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Arede M, Beltrán-Alcrudo D, Aliyev J, Chaligava T, Keskin I, Markosyan T, Morozov D, Oste S, Pavlenko A, Ponea M, Starciuc N, Zdravkova A, Raizman E, Casal J, Allepuz A. Examination of critical factors influencing ruminant disease dynamics in the Black Sea Basin. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1174560. [PMID: 37808108 PMCID: PMC10557248 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1174560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Ruminant production in the Black Sea basin (BSB) is critical for national economies and the subsistence of rural populations. Yet, zoonoses and transboundary animal diseases (TADs) are limiting and threatening the sector. To gain a more comprehensive understanding, this study characterizes key aspects of the ruminant sector in nine countries of the BSB, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Methods We selected six priority ruminant diseases (anthrax, brucellosis, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), lumpy skin disease (LSD), and peste des petits ruminants (PPR)) that are present or threaten to emerge in the region. Standardized questionnaires were completed by a network of focal points and supplemented with external sources. We examined country and ruminant-specific data such as demographics, economic importance, and value chains in each country. For disease-specific data, we analysed the sanitary status, management strategies, and temporal trends of the selected diseases. Results and discussion The shift from a centrally planned to a market economy, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, restructured the ruminant sector. This sector played a critical role in rural livelihoods within the BSB. Yet, it faced significant challenges such as the low sustainability of pastoralism, technological limitations, and unregistered farms. Additionally, ruminant health was hindered by informal animal trade as a result of economic factors, insufficient support for the development of formal trade, and socio-cultural drivers. In the Caucasus and Türkiye, where diseases were present, improvements to ruminant health were driven by access to trading opportunities. Conversely, European countries, mostly disease-free, prioritized preventing disease incursion to avoid a high economic burden. While international initiatives for disease management are underway in the BSB, there is still a need for more effective local resource allocation and international partnerships to strengthen veterinary health capacity, protect animal health and improve ruminant production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Arede
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Beltrán-Alcrudo
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jeyhun Aliyev
- Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan
| | - Tengiz Chaligava
- Veterinary Department, National Food Agency, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Ipek Keskin
- Veterinary Control Central Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Tigran Markosyan
- Scientific Centre for Risk Assessment and Analysis in Food Safety Area, Ministry of Agriculture, Nubarashen, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Dmitry Morozov
- Vitebsk State Academy of Veterinary Medicine, Vitebsk, Belarus
| | - Sarah Oste
- University Institute of Technology Nancy-Brabois, Lorraine University, Villers-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Andrii Pavlenko
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mihai Ponea
- National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Nicolae Starciuc
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, State Agrarian University of Moldova, Chisinau, Moldova
| | | | - Eran Raizman
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jordi Casal
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Allepuz
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Adamchick J, Pérez Aguirreburualde MS, Perez AM, O'Brien MK. One Coin, Two Sides: Eliciting Expert Knowledge From Training Participants in a Capacity-Building Program for Veterinary Professionals. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:729159. [PMID: 34760954 PMCID: PMC8573137 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.729159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Scientific research may include the elicitation of judgment from non-academic subject-matter experts in order to improve the quality and/or impact of research studies. Elicitation of expert knowledge or judgment is used when data are missing, incomplete, or not representative for the specific setting and processes being studied. Rigorous methods are crucial to ensure robust study results, and yet the quality of the elicitation can be affected by a number of practical constraints, including the understanding that subject-matter experts have of the elicitation process itself. In this paper, we present a case of expert elicitation embedded within an extended training course for veterinary professionals as an example of overcoming these constraints. The coupling of the two activities enabled extended opportunities for training and a relationship of mutual respect to be the foundation for the elicitation process. In addition, the participatory research activities reinforced knowledge synthesis objectives of the educational program. Finally, the synergy between the two concurrent objectives may produce benefits which transcend either independent activity: solutions and ideas built by local professionals, evolving collaborative research and training approaches, and a network of diverse academic and practicing professionals. This approach has the versatility to be adapted to many training and research opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Adamchick
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
| | - María Sol Pérez Aguirreburualde
- Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
| | - Andres M. Perez
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
| | - Mary Katherine O'Brien
- Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
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Osmani A, Habib I, Robertson ID. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAPs) of Farmers on Foot and Mouth Disease in Cattle in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan: A Descriptive Study. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082188. [PMID: 34438649 PMCID: PMC8388430 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Foot and mouth disease (FMD) affects the productivity and health of several animals species, including cattle. In Afghanistan, cattle represent a valuable source of food security and play a vital role in the rural economy. Using a questionnaire-based approach, we evaluated the self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and practices of various stakeholders involved in the cattle industry and veterinary management of animal health in a northern province of Afghanistan. The study pointed to several aspects that could be translated into practical management options to add value to FMD management in the cattle industry in Afghanistan. Abstract This study was performed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of farmers, animal traders, and veterinary professionals on FMD in Baghlan province, Afghanistan. Four structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents. Almost half (48.5%) of the farmers had heard of the occurrence of FMD in their neighbourhood or knew the name of the disease. The majority of farmers could recognise the clinical signs of FMD in their animals (salivation, 85.9%; tongue ulcers, 78.8%; gum lesions, 78.2%; hoof lesions, 76.8%). Most farmers stated that the “introduction of new animals” was the primary cause of FMD appearing on their farms and to control the spread of the disease, over half of the farmers (56%) preferred not to buy cattle from unknown or potentially infected sources. Animal traders’ knowledge was limited to recognising some clinical signs of the disease such as: salivation, and lesions in the mouth and on the feet. No animals were directly imported by the traders from outside Afghanistan. Over half of the local veterinary professionals (65%) kept record books of the animal diseases seen and/or treatment plans undertaken, and 80% of them reported the occurrence of FMD to the provincial, regional, and central veterinary authorities. No regular vaccination programme against FMD was implemented in the province. Poor import controls and quarantine were considered to be the main barriers to the control of FMD in the study area and the surrounding provinces. It can be concluded that, despite relatively good knowledge about FMD in the study area, there are gaps in farmers’ and traders’ knowledge that need to be addressed to overcome the burden of the disease in the province. These should focus on strengthening interprovincial quarantine measures and implementation of regular vaccination campaigns against the circulating FMDV within the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Osmani
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia;
- Correspondence: (A.O.); (I.H.)
