Preventive veterinary medicine最新文献

{"title":"Perspectives on the social sciences in global animal health governance: A qualitative study of experts","authors":"Dorien H. Braam ,&nbsp;Salome A. Bukachi ,&nbsp;Diego Leiva ,&nbsp;Alex Tasker ,&nbsp;Lisa Boden ,&nbsp;Kevin Bardosh","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106474","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106474","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A global discourse continues to emphasize the importance of integrating the social sciences into health governance and systems research, including in the global animal health sector. By comparison to human health, however, it is unclear how far this discourse has changed institutional practices in animal health and what opportunities exist to strengthen this integration. We conducted a qualitative study to address these knowledge gaps, based on 29 semi-structured key informant interviews (KII) with experts involved in the global governance of animal health and biosecurity across five regions between November 2022 and June 2023. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse results, which were triangulated with findings from primary and secondary data sources. We divide our analysis into three sections: 1) governance landscape; 3) prioritization; and 3) the role of social science. First, we found that KII consider the global animal health governance landscape shaped by five main actor networks who operate under different institutional norms and mandates: international organizations, bilateral donors, the private sector, national governments, and regional organizations. Informants believed that bilateral donors have disproportionate levels of control and influence; national governments struggle with realistic fiscal planning; engaging the private sector remains challenging; international organizations exhibit tensions in their conflicting mandates; and regional organizations need to be more involved. Second, we found that the key priorities of the actor networks were influenced by core uncertainties and tensions. This included different narratives about risk and methods of risk assessment; conflicting values between health and economic development; and capacity scale problems between global and local networks. The field is perceived to be dominated by the global health security agenda and international trade, and disproportionately focused on pandemic threats. Third, we found that barriers to the integration of social science included disciplinary boundaries, given the dominance of the veterinary sciences; the preponderance of instrumentalized goals; and structural conditions that limited opportunities for knowledge translation. Overall, we found that while the social sciences are increasingly part of a global discourse improving global animal health governance and systems, their current application appears to be of limited range and effectiveness. Coordinated investment in truly interdisciplinary networks, with sufficient disciplinary independence, may help address these problems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106474"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143464766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A GIS-based framework for routing decisions to reduce livestock disease exposure risk","authors":"Ehsan Foroutan ,&nbsp;Hongbo Yu ,&nbsp;Jeremiah Saliki ,&nbsp;Akhilesh Ramachandran","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106472","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106472","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Safe and effective transportation of livestock during disease outbreaks is crucial for maintaining agricultural productivity and economic stability. This work offers a novel perspective on the transportation of hazardous biological materials within the veterinary field. In response to the complex challenges of managing livestock disease outbreaks, we evaluated different routing measures for safe land transport of diseased animals or infected materials. The potential disease exposure risk to susceptible livestock populations during hypothetical transportation scenarios of infected livestock and specimens was estimated. A GIS-based framework was developed to integrate and manage raster-based Gridded Livestock of the World (GLW) data and vector-based road network data, which was used to implement a time-based risk (TBR) measure to support routing decisions of diseased animals. This approach not only considers time as a traditional routing metric but also incorporates livestock population distribution as a crucial factor in the disease exposure risk assessment. Along with the TBR measure, the shortest, fastest, and least population exposure measures are also evaluated as routing solution benchmarks. Analysis results based on two origin-destination pairs within Oklahoma, USA demonstrate that the TBR measure yields routes with the least impact on animal populations as compared to the shortest, fastest, and least population route, especially over longer distances. Our results underscore the importance of incorporating dynamic exposure risks in routing decisions to effectively minimize potential disease spread to vulnerable populations distributed along the path of transportation. This study also highlights the potential of GIS in enhancing biosecurity and disease control measures by optimizing transportation routes that consider various risk factors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106472"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143479937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of communal farmers’ knowledge of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) within the FMD protection zone with vaccination of Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, South Africa","authors":"Kibambe D. Kiayima ,&nbsp;Eric Etter ,&nbsp;Petronella Chaminuka ,&nbsp;Alexis Delabouglise ,&nbsp;Geoffrey T. Fosgate","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106468","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106468","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease affecting domestic livestock and its control in South Africa depends on methods including event-based surveillance and the reporting of disease by farmers. This study assessed FMD knowledge level among small-scale, communal livestock farmers in South Africa's FMD zone with vaccination. