Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal the Differential Regulatory Mechanisms of Compound Material on the Responses of Brassica campestris to Saline and Alkaline Stresses

Oilseed rape not only has the function of improve saline and alkaline soils, but also alleviate the local feed shortage. However, medium- and high-degree soil salinization and alkalinization always inhibit the growth of oilseed rape. Studies have shown that compound material can improve the tolerance to saline and alkaline stress of crops, but the difference in the regulation mechanism of compound material on oilseed rape in saline and alkaline soils is not clear. This study explored the difference through determining the leaf ion contents, physiological indexes, transcriptomics, and metabolomics of oilseed rape in salinized soil (NaCl 8 g kg^-1) and alkalinized soil (Na₂CO₃ 8 g kg^-1) at full flowering stage, respectively after the application of compound material. The results showed that in salinized and alkalinized soil, the compound material upregulated the genes related to the regulation of potassium ion transport, and changed the amino acid metabolic pathway, which reduced the contents of Na⁺, malondialdehyde (MDA), and relative conductivity (REC) in leaves, and increased the contents of K⁺ and Mg²⁺ and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). However, there were differences in the regulation mechanism of compound material in salinized and alkalinized soil. In salinized soil, the compound material improved the tolerance of oilseed rape to saline stress by upregulating transcription factors mannose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase (GPMM) and Glutamine--fructose-6-phosphate transaminase (GFPT) and downregulating phosphomannomutase (PMM) to change nucleotide metabolism pathway and lipid metabolism pathway. In alkalized soil, the compound material improved the tolerance of oilseed rape to alkaline stress by upregulating transcription factors Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) to change the biosynthesis pathway of other secondary metabolites. Therefore, the compound material can improve the tolerance of oilseed rape to saline and alkaline stress by regulating the genetic adaptability and apparent plasticity, but the mechanisms were different. This study provides a practical method for the ecological environment restoration and the development of animal husbandry.

Settlement of a stable wolf pack in a highly anthropic area of Pisan hills: Relationship with animal husbandry and hunting in a human-wolf coexistence perspective

Anthropic areas play a pivot role for main wolf conservation challenges. Wolf presence in the higher Pisan hills has been well documented while wolf settlement in the lower Pisan hills is still uncertain. In this study, long-term information on wolf presence in a highly anthropic area of the lower Pisan hills was collected by using non-invasive monitoring techniques. Furthermore, both the relationship of this predator with human activity and the impact of hunting on wolf presence have been investigated. The results obtained indicate the presence of a stable and reproductive wolf pack composed by both Italian wolf and hybrids individuals in the municipalities of Crespina Lorenzana and Casciana Terme Lari. A high impact of wolf on livestock was recorded in this area since no prevention systems were adopted by farmers. Wolf appears not to have a negative impact on wild boar population. Similarly, wild boar drive hunting does not appear to affect the wolf pack presence in the area. Thereby wolf may play a key role as controller of wild population. Prevention strategies improvement becomes instrumental to promote wolf-human coexistence. Further investigation to monitor pack hybridization level and turnover and to assess the impact of packs on wild population and livestock in anthropic areas is desirable.

Multifarious Trajectories in Plant-Based Ethnoveterinary Knowledge in Northern and Southern Eastern Europe

Over the last century in the European context, animal production has been transformed by the dynamics of centralization and decentralization due to political and economic factors. These processes have influenced knowledge related to healing and ensuring the welfare of domestic animals. Therefore, our study aimed to document and compare current and past ethnoveterinary practices, and to identify trajectories in ethnoveterinary knowledge in study regions from both northern and southern Eastern Europe. In the summers of 2018 and 2019, we conducted 476 interviews, recording the use of 94 plant taxa, 67 of which were wild and 24 were cultivated. We documented 452 use reports, 24 of which were related to the improvement of the quality or quantity of meat and milk, while the other 428 involved ethnoveterinary practices for treating 10 domestic animal taxa. Cattle were the most mentioned target of ethnoveterinary treatments across all the study areas, representing about 70% of all use reports. Only four plant species were reported in five or more countries (Artemisia absinthium, Hypericum spp., Linum usitatissimum, Quercus robur). The four study regions located in Northern and Southern Eastern Europe did not present similar ethnoveterinary knowledge trajectories. Bukovinian mountain areas appeared to hold a living reservoir of ethnoveterinary knowledge, unlike the other regions. Setomaa (especially Estonian Setomaa) and Dzukija showed an erosion of ethnoveterinary knowledge with many uses reported in the past but no longer in use. The current richness of ethnoveterinary knowledge reported in Bukovina could have been developed and maintained through its peculiar geographical location in the Carpathian Mountains and fostered by the intrinsic relationship between the mountains and local pastoralists and by its unbroken continuity of management even during the Soviet era. Finally, our results show some patterns common to several countries and to the veterinary medicine promoted during the time of the Soviet Union. However, the Soviet Union and its centralized animal breeding system, resulted in a decline of ethnoveterinary knowledge as highly specialized veterinary doctors worked in almost every village. Future research should examine the complex networks of sources from where farmers derive their ethnoveterinary knowledge.

