Consumption Of Animal Products Research Articles

Exploring Vitamin B12 Supplementation in the Vegan Population: A Scoping Review of the Evidence

With a significant portion of the population adopting veganism and conflicting views among nutrition professionals regarding the necessity of vitamin B12 supplementation, this review aims to explore existing studies evaluating interventions through food supplementation. It focuses on the impact of vitamin B12 deficiency across different demographics. The present study seeks to understand how research has addressed the relationship between the rise in veganism and vitamin B12 deficiency over the past decade. A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA flow diagram. Studies from 2010 to 2023 were identified using Boolean operators and key terms in electronic databases such as PubMed/ MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EBSCO (Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts, and Academic Search Complete). Out of 217 articles identified, 70 studies were included. The topical analysis categorized the studies into three groups: those associating vitamin B12 deficiency with diseases (n = 14), those analyzing the dietary habits of vegetarian individuals (vegan or not) without a specific focus on vitamin B12 (n = 49), and those addressing food guides and nutrition institution positions (n = 7). The authors concluded that vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent among vegans due to limited consumption of animal products. For vegetarians, supplementation is an efficient means of treating and preventing deficiency; a daily dose of 50 to 100 micrograms is advised. There are still significant gaps in the research, nevertheless, such as the absence of randomized controlled trials evaluating various forms or dosages of vitamin B12 among vegetarians and the requirement for more information and awareness of the vitamin’s significance in vegan diets.

Perceptions of Animal Welfare on Livestock: Evidence from College Agronomy Students in Costa Rica

Ethical considerations regarding our treatment of animals have gained strength, leading to legislation and a societal focus across various disciplines. This is a subject of study within curricula related to agri-food sciences. The aim was to determine the perceptions of agronomy university students concerning animal welfare in livestock production systems. A survey was conducted to encompass various aspects, from participants’ sociodemographic attributes to their attitudes and behaviors regarding animal welfare and the consumption of animal products. Statistical analysis, performed using R software, delved into the associations between participants’ characteristics and their perspectives on the ethical, bioethical, and legal dimensions of animal welfare. Associations between demographic factors and ethical viewpoints among students were identified. Gender differences emerged in animal treatment perceptions, while rural and urban environments impacted perspectives on various animals. Bioethical considerations revealed distinctive disparities based on gender and education in concerns regarding animal welfare, value perceptions, evaluations of animal behaviors, and opinions on animal research. It is crucial to distinguish between animal welfare and the ethical considerations arising from coexisting with sentient beings capable of experiencing suffering. Ethical theories provide a lens through which we perceive our obligations toward animals. The responsibility to ensure animal welfare is firmly rooted in recognizing that animals, like humans, experience pain and physical suffering. Consequently, actions causing unjustified suffering or mistreatment, particularly for entertainment purposes, are considered morally unacceptable.

A comprehensive integration of factors affecting vitamin B12 concentration in milk of Holstein cows: genetic variability, milk productivity, animal characteristics, and feeding management

Daily vitamin B12 (VB12) requirements of humans can naturally be fulfilled by animal product consumption, especially products from ruminants because of bacteria dwelling in their rumen. Indeed, only bacteria can synthesize this vitamin. Milk is hence an excellent source of VB12. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to unravel factors, such as genetic variation, diet and cow characteristics, and milk production, explaining the large variation in milk B12 concentration among cows by using an integrative approach. Milk samples from 2 consecutive milkings were collected from 3,533 Canadian Holstein cows (1,239 first, 932 s, and 1,362 third and more lactations) located in 99 herds with various feeding management. For genetic variation analysis purpose, pedigrees were traced back for 3 complete generations for each sire and dam. A total of 10,021 identities were used in the subsequent genetic analyses. Milk VB12 averaged 4.2 ng/mL with a range between 0.7 and 9.0 ng/mL. Dietary fiber (NDF from forage, dietary NDF, ADF, and lignin) increased and dietary components related to energy (non-fiber carbohydrate, starch, net energy of lactation, and percentage of concentrate) decreased VB12 in milk. Milk VB12 varied with days in milk, with a similar pattern as milk fat and protein concentration lactation curves. Milk VB12 increased as age at calving increased. When disregarding the herd variance, heritability value was 0.37, meaning that milk VB12 can be modified by genetic selection. The final model including factors related to the diet, animal characteristics and milk productivity, and genetic variation explained 79% (pseudo-R2) of the milk VB12 variation. When excluding the random effect of the cow, i.e., excluding the animal and genetic relationships, the pseudo-R2 dropped to 43%, reinforcing the importance of genetic variation in explaining milk VB12 variation. To our knowledge, the present study is the most comprehensive evaluation of factors affecting milk VB12 variation including the greatest number of cows from various lactation stages.