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 629 farmers from 44 dip-tanks (animal assembly points). A FMD knowledge score was derived from 25 yes/no questions with scores above the median classified as high FMD knowledge. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of high FMD knowledge with associations reported as odds ratios (OR) and their corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Eighty percent of the participants were male and 65 % aged 60 or older. The most common livestock raised was cattle (98.1 %). Sixty-six percent (415/629) of the interviewed farmers reported that they were aware of the existence of FMD. Formal education (OR 2.0, 95 % CI, 1.4–2.9, P &lt; 0.001), poultry ownership (OR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.1–2.5, P = 0.006), livestock farming as the main occupation (OR 1.6, 95 % CI 1.1–2.3, P = 0.026) and the total livestock units of their farm (OR 1.5, 95 % CI 1.1–1.9, P = 0.002) were significant predictors of FMD recognition. Most respondents (54 %) that claimed to be aware of the existence of FMD did not know that African buffalos were a source of FMD virus. Also, less than half of the respondents cited lameness (38 %) and excessive salivation (37 %) as the main FMD clinical signs. Only a small proportion (2.4 %) of these respondents were aware that movement of infected animals can cause FMD virus to spread to new areas. FMD knowledge scores were calculated for the 415 respondents claiming to be aware of the existence FMD with 174 (42 %) having a total knowledge score greater than the median (hereafter referred to as “high FMD knowledge” compared to the rest of the farmers). Farmers from Vhembe District in Limpopo had an odds of high FMD knowledge four times higher than those in Ehlanzeni District in Mpumalanga (OR 4.0, 95 % CI 1.7–9.4, P = 0.002). Farmers that owned more than 15 cattle (OR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.0–2.8, P = 0.035) and farmers that supervised their own cattle during grazing (OR 1.6, 95 % CI 1.0–2.5, P = 0.043) also had a significantly higher odds of high FMD knowledge. Communal farmers in South Africa have gaps in their FMD knowledge and specifically were not aware that movement of infected animals and their products pose a threat for the spread of FMD. Comprehensive information, education and training for communal livestock farmers are essential for improving event-based surveillance and FMD prevention and control in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106468"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143474111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Bayesian latent class estimation of the diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination and laboratory assays to identify bovine ephemeral fever virus infection in South African cattle","authors":"Miemie Grobler ,&nbsp;Geoffrey T. Fosgate ,&nbsp;Robert Swanepoel ,&nbsp;Jan E. Crafford","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106475","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106475","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) is an economically important vector-borne viral disease of cattle and water buffalo in Africa, Australia and parts of Asia. The control of BEF is centred around vaccination, and therefore accurate, early identification of disease outbreaks are key to minimize its economic and welfare impact. In Africa, control programs are hampered by limited diagnostic capabilities and poor infrastructure for rapid transportation of diagnostic specimens. The primary objective of this study was to estimate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of four tests, namely clinical examination by a veterinarian, virus isolation and two different conventional PCR assays, to identify an acute bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) infection in diseased, naturally infected South African cattle, without the assumption of a reference standard. Samples and data were collected from cattle with clinical signs suggestive of BEF rather than a random sample of cattle. A case was categorised as clinical examination positive if the examining veterinarian considered acute BEFV-infection as the most likely aetiology. Virus isolation was performed using the buffy coat of heparin blood samples on baby hamster kidney cell cultures, evaluating cytopathic effect and confirming virus morphology by transmission electron microscopy. PCR was performed using two previously published protocols: The <em>Ephemerovirus</em> L-gene PCR (targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene) and a BEFV G-gene PCR (targeting the neutralising G1 epitope of the glycoprotein). A single population, four test Bayesian latent class model with conditional dependence between the two PCR assays was implemented. The prevalence of BEFV-infection was high in this study population of clinical suspects at 67 %, (95 % Probability Interval (PI) 52 %; 81 %). Clinical examination provided a reasonable indication of acute BEFV infection (Se of 86 % (PI 77 %; 93 %) and Sp of 67 % (PI 52 %; 82 %)). Virus isolation was the most specific (99 % (PI 97 %; 100 %)), but