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van den Brink KMJA, Santman-Berends IMGA, Harkema L, Scherpenzeel CGM, Dijkstra E, Bisschop PIH, Peterson K, van de Burgwal NS, Waldeck HWF, Dijkstra T, Holwerda M, Spierenburg MAH, van den Brom R. Bluetongue virus serotype 3 in ruminants in the Netherlands: Clinical signs, seroprevalence and pathological findings. Vet Rec 2024; 195:e4533. [PMID: 39148262 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.4533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) outbreak in the Netherlands in 2023 caused severe clinical signs in ruminants. The clinical and pathological signs in ruminants and their spread during the outbreak in 2023 are described. METHODS Data from the Dutch monitoring and surveillance system were available to describe clinical signs and pathological findings related to BTV-3 in sheep, cattle and goats. During the outbreak, 13 farms (five sheep, five cattle and three dairy goats) were closely monitored. RESULTS In 2023, BTV-3 infections were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in sheep flocks (n = 1807), cattle herds (n = 1864), goat herds (n = 62), alpaca and/or llama herds (n = 15) and one dog. Sheep exhibited the most severe clinical signs and had the highest mortality. In other animal species, a large variation in both occurrence and severity of clinical signs was observed. LIMITATION Only 13 farms were closely monitored. CONCLUSIONS The clinical signs observed in affected animals during the 2023 BTV-3 outbreak seem to be more severe than those observed during the BTV-8 outbreak between 2006 and 2008. It seems likely that BTV-3 will overwinter, similar to BTV-8. Therefore, the availability of an effective and safe vaccine is crucial to limit the future impact of BTV-3.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Melle Holwerda
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
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Pedersen L, Houe H, Rattenborg E, Nielsen LR. Semi-Quantitative Biosecurity Assessment Framework Targeting Prevention of the Introduction and Establishment of Salmonella Dublin in Dairy Cattle Herds. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2649. [PMID: 37627440 PMCID: PMC10451256 DOI: 10.3390/ani13162649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
An increasing average herd size and complexity in farm structures call for a higher level of biosecurity. It can reduce the risk of introducing and establishing pathogens with multiple-pathway and indirect spread mechanisms, such as Salmonella Dublin, a pathogen with an increasing occurrence in dairy cattle farms across different countries and continents. Therefore, this study aimed to use existing knowledge to develop a framework with a supporting tool allowing for a time-efficient, yet comprehensive, assessment of biosecurity measures that can help prevent the introduction and establishment of S. Dublin in dairy herds. Based on the literature review, a seven-step biosecurity assessment framework was developed and evaluated in collaboration with biosecurity experts. The resulting framework includes a weighted semi-quantitative assessment method with a scoring guide in an electronic supporting tool for 12 biosecurity sections assessed through on-farm observations and farmer interviews. The framework and tool provide a novel approach to comprehensively assess the overall (mainly external) on-farm biosecurity level by a trained biosecurity assessor. They can be used for systematic data collection in epidemiological studies on risk factors for the introduction and establishment of S. Dublin in dairy farms. Preliminary interrater reliability testing indicated moderate reliability between assessors with varying biosecurity skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Pedersen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Section for Animal Welfare and Disease Control, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark; (H.H.); (L.R.N.)
- SEGES Innovation P/S, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark;
| | - Hans Houe
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Section for Animal Welfare and Disease Control, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark; (H.H.); (L.R.N.)
| | | | - Liza Rosenbaum Nielsen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Section for Animal Welfare and Disease Control, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark; (H.H.); (L.R.N.)