Regional food self-sufficiency potential in the European Alpine space

The sustainability of the food system needs to be improved, including shortening supply chains and promoting the consumption of regional food. Here, we explore the current potential for regional food self-sufficiency in the European Alpine space by calculating the current regional food/feed energy balance, deriving the regional per capita land footprint based on current food/feed consumption rates, and modelling the current potential for regional food/feed self-sufficiency. We show that 59% of the 560 Pcal of energy currently available in the study area comes from domestic production, and almost 60% of the energy is used for livestock consumption, with high regional variability. The resulting land footprints range from 2301 to 2975 m2 cap−1 y−1. Taking into account changes in cropping patterns, partial intensification, but no expansion of agricultural land, the European Alpine space could produce 89% of its current food demand domestically, with high regional variability due to population density, availability of agricultural land, crop yields, climatic conditions and dietary habits. These findings highlight the potential and limitations of regional mountain food systems and call for new strategies to improve sustainability. Reducing the current high consumption of animal products would reduce the land footprint and increase the potential for food self-sufficiency.

IDENTIFICATION OF SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM AND SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS IN THE IMPORTED FROZEN POULTRY

Salmonellosis, a zoonotic illness caused by Salmonella spp., is mostly transmitted to humans through the consumption of raw animal products, particularly poultry meat. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis are the predominant strains responsible for human infection. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium infection in frozen imported poultry using a triplex PCR technique. A total of 110 samples were chosen using the cluster sampling technique from the Ibrahim Khalil border throughout the summer and autumn of 2023. Following the cultivation of the meat samples in enrichment and selective media, suspicious colonies were obtained. Subsequently, DNA extraction was conducted, and the Salmonella isolates were identified using triplex PCR. Three (3) sets of primer pairs were utilised to target the invA gene for the Salmonella genus, the prot6 gene for the S. enteritidis serovar, and the fliC gene for the S. typhimurium serovar. The prevalence of Salmonella infection in frozen poultry meat was 12% (13 out of 110 samples). Among the contaminated samples, 38% (5 out of 13) were recognised as S. enteritidis and 30% (4 out of 13) were recognised as S. typhimurium. The findings of this finding suggest that frozen poultry meat pose a significant danger for zoonotic infections caused by S. typhimurium. and S. enteritidis.

Veganism, cuisine, and class: exploring taste as a facilitator in adopting a vegan lifestyle in Santiago, Chile.

Veganism is a movement that avoids consuming animal products. This lifestyle is commonly represented as elitist despite the broad range of people who follow it. Using Bourdieu's taste theory, this study analyzes how personal culinary tastes of different social classes generate favorable (or unfavorable) dispositions to adopting veganism. We analyzed 73 biographical interviews with 40 young vegans in three different waves. The findings reveal that all social classes exhibit favorable dispositions towards veganism. In upper-class individuals, dispositions to embrace healthy and exotic food facilitate the adoption of new flavors and reflexivity in eating practices. Conversely, lower-class individuals have traditional meatless culinary practices rooted in their restricted budget, facilitating the transition to a plant-based diet. These results demonstrate the relevance of social class in understanding the diversity of vegan practices, and they contribute to breaking stereotypes around this movement.

