disease to trading partners. International food safety standards are set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, administered jointly by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The goal of global eradication of most TADs is unachievable for the foreseeable future, other than in the case of rinderpest, and this prevents many countries, especially developing nations, from engaging in international trade under WTO rules. This paper proposes an alternative, commodity-based approach to the formulation of international animal health and food safety standards, based on the fact that different commodities pose very different risks when it comes to the spread of human and animal pathogens. Therefore, the risk mitigation strategies required are equally commodity-dependent. The authors conclude that more focused commodity standards would improve access to international markets for all countries, especially those in the developing world. For this objective to be realised, credible and independent certification is required.     

Morphometry of the thoracic spine in German shepherd dog: a computed tomographic study

Computed tomographic images of the thoracic spine of 13 German shepherd dogs were examined in order to determine the thoracic spine morphometry. Examinations were carried out in the transverse plane both intervertebral and mid-vertebral levels of the each thoracic vertebrae. The dorsoventral and interpedicular diameters of the spinal canal, the dorsoventral and transverse diameters of the vertebral body, the dorsoventral and transverse diameters of the spinal cord and also the cross-section area of the spinal canal were measured. The maximum values were found to be at the level of C7-T1. The shapes of the spinal canal and cord were circular in middle part, the shape became transverse oval in the cranial and caudal parts of the thoracic spine. The most significant correlation between the diameters was found to be in male dogs, except between dorsoventral diameters of the spinal canal and that of the vertebral body and between dorsoventral diameters of the spinal canal and transverse diameters of the vertebral body.     

Dermatophilosis: a threat to livestock production in Ethiopia

A retrospective study of dermatophilosis was made in livestock (cattle, sheep, horses and goats) of Ethiopia under different situations. The disease was reported for the first time in sheep (8.5%), goats (3.14%) and horses (2.84%) from Ethiopia. The occurrence of the disease in cattle was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in wet (6%) than in dry (3.6%) season and in cross (26.9%) than local (3.2%) breeds. The highest prevalence (35%) was noted in cross breeds kept under poor management in the rainy season. The threat of dermatophilosis to animal production in Ethiopia is indicated. Environmental and management risk factors associated with the occurrence of the disease in Ethiopia are identified. The identified risk factors in this study may contribute to the knowledge of devising an optimal intervention in the control of the disease.     

East coast fever as a continued constraint to livestock improvement in tanzania: A case study

Summary An investigation was carried out into the cause of deaths in a recently established dairy farm with 211 animals. Clinical examination revealed that 14 out of 15 sick animals were depressed, pyrexic, anorexic and had variable degrees of respiratory distress and enlarged lymph nodes. These clinical signs were suggestive of East Coast fever (ECF). This was confirmed on positive demonstration of piroplasms and macroschizonts in blood and lymph node smears respectively, and on post-mortem examination. Parasites were also demonstrated in smears taken from 5 other animals which were pyrexic and had enlarged lymph nodes. Epidemiological investigation revealed that the occurrence of the disease was associated with contact with tick-infested pastures and unsatisfactory tick control due to improper dipping of the herd. The use of pasture by pastoral cattle which are rarely dipped also increased tick infestation. It is concluded that, unless effective disease control is applied ECF will continue to be a major killer disease of cattle in Tanzania.

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Fiebre De La Costa Este Como Una Continua Restriccion Para El Mejoramiento Del Ganado En Tanzania: Un Estduio De Caso

Resumen Se realizó una investigación para elucidar la causa de muertes en una lechería recientemente establecida, con un número de 211 animales. El examen clínico reveló que 14 de 15 animales enfermos estaban deprimidos, con fiebre, anorexia, dificultad respiratoria y adenitis. Los signos clínicos fueron sospechosos de Fiebre de la costa Este (FCE). Esto se comprobó mediante la demostración de piroplasmas y macroesquizontes en la sangre, gánglios linfáticos y examen postmortem. Los parásitos también se encontraron en frotis de otros cinco animales que tenian pirexia y adentitis. La investigación epidemiológica demostró que la enfermedad se debía al contacto del ganado con pasturas infestadas de garrapatas, y a baños acaricidas deficientes. La contaminación de las pasturas se debió a su uso por ganado comunal que no es bañado con frecuencia. Se concluye que si no se toman medidas drásticas de control, la FCE continuará siendo una de las peores enfermedades mortales para la ganadería de Tanzania.

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La Theileriose, Frein Permanent A L'Amelioration Du Betail En Tanzanie: Etude De Cas

Résumé Une récherche a été menée pour déterminer la cause de mortalité dans un élevage laitier de 211 animaux récemment installé. L'examen clinique a montré que 14 des 15 animaux malades présentaient de la dépression, de la pyrexie, de l'anorexie, de la détresse respiratoire à des degrés variables ainsi que des nodules lymphatiques étendus. Ces signes cliniques étaient révélateurs d'une theileriose, qui a été confirmée par la mise en évidence de piroplasmes et de macroschizontes dans le sang et les frottis de nodules lymphatiques et par l'autopsie. Les parasites ont également été démontrés dans les prélèvements réalisés sur cinq autres animaux qui étaient pyrexiques et avaient des nodules lymphatiques étendus. L'enquête épidémiologique a révélé que l'apparition de la maladie était au contact avec des pâturages infectés de tiques et une lutte insatisfaisante contre les tiques causée par un bain acaricide inefficace pour le troupeau. L'infestation accrue par les tiques de pâturages en rotation était due à leur usage par des troupeaux de bovins rarement traités au bain détiqueur. En conclusion, si une lutte efficace contre la maladie n'est pas entreprise, la theileriose restera la maladie des bovins la plus mortelle en Tanzanie.