least sensitive assay (30 % (PI 20 %; 44 %)). Of the two conventional PCRs, the L-gene PCR outperformed the G-gene PCR: The L-gene Se was 64 % (PI 51 %; 76 %) and Sp 96 % (PI 84 %; 100 %) compared to Se of 50 % (PI 38 %; 61 %) and Sp of 89 % (PI 75 %; 98 %) for the G-gene. While the laboratory assays presented excellent positive predictive values within this high disease prevalence population, the poor negative predictive values limit their usefulness to field veterinarians attempting to exclude BEF as diagnosis. Novel pen-side diagnostics should be developed due to the limitations of currently available assays and infrastructure constraints prevalent in Africa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 106475"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143487500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Productivity, reproduction and economic losses due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Iranian Holstein cows","authors":"M. Bijari ,&nbsp;A. Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi ,&nbsp;M. Ansari-Lari ,&nbsp;M.H. Ghaffari","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106471","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106471","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This retrospective study investigated the impact of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on productive and reproductive traits, economic losses and culling trends in Holstein cows in Iran. Data from nine industrial and semi-industrial dairy herds from several provinces were analyzed over a decade (2009–2019) and included a total of 49,400 records from 20,330 cows. A mixed linear model was used to assess the impact of FMD on milk production, fat and protein yields and reproductive traits. Information on milk production was collected over a period of 305 d. A simulated bioeconomic model was used to estimate the financial losses due to FMD incidence on productive and reproductive traits. The model included losses due to reduced milk production, discarded milk, reproductive inefficiency, morbidity, culling and replacement animals, loss of body weight, vaccination, medication and supplementation costs, and labor costs. FMD significantly reduced milk production, with an average decrease of 845.9 kg of fat corrected milk (FCM) per cow, a decrease of 44.1 kg in fat yield and a decrease of 2.3 kg in protein yield. Reproductive performance was negatively affected, with an increase in calving interval (+30.9 day), days open (+13.7 day), number of inseminations (+0.2-fold) and length of gestation (+1 day). Economic analysis showed an average loss of $1082.3 per FMD case, with the highest costs attributable to culling and replacement of animals (27 %, $296.2) and reproductive inefficiency (22 %, $239.6). These results have significant implications for farm management strategies to control the spread of FMD and to plan preventative measures to reduce economic losses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106471"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143437063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution of lamb carcass condemnations due to jaundice over six years in a slaughterhouse in the Northeast of Spain","authors":"Héctor Ruiz ,&nbsp;José María González ,&nbsp;José María Bello ,&nbsp;Sergio Villanueva-Saz ,&nbsp;Marta Ruiz de Arcaute ,&nbsp;Aurora Ortín ,&nbsp;Delia Lacasta","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106473","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106473","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Since 2020, an increase in carcass condemnations in lambs due to jaundice has been noticed in some slaughterhouses in the Northeastern region of Spain. Therefore, data from 479,055 “Ternasco” lambs (2–3 months old lambs with a live weight of 21–23 kg) slaughtered at Mercazaragoza slaughterhouse (Zaragoza, Spain) were analysed. The data belonged to two companies and were collected between January 2018 and December 2023. The criteria studied included the company of origin, date of slaughter and the cause of condemnation. A total of 2661 lambs (0.56 %) were condemned, with 943 of them being condemned due to jaundice (0.20 %). Jaundice was the main cause of carcass condemnation, accounting for 35.44 % of total condemnation during the study period, with a progressive increase from 2018 to 2021, followed by a slight stabilisation in the subsequent years. A clear pattern was also evident, with more than half (57.69 %) of these condemnations occurring between May and August each year, becoming particularly pronounced from 2020 onwards. Condemnations due to jaundice were the main cause of carcass condemnation in both companies. Based on the seasonality associated with the active period of ticks and previous studies performed in the area, the possible implication of <em>Anaplasma ovis</em> infection in affected lambs is discussed. Further studies are needed to understand the underlying causes and their significance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106473"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143464052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pig survival, average daily gain, and individual antimicrobial treatments from birth to slaughter in Finland","authors":"Emilia König ,&nbsp;Minna Kujala-Wirth ,&nbsp;Shea Beasley ,&nbsp;Niina Immonen ,&nbsp;Virpi Piirainen ,&nbsp;Henrik Stryhn ,&nbsp;Anna Valros ,&nbsp;Mari Heinonen","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106466","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106466","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Birth weight appears to be a key indicator for survival and average daily gain (ADG) in piglets. However, parameters associated with piglet antimicrobial