Knowledge of pet-related zoonotic diseases and pet care in Hong Kong, a heavily crowded urban setting

BACKGROUND

With the rapid expansion of pet animal populations worldwide, pet-related zoonotic diseases are becoming an important issue in public health. Hong Kong (HK), located in southern China, is one of the most crowded urban centres in the world. The population of pets, especially exotic pets, in HK has grown significantly in recent decades, potentially elevating the risk of pet-related zoonotic diseases. However, no studies have been conducted to explore the knowledge of HK public towards pet-related zoonotic diseases and animal husbandry practices.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the level of awareness among the HK public of pet-related zoonotic diseases and their understanding of proper animal husbandry practices.

METHODS

The study was carried out in HK from June-August 2019 using both online and paper versions of a questionnaire. A total of 362 completed questionnaires (74.3% return rate) were collected and the responses analysed.

RESULTS

Sixty percent of the participants were current or past pet owners or planned on becoming pet owners in the coming 2 years, irrespective of their income or size of their living space. Among the participants, pet owners (including those who planned pet ownership) had a relatively higher level of awareness of pet-related zoonotic disease. However, the overall awareness of zoonotic diseases among both pet and non-pet owners was low with a knowledge score of <50%. A similar trend was observed for knowledge about proper animal husbandry practices.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the HK public was generally not familiar with pet-related zoonotic diseases and proper pet care. These knowledge gaps could potentially increase the risk of disease transmission. Further studies focusing on specific pet species and on people of different social-economic backgrounds are needed to provide future direction of efforts to reduce the risk of pet-related zoonotic diseases and to enhance pet-related animal and human welfare.

Incidence of Tetracycline and Erythromycin Resistance in Meat-Associated Bacteria: Impact of Different Livestock Management Strategies

The extensive use of antibiotics as growth promoters, or their continued abusive misuse to cure or prevent the onset of bacterial infections as occurs in the intensive farming, may have played a pivotal role in the spread of reservoirs of antibiotic resistance (AR) among food-associated bacteria including pathogens representing risks to human health. The present study compares the incidence of tetracycline and erythromycin resistances in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) from fermented products manufacturing using meat from intensive animal husbandry (industrialized manufacturing Italian salami) and from extensive farms (artisanal sausages facilities pork and llama Argentinean sausages). A higher incidence of tetracycline resistance (TET-R) compared to erythromycin resistance (ERY-R) was observed among the 205 isolates. Unlike CNS strains, the LAB showed a significant correlation between the TET-R and the ERY-R phenotypes. Genotypic assessment shows a high correlation with tetK and tetM for the TET-R strains and with ermB and ermC for the ERY-R strains. Multiple correspondence analyses have highlighted the association between AR phenotypes and CNS species isolated from Italian salami, while the susceptible phenotypes were associated with the LAB species from Argentinean sausages. Since antibiotic resistance in meat-associated bacteria is a very complex phenomenon, the assessment of bacterial resistance in different environmental contexts with diverse farming practices and food production technologies will help in monitoring the factors influencing AR emergence and spread in animal production.

Global distribution of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance mcr gene in Salmonella: A systematic review

This systematic review focuses on obtaining the most relevant information from multiple studies that detected a mobilized colistin resistance mcr gene in Salmonella for a better comprehension of its global distribution. A group of strategic and systematic keywords were combined to retrieve research data on the detection frequency of the mcr gene globally from four database platforms (Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed and Scielo). Forty-eight studies attended all the eligibility criteria and were selected. China was the country with the highest frequency of Salmonella strains with the mcr gene, and Europe exhibited a wide diversity of countries with positive mcr strains. In addition, animals and humans carried the highest frequency of positive strains for the mcr gene. Salmonella Typhimurium was the most frequent serovar carrying the mcr gene. Apparently, colistin overuse in animal husbandry has increased the selective pressure of antimicrobial resistance, resulting in the emergence of a plasmid-mediated colistin resistance mcr gene in China. The mcr-positive Salmonella strains are recently predominant worldwide, which is probably due to the capacity of this gene to be swiftly horizontally transmissible. The transmission ability of mcr-positive Salmonella strains to humans through the consumption of contaminated animal-based food is a public health concern.

