Irish Veterinary Journal最新文献

Background: Biosecurity measures are crucial to the introduction and spread of pathogens both within and between farms. External biosecurity focuses on preventing pathogens from entering or leaving the farm, while internal biosecurity aims to limit or stop the spread of pathogens within the farm. Implementing biosecurity measures not only protects animals from disease but also has positive effects on productivity, welfare and farm profitability. By reducing the need for antimicrobials, biosecurity measures also contribute to combating antimicrobial resistance. To assess and improve biosecurity, tools like Biocheck.UGent have been developed. In Ireland, the Biocheck.UGent tool has been widely used in pig farms since 2018. The aims of this study were firstly to assess temporal trends on biosecurity scores in Irish pig farms from 2018 to 2023 using the Biocheck.UGent tool and secondly to identify areas for improvement.

Results: There was an increase in the number of annual assessments over the study period, with the majority of farms being assessed multiple times. Overall, external biosecurity scores were higher than internal scores. Improvements in the scores were observed over time for most of the subcategories for external and internal biosecurity and across the different farm types. Analysis of the subcategories within the scoring system revealed areas with lower scores, including disease management, cleaning and disinfection, and measures between compartments. Weaner-to-finisher farms tended to have lower scores compared to other farm types.

Conclusions: While external biosecurity in Irish pig farms is generally high, there is room for improvement in internal biosecurity. This study highlights the importance of continuous efforts to improve biosecurity. The data obtained will aid in estimating the cost-benefit of implementing biosecurity measures, crucial for decision-making and better returns on investments.

Background: Control strategies against contagious agalactia (CA), considered one of the most important diseases affecting small ruminants in countries surrounding the Mediterranean, are mainly based on traditional strategies considered suboptimal such as the use of inactivated vaccines and antibiotics. This manuscript analysed the efficacy of an alternative non-mandatory official control programme based on a multi-platform diagnostic panel and biosecurity developed and started in 185 herds placed in a contagious agalactia endemic area of Spain, using the data of 74,080 samples collected and analysed during a 4 years-period (2018-2021).

Results: Globally, the combined analyses of bulk tank milk (BTM), ear or nasal swabs (in goats or sheep, respectively) and the serology to detect Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma), allowed the detection of 40.54% of positive farms (n = 75), with Ma the species always detected in sheep (100%) and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri (Mmc, 68,8%), Ma (29,3%) or both of them (1,9%) in goats. Taking into account productive aptitude and vaccination against CA, the use of BTM, ear or nasal swabs, and serology for herd classification demonstrated either a lack of concordance or only weak concordance. In herds that did not vaccinate, the classification of positives by male serology or swab detection showed moderate concordance. Vaccination against AC proved to be a protective factor against the occurrence of herds with bucks or rams testing positive.

Conclusions: Since the different diagnostic techniques are not interchangeable, it is necessary to apply a multi-platform diagnostic panel for the accurate classification of herds. Based on official classification, strict biosecurity standards, including the prohibition of the entry of animals with unknown health status, allowed the completion of the CA control program.

Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonotic bacterial disease. It has considerable negative consequences on the animal production industry worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic and molecular variations in Shami goat susceptible to Brucella infection. Blood samples were collected from fifty mature Shami goats (30 Brucella-infected does and 20 non-infection). DNA was extracted and selected parts the immunity; solute carrier family 11 member 1 (SLC11A1), toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1), toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), SP110 nuclear body protein (SP110), the adenosine A3 receptor (ADORA3), caspase activating recruitment domain 15 (CARD15) and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), antioxidant glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (NQO1) and transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and erythritol related transketolase (TKT), ribose 5-phosphate isomerase (RPIA) and Adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) genes were sequenced. Likewise, the levels of gene expressions were investigated. The results identified polymorphic variants between healthy and infected does. Levels of gene expression of SLC11A1, TLR1, TLR9, SP110, ADORA3, CARD15, IRF3, HMOX1, TKT, RPIA and AMPD were significantly (P < 0.05) up regulated in the infected compared to the non-infected ones. On the other hand, GPX1, NOS, NQO1 and Nrf2 genes were significantly (P < 0.05) downregulated in the infected compared to the non-infected does. The results of serum profile indicated that there is a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the activities of AST, ALT, GGT, LDH, ALP as well as serum level of globulin, triglycerides, cholesterol, MDA, NO, IL-1β, TNF-α, IgM, IgG, haptoglobin and amyloid A. On the other hand, there were significant reductions in the glucose, total protein albumin, urea, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, sodium, copper, zinc, iron, TAC, GSH, SOD, GPx, IL-10 and fibrinogen in the infected compared to the non-infected does. Our results provide valuable information about the serum profile variations and putative genetic markers for Brucella infection in goats. This could be utilized in controlling goat brucellosis through selective breeding of natural resistant animals.