treatment are less explored. We assessed the factors influencing piglet survival, ADG, and first individual antimicrobial treatment. Data were collected on sex, weight, litter details, and medication throughout the lifespan of 3991 ear tagged pigs in Finland. Discrete-time survival models were performed for piglet survival and individual antimicrobial treatment as well as a linear regression model for piglet ADG from birth to slaughter. Medium (1 – 1.49 kg) and lightweight (&lt; 1.0 kg) piglets at day 4 had 2.26 and 4.04 times higher odds of dying (in terms of odds for discrete hazards), respectively, than heavyweight (≥ 1.5 kg) piglets. Barrows and antimicrobial-treated suckling piglets had 1.81 and 1.67 times, respectively, higher odds of dying than females and unmedicated piglets. The mean average daily gain from birth to slaughter was 714 g (SD 70.2 g). Pigs born to sows grew 29.2 g/day more than pigs born to gilts, and barrows grew 13.3 g/day better than females, but these results should be interpreted with caution because a considerable number of ear tags lost during the study could have led to selection bias of the pigs with a measured ADG. Altogether 756 piglets received at least one individual parenteral antimicrobial treatment. Antimicrobial-treated pigs were to a considerable extent medicated before weaning mainly for diarrhea and leg problems during two treatment peaks: before day 8 and around weaning. Lightweight piglets at day 4 had 2.35 and piglets born to gilts 1.56 times higher odds of becoming medicated with antimicrobials than heavyweight piglets and piglets born to sows, respectively. Half of the study piglets receiving antimicrobials were treated again later. In summary, our results show that lightweight piglets at day 4 had poorer survival, and they received more antimicrobial treatments than their heavier littermates. Further, gilt offspring were medicated more frequently. This emphasizes the need to direct extra attention to litters born to gilts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106466"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143437064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Qualitative studies on farm managers perception of risk from HPAIV and implementation of biosecurity measures on UK poultry farms","authors":"Paniz Hosseini ,&nbsp;Ivo Syndicus ,&nbsp;Eve Houghton ,&nbsp;Pablo Alarcon ,&nbsp;Guillaume Fournie ,&nbsp;Javier Guitian ,&nbsp;Andy Paterson ,&nbsp;Ashley C. Banyard ,&nbsp;Ian H. Brown ,&nbsp;Richard Hepple ,&nbsp;James L.N. Wood","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106445","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106445","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The epidemic of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in the United Kingdom and Northern Europe from 2021 to 2023 has dwarfed all previous incursions. This fact has driven the need to review biosecurity behaviours and perceptions of virus incursions on commercial poultry farms. This study used qualitative methods to evaluate farm managers’ perceptions of biosecurity and their implementation of measures as recommended by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Thirteen farm managers across different regions of England and Wales were recruited between May and September 2023 to take part in the study. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were held with managers to discuss various topics relating to biosecurity and avian influenza (AI). Biosecurity measures being used across the farm by managers and staff were also observed to help understand biosecurity behaviours. Interviews were transcribed and analysed to identify themes and patterns amongst the data, along with extensive notes collated during the farm visits. Findings showed that farms’ use of biosecurity with respect to disinfection regimes and use of foot dips were both well cited and observed. Similarly, farm managers were all highly likely to refer to the use of farm-specific and shed-specific rubber boots, while also citing stricter requirements for visitors and delivery/maintenance. Biosecurity concerning the layout of the premises, fencing, access to changing rooms and the general age and maintenance of buildings and sheds required significant improvement across many farms. Additionally, farm managers expressed strong feelings of stress and anxiety in recent years, particularly those who had experienced an AI outbreak recently. We argue that factors such as risk perceptions, remits of control, feelings of responsibility and autonomy, and consequences on mental health, are all factors that can inform how farm managers respond to outbreaks and implement or sustain biosecurity on farms. A greater emphasis on providing regular and tailored training and educational resources for the industry would be beneficial as would further services focusing on reducing the burden on farmers’ mental health. This research provides insight into the application and shortcomings of biosecurity implementation on commercial poultry farms. It also identifies farmer perceptions and experiences shaping implementation on farms. However, this highlights that the onus for improving biosecurity cannot remain solely with farm managers and workers. Further research exploring the role of other stakeholders in the industry would help bridge remaining gaps in our understanding of biosecurity implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 106445"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143487499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can badger vaccination contribute to bovine TB control? A narrative review of the evidence","authors":"Andrew Robertson ,&nbsp;Mark A. Chambers ,&nbsp;Graham C. Smith ,&nbsp;Richard J. Delahay ,&nbsp;Robbie A. McDonald ,&nbsp;Peter N.M. Brotherton","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106464","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106464","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In parts of Europe, the European badger <em>Meles meles</em> acts as a wildlife host for <em>Mycobacterium bovis</em>, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Options for reducing the risk of transmission of <em>M. bovis</em> from badgers to cattle include biosecurity measures, culling, and vaccination of badgers using the BCG vaccine. The use of vaccination as a control measure for tuberculosis (TB) in badgers has increased in recent years, with large-scale deployment in Ireland, and increasing use in England alongside a gradual phasing out of badger culling. Here we review evidence relating to the use of badger vaccination as a tool for controlling TB in badgers and cattle. Vaccination reduces the severity and progression of TB in badgers experimentally infected with <em>M. bovis</em> in laboratory studies, and significantly decreases the likelihood of naturally-acquired infection in free-living badgers in field trials. Modelling studies evaluating different strategies for controlling TB in badgers predict that badger vaccination will reduce TB prevalence in badger populations and lead to corresponding reductions in cattle herd disease incidence. While large scale field trials have not been undertaken to quantify the level of impact of badger vaccination on cattle bTB incidence in the UK, field studies in Ireland suggest that in some situations badger vaccination can result in beneficial disease outcomes in cattle which are comparable to those from badger culling. Attitudes to badger vaccination vary among stakeholder groups. Although members of the public are relatively positive about the benefits of vaccination, farmers are generally negative, due to concerns about practicality and effectiveness, along with a view that badger populations need to be controlled. The evidence published to date indicates that badger vaccination has the potential to contribute to the control of TB prevalence in wild badger populations and to form part of a wider strategy for controlling bTB. Future research should focus on investigating the effect of badger vaccination on bTB in cattle, along with understanding the impacts of vaccination in badgers in a broader range of ecological settings. Further understanding of the drivers of negative attitudes towards vaccination will nonetheless be crucial for incentivising and increasing the deployment of badger vaccination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106464"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143453697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating slaughterhouse findings for lung and tail lesions in fattening pigs from secondary data","authors":"Betty Rehberg ,&nbsp;Thomas May ,&nbsp;Sabrina Heß ,&nbsp;Lothar Kreienbrock","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106469","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106469","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using slaughterhouse findings to monitor animal health and welfare is not a new idea. The German Federal Veterinary Surgeon’s Association even calls for the establishment of an animal health database that combines slaughterhouse findings with health and farm data from already existing monitoring programs to create a comprehensive monitoring and surveillance tool. In an attempt to combine secondary health data from slaughterhouse findings, antibiotic use monitoring as well as biosecurity and husbandry evaluations into an integrated dataset, data from 18,593 fattening pig farms across Germany participating in the private sector Quality scheme for food (from 2018 to 2020) were harmonized at the half-year level and combined. As an example, the combined data was used to evaluate lung and tail lesion findings from abattoirs as indicators of animal health and welfare with descriptive analysis and mixed model approaches. Differences between abattoirs due to different data collection methods were taken into account by either considering the abattoir as a random effect or standardizing the prevalence data using abattoir means. The mean prevalence of lung lesions per half-year varied between 8.69 % and 9.78 %. The mean prevalence of tail lesion increased continuously from 0.65 % in the first half of 2018–1.04 % in the second half of 2020. Farm size, agricultural region, half-year and antibiotic treatment frequency were found to be associated (p &lt; 0.000001) with the prevalence of both lung and tail lesions. A lack of variance and specificity of the secondary biosecurity and husbandry evaluation data restricts the use of individual assessment criteria as well as biosecurity and husbandry indices (calculated from a subset of assessment criteria) in our analyses. We therefore used the data for a broad categorization of farms and it could be found, that the occurrence of a lower rating in any assessment criteria during farm evaluations is associated (p &lt; 0.000001) with a higher prevalence of lung and tail lesions, but the interpretation remains uncertain. The already existing data in the fattening pig sector can be used for the evaluation of animal health and welfare indicators to a large extent. Nonetheless, missing information, differences and changes (over time) in data collection methods introduce biases into the dataset. By improving the data quality and harmonizing collection methods, secondary animal health data could prove to be a useful tool in promoting animal health and welfare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106469"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143420597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}