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Doganay M, Dinc G, Kutmanova A, Baillie L. Human Anthrax: Update of the Diagnosis and Treatment. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13061056. [PMID: 36980364 PMCID: PMC10046981 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13061056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthrax is one of the most important zoonotic diseases which primarily infects herbivores and occasionally humans. The etiological agent is Bacillus anthracis which is a Gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming, nonmotile, rod-shaped bacillus. The spores are resistant to environmental conditions and remain viable for a long time in contaminated soil, which is the main reservoir for wild and domestic mammals. Infections still occur in low-income countries where they cause suffering and economic hardship. Humans are infected by contact with ill or dead animals, contaminated animal products, directly exposed to the spores in the environment or spores released as a consequence of a bioterrorist event. Three classical clinical forms of the disease, cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalation, are seen, all of which can potentially lead to sepsis or meningitis. A new clinical form in drug users has been described recently and named “injectional anthrax” with high mortality (>33%). The symptoms of anthrax in the early stage mimics many diseases and as a consequence it is important to confirm the diagnosis using a bacterial culture or a molecular test. With regards to treatment, human isolates are generally susceptible to most antibiotics with penicillin G and amoxicillin as the first choice, and ciprofloxacin and doxycycline serving as alternatives. A combination of one or more antibiotics is suggested in systemic anthrax. Controlling anthrax in humans depends primarily on effective control of the disease in animals. Spore vaccines are used in veterinary service, and an acellular vaccine is available for humans but its use is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Doganay
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Lokman Hekim University, 06510 Ankara, Turkey
- Correspondence:
| | - Gokcen Dinc
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey;
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, 38280 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Ainura Kutmanova
- Department of Infectious Diseases, International Higher School of Medicine, Bishkek 720010, Kyrgyzstan;
| | - Les Baillie
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK;
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Mazzeo A, Tremonte P, Lombardi SJ, Caturano C, Correra A, Sorrentino E. From the Intersection of Food-Borne Zoonoses and EU Green Policies to an In-Embryo One Health Financial Model. Foods 2022; 11:2736. [PMID: 36140862 PMCID: PMC9497950 DOI: 10.3390/foods11182736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The European Union (EU) adopts the One Health (OH) approach, based on the relationships between human, animal, and environmental health. OH concerns a multitude of aspects, some of which are discussed here. OH overlaps the European Green Deal plan and its relaunched Farm to Fork Strategy, which aims at spreading organic farms adopting the circular economy, in order to improve human health through both better environmental conditions and healthier food. Nevertheless, zoonoses cause sanitary cost in terms of infected farm personnel, lower productivity, and lower fertility of infected farm animals. In such scenarios, the decreased breeding yield and the lower income induce higher cost of farm products, meaning that the market price rises, becoming uncompetitive when compared to the prices of industrial products. Consequently, lower revenues can hinder the farm growth expected in the framework of the EU Green Deal. Since zoonosis control is a key element in aligning EU policies aimed at achieving the EU Green Deal goal of "ZERO environmental impact" by 2050, the authors suggest the inclusion of the parameter economic health in the OH approach, in order to individuate EU Member States (MSs) economically unable to conduct eradication programmes and to finance them. Economic health is here considered as a starting point of the new ethical and science-based One Health Financial Model that the authors suggest as an in-embryo model, in which specific rules should regulate public funds, private investments, and trading, which should exclusively concern public services and private enterprises complying with most of the OH parameters. In this way, economic losses due to collateral negative effects deriving from human activities can be progressively decreased, and the entire planet will benefit from the process. Despite the considerable efforts being carried out in the context of the OH approach, war causes tragic and devastating effects on the physical and mental health of human beings, on their lives, on pandemic and zoonotic threats, on animals, on plants and, last but not least, on the environment. War is incompatible with OH. Enormous efforts for peace are therefore urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrizio Tremonte
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, Via De Sanctis snc, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