Long-distance transport and associated fasting of unweaned calves have the potential to compromise the animals' welfare. This observational study aimed to determine how transport and fasting durations impacted the physiology and health of 115 transported calves in three transport groups; IRE (n = 20, mean age 29.8d; short road transport (~ 29 h incl. resting time) and short feed deprivation (~ 11 h)), INT (n = 65, mean age 24.9d; long road/ferry transport (~ 79 h incl. resting times) and long feed deprivation (~ 28 h and 25 h)), and NLD (n = 30, mean age 17.7d; short road transport (~ 28 h incl. resting time) and long feed deprivation (> 18 h)). All calves travelled through an assembly centre. Each calf was blood sampled (arrival at destination farm, 1-week and 3-weeks post-arrival), health scored (arrival, 1, 3, 7, 8, 20d post-arrival) and weighed (farm/mart of origin [IRE and INT only], arrival, and 3-weeks post-arrival). (Generalised) linear mixed models were used to analyse differences in blood variables, weight, and health scores on arrival and during recovery (all other timepoints). Despite differing transport durations, both INT and NLD calves exhibited glucose, beta-hydroxy-butyrate, non-esterified-fatty-acids and sodium levels outside reference limits upon arrival, which were different from values observed in IRE calves (p < 0.05). Lactate and potassium were above reference range for INT calves on arrival, and higher than in IRE and NLD groups (p < 0.05). One- and three-weeks post arrival, most variables returned to within reference ranges, and differences between groups were minimal and not clearly associated with either transport duration or fasting during transport. Health scores did not differ between transport groups at arrival, and differences were minimal during the three-week recovery period. INT calves lost more weight during the journey than IRE calves (p < 0.01), while INT and NLD calves gained similar weight in the 3-weeks post-arrival, but less than IRE calves (both p < 0.01). Overall, changes in the physiological status of calves post transport appeared to relate more to the duration of feed deprivation than to the duration of transport, except for potassium and lactate (muscle fatigue), which were impacted more for INT calves. Most variables showed clear signs of recovery to within reference levels for all groups within three weeks. Minimizing the duration of feed deprivation during transport should be a key consideration for the dairy industry to reduce the impact of transport on calf welfare.

Background: Veterinarians have a high prevalence of mental health disorders, such as depression. Previous research suggests that veterinarians are highly exposed to emotional demands at work and that these emotional demands are associated with adverse mental health outcomes. However, little is known about the consequences of the simultaneous exposure to emotional demands and other types of job demands in clinical veterinary practice. In this cross-sectional study, we investigate the combined effect of simultaneous exposure to emotional demands and other types of job demands on the risk of depression. We invited 1,757 employees in clinical veterinary practice in Denmark to participate in an online survey in the spring of 2022.

Results: We obtained response from 885 employees (50.4%). Mean age was 38.2 years and 90.2% of the sample identified as women. The majority of the respondents worked in small animal practice (80.6%). We assessed psychosocial job demands (emotional demands, quantitative demands, role conflicts, work pace, and threats) and depressive symptoms in the study questionnaire, and defined depression as a score of ≥ 21 on the Major Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. 15.1% of the participants had an indication of depression. Results showed an increased risk of depression for participants reporting high emotional demands in combination with high quantitative demands (OR:8.37; 95%CI:4.31-16.24), high role conflicts (OR:8.95; 95%CI:4.71-16.99), threats at work (OR:7.06; 95%CI:4.06-12.28) and high work pace (OR:14.24; 95%CI:6.51-31.15). The combined effects indicated additive but not synergistic interaction.

