Estimating the level of disease risk and biosecurity on commercial poultry farms in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Aims: To collect baseline data on the contact risk pathways and biosecurity practices of commercial poultry farms in New Zealand, investigate the relationship between the farm-level disease contact risks and biosecurity practices, and identify important poultry health concerns of producers.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of all registered New Zealand commercial poultry operations was conducted in 2016 collecting information on farm demographics, biosecurity practices, and contact risk pathways. Survey responses were used to generate an unweighted subjective disease risk score based on eight risk criteria and a subjective biosecurity score based on the frequency with which producers reported implementing seven biosecurity measures. Producer opinions towards poultry health issues were also determined.

Results: Responses to the survey response were obtained from 120/414 (29.0%) producers, including 57/157 (36.3%) broiler, 33/169 (19.5%) layer, 24/55 (44%) breeder, and 6/32 (19%) other poultry production types. Median disease risk scores differed between production types (p?<?0.001) and were lowest for breeder enterprises. The greatest risk for layer and broiler enterprises was from the potential movement of employees between sheds, and for breeder enterprises was the on- and off-farm movement of goods and services. Median biosecurity scores also differed between production types (p?<?0.001), and were highest for breeder and broiler enterprises. Across all sectors there was no statistical correlation between biosecurity scores and disease risk scores. Producers showed a high level of concern over effectively managing biosecurity measures.

Conclusions: The uptake of biosecurity measures in the commercial poultry farms surveyed was highly variable, with some having very low scores despite significant potential disease contact risks. This may be related to the low prevalence or absence of many important infectious poultry diseases in New Zealand leading farmers to believe there is a limited need to maintain good biosecurity as well as farmer uncertainty around the efficacy of different biosecurity measures. Further research is needed to understand barriers towards biosecurity adoption including evaluating the cost-effectiveness of biosecurity interventions.     

国内土壤环境污染防治进程及展望

综述以中国2005—2019年土壤污染防治进程的3个阶段为主线,总结土壤污染防治发展过程中管理模式、治理体系、管控要求、机构改革、立法支持等5个方面重要转变,分析国家和地方土壤环境保护标准、法律法规政策和主要土壤污染治理成效。针对国内土壤污染防治未来发展趋势,从完善土壤环境标准及管理制度、建设监测及预警大数据平台、加强土壤生态环境国际合作、持续推进土壤修复技术攻关和先行区经验推广等方面提出建议,以期为生态环境高水平保护和经济社会高质量发展提供参考。     

Habitat associations of the Threatened pugnose minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae) at the northern edge of the species range

Pugnose minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae) is a small, reclusive species that is widespread in North America, but is one of the rarest fishes in Canada, found in less than 12 known localities in southwestern Ontario. In contrast to most pugnose minnow populations across the global range, Canadian populations are primarily found in turbid systems, potentially indicating persistence in suboptimal conditions. We used data from a multi-gear species and habitat survey in the Canard River, Ontario, a system dominated by agricultural inputs and the best-known capture site of the species in Canada, to parameterise multi-gear occupancy models for understanding the relationship between pugnose minnow occupancy and microhabitat features, including the role of turbidity. Almost 300 pugnose minnow were captured, representing the largest single collection of the species in Canadian history. The best occupancy model indicated that the probability of pugnose minnow occupancy was highest in the deepest sites with the lowest water clarity (i.e. high turbidity); however, competing models suggested that occupancy was highest at sites with wild celery (Vallisneria americana) and higher water clarity, signifying that habitats with low turbidity may be utilised if sufficient physical cover exists. Together, our results suggest that Canadian pugnose minnow populations occupy and potentially favour turbid conditions, possibly to avoid visual predators in clearer habitats. It remains uncertain whether this abiotic association represents a long-term, viable, local adaptation or whether persistence of pugnose minnow in the Canard River is at risk unless significant water quality improvements can be made.     

池州市某矿地质灾害危险性评估

以池州市某矿为例,结合矿山的基本地质环境条件对评估区的地质灾害的现状进行了评估。同时对评估区因建设工程活动可能引发、加剧及自身已存在地质灾害进行了预测,并结合灾害类型给出了相应的防治措施。结果表明:评估区的地质灾害危险性评估级别为一级评估;评估区的建设用地适宜性评价为适宜。     

Biochemical and morphological risk assessment of transgenic wheat with enhanced iron and zinc bioaccessibility

Decreased iron and zinc bioaccessibility, caused by the anti-nutrient phytic acid, is one of the leading reasons for micronutrient deficiency-related disorders. Biofortification of wheat with phytase gene to enhance iron and zinc bioaccessibility appears to be a fitting solution for this problem, especially in developing countries where most of the population belongs to the lower economic sector. However, societal views on crops, particularly crops that are genetically modified (GM) to express a new trait, needs to be changed. Risk assessment of GM crops can play a crucial role in fostering positive public perception, since it is imperative to ensure safety before allowing human consumption. The present study performed compositional and morphological risk assessment of T3 and T4 generations of phytase transgenic wheat by comparing their biochemical and morphological traits. Transgenic plants were analysed for their carbohydrate, protein, starch and phytic acid content along with iron bioaccessibility, zinc bioaccessibility and phytase enzyme activity. Morphological traits studied included plant height, seed number, seed weight and spike number. No significant differences were observed for carbohydrate, protein, starch content and for morphological traits; however, a significant increase was observed in phytase activity as well as iron and zinc bioaccessibility, which correlated with a significant decrease in phytic acid. These results demonstrate that phytase transgenic wheat is as native as local wheat varieties and can potentially increase iron and zinc bioaccessibility.     