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Barrett D, Clarke A, O'Keeffe K, Kellegher P, Comerford J, Lane E, Byrne AW. BVD seroprevalence in the Irish cattle population as the national BVD programme progresses toward eradication. BMC Vet Res 2022; 18:210. [PMID: 35650625 PMCID: PMC9158290 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03318-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) infection remains endemic in many countries worldwide. Ireland, in common with several other European counties, commenced an BVDV eradication programme in the last decade, Managing eradication programmes requires careful monitoring of diseases prevalence and understanding factors associated with disease exposure to ensure eradication programmes remain evidence based and tailored to the evolving epidemiological situation. METHODS In this study, we explore the seroprevalence of BVDV exposure over a four-year period (2017 to 2020) in Ireland from a cohort of animals (n = 6,449) under 30 months of age sampled at slaughter, who were born subsequent to the commencement of a compulsory national eradication programme. Temporal trends and risk factor analysis were undertaken using multilevel logit regression models. RESULTS There was a declining temporal trend in seroprevalence over the sample years of the study, and risk varied at both county- and herd-levels. The unadjusted marginal animal-level seroprevalence reduced from 9.1% in 2017 (95%; CI: 7.2-10.9) to 3.9% in 2020 (95%; CI: 3.2-4.6). The final model suggested that seropositivity in study cattle was strongly related with the presence of a PI animal in the herd during the year of the animal's birth, and to a lesser extent the status of the herd from which the animal was slaughtered. The risk of seroconversion increased significantly with increasing size of the herd of slaughter, in females relative to males, and in dairy relative to suckler herds. CONCLUSIONS This study has shown that the BVDV serostatus of cattle at slaughter is correlated to the BVD infection history of the herd into which the animal was born and the herd from which it was slaughtered. Herd location, increased herd size and dairy production were associated with increased probability of serconversion. These findings will be used to inform the targeting of surveillance strategies once BVDV freedom has been achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Barrett
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, One Health One Welfare Scientific Support Team, Agriculture House, Kildare St, Dublin 2, Ireland.
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - AnneMarie Clarke
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, One Health One Welfare Scientific Support Team, Agriculture House, Kildare St, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Kate O'Keeffe
- Cork Blood Testing Laboratory, Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Model Farm Rd, Cork, Ireland
| | - Padraig Kellegher
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Veterinary Public Health Inspection Service, Agriculture House, Kildare St., Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - John Comerford
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Veterinary Public Health Inspection Service, Agriculture House, Kildare St., Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Elizabeth Lane
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Animal Health Division, Agriculture House, Kildare St, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Andrew W Byrne
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, One Health One Welfare Scientific Support Team, Agriculture House, Kildare St, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Abstract
This article proposes a new concept of microservice-based architecture for the future of distributed systems. This architecture is a bridge between Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices and applications that are used to monitor cattle health in real time for the physical and health parameters of cattle, where microservice architecture is introduced that enables this form of monitoring. Within this architecture, machine-learning algorithms were used to predict cattle health and inform farmers about the health of each cattle in real time. Within this architecture, six microservices were proposed that had the tasks of receiving, processing, and sending data upon request. In addition, within the six microservices, a microservice was developed for the prediction of cattle health using algorithms from machine learning using the LightGBM algorithm. Through this algorithm, it is possible to determine the percentage value of the health of each head of cattle in the moment, based on the parameters that are sent from the mobile node. If health problems are identified in the cattle, the architecture notifies the farmer in real time about the problems that the cattle have. Based on the proposed solution, farmers will have 24 h online access to monitor the following parameters for each head of cattle: body temperature, heart rate, humidity, and position.
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Wernike K, Beer M. International proficiency trial for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) antibody detection: limitations of milk serology. BMC Vet Res 2022; 18:168. [PMID: 35524302 PMCID: PMC9074317 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03265-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Control programs were implemented in several countries against bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), one of the most significant cattle diseases worldwide. Most of the programs rely on serological diagnostics in any phase of the program. For the detection of antibodies against BVD virus (BVDV), neutralization tests as well as a variety of (commercially available) ELISAs are used. Here, test systems applied in various laboratories were evaluated in the context of an international interlaboratory proficiency trial. A panel of standardized samples comprising five sera and five milk samples was sent to veterinary diagnostic laboratories (n=51) and test kit manufacturers (n=3). Results The ring trial sample panel was investigated by nine commercially available antibody ELISAs as well as by neutralization tests against diverse BVDV-1, BVDV-2 and/or border disease virus (BDV) strains. The negative serum and milk sample as well as a serum collected after BVDV-2 infection were mostly correctly tested regardless of the applied test system. A serum sample obtained from an animal immunized with an inactivated BVDV-1 vaccine tested positive by neutralization tests or by total antibody or Erns-based ELISAs, while all applied NS3-based ELISAs gave negative results. A further serum, containing antibodies against the ovine BDV, reacted positive in all applied BVDV ELISAs, a differentiation between anti-BDV and anti-BVDV antibodies was only enabled by parallel application of neutralization tests against BVDV and BDV isolates. For the BVDV antibody-positive milk samples (n=4), which mimicked prevalences of 20% (n=2) or 50% (n=2), considerable differences in the number of positive results were observed, which mainly depended on the ELISA kit and the sample incubation protocols used. These 4 milk samples tested negative in 43.6%, 50.9%, 3.6% and 56.4%, respectively, of all investigations. Overall, negative results occurred more often, when a short sample incubation protocol instead of an over-night protocol was applied. Conclusions While the seronegative samples were correctly evaluated in most cases, there were considerable differences in the number of correct evaluations for the seropositive samples, most notably when pooled milk samples were tested. Hence, thorough validation and careful selection of ELISA tests are necessary, especially when applied during surveillance programs in BVD-free regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Wernike
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
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Santman-Berends IMGA, Mars MH, Weber MF, van Duijn L, Waldeck HWF, Biesheuvel MM, van den Brink KMJA, Dijkstra T, Hodnik JJ, Strain SAJ, de Roo A, Veldhuis AMB, van Schaik G. Control and Eradication Programs for Six Cattle Diseases in the Netherlands. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:670419. [PMID: 34490388 PMCID: PMC8418201 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.670419] [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: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Within the European Union, infectious cattle diseases are categorized in the Animal Health Law. No strict EU regulations exist for control, evidence of disease freedom, and surveillance of diseases listed other than categories A and B. Consequently, EU member states follow their own varying strategies for disease control. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the control and eradication programs (CPs) for six cattle diseases in the Netherlands between 2009 and 2019 and to highlight characteristics specific to the Dutch situation. All of these diseases were listed as C,D or E in the New Animal Health Law. In the Netherlands, CPs are in place for six endemic cattle diseases: bovine viral diarrhea, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, salmonellosis, paratuberculosis, leptospirosis, and neosporosis. These CPs have been tailored to the specific situation in the Netherlands: a country with a high cattle density, a high rate of animal movements, a strong dependence on export of dairy products, and a high-quality data-infrastructure. The latter specifically applies to the dairy sector, which is the leading cattle sector in the Netherlands. When a herd enters a CP, generally the within-herd prevalence of infection is estimated in an initial assessment. The outcome creates awareness of the infection status of a herd and also provides an indication of the costs and time to achieve the preferred herd status. Subsequently, the herd enrolls in the control phase of the CP to, if present, eliminate the infection from a herd and a surveillance phase to substantiate the free or low prevalence status over time. The high-quality data infrastructure that results in complete and centrally registered census data on cattle movements provides the opportunity to design CPs while minimizing administrative efforts for the farmer. In the CPs, mostly routinely collected samples are used for surveillance. Where possible, requests for proof of the herd status are sent automatically. Automated detection of risk factors for introduction of new animals originating from a herd without the preferred herd status i.e., free or unsuspected, is in place using centrally registered data. The presented overview may inspire countries that want to develop cost-effective CPs for endemic diseases that are not (yet) regulated at EU level.
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Affiliation(s)
- I. M. G. A. Santman-Berends
- Department of Research and Development, Royal GD, Deventer, Netherlands
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - M. H. Mars
- Department of Research and Development, Royal GD, Deventer, Netherlands
| | - M. F. Weber
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Cattle Health, Royal GD, Deventer, Netherlands
| | - L. van Duijn
- Department of Cattle Health, Royal GD, Deventer, Netherlands
| | | | - M. M. Biesheuvel
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - T. Dijkstra
- Department of Cattle Health, Royal GD, Deventer, Netherlands
| | - J. J. Hodnik
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - S. A. J. Strain
- Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland, Dungannon, United Kingdom
| | - A. de Roo
- Department of Cattle Health, Royal GD, Deventer, Netherlands
| | - A. M. B. Veldhuis
- Department of Research and Development, Royal GD, Deventer, Netherlands
| | - G. van Schaik
- Department of Research and Development, Royal GD, Deventer, Netherlands
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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