Assessment of bacterial profile, antimicrobial susceptibility status, and associated factors of isolates among hospitalized patients at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia

BackgroundAntimicrobial resistant bacteria among hospitalized patients are becoming a major public health threat worldwide, mainly in developing countries. Infections by these multidrug resistant pathogens cause high rate of mortality, prolong hospital stays, and affect individual and country economies in greater amounts. Thus, this study aimed to assess the bacterial profile, antimicrobial susceptibility status, and associated factors of isolates from hospitalized patients at the Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.MethodologyThis hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2021. Consecutive sampling was used to select the study participants. All bacterial isolates were identified using standard bacteriological techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion technique. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsOf 384 clinical samples (blood, urine, stool, wound, vaginal discharge, and ear discharge) processed 180 (46.9%) were culture positive. Overall, Escherichia coli was the predominant isolate (41; 22.8%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (36; 20%). Most of the isolates were from blood (70; 38.9%). The level of overall drug resistance of the gram-negative bacteria isolates for ampicillin, tetracycline, and cotrimoxazole was (104; 88.1%), (79; 75.9%), and (78; 75.0%), respectively. The overall multidrug rate of isolates was 143 (79.4%). Variables such as history of invasive procedures, chronic underlying diseases, history of hospitalization, and habit of eating raw animal products were statistically significant for the acquisition of bacterial infection.Conclusions and recommendationE. Coli and S. aureus were the most common isolates. Most of the isolates were resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics. And also, consumption of raw animal products, chronic underlying disease, previous hospitalization, history of invasive procedures, and educational status were associated with the acquisition of bacterial infections. Therefore, routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing, proper patient management, wise use of antibiotics in clinical settings and health education are recommended.

Cardiovascular disease risk in Australians following plant-based dietary patterns compared to regular meat eaters

The adoption of dietary patterns emphasising higher intakes of plant foods and lower intakes of animal foods (plant-based diets, PBDs), continue to rise worldwide. PBDs have been associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as well as major risk factors such as overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes. Evidence regarding the dietary profile and disease risk associated with various PBDs in comparison to traditional meat-eating diets are scarce within the Australian population. The aim of this study is to investigate the 5-year and 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Australians habitually following various PBDs compared to a regular meat diet (RMD). The Plant-based Diet (PBD) Study is a cross-sectional study consisting of healthy adults between aged 30-75 years from the Hunter Region (NSW) between 2021-2023. A validated FFQ was used to assess eligibility and categorise individuals who were habitually consuming one of five dietary patterns for at least 6 months into the following groups: vegan (nil animal products), lacto-vegetarian (LOV, including eggs and dairy), pesco-vegetarian (PV, including seafood with/without dairy and eggs), semi-vegetarian (SV, minimal consumption of animal products) or RMDs (including animal meat daily or multiple times/day)(1). 5-year and 10-year CVD risk was quantified using the Framingham Risk Equation(2) and the Australian Absolute CVD risk calculator, respectively. CVD risk and other quantitative measures was compared using One-way ANOVA or Kruskal Wallis, and Chi-square or Fisher’s Exact for qualitative data. Directed acyclic graphs displayed confounding variables and mediators and a regression model was used to adjust for these. A total of 240 participants (median age 55(16), 77.5% female) with 48 participants in each group showed a significant difference in predicted 5-year risk of CVD (P<0.05), however 10-year risk did not significantly differ across groups. 5-year CVD risk was significantly lower in the vegan group (1%) compared to the RMD, SV, PV, and LOV diet groups (all 2%). In comparison to a vegan diet, crude association showed those consuming a RMD had a 2.4% (95% CI 0.7, 4.1) higher 5-year risk of developing CVD, followed by 1.7% in LOV (95% CI 0.6, 2.9), 1.8% in PV (95% CI 0.5, 3), and 1.1% in SV (95% CI 0.2, 2.1). Significance was lost after adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, smoking status, alcohol intake, physical activity levels and BMI. This is the first study to purposefully sample Australians habitually following PBD, presenting novel population-based evidence for CVD risk. These findings suggest more restrictive PBDs such as vegan diets when compared to RMD may lead to lower CVD risk, however population-based longitudinal studies primary investigating the development of CVDs in the context of PBDs are warranted.