A survey of producer practices and reproductive performance of containment and supplementary fed ewes

Containment feeding, where ewes are fed complete rations, is used to maintain flock numbers in periods of inadequate pasture supply. Producer practices influence both the reproductive performance of ewes and the risk of health challenges. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive, feeding and health management practices of producers using containment or supplementary feeding, and quantify any associations between practice and reproductive performance. An online survey of Australian producers was conducted in 2020. The number of responses (n = 43) allowed benchmarking but was insufficient to determine correlations between practice and performance. The reported pregnancy rate of adult Merino ewes was variable between respondents (78%-95%; n = 11), and lambs marked per ewe joined ranged from 60% to 110% (n = 9). In non-Merino flocks, lambs marked ranged from 82% to 161% (n = 4). Most respondents (9/11) fed cereal grain with hay or straw, either daily or two or three times a week. However, some respondents fed grain only or roughage only, such that the percentage of roughage in diets ranged from 0% to 100%. Ewes were most frequently separated into age groups for feeding, and shy feeders were only removed by 25% of respondents. Although generally the reported reproductive rate was high, wide variation indicates potential for improvement. Best practice management for containment remains unclear and requires further research given the diverse practices used. Veterinary practitioners should be aware that some of the practices used may contribute to reduced productivity or health issues in ewes.

Individualized Target Training Facilitated Transfer of Group Housed Capuchin Monkeys (Sapajus apella) to Test Cubicles and Discrimination of Targets on Computer Touch Screens

Simple Summary

Coercion and non-voluntary procedures can cause fear, anxiety and maladaptive behaviors for captive animals, which makes animal husbandry and care more difficult and reduces animal welfare overall. Positive reinforcement training (i.e., using rewards for desired behaviors rather than punishment for undesirable behaviors) is shown to be beneficial in reducing animals’ fear responses and in encouraging voluntary cooperation across a wide range of species. This paper outlines two experiments in positive reinforcement training to understand the importance of individualized targets in facilitating the voluntary transfer of captive capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) from their group enclosure to individual test cubicles. Experiment 1, which assigned different colored and geometric targets to each animal, rewarded animals for touching and following their assigned target into their test cubicle. The animals rapidly acquired the ability to identify their target, ultimately allowing them to cooperate by moving from one space to another voluntarily. Experiment 2 rewarded animals for spontaneously identifying their assigned target among other animals’ targets and novel targets. The animals chose their target more often than predicted by chance, although they did make some errors.

Abstract

Animals in captivity often experience fear, anxiety and aggression during non-voluntary procedures, leading to adverse behaviors and ineffective outcomes for both animals and caretakers. Negative reinforcement and punishment, often due to ignorance regarding animal learning, can hurt animal welfare. However, voluntary participation through positive reinforcement training (PRT) can decrease stress related to these procedures and increase desired behaviors. Our goal was to demonstrate the positive effects of “target training” on animal welfare by training 10 captive capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) in two experiments designed to facilitate movement from a group home enclosure to a test cubicle. In Experiment 1, each monkey was assigned an individualized target (a unique shape/color combination). In daily training sessions, the animal was rewarded with a click-sounding stimulus and a food reinforcer for (a) touching the target, (b) following the respective target into a test cubicle, and (c) touching progressively smaller targets until progressing to digitized images on a computer touch screen. All 10 animals learned to approach and touch their individual physical target in one or two sessions and were able to successfully transition this behavior to an image of their target on a touch screen, although they made more errors with the touch screen. In Experiment 2, the animals were presented with other animals’ targets and novel targets. The seven animals in this experiment all touched their target at higher-than-chance rates in Trial 1 without explicit discrimination training, but only five reached the learning criteria for the task (>83% correct for three consecutive testing days. These results demonstrate that target training can make voluntary movement from group housing to test cubicles easier and benefit future animal care and procedures.

Health and Welfare Survey of 30 Dairy Goat Farms in the Midwestern United States

Simple Summary

There appears to be a rapid expansion of dairy goat farming in the United States and the information available to producers on health, welfare, and production applicable to those in the Midwestern US is limited. This study intended to survey 30 dairy goat farms in the Midwestern US to provide insight into husbandry practices pertaining to health, welfare, and production, and to identify areas of future research. Pain relief for disbudding and castration, education and training programs, early kid management, and hoof trimming were identified as potential areas of future research. This study provided insight into the husbandry practices carried out on 30 dairy goat farms in the Midwestern US and areas of research to improve health and welfare.

Abstract

Dairy goat production in the Midwestern United States is increasing at a rapid rate and information on dairy goat husbandry practices applicable for producers in this region is limited. The objective of this study was to survey 30 dairy goat farms in the Midwestern US to provide insight into husbandry practices pertaining to health, welfare, and production, and to identify areas of future research. A questionnaire was developed and comprised 163 questions that were organized into categories including information on the producer (e.g., farming experience), staff, and goats (e.g., herd size, breed), housing, feeding and nutrition, milking practices and production, kid management, husbandry practices (e.g., disbudding, castration, hoof trimming), and health. Areas of future research that can improve goat health, production and welfare include pain relief for husbandry practices such as disbudding and castration, early kid management during birth to prevent illness/disease or mortality (e.g., warm and dry areas for kid rearing), eradication programs for common contagious diseases, training programs and education for claw trimming, disbudding, and udder health. In conclusion, this study provided insight into the husbandry practices carried out on 30 dairy goat farms in the Midwestern US and areas of research to improve health and welfare.