     

The transmission potential of Rift Valley fever virus among livestock in the Netherlands: a modelling study

Abstracts

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a zoonotic vector-borne infection and causes a potentially severe disease. Many mammals are susceptible to infection including important livestock species. Although currently confined to Africa and the near-East, this disease causes concern in countries in temperate climates where both hosts and potential vectors are present, such as the Netherlands. Currently, an assessment of the probability of an outbreak occurring in this country is missing. To evaluate the transmission potential of RVFV, a mathematical model was developed and used to determine the initial growth and the Floquet ratio, which are indicators of the probability of an outbreak and of persistence in a periodic changing environment caused by seasonality. We show that several areas of the Netherlands have a high transmission potential and risk of persistence of the infection. Counter-intuitively, these are the sparsely populated livestock areas, due to the high vector-host ratios in these areas. Culex pipiens s.l. is found to be the main driver of the spread and persistence, because it is by far the most abundant mosquito. Our investigation underscores the importance to determine the vector competence of this mosquito species for RVFV and its host preference.     

Immunomodulation: a means of disease prevention in stressed livestock

The ability to stimulate the immune response of cattle and pigs offers a new means of disease intervention. This review discusses current in vivo experiments that have evaluated immunomodulators in cattle and pigs. Levamisole, thiabendazole, imuthiol, avridine, isoprinosine, bovine recombinant interferon, human recombinant interleukin-2, bovine recombinant interleukin-2 and various supplemental vitamins and minerals have been used as immunomodulators in livestock with various degrees of success. Future research on immunomodulators, specific for domestic farm animals, will provide additional methods of treating immunosuppressed animals.     

A benefit-cost analysis of veterinary interventions in Afghanistan based on a livestock mortality study

This article evaluates a veterinary intervention program of the Dutch Committee for Afghanistan, started during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, a 10 year period during which veterinary services were otherwise completed disrupted. The veterinary field program was carried out mainly by paravets. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to measure livestock mortality in districts that received veterinary services through the project and in neighboring districts that had not had veterinary services for about 10 years. The survey indicated that livestock mortality in districts that received veterinary services was lower than in districts without any veterinary services. Comparison of each of the 22 age-species-specific district pairs showed a difference in favor of the covered district in 18 pairs. In 12 out of these 18 pairs, this difference was significant. Overall annual mortality rates differed (in relative amounts) by 25%, 30%, and 22%, in calves, lambs, and kids, respectively, and in adult cattle, sheep, and goats, by roughly 30%, 40%, and 60%, respectively. In the absence of any other obvious distinctive features between the compared districts, we concluded that this difference in mortality was due to the presence or absence of veterinary services. A benefit-cost analysis showed that the benefit-cost ratio for the program was between 1.8 and 4.8. The high benefit-cost ratio resulted partly from the fact that the costs of the program were low, because it was implemented by a volunteer-run, non-governmental organization. In addition, due to the special circumstances prevailing in the country, any input in combatting diseases at this stage was bound to have a relatively high impact. We concluded that: (1) the veterinary program was important for the rebuilding of numbers of livestock and thus for the economy of Afghanistan, and (2) veterinary intervention programs under these and comparable circumstances can be highly cost-effective.     

德国荷兰畜禽产品质量安全交流与启示

2018年岁末,笔者有幸赴德国和荷兰,就畜产品质量安全控制及检测技术等进行了短期交流,收获颇丰,现具体介绍如下。一、交流情况德国面积35.73万平方千米,人口约8175.2万,是欧盟人口最多的国家,农业发达,机械化程度很高。德国的畜牧业以猪、牛、羊和禽类为主,畜牧业产值占农业生产总值的61%。德国虽然农业比重很小,但却是有机农业运动最早的发起国,也是目前世界上有机农产品生产与消费大国。     

Gossypol as a toxicant in livestock

Many cases of gossypol toxicity have been misdiagnosed. The long-held belief that gossypol toxicity did not occur in ruminants has been a major hurdle to overcome. Field necropsies in which pulmonary congestion and edema were attributed to shipping-fever pneumonia, failure to examine the heart either grossly or microscopically, failure to believe that 200 ppm free gossypol could kill a calf, failure to believe that any age of sheep could suffer gossypol toxicity, and failure to believe that just because you fed the same thing last year, it will not cause a problem this year, all were factors in causing the misdiagnosis of this toxicity. Gossypol toxicity cases diagnosed will increase each year because of increased awareness among veterinarians. Continued research will help to increase our understanding of this multifactored toxin and, possibly, devise ways to detoxify it before it is utilized in a feed. Until then, it will have to be considered because it will continue to be present as a potential toxicant in the feed.     

Application study of developmental engineering for livestock production

This paper describes several technical improvements in developmental engineering for livestock production, including their practical utility in the field. The artificial production of monozygotic twins via embryo splitting is shown to increase embryo productivity, while embryo sexing capability provides added value without compromising offspring productivity, with both techniques being adequate for practical field applications. It is also shown that: (1) the development of nuclear transfer utilizing oocytes collected from slaughtered ovaries and matured in vitro enables producing a large number of cloned embryos, (2) the intracytoplasmic injection of somatic cell improves the productivity of nuclear transplantation, and (3) the injection of sperm increases the rate of normal oocytes with male and female pronuclei allowing further preimplantation development. Finally, the removal of cytoplasmic lipid droplets from embryos following centrifugation alters an embryo's intrinsic sensitivity to low temperature allowing long-term preservation. Collectively, these techniques have clearly provided improvements in developmental engineering for livestock production.