A multi-analysis approach for space–time and economic evaluation of risks related with livestock diseases: The example of FMD in Peru

This study presents a multi-disciplinary decision-support tool, which integrates geo-statistics, social network analysis (SNA), spatial-stochastic spread model, economic analysis and mapping/visualization capabilities for the evaluation of the sanitary and socio-economic impact of livestock diseases under diverse epidemiologic scenarios. We illustrate the applicability of this tool using foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Peru as an example. The approach consisted on a flexible, multistep process that may be easily adapted based on data availability. The first module (mI) uses a geo-statistical approach for the estimation (if needed) of the distribution and abundance of susceptible population (in the example here, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and camelids) at farm-level in the region or country of interest (Peru). The second module (mII) applies SNA for evaluating the farm-to-farm contact patterns and for exploring the structure and frequency of between-farm animal movements as a proxy for potential disease introduction or spread. The third module (mIII) integrates mI–II outputs into a spatial-stochastic model that simulates within- and between-farm FMD-transmission. The economic module (mIV) connects outputs from mI–III to provide an estimate of associated direct and indirect costs. A visualization module (mV) is also implemented to graph and map the outputs of module I–IV. After 1000 simulated epidemics, the mean (95% probability interval) number of outbreaks, infected animals, epidemic duration, and direct costs were 37 (1, 1164), 2152 (1, 13, 250), 63 days (0, 442), and US$ 1.2 million (1072, 9.5 million), respectively. Spread of disease was primarily local (<4.5 km), but geolocation and type of index farm strongly influenced the extent and spatial patterns of an epidemic. The approach is intended to support decisions in the last phase of the FMD eradication program in Peru, in particular to inform and support the implementation of risk-based surveillance and livestock insurance systems that may help to prevent and control potential FMD virus incursions into Peru.     

Syndromic surveillance using laboratory test requests: A practical guide informed by experience with two systems

Syndromic surveillance systems can enhance early disease warning, endemic disease monitoring, or help to accumulate proof of disease freedom. In order to provide immediate feedback to achieve these goals, the health data sources scanned should be acquired continuously, in an automated fashion, and should be stored electronically. Recognizing that data from diagnostic test requests often meet these requirements, two systems designed to automatically extract surveillance information from animal laboratory databases have been developed and are described in this paper. These systems are designed to contribute to early disease detection, as well as the timely management of epidemiological information, in a province of Canada and in Sweden, the areas served by the diagnostic laboratories concerned. Classifying in-coming requests into syndromes, the first step, was the most time-consuming and the least portable step between the two systems. The remaining steps were more easily adjusted from one system to implementation in the other. These steps included: retrospective evaluation of data to create baseline profiles following the removal of excessive noise and aberrations; the identification of temporal effects; prospective evaluation of detection algorithms; and finally real-time monitoring and implementation. Building upon the institutions’ existing data management software, all steps to use those data for the purposes of syndromic surveillance were set up using open source software; as a result this approach could be readily adopted by other institutions. Relatively straight-forward development and maintenance is expected to lead to the incorporation of these systems into each institution's surveillance processes, becoming an indispensable tool for diagnosticians and epidemiologists, as well as stimulating further technical development of such systems.     

Use of monthly collected milk yields for the detection of the emergence of the 2007 French BTV epizootic

Two culicoides-borne diseases, Bluetongue (BTV) and Schmallenberg, have emerged in the European cattle population since 2006. Other diseases transmitted by these vectors could emerge. This justifies the development of syndromic surveillance programs whereby one or several indicators would be routinely monitored for the early detection of emerging diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate milk yield from milk recording in dairy cattle as an indicator to be included in an emerging disease surveillance system. It was hypothesized that emergences would result in episodes of low milk production clustered in space and time. The 2007 BTV epizootic in France was used as a case study. Because it had already emerged in neighbouring countries, the disease emergence was expected and notification was mandatory. Herd-test-day milk productions were predicted for the entire country for 2006 and 2007 from herd historical data using linear mixed models. The differences between observed and predicted milk productions were averaged per week and per municipality and used as input for a space-time prospective scan statistic. Log likelihood ratios (LLR) associated with clusters were used to define alarms. The threshold chosen was a trade-off between detection timeliness and the number of false alarms per week. The first four BTV notifications occurred on the 12th (two notifications), 13th and 27th of July 2007. The 12th of July was considered to be the date of emergence. Alarms occurring before the 1st of March 2007 were considered to be false alarms. Using an LLR of 50, there were an average of 1.7 false alarms per week and the BTV emergence was detected seven weeks after emergence. Using an LLR of 100, there were an average of 0.8 false alarms per week and the BTV emergence was detected 9 weeks after emergence. Detection may have been delayed because of a discontinuation of milk recording between mid-July and mid-August. The first cluster with an LLR > 100 located in the emergence area was further investigated. A difference between observed and predicted production of >1 kg/cow/day was observed around the time of emergence. However, a difference of equal magnitude was observed during the year preceding the outbreak. Milk production predicted from herd history alone did not allow the detection of the 2007 BTV emergence in France. Further research should be conducted on improving the prediction of test-day milk yield and on combining it with other indicators based on routinely collected data.     

Using mixed methods to investigate factors influencing reporting of livestock diseases: A case study among smallholders in Bolivia

Livestock disease surveillance is particularly challenging in resource-scarce settings, where disease events are often unreported. Surveillance performance is determined as much by the quantifiable biological attributes of the disease, as it is by motivations and barriers perceived by livestock keepers for disease reporting. Mixed methods designs, which integrate the collection, analysis and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data in a single study, are increasingly used across different disciplines. These designs allow for a deeper exploration of the topic under investigation, than can be achieved by either approach alone.     

Risk-based surveillance of antimicrobial residues in pigs – Identification of potential risk indicators

Around 20,000 samples are analysed each year for the presence of antibacterial residues in Danish finisher pigs, and between zero and five samples are detected positive above the maximum residue level (MRL). The intention was to develop a risk-based surveillance programme involving fewer samples while ensuring equal sensitivity. Therefore, risk indicators were searched for. Data were obtained from the Danish slaughterhouse database covering the period from July 2010 to December 2012. Residues were found or suspected in 17 incidents. In nine of these, the farmer had called in to prevent the pigs from being slaughtered. Hence, eight suspect cases were found through the surveillance programme, and two of these were above MRL. For these eight case herds, the number of pigs slaughtered and the number in which each of the following lesions were found were included in a statistical analysis: chronic pleuritis, tail bite, chronic pericarditis, chronic pneumonia, chronic peritonitis, osteomyelitis, abscess in hindquarters, abscess in leg/toe and abscess in forequarters. Only chronic pleuritis was associated with the presence of residues. Next, data from all herds delivering pigs for slaughter to the same abattoir were included covering a 3-month period prior to the residue finding. The prevalence of chronic pleuritis was on average 1.7 times higher in the eight case herds compared to all other herds. In two herds, the prevalence was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05), and in one herd substantially higher, but only borderline significant (P = 0.1). In the remaining herds, the prevalence did not differ from the other herds delivering pigs to the abattoir. This indicates that chronic pleuritis might be considered as a risk indicator for use in surveillance. Other risk indicators/factors – reported in the cases where the farmers called in – were inadequate marking of treated animals and incorrect use of medication dispensers. These factors are not suited for use in surveillance and should be dealt with otherwise.     

基质配方和容器对红叶樱花容器苗生长的影响

为促进新优园林观赏植物容器苗的培育和应用,以红叶樱花为试验材料,研究基质配方和容器类型对容器苗生长的影响.结果表明:基质配方对容器苗的生长有一定的影响.其中A2基质(泥炭∶珍珠岩∶蛭石=5∶3∶2)容重最小,饱和含水量最大,分别为0.283 0 g/cm2和47.243％;植株在此基质中生长表现最佳,其地径、根冠比和根系活力均最大,分别达到4.488 mm、5.502 4和71.343 3μg/(g·h).容器类型对容器苗根系发育的影响较为明显.控根容器最佳,其中植株根冠比最大,达到5.603 3;根系活力为67.379 3 μg/(g·h),约为塑料营养钵和无纺布袋的1.3倍,并且根系结构合理,须根数量极多;其次为无纺布袋容器.综合考虑,红叶樱花容器苗的最佳培育基质配方为泥炭∶珍珠岩∶蛭石=5∶3∶2,培育容器为控根容器.     

A test of the individual feeding activity and food size preference in rainbow trout using demand feeders

Feeding activity and food size preferences were investigated in three groups of rainbow trout with initial weights ranging from 200 to 1000 g. Fish were given the option of releasing food from either of two demand feeding devices that contained either 6 mm or 9 mm food pellets. Individual biting activity (to activate release of food) was continuously monitored using specially designed passive integrated transponders (PIT-tags). In each of the groups, biting activity was strongly influenced by three individuals, which accounted for 70–85% of the total. Thus, high bite activity by few individuals indicates the development of social dominance hierarchies. There was no statistically significant correlation between number of bites and growth rate, indicating that the fish that operated the demand feeders did not gain any growth advantage. Trout that dominated the actuation of the feeders were found among both medium- and large-sized fish. There was no evidence of active food size selection, and the fish that most frequently operated the feeders defended one area of the tank rather than preferring the trigger that would have delivered food of the optimal size.     

Human Exposure to Rabid Free‐Ranging Cats: A Continuing Public Health Concern in Pennsylvania

Rabid free‐ranging cats have been a public health concern in Pennsylvania since raccoon variant rabies first was recognized in the state in the early 1980s. Over the last decade, between 1.5 and 2.5% of cats submitted to Pennsylvania's state laboratories for rabies testing have been positive. In this report, we describe the extent of rabies in free‐ranging cats in Pennsylvania. We also present two examples of human exposure to rabid free‐ranging cats that occurred in Pennsylvania during 2010–2011 and the public health actions taken to address rabies exposure in the humans and animals. We then describe the concerns surrounding the unvaccinated and free‐ranging cat population in Pennsylvania and possible options in managing this public and animal health problem.     

远洋捕捞渔船电子监控视频文字信息提取

计算机图像处理技术发展迅速,基于OCR(Optical Character Recognition)的图像文字提取得到广泛应用。在远洋渔业捕捞中,EMS(Electronic Monitoring System)逐渐开始使用,视频中文字信息提取是系统的重要功能之一。通过左右舷、前甲板、后甲板安装的4个摄像头,获取渔船作业的视频影像,再利用jTessBoxEditor软件生成图片样本,人工添加文字标签,然后通过tesseract软件训练标注的样本,制作traineddata字库,最后用Python编程提取远洋捕捞渔船监控视频中的时间、位置、航速、航向等信息,提取的960条记录,经与原图片对比全部正确,提取的文字信息可为视频存档和渔业管理提供参考。     

蜂产业主要害螨种类及贵州蜜蜂资源保护探讨

狄斯瓦螨Varroa destructor是蜂蜜生产重要的害螨,其防治一直是无公害蜂蜜产业的难题。贵州省蜂蜜产业规模大,意大利蜜蜂饲养占一定比例,而其害螨研究报道较少。论文总结了蜜蜂主要相关螨类的种类主要研究现状,总结出防治害螨是蜜蜂驯化种群科学管理和蜜蜂野生种群保护的关键因素,以期为贵州省蜂蜜产业和蜜蜂保护提供资料。