An Investigation into the Perceptions of Veterinarians towards Perioperative Pain Management in Calves

Simple Summary

Despite developments in animal welfare science regarding perioperative pain management in calves (Bos taurus), there are concerns that current knowledge has not been adopted in practice. Given that the perceptions of veterinarians have implications for how the welfare needs of calves are assessed and managed in practice, this study sought to quantify veterinary perceptions towards perioperative pain management in calves, including barriers to its use and whether demographic differences may influence those perceptions. A nationwide survey was electronically distributed to veterinarians registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand. Veterinarians largely associated multimodal pain management with the greatest reduction in perioperative pain. Most veterinarians also perceived that postprocedural pain persists beyond 24 h for disbudding and castration and did not support the use of differential treatment based on developmental age. Despite this, certain barriers were identified for their potential to inhibit the use of pain management on-farm. While demographic differences were found to influence veterinary perceptions towards perioperative pain management, the findings revealed considerable support among veterinarians for improving pain mitigation in calves. Given the opportunity, veterinarians in New Zealand would likely support strengthening the minimum provisions afforded to calves in practice and policy.

Abstract

While veterinarians are instrumental to the welfare of calves (Bos taurus), limited knowledge exists concerning veterinary perceptions towards perioperative pain management in calves. As a part of a larger, nationwide study investigating the perceptions of veterinarians towards calf welfare, the current work sought to quantify veterinary perceptions towards perioperative pain management, including barriers to its use, and investigate demographic influences affecting those perceptions. An electronic mixed-methods survey was completed by 104 veterinarians registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand. The current work revealed that most veterinarians considered a multimodal approach as the most effective method for ameliorating perioperative pain in calves, rejected the practice of differential treatment based on developmental age, and perceived that postprocedural pain persists beyond 24 h for the majority of procedures included in the survey. Despite this, veterinarians identified certain barriers that may inhibit the provision of pain mitigation on-farm, including costs, inadequate recognition of pain, and ingrained farming practices. Certain demographic effects were found to influence perceptions towards perioperative pain management, including gender, the number of years since graduation, and species emphasis. Nevertheless, the current work demonstrated considerable support among veterinarians to improve pain management protocols during routine husbandry procedures. The asymmetries that exist between the current minimum provisions of perioperative pain management and veterinary perspectives suggest that substantive improvements are necessary in order to reconcile New Zealand’s existing regulatory regime with developments in scientific knowledge.

Genomic and Micro-Evolutionary Features of Mammalian 2 orthobornavirus (Variegated Squirrel Bornavirus 1, VSBV-1)

Mammalian 2 orthobornavirus (VSBV-1) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen discovered in several exotic squirrel species and associated with fatal human encephalitis. The dynamics of VSBV-1 spread and evolution in its presumed natural hosts are unknown. Here, we present the phylogeny, micro-evolution, cross-species transmission and spread of VSBV-1 at a temporal and spatial resolution within the limits of animal husbandry. The results showed that VSBV-1 can be classified into six distinct groups and that the most recent common ancestor of the known German strains emerged at least 20 years ago. We here demonstrate that the genetic diversity of the VSBV-1 groups is shaped primarily by in situ evolution and most of the amino acid changes are deleterious polymorphisms removed by purifying selection. Evidence of adaptive evolution has been found in the G and L genes which might have an influence on transmission fitness. Furthermore, there was also evidence for some form of adaptive changes in the glycoprotein which suggests that many sites might be subjected to positive pressure evolving under episodic directional selection, indicating past occurrence of positive selection. Host switching events were detected as dominant evolutionary mechanisms driving the virus-host associations. Virus spread by animal trade followed by subsequent local micro-evolution in zoos and holdings is responsible for diversifying strains. Time-resolved phylogeny indicated that Prevost’s squirrels might be the original squirrel species carrying and seeding the virus in Germany. This study provides the first insight into the ecology and micro-evolutionary dynamics of this novel viral pathogen in the captive exotic squirrel population under artificial ecological conditions (zoos and animal husbandry) and co-housing of different squirrel species.

Welfare Assessment of 30 Dairy Goat Farms in the Midwestern United States

Dairy goat animal welfare assessment protocols have been developed and conducted in Europe and the United Kingdom for dairy goats; however, there are no published reports of large-scale welfare assessment for dairy goats on farms in the Midwestern United States (US). Therefore, the objective of this study was to perform welfare assessment of lactating dairy goats and identify the most prevalent welfare issues on 30 farms across the Midwestern US. Thirty dairy goat farms (self-selected) were enrolled in the study if they shipped milk for human consumption (regardless of herd size). The number of lactating does on each farm ranged from 34 to 6,500 goats, with a median number of 158 lactating does (mean ± SD: 602 ± 1,708 lactating does). The protocol used was developed from available literature on goat welfare assessment but modified for use in the Midwestern US. Observations were made without handling the animals and included 22 animal-based indicators evaluated at the group- and individual-level. The observations were conducted during ~3-5 h during a milking session (either morning or afternoon) and time in the home pen. Principal components analysis (PCA) was carried out on the welfare assessment data from each farm. The first two dimensions of the PCA explained 34.8% of the variation. The PCA biplot indicated correlations between indicators. The most prevalent conditions observed across the 30 farms included any knee calluses (80.9%), any claw overgrowth (51.4%), poor hygiene (14.9%), skin lesions (8.9%), poor hair coat condition (8.3%) and any ear pathology (8.0%). These results are the first to provide the Midwestern US dairy goat industry with information to improve commercial dairy goat welfare.

Topical Application of Lidocaine and Bupivacaine to Disbudding Wounds in Dairy Calves: Safety, Toxicology and Wound Healing

Simple Summary

Disbudding is a common, but painful procedure performed on calves to prevent horn growth. Tri-Solfen^® is a combination local anaesthetic and antiseptic formulation which, applied topically to the disbudding wound, is reported to reduce calf pain. Applied in this manner, the local anaesthetics in Tri-Solfen^®, lidocaine and bupivacaine, are reported to be poorly absorbed, resulting in low risk of neurological or cardiotoxic effects. The potential impacts on other blood, urine and tissue parameters and on wound healing when used in this manner, and/or accidental overdose situations are unknown, however. We performed experiments investigating (i) the safety of Tri-Solfen^® (including overdose situations) and (ii) the impact of Tri-Solfen^® on disbudding wound healing under field conditions. No adverse health effects were observed in Tri-Solfen^®-treated animals, even those receiving 5× the recommended dose, with no clinically significant differences in measured parameters between placebo and Tri-Solfen^® groups. No negative impacts on wound healing were noted. Conversely, lower levels of bacterial wound colonisation were evident, and there was reduced incidence of abnormal wounds at days 11–12 in Tri-Solfen^®-treated animals.

Abstract

Tri-Solfen^® is a combination topical anaesthetic and antiseptic solution containing lidocaine, bupivacaine, adrenaline and cetrimide. Applied to wounds, it is reported to reduce the pain experienced by calves following thermocautery disbudding. While lidocaine and bupivacaine are widely used in medicine, conflicting data exist on the impact of these compounds when applied directly to the surgical wound. To investigate the safety of Tri-Solfen^® applied to thermocautery disbudding wounds of calves, experiments were performed to measure (i) the safety of Tri-Solfen^® (including in overdose situations); and (ii) the impact of Tri-Solfen^® application at recommended doses on disbudding wound healing under field conditions. Haematological, biochemical and urinalysis parameters did not show clinically significant differences between placebo and Tri-Solfen^® groups (1×, 3× and 5× dose). No adverse health impacts were reported. Histopathological analysis of wounds noted a reduction in bacterial colonies in Tri-Solfen^®-treated wounds. Under field conditions, no negative impacts on wound healing were noted. Conversely, there was reduced incidence of abnormal wounds, with an associated trend toward improved average daily gain at days 11–12 in Tri-Solfen^®-treated animals. These data are considered to support the safety of topical anaesthesia, as formulated in Tri-Solfen^®, to the thermocautery disbudding wound in calves.

From Farm-to-Fork: E. Coli from an Intensive Pig Production System in South Africa Shows High Resistance to Critically Important Antibiotics for Human and Animal Use

Antibiotic resistance profiles of Escherichia coli were investigated in an intensive pig production system in the uMgungundlovu District, South Africa, using the 'farm-to-fork' approach. Four hundred seventeen (417) samples were collected from pig and pig products at different points (farm, transport, and abattoir). E. coli was isolated and enumerated using the Colilert^® 18/Quanti-Tray^® 2000 system. Ten isolates from each Quanti-tray were selected randomly and putatively identified on eosin methylene blue agar. Real-time PCR targeting the uidA gene was used to confirm isolates to the genus level. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to determine the isolates' antibiotic susceptibility profiles against 20 antibiotics. A total of 1044 confirmed E. coli isolates were obtained across the three critical points in the food chain. Resistance was observed to all the antibiotics tested with the highest and lowest rates obtained against tetracycline (88.5%) and meropenem (0.2%), respectively. Resistance was also observed to chloramphenicol (71.4%), ampicillin (71.1%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (61.3%), amoxicillin-clavulanate (43.8%), cephalexin (34.3%), azithromycin (23.9%), nalidixic acid (22.1%), cefoxitin (21.1%), ceftriaxone (18.9%), ciprofloxacin (17.3%), cefotaxime (16.9%), gentamicin (15.5%), cefepime (13.8%), ceftazidime (9.8%), amikacin (3.4%), piperacillin-tazobactam (1.2%), tigecycline (0.9%), and imipenem (0.3%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was observed in 71.2% of the resistant isolates with an overall multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of 0.25, indicating exposure to high antibiotic use environments at the farm level. A high percentage of resistance was observed to growth promoters and antibiotics approved for veterinary medicine in South Africa. Of concern was resistance to critically important antibiotics for animal and human use and the watch and reserve categories of antibiotics. This could have adverse animal and human health consequences from a food safety perspective, necessitating efficient antibiotic stewardship and guidelines to streamline antibiotic use in the food-animal production chain.

Occurrence of plasmid mediated fluoroquinolone resistance genes amongst enteric bacteria isolated from human and animal sources in Delta State, Nigeria

Plasmid mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) is a public health challenge arising among other things, from indiscriminate use of the floroquinolones (FQr) prophylactically in animal husbandry. This study examines the occurrence of PMQR genes amongst enteric bacteria isolated from human and animal sources. A total of 720 (360 stool and 360 fish pond water/poultry litter) samples were examined for fluoroquinolone resistant (FQr) bacteria. Percentage FQr was generally higher among human isolates than isolates from animals. Proportion of PMQR amongst FQr isolates were (1.05 and 4.32) % for E. coli from human and animal sources. For Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Klebsiella spp. and Aeromonas spp., percentages PMQR were 0.00 & 6.93, 0.00 & 6.38, 4.26 & 5.26 and 0.00 &3.03 for human and animal sources respectively, for the isolates. The PMQR genes: qnrA, qnr B, qnr S and qep A were 11, 15, 7 and 1 amongst a total of 1018 FQr and 29 PMQR isolates respectively. The aac (6')-Ib-cr gene was not detected in this study. Approximate Plasmid bands of PCR amplicon for qnr A, qnr B, qnr S and qep A respectively were established. The proportion of PMQR genes especially among isolates from animal sources is of public health concern due to the higher possibility of a horizontal FQ resistance transfer to humans.

Insights into German Consumers' Perceptions of Virtual Fencing in Grassland-Based Beef and Dairy Systems: Recommendations for Communication

Simple Summary

Pasture-raised beef and dairy products are valued by consumers for their taste and higher animal welfare standards. Pasture grazing can be optimized using virtual fencing technology. The use of virtual fencing to guide cattle on pasture can contribute to biodiversity conservation by protecting environmentally sensitive areas. Concerns exist about consumers’ acceptance of virtual fencing in beef and dairy production. To explore consumers’ perception of virtual fencing, German consumers’ responses to information material about virtual fencing were analyzed. The results showed respondents’ uncertainty about the implementation of the technology with regard to its effects on animal welfare and possible social impact. Respondents showed readiness to support pasture grazing with their purchase decisions, yet struggled to see their personal advantages from the use of a specific grazing management practice. Thus, practitioners should consider keeping the focus in communication with consumers not on the technology but on tangible benefits, such as quality of pasture-raised products. Furthermore, state support is argued to be necessary to encourage livestock practitioners to adopt virtual fencing in cattle grazing for biodiversity conservation.

Abstract

The share of cattle grazing on grassland is decreasing in many European countries. While the production costs of intensive stall-based beef and dairy systems are usually lower per kg product, grazing-based systems provide more ecosystem services that are valued by consumers. Innovative grazing systems that apply virtual fencing technology can improve animal welfare, optimize grassland use as pasture, and contribute to biodiversity conservation. Although consumer demand for pasture-raised products could promote animal-friendly practices, consumer perception of virtual fencing remains unknown. To address this gap in research, this study developed information brochures with different lines of argumentation and tested the responses of German consumers using concurrent think aloud protocols. The results demonstrated ambivalence in consumers’ attitudes to virtual fencing. The participants supported the idea of cattle pasturing to promote animal welfare and foster biodiversity declaring a willingness to contribute not only by paying price premiums for pasture-raised products but also through seeking other possibilities of action and participation. However, participants raised concerns about the effects on animal welfare and the social ramifications of the technology. The study offers recommendations for addressing these issues in communication and further contributes to the understanding of consumers’ perceptions of innovation in animal production.

Comparison between Single- and Group-housed Pregnant Sows for Direct and Indirect Physiological, Reproductive, Welfare Indicators and Gene Expression Profiling

Single- and group-housed pregnant sows were assessed during 8 weeks (4th and 8th to 14th) with regard to physiological, reproductive, welfare indicators and gene expression profiling. Compared to single-housed sows, group-housed sows had decreased non-return to estrus at 56 days after artificial insemination (AI) (83% vs 92%) and farrowing rate (78% vs 88%), respectively. Furthermore, group-housed sows showed a higher degree (p < 0.01) of advantageous physiological indicators, such as albumin (odds ratio [OR] = 4.4), alkaline phosphatase (OR = 1.5), bactericidal (OR = 3.2) and complement (OR = 24.3), and disadvantageous for alanine amino transferase (OR = 0.5), bilirubin (OR = 0.4), lysozyme (OR = 0.3) and C-reactive protein compared to single-housed. Eighty-seven genes related to immune response were underexpressed (log fold change ≤ 1.5; p < 0.05) during the 8th to 14th weeks in the group compared to single-housed sows, which in turn showed an immunomodulatory reduction on the expression of 43 genes during the 11th to 14th compared to the 4th week. Overall, the results were interpreted as indicative of greater comfort state of the group compared to single-housed sows.