农业科研副产品处置的困境及对策探讨

文章阐述了农业科研单位对科研副产品管理的现状及面临的问题,分析了农业科研副产品投入与产出的关系,并提出了以绩效考评为依据的科研副产品处置收入分配方式,从而达到优化科研人员收入分配机制的目的。     

广州地区芥蓝、菜心和普通白菜中丙环唑和矮壮素残留及膳食暴露风险

为探明广州地区丙环唑和矮壮素在叶菜的残留以及膳食暴露风险情况,对2016年第2季度广州市9个区农贸市场和超市的芥蓝、菜心和普通白菜样品中丙环唑和矮壮素残留水平进行了分析。应用点评估和基于@Risk评估软件的概率评估方法 ,对这3种蔬菜中丙环唑和矮壮素残留膳食暴露风险进行了研究。结果显示,芥蓝、菜心、普通白菜中丙环唑残留均值为0.162 8~0.002 8 mg/kg,最高为芥蓝,与菜心和普通白菜差异显著,平均检出率为100%~70.25%,最高为芥蓝,与普通白菜差异显著。矮壮素残留平均值为0.010 9~0.001 0 mg/kg,最高为菜心,三者间差异不显著,平均检出率为14.99%~8.46%,最高为芥蓝,三者间差异不显著。通过膳食摄入3种蔬菜,丙环唑残留暴露急性风险熵为1.81~7.93,99%人群暴露慢性风险熵为1.02~25.03,0.1%人群存在芥蓝丙环唑膳食暴露慢性风险;矮壮素残留暴露急性风险熵为55.14~62.26,100%人群暴露慢性风险熵为3.26~8.11。3种蔬菜中丙环唑和矮壮素残留膳食暴露风险在可接受范围。     

Disease risk perception and diversity of management strategies by farmers: The case of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on water yams (Dioscorea alata) in Guadeloupe

Disease perception and adequate management practices are two essential issues faced by farmers, especially in the current context of climate change which may potentially increase disease risk. We investigated the diversity of water yam cropping systems in Guadeloupe through interviews, how producers and international yam research scientists perceived anthracnose, and how this perception correlated with farmers’ risk management strategies. We found that disease perception by farmers is very close to perception by international yam experts, as both have the same perception of the hierarchy of factors translating into disease. Three different yam production strategies coexist at a local scale, where agronomic practices and socio-economic profiles are distinct and consistent with attitude toward anthracnose risk management. Six factors were perceived as decreasing the disease: associated crop species; crop rotation; staking; weeding; crop monitoring and varietal admixture. Yam producers raising crops more intensively were risk prone, while others usually sought practices to manage disease appearance and spread. Both cumulative risk and past anthracnose epidemic experiences translated into heavier reliance on chemicals. These results have practical implications for designing best yam crop management systems and control of yam anthracnose.     

Risk factors for epiploic foramen entrapment colic: an international study

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE) is one of the most common causes of small intestinal strangulation in the horse. Identification of risk factors would generate hypotheses about causation and may suggest preventive strategies. HYPOTHESIS: Horses exhibiting certain behavioural patterns and those exposed to particular management practices are at increased risk of EFE. METHODS: A matched case-control study was conducted on EFE cases admitted to hospitals in the UK, Ireland and USA. Data on 109 cases and 310 control horses were obtained by telephone questionnaire and conditional logistic regression was used to identify associations between horse- and management-level variables and the risk of EFE. RESULTS: Crib-biting/windsucking behaviour was strongly associated with increased risk of EFE (OR 67.3, 95%CI 15.3-296.5). A history of colic in the previous 12 months (OR 4.4, 95%CI 1.5-12.7) and horses of greater height (OR/cm 1.05, 95%CI 1.01-1.08) were also at increased risk. The person(s) responsible for horses' daily care (nonowner/relative/spouse OR 5.5, 95%CI 2.3-13.3) and a number of behavioural features, including response to a stimulus causing fright (easily frightened OR 0.4, 95%CI 0.1-1.0) or excitement (sweats up easily/occasionally OR 0.3, 95%CI 0.1-0.8), reaction to their surroundings (inquisitive OR 0.4, 95%CI 0.2-0.8) and feeding behaviour when stressed (goes off food in full/part OR 0.3, 95%CI 0.1-1.0) were also associated with altered risk of EFE. CONCLUSIONS: The association between horses of greater height and those with a previous history of colic and increased risk of EFE suggests that some horses may be inherently predisposed to EFE. Furthermore, a behavioural pattern has been characterised that is common to horses at increased risk of EFE. Further research is required to investigate the causal pathway linking behavioural traits with gastrointestinal dysfunction and to determine whether behavioural modification reduces the risk of EFE. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The findings of the present study have relevance to horses in the UK, Ireland and USA.