| | - Ihab Habib
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia;
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: (A.O.); (I.H.)
| | - Ian Duncan Robertson
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia;
- Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Veterinary Epidemiology, Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan 430070, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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Osmani A, Robertson ID, Habib I. Seroprevalence and risk factors for foot-and-mouth disease in cattle in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan. Vet Med Sci 2021; 7:1263-1275. [PMID: 33755343 PMCID: PMC8294376 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
A serological study of 376 cattle from 198 herds and a concurrent survey of farmers were undertaken in 53 villages in Khinjan, Doshi and Puli Khumri districts of Baghlan province, Afghanistan to determine the seroprevalence of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and to identify risk factors for seropositive herds. A total of 419 cases of FMD were reported by the farmers in the year preceding the survey. The animal-level population seroprevalence was estimated at 42.0% (95% CI, 37.0-47.2). The seroprevalence increased with age in the sampled cattle (<2 years - 30.4%, 2-6 years - 40.3% and >6 years - 52.2%). Herds were more likely to be seropositive if the farmers: had purchased cattle in the year prior to the survey (OR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.37-4.97); purchased ruminants from unknown (potentially risky) sources (OR = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.13-4.03); and sold milk to the market (OR = 1.99; 95% CI, 1.09-3.63). Herds that had been vaccinated had a lower odds of being seropositive (OR = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.68-0.66). This was the first epidemiological study of FMD in Baghlan province and the findings provide valuable direction for disease control on FMD in this and other provinces in Afghanistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Osmani
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ian Duncan Robertson
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.,China-Australia Joint Research and Training Center for Veterinary Epidemiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ihab Habib
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.,Veterinary Medicine Department, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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Corbellini LG, Fernández F, Vitale E, Moreira Olmos C, Charbonnier P, Iriarte Barbosa MV, Riet-Correa F. Shifting to foot-and-mouth disease-free status without vaccination: Application of the PROMETHEE method to assist in the development of a foot-and-mouth national program in Uruguay. Prev Vet Med 2020; 181:105082. [PMID: 32634750 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is highly contagious, and the introduction of FMD virus in countries free of the disease can result in large epidemics, similar to those observed in the United Kingdom, Japan, and Uruguay. Many countries or regions of South America are recognized as "FMD-free with vaccination" or "FMD-free without vaccination." Uruguay has been certified as FMD-free with vaccination, and the transition to the status of FMD-free without vaccination has been discussed among the stakeholders of the Ministry of Livestock Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP in Spanish). This study illustrates how the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) can identify and rank alternative actions to be used in the national FMD program in Uruguay. It uses multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to structure the problem comprehensively. This helps to identify critical issues and potential solutions when planning a national FMD program for a country with a disease-free without vaccination status. The analysis highlighted the following perspectives: i) the importance of communication strategies as the country changes to "FMD-free without vaccination" status, as well as potential challenges such as a lack of trust in government; ii) the importance of enhancing epidemiological capacity and data management to allocate resources better and provide feedback from the surveillance system; iii) the need to re-evaluate the animal health compensation strategy to stimulate biosecurity and disease reporting; and iv) the importance of assisting the backyard pig sector given the risks it carries and the complexity of dealing with because of its informality, the educational status of its owners, and the lack of formal assistance by veterinary services. The results suggests that the MCDA approach could be a useful tool for animal health agencies when planning a program to eliminate FMD (as well as other diseases) in a structured way because it helps to identify which alternatives would yield more effective results and it helps to address future challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Gustavo Corbellini
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Plataforma de Investigación en Salud Animal, Estación Experimental La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Laboratório de Epidemiologia (Epilab), Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Federico Fernández
- Asesoría Técnica, Dirección General de los Servicios Ganaderos (DGSG/MGAP), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Edgardo Vitale
- División de Sanidad Animal, Departamento de Programas Sanitarios y Epidemiologia, Dirección General de los Servicios Ganaderos (DGSG/MGAP), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Cyntia Moreira Olmos
- División de Sanidad Animal, Departamento de Programas Sanitarios y Epidemiologia, Dirección General de los Servicios Ganaderos (DGSG/MGAP), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Charbonnier
- División de Sanidad Animal, Departamento de Programas Sanitarios y Epidemiologia, Dirección General de los Servicios Ganaderos (DGSG/MGAP), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María Victoria Iriarte Barbosa
- División de Sanidad Animal, Departamento de Programas Sanitarios y Epidemiologia, Dirección General de los Servicios Ganaderos (DGSG/MGAP), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Franklin Riet-Correa
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Plataforma de Investigación en Salud Animal, Estación Experimental La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay
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