Genetic Analysis and Characterization of a Bacteriophage ØCJ19 Active against Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the major pathogenic E. coli that causes diarrhea and edema in post-weaning piglets. In this study, we describe the morphology and characteristics of ØCJ19, a bacteriophage that infects ETEC, and performed genetic analysis. Phage ØCJ19 belongs to the family Myoviridae. One-step growth curve showed a latent phase of 5 min and burst size of approximately 20 phage particles/infected cell. Phage infectivity was stable for 2 h between 4°C and 55°C, and the phage was stable between pH 3 and 11. Genetic analysis revealed that phage ØCJ19 has a total of 49,567 bases and 79 open reading frames (ORFs). The full genomic sequence of phage ØCJ19 showed the most similarity to an Escherichia phage, vB_EcoS_ESCO41. There were no genes encoding lysogeny, toxins, virulence factors, or antibiotic resistance in this phage, suggesting that this phage can be used safely as a biological agent to control ETEC. Comparative genomic analysis in terms of the tail fiber proteins could provide genetic insight into host recognition and the relationship with other coliphages. These results showed the possibility to improve food safety by applying phage ØCJ19 to foods of animal origin contaminated with ETEC and suggests that it could be the basis for establishing a safety management system in the animal husbandry.

Pastoral production is associated with increased peste des petits ruminants seroprevalence in northern Tanzania across sheep, goats and cattle

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) causes a contagious disease of high morbidity and mortality in small ruminant populations globally. Using cross-sectional serosurvey data collected in 2016, our study investigated PPRV seroprevalence and risk factors among sheep, goats and cattle in 20 agropastoral (AP) and pastoral (P) villages in northern Tanzania. Overall observed seroprevalence was 21.1% (95% exact confidence interval (CI) 20.1-22.0) with 5.8% seroprevalence among agropastoral (95% CI 5.0-6.7) and 30.7% among pastoral villages (95% CI 29.3-32.0). Seropositivity varied significantly by management (production) system. Our study applied the catalytic framework to estimate the force of infection. The associated reproductive numbers (R0) were estimated at 1.36 (95% CI 1.32-1.39), 1.40 (95% CI 1.37-1.44) and 1.13 (95% CI 1.11-1.14) for sheep, goats and cattle, respectively. For sheep and goats, these R0 values are likely underestimates due to infection-associated mortality. Spatial heterogeneity in risk among pairs of species across 20 villages was significantly positively correlated (R2: 0.59-0.69), suggesting either cross-species transmission or common, external risk factors affecting all species. The non-negligible seroconversion in cattle may represent spillover or cattle-to-cattle transmission and must be investigated further to understand the role of cattle in PPRV transmission ahead of upcoming eradication efforts.

Applying the 3Rs: A Case Study on Evidence and Perceptions Relating to Rat Cage Height in the UK

This article investigates the barriers to implementing higher caging in animal research establishments in the UK. The use of animals in research and testing in the UK is regulated by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which sets out how animal experiments must be licensed and regulated. Within this, the Code of Practice currently allows laboratory rats to be housed in cages that are 20 cm high, even though adults can rear up to 30 cm. Most adult rats therefore cannot stand upright in 'standard' cages. We found that the main factors hindering the implementation of higher caging were classified into five different groups; health and safety, financial, animal welfare, scientific, and 'human'. Suggestions to overcome these barriers are provided, as well as alternative animal welfare changes that can be put into place. We conclude that much of the desired evidence for moving to higher cages is already available, and therefore the focus should be on education and improving access to the existing evidence, in order to encourage facilities to work around existing financial and health and safety concerns.

Research and Technological Advances Regarding the Study of the Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Related to Animal Husbandry

The extensive use of antimicrobials in animal farms poses serious safety hazards to both the environment and public health, and this trend is likely to continue. Antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) are a class of emerging pollutants that are difficult to remove once introduced. Understanding the environmental transfer of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs is pivotal for creating control measures. In this review, we summarize the research progress on the spread and detection of ARB and ARG pollution related to animal husbandry. Molecular methods such as high-throughput sequencing have greatly enriched the information about ARB communities. However, it remains challenging to delineate mechanisms regarding ARG induction, transmission, and tempo-spatial changes in the whole process, from animal husbandry to multiple ecosystems. As a result, future research should be more focused on the mechanisms of ARG induction, transmission, and control. We also expect that future research will rely more heavily on metagenomic -analysis, metatranscriptomic sequencing, and multi-omics technologies

Agricultural Animals as Biomedical Models: Occupational Health and Safety Considerations

The use of agricultural animals in biomedical research is increasing. Their overall size and metabolic rate, organ size, longer gestation period, and other physiological similarities make them good candidates for animal models of human disease. There are a number of special considerations for use of traditional farm animals for biomedical research. Differences in physical plant infrastructure, handling equipment, training of personnel, and potential zoonoses are some of the important considerations when traditional farm animals are used in biomedical research. This article provides an overview of some of the special considerations for using traditional agricultural animals in biomedical research. With the growing need for improved translational research, it is reasonable to predict significant growth in these animal models.

Innovative pain management solutions in animals may provide improved wound pain reduction during debridement in humans: An opinion informed by veterinary literature

Painful animal husbandry procedures are routinely performed in a range of livestock species without analgesia. Recently, innovative strategies have been developed to address wound pain in these animals. In particular, a farmer-applied "spray and stay" approach that is administered directly to open wounds was developed (Tri-Solfen® Medical Ethics Pty Ltd., Melbourne, Victoria, Australia). This strategy anaesthetises the wounds immediately upon their formation, with long-lasting effect. This development, described as a "pain management revolution," has become firmly established in the Australian livestock industries and has global potential. The positive outcomes of this approach provide insights and highlight potential benefits that may be accrued from its use in human wound care, providing rapid-onset wound analgesia and/or anaesthetising wounds prior to cleansing and debridement procedures. If these benefits are realised from a clinician and patient perspective for wound debridement as an initial indication, it could provide new horizons in pain management for a spectrum of wound-related procedures. Evidence from use in animal husbandry does support the concept that multimodal anaesthesia holds great potential in the field of wound management across many procedures.

Assessing the Impact of Animal Husbandry and Capture on Anemia among Women and Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Animal husbandry and capture (AHC) may mitigate anemia among women and children by supplying a source of micronutrient-rich animal source foods (ASF), yet may concurrently increase exposure to anemia-inducing pathogens such as Plasmodium spp., helminths, and enteropathogens. We conducted a systematic literature review to assess the relation between AHC and anemia among women of reproductive age, school-aged children, and children aged <5 y in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We used a 2-stage screening process, in which 1 reviewer searched 4 databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Global Health) with predetermined search terms for relevant articles. Two reviewers then independently screened studies using a priori exclusion criteria, yielding a total of 23 articles included in the final review. We evaluated evidence from observational studies assessing animal-dependent livelihoods and livestock ownership, and interventions that promoted livestock and fish production. We found little consistency in anemia outcomes across the several AHC exposures and population groups. Poultry production interventions had modest benefits on anemia among women and children, although whether these improvements were a result of increased ASF consumption, or a result of the combined treatment study design could not be determined. Observational studies identified chicken ownership, and no other livestock species, as a risk factor for anemia among young children. However, there was limited evidence to evaluate pathways underlying these associations. Studies tended to rely on self-reported fever and diarrhea to assess illness, and no study directly assessed linkages between AHC, pathogen burden, and anemia. Thus, there is insufficient evidence to conclude whether AHC improves or worsens anemia among women and children in LMICs. Given the current interest in promoting animal production among low-income households, future studies with robust measures of livestock ownership, ASF consumption, pathogen burden, and anemia status are needed to understand the nuances of this complex and potentially contradictory relation.

Antibiotic resistance: A cross-sectional study on knowledge, attitude, and practices among veterinarians of Haryana state in India

Aim:

The current study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices pertaining to antibiotic usage among the field veterinarians who serve as nodal officers playing a crucial role in disseminating knowledge to the farmers regarding livestock management practices in India.

Materials and Methods:

A pilot study was conducted in which 106 of the 173 field veterinarians of Haryana, India, agreed to contribute through their valuable participation in the study. The collected data were critically analyzed by simple descriptive statistics, and the responses were ranked using Garrett’s ranking method.

Results:

Our study found that most of the clinicians were aware of the fundamental clinical aspects of antibiotic resistance (AR), i.e., the general causes and transmission of resistance, response during treatment failure, and safe disposal of hospital waste. Further, implementation of “antibiotic stewardship” (rational/responsible use of antibiotics) and interruption of AR transmission by means of cross-kingdom pathogens are two ways to restrict the spread of resistant pathogens which were not in the clinical purview of majority of the clinicians. This highlights a lack of awareness and scope of improving clinician’s knowledge pertaining to AR. Moreover, we got to know the methodology adopted by farmers for disposal of infected milk from diseased udders as well as their attitude toward diseased and unproductive animals.

Conclusion:

This study provides snippets of the current animal husbandry practices prevalent at the field level which would assist to plug in the gaps of knowledge regarding AR among the veterinarians as well as the general public and serve to reduce its deleterious impacts in Indian animal farming as well as in the world through the concept of “One World, One Health.”