Conclusions: Combinations of emotional demands and other types of job demands are associated with an increased risk of depression among employees in clinical veterinary practice in Denmark. The results have implications for preventing negative health-related consequences of adverse psychosocial working conditions among employees in clinical veterinary practice. Preventive strategies and initiatives to promote a healthy psychosocial work environment and well-being among veterinary employees are discussed, and we further encourage employers and relevant authorities in veterinary practice to prioritize efforts to enhance the psychosocial work environment and employee well-being in clinical veterinary practice.

There has been a sharp disimprovement in the bovine tuberculosis (bTB) situation in Ireland in recent years. This commentary argues for critical programme change in three overarching themes relevant to the Irish bTB eradication programme, if eradication is to be successful: (1) Limiting infection in cattle. Residual (hidden) infection is an important constraint to eradication, due to the use of imperfect diagnostic tests. This is resolved with a risk-based approach, as is widely used in other national programmes, and would impact herd management, cattle trade and regionalisation. (2) Limiting infection within and from wildlife. Infection in wildlife is a key feature of bTB in many countries, including Ireland. Early research with badger vaccination has been promising. However, wide-scale badger vaccination has proved logistically challenging, and research to monitor progress is underway. It is unlikely that badger vaccination, in addition to current cattle controls, will be sufficient to achieve bTB eradication. (3) Programme leadership, management, governance and cost-sharing. There are a number of substantial, seemingly intractable, issues relating to programme leadership, management, governance and cost-sharing which alone are sufficient to preclude any sustained move to eradication. International examples of success are available, with funding models being critical to progress. In these three themes, most of the constraints are non-technical. If difficult decisions are not taken and the status quo is allowed to continue, there is a risk that infection may establish in further wildlife species, which may make eradication unattainable. Current decisions (including inaction) will impact future generations, including the general public (through the Exchequer) and future farming families.

Background: Paramphistomids are ruminal trematodes that cause important losses in tropical and subtropical regions. However, their presence in Europe has increased significantly in recent decades. In northwestern Spain, this trend has been confirmed in cattle, but data in sheep are scarce and not updated. Moreover, the paramphistomid species affecting sheep in the area have never been molecularly identified. To evaluate the prevalence of paramphistomid infections in sheep from northwestern Spain, 826 faecal samples from 25 sheep farms were collected and analysed via coproscopic techniques. In addition, the rumens of 85 roe deer from the same area were examined to detect adult paramphistomids. The species present were molecularly identified. Multivariate analyses for identifying the risk factors affecting the prevalence and egg shedding of rumen flukes were also performed.

Results: Overall, 14% of the animals and 44% of the flocks were positive; the mean egg count was 20.5 eggs per gram of faeces. In contrast, no adult paramphistomids were found in roe deer. Older sheep, those from farms located in the central climatic area, without water throughs available on pastures and using their own manure to fertilize, were considered significantly more susceptible to infection with paramphistomids. With respect to egg shedding, animals from 37 to 72 months of age, farms under semiextensive management, and those coinfected with Fasciola hepatica presented significantly greater egg counts. Molecular identification revealed 100% similarity with Calicophoron daubneyi sequences from other European and Mediterranean countries.

Conclusions: The present study confirms the increase in the prevalence of paramphistomid infections in sheep in the area with high dissemination of the parasite, as previously reported in cattle, and represents the first molecular identification of C. daubneyi in sheep from Spain. Our results demonstrate that special attention should be given to adult animals since they are the main carriers and are responsible for environmental contamination. In addition, detecting risk areas and applying effective control management measures such as the installation of watering points on pastures seems essential for limiting infections in livestock, especially in sheep, since they are susceptible to developing clinical paramphistomidosis at any time in their lives. The absence of adult flukes in roe deer suggests that they represent less suitable hosts for this trematode than cattle and sheep, although more robust studies monitoring the situation in sympatric areas with domestic ruminants are needed.

Clinical endometritis (CE) is common in post-partum dairy cows and is associated with impaired reproductive performance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of subclinical endometritis (SE) in cows clinically cured of CE on their fertility. The study was performed on 215 Holstein Friesian cows with CE diagnosed by vaginoscopy and ultrasound between 21 and 28 days after parturition. All cows were clinically examined three times at an interval of 2 weeks. Cows without signs of CE were considered cured, and endometrial samples from the uteri were collected by cytobrush to diagnose SE using cytological evaluation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) percentage. The threshold for SE was set at ≥ 5% PMNs. Intervals calving to oestrus and calving to conception, first AI pregnancy rate, pregnancy rate 200 days after artificial insemination (AI), the number of AI per pregnancy (AI/P), pregnancy loss, and culling rate were calculated. SE was diagnosed in 40.9% of cows clinically cured of CE. There were significant differences in the AI/P (3.2 vs. 2.6; p < 0.027) and the pregnancy loss (18.2% vs. 4.7%; p < 0.002) between cows with SE and without SE. Cows with SE showed a tendency towards longer interval calving to conception, lower pregnancy rate 200 days after AI, and higher culling rate. In conclusion, SE after a clinical cure of CE may reduce fertility in dairy cows.

Background: Naturally occurring hypoadrenocorticism is an uncommon endocrine disorder in dogs but has significant morbidity and mortality. Some dogs present with apparent glucocorticoid deficiency alone as evidenced by eunatraemia and eukalaemia. Few studies have compared dogs with hypoadrenocorticism with or without electrolyte disturbances and there are no large case series of affected dogs from Ireland.

Methods: Retrospective observational study.

Results: Ninety-two cases diagnosed with hypoadrenocorticism subdivided into those with supportive electrolyte disturbances (Group 1; n = 72) and those without (Group 2; n = 20). Dogs in Group 1 were significantly (p = 0.001) younger (4.0 (3.0-6.0) years) than dogs in Group 2 (6.0 (4.75-8.25) years). Dogs in Group 1 presented significantly more commonly with vomiting (Group 1: 52/71 (73.2%), Group 2: 6/20 (30.0%); p < 0.001), total hyperproteinaemia (Group 1: 21/71 (29.6%), Group 2: 1/20 (5.0%); p = 0.023), increased urea (Group 1: 52/72 (72.2%), Group 2: 5/20 (25.0%); p < 0.001), increased creatinine (Group 1: 31/72 (43.1%), Group 2: 3/20 (15.0%); p = 0.021) and hyperphosphataemia (Group 1: 40/71 (56.3%), Group 2: 2/20 (10.0%); p < 0.001), and significantly less commonly with reticulocytosis (Group 1: 4/38 (10.5%), Group 2: 5/13 (38.5%), p = 0.023). An undetectable basal aldosterone concentration had a positive predictive value of 94.3% for diagnosing undetectable post-ACTH aldosterone concentration. Of the thirteen dogs in Group 2 that had aldosterone concentrations measured and secondary disease excluded, 7 (53.8%) had or subsequently developed evidence of aldosterone deficiency, although not always with electrolyte abnormalities.

Conclusions: Dogs with hypoadrenocorticism from Ireland are similar to other reported cases. An undetectable basal aldosterone concentration is highly predictive of mineralocorticoid deficiency. Dogs with apparent glucocorticoid deficiency alone can progress to more typical disease and should be monitored appropriately.

Background: Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is one of the major cattle diseases causing economic losses worldwide. Nowadays the disease manifests mainly as virus-induced immunosuppression and early embryonic death, impacting overall herd performance and contributing to increased antibiotic usage in calf rearing.

Methods: In our study we investigated the effect of rapid BVDV control measures on calf diseases and antimicrobial usage after weaning on a large industrial dairy farm. Persistently infected (PI) animals were identified and removed from the herd within a short period of time, and all susceptible animals were vaccinated against BVDV. Recorded herd parameters and AB usage were monitored retrospectively and compared with data collected after starting the BVD control program.

Results and discussion: The programme began in January 2023 with identifying and eliminating PI animals from the farm. Twenty-one PI animals were found by using RT-qPCR testing of blood sera out of the 1571 animals tested (1.33%). Subsequent testing (January and December 2023) identified further 28 PI animals amongst the 542 calves tested shortly after birth, and all were instantly removed from the farm. In parallel with the BVDV eradication measures, AB usage dropped by more than 50% compared to previous years. Calf mortality also decreased from 7.45 to 4.38% as the control program progressed. Correspondingly, both the number of respiratory and diarrhoea cases decreased dramatically on the farm while the eradication measures were in place.

Conclusion: Our study clearly demonstrated the positive effects of BVDV eradication on the improvement of calf health and importantly, a reduction of AB usage, contributing to the One Health perspective of farm animal production.