The Ketogenic Diet: The Ke(y) - to Success? A Review of Weight Loss, Lipids, and Cardiovascular Risk

Background: Obesity remains a global epidemic with over 2.8 million people dying due to complications of being overweight or obese every year. The low-carbohydrate and high-fat ketogenic diet has a rising popularity for its rapid weight loss potential. However, most studies have a maximal 2-year follow-up, and therefore long-term adverse events remain unclear including the risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD). Results: Based on current evidence on PubMed and Google Scholar, there is no strong indication ketogenic diet is advantageous for weight loss, lipid profile, and mortality. When comparing a hypocaloric ketogenic diet with a low-fat diet, there may be faster weight loss until 6 months, however, this then appears equivalent. Ketogenic diets have shown inconsistent Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) changes; perhaps from different saturated fat intake, dietary adherence, and genetics. Case reports have shown a 2-4-fold elevation in LDL in Familial hypercholesterolaemic patients which has mostly reversed upon dietary discontinuation. There is also concern about possible increased ASCVD and mortality: low (< 40%) carbohydrate intake has been associated with increased mortality, high LDL from saturated fats, high animal product consumption can increase trimethylamine N-oxide, and cardioprotective foods are likely minimally ingested. Conclusion: Ketogenic diets have been associated with short-term positive effects including larger weight reductions. However, by 2 years there appears no significant differences for most cardiometabolic risk markers. Therefore, this raises the question, excluding those who have a critical need to lose weight fast, is this diet worth the potentially higher risks of ASCVD and mortality while further long-term studies are awaited?

The consumption of animal products is associated with plasma levels of alpha-aminoadipic acid (2-AAA)

Background and aimsThe cardiometabolic disease-associated metabolite, alpha-aminoadipic acid (2-AAA) is formed from the breakdown of the essential dietary amino acid lysine. However, it was not known whether elevated plasma levels of 2-AAA are related to dietary nutrient intake. We aimed to determine whether diet is a determinant of circulating 2-AAA in healthy individuals, and whether 2-AAA is altered in response to dietary modification. Methods and resultsWe investigated the association between 2-AAA and dietary nutrient intake in a cross-sectional study of healthy individuals (N = 254). We then performed a randomized cross-over dietary intervention trial to investigate the effect of lysine supplementation (1 week) on 2-AAA in healthy individuals (N = 40). We further assessed the effect of a vegetarian diet on 2-AAA in a short-term (4-day) dietary intervention trial in healthy omnivorous women (N = 35). We found that self-reported dietary intake of animal products, including meat, poultry, and seafood, was associated with higher plasma 2-AAA cross-sectionally (P < 0.0001). Supplementary dietary lysine (5g/day) caused no significant increase in plasma 2-AAA; however, plasma 2-AAA was altered by general dietary modification. Further, plasma 2-AAA was significantly reduced by a short-term vegetarian diet (P = 0.003). ConclusionWe identified associations between plasma 2-AAA and consumption of animal products, which were validated in a vegetarian dietary intervention trial, but not in a trial designed to specifically increase the 2-AAA amino acid precursor lysine. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether implementation of a vegetarian diet improves cardiometabolic risk in individuals with elevated 2-AAA.

The various facets of orthorexic eating behavior: five case reports of individuals with supposed orthorexia nervosa

BackgroundOrthorexia nervosa, defined as a fixation on eating healthy according to subjective criteria, is recently being discussed as another variant of disordered eating behavior. Further characteristics are rigid adherence to nutritional rules, anxieties and avoidance behavior in the context of eating as well as a focus on health, not on body shape or weight loss, which is supposed to differentiate orthorexic from other disordered eating behavior. Although diagnostic criteria have been suggested, they have rarely been used in case reports published to date. Hence, the aim of this study was to present five individuals with supposed orthorexia nervosa, using preliminary diagnostic criteria to assess their eating behavior.Case presentationThe five cases (three females, two males) reveal the great variety of disordered eating behavior. Fear of unhealthy overweight (case A), supposed orthorexic eating behavior as a coping strategy for anorexia nervosa (case B), the exclusive consumption of animal products with a total exclusion of fruits and vegetables (case C), the fixation on exercise and athletic goals (case D) as well as a focus on a vegan diet and unprocessed foods (case E) are facets of orthorexia nervosa with varying degrees of impairment.ConclusionsIt is concluded that orthorexia nervosa manifests itself in very different ways and that more research is needed in order to determine whether it could be a useful additional category of disordered eating behavior.

Assessