Assessment of antibiotic use in farm animals in Rwanda

The irrational use of antibiotics in humans and animals is highly related to the emergence and increase of antibiotic-resistant bacteria worldwide. A cross-sectional survey aimed at evaluating the current level of practices regarding antibiotic use in farm animals in Rwanda was carried out countrywide. Interviews were conducted on 229 farmers rearing different types of animals. The study has revealed that almost all respondent farmers could name at least one antibiotic used in farm animals and peni-streptomycin was named by most of them (95.6%). The use of antibiotics in farm animals was observed in the majority of respondents (97.4%). It was found that 44.4 and 26.5% of respondents reported that they used antibiotics for disease prevention and growth promotion, respectively. The use of non-prescribed antibiotics in animals was also reported by more than the half of respondent farmers (55.6%). The majority of farmers had a moderate level of practices regarding antibiotic use in farm animals (73.5%), very few had a high level (26%) and only one respondent had a low level. The high level of practices in regard to antibiotic use in animals was associated with the location of the farm, the type of reared animals, and the rearing system. The results of this study give an insight into antibiotics usage practices in farm animals in Rwanda. The generated information can guide sensitizations and promotions of the prudent use of antibiotics among farmers in order to limit the increase of antibiotic resistance in the country.     

牛支原体和牛病毒性腹泻病毒二重二温式PCR检测方法的建立

为建立一种牛支原体(Mycoplasma bovis,MB)和牛病毒性腹泻病毒(Bovine viral diarrhea virus,BVDV)的快速鉴别诊断方法,针对MB的uvr C基因和BVDV的5'端非编码区(5'-UTR)保守基因序列,分别设计两对特异引物,并将三温式PCR扩增程序简化为二个温度梯度,建立了鉴别MB和BVDV的二重二温式PCR方法。该方法能同时扩增MB和BVDV,扩增产物大小分别为412和170 bp。特异性试验结果显示,该方法对参试的所有毒株只扩增MB和BVDV基因组,对其它牛病原体无扩增;敏感性试验结果显示,该方法最低能同时检测到104拷贝的两种目的核酸;干扰性试验结果显示,该方法能同时检测两个模板不同浓度的组合,试验结果不受模板影响。综上,本研究所建立的二重二温式PCR方法特异、敏感、快速、简便,可应用于MB和BVDV临床鉴别诊断和流行病学调查。     

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of valnemulin in broiler chickens

Wang, R., Yuan, L.G., He, L.M., Zhu, L.X., Luo, X.Y., Zhang, C.Y., Yu, J.J., Fang, B.H., Liu, Y.H. Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of valnemulin in broiler chickens. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 34 , 247–251. The objective of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of valnemulin in broiler chickens after intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and oral administrations of 10 mg/kg body weight (bw). Plasma samples were analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS). Pharmacokinetic characterization was performed by non‐compartmental analysis using WinNonlin program. After intravenous administration, distribution was wide with the volume of distribution based on terminal phase(V_z) of 4.27 ± 0.99 L /kg. Mean valnemulin t_1/2β(h), Cl_β(L /h /kg), V_ss (L /kg) and AUC_(0–∞)(μg·h /mL) values were 2.85, 0.99, 2.72 and 10.34, respectively. After intramuscular administration, valnemulin was rapidly absorbed with a C_max of 2.2 μg/mL achieved at 0.43 h (t_max), and the absolute bioavailability (F) was 88.81%; and for the oral route the same parameters were 0.66 ± 0.15 μg/mL, 1.54 ± 0.27 h and 74.42%. A multiple‐peak phenomenon was present after oral administration. The plasma profile of valnemulin exhibited a secondary peak during 2–6 h and a tertiary peak at 32 h. The favorable PK behavior, such as the wide distribution, slow elimination and acceptable bioavailability indicated that it is likely to be effective in chickens.     

Seroprevalence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella</Emphasis> antibodies in camels in Katsina State,Nigeria

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the status of Brucella infection in one-humped (Dromedary) camels in the North and Central senatorial districts of Katsina State, Nigeria. Nine hundred and eighty serum samples from live and slaughtered camels were tested. Modified Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and serum agglutination test (SAT) with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, (EDTA) were used as screening and standard tests, respectively. The prevalence of Brucella antibodies were 110 (11.2%) and 103 (10.5%) for RBPT and SAT, respectively. Of the 472 and 508 serum samples tested from the herds and abattoirs, respectively, 63 (13.3%) and 47 (9.3%) were positive by RBPT while 62 (13.1%) and 41 (8.1%) were positive by SAT, respectively. Based on the results, it was concluded that Brucella antibodies were present in camels in the study area. Poor management practices and mixing of camels with other species of livestock as well as unrestricted movement of camels were proposed to be the reasons for the prevalence of the disease in the study area. In view of the public health importance of the disease, it is recommended that there is the need to develop a strategic plan to decrease spread of brucellosis in the study area.     

Effect of spineless cactus intake (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Opuntia ficus-indica</Emphasis>) on blood glucose levels in lactating sows and its impact on feed intake,body weight loss,and weaning-estrus interval

The effect of spineless cactus intake (Opuntia ficus-indica) on blood glucose (BG) levels in lactating sows and its impact on daily and total feed intake (dFI^?1 and TFI, respectively), body weight loss (BWL), and weaning-estrus interval length (WEI) were evaluated. Thirty-four hybrid (Yorkshire × Landrace × Pietrain) sows in lactation phase were used. Sows were divided into two groups: G1 (n = 17) where they received commercial feed and G2 (n = 17) provided with commercial feed plus an average of 2.0 ± 0.5 kg spineless cactus, based on a sow’s body weight. The variables evaluated were BG, dFI^?1, TFI, BWL, and WEI. Statistical analysis was performed by using a fixed and mixed model methodology, under a repeated measurements experiment. Group effects were found on all analyzed variables (P < 0.05). The BG was lower in G2 (55.2 and 64.5 mg/dL pre- and post-prandial, respectively), compared to that in G1 (70.9 and 80.1 mg/dL pre- and post-prandial, respectively) (P < 0.05). G2 showed better performance than G1 for dFI^?1, BWL, and WEI (P < 0.05) whose averages were 5.5 ± 1.8 kg, 7.4 ± 4.5%, and 5.3 ± 1.2 days, respectively. Averages for these variables in G1 were 4.7 ± 1.5 kg, 16.8 ± 4.6%, and 6.1 ± 1.6 days, respectively. Intake of spineless cactus reduced BG levels in lactating sows, generating greater dFI^?1, lower BWL at the end of lactation, and a lower WEI.     

Normal bacterial flora from vaginas of Criollo Limonero cows

In order to describe the normal bacterial flora in vaginas of Criollo Limonero cows, 51 healthy multiparous cows, at least 90-day postpartum, were selected. Duplicated swabs (N = 102) were taken from the vaginal fornix of cows to perform aerobic and anaerobic cultures as well as conventional biochemical tests. Out of 102 swabs, bacterial growth was obtained in 55 (53.9%) while the remaining 47 (46.1%) did not exhibited any bacterial growth. Of the 55 bacterial growths, 23 (41.8%) were aerobic whereas 32 (58.1%) were anaerobic. Likewise, 29 (52.72%) of bacterial growths were pure and 26 (47.27%) were mixed. Under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, Gram positive bacteria were predominant (81.82% and 73.08%, respectively) over Gram negative bacteria (18.18% and 26.92%, respectively). Isolated bacteria were Arcanobacterium pyogenes (22.92%), Staphylococcus aureus (15.63%), Staphylococcus coagulase negative (17.71%), Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (6.25%), Bacteroides spp. (13.54%), and Peptostreptococcus spp. (7.29%). In conclusion, normal vaginal bacterial flora of Criollo Limonero cows was predominantly Gram positive and included A. pyogenes, S. aureus, coagulase negative Staphylococcus, E. rhusiopathiae, Bacteroides spp., and Peptostreptococcus spp. In Criollo Limonero cattle, adaptive aspects such as development of humoral and physical mechanisms for defense, and bacterial adaptation to host deserve research attention.     

A cluster of two psittacosis cases among women farmers exposed to Chlamydia psittaci-infected domestic poultry in Zhejiang Province,China

A cluster of Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) cases was reported in Zhejiang Province, China, 2019. This study evaluates the extent of the outbreak and determines the source of infection. Real-time PCR and sequencing of the ompA gene of C. psittaci were performed to identify the cases, the domesticated poultry and close contacts. The index patient was a 76-year-old woman with chronic vertigo, and Case 2 was a 64-year-old female farmer with herpes zoster. Both women bought psittaci-infected chickens or ducks from the same mobile street vendor and raised them for 10 days and 23 days before fever onset. There were no direct contact between the two women. C. psittaci test was positive for the two patients, one sick chicken, three healthy ducks and the vendor's chicken cage. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all seven C. psittaci positive samples carried identical ompA genotype A of C. psittaci. Of all of the patients' 148 close contacts, none tested positive for C. psittaci, or developed acute respiratory symptoms. Both patients were discharged after a 4-week hospital stay. In conclusion, the source of this cluster was the poultry infected with C. psittaci, which occasionally cause infections in farmers, but inter-human transmission seems unlikely.     

交播技术在园林草坪养护中的应用研究

在过渡气候带的园林绿地，进行了暖季型草坪秋季交播多年生黑麦草籽的应用试验，结果表明：交播技术可用于马尼拉、狗牙根和矮生百慕大等暖季型草坪上，交播时间宜在10月底前进行，交播种子用量多年生黑麦草以20－30g/m^2为宜。     

蓬安蚕业发展之我见

蚕桑产业是蓬安县委确立的“四大特色”农业产业项目之一,是我县农民增收的主要项目,栽桑养蚕在我县有着悠久的历史,曾为农村经济的发展做出过卓越贡献,为县域经济发展创造过辉煌业绩。当前,国际丝绸行情攀升,原料茧供不应求,蚕茧收购价格涨幅较大,面对机遇,笔者就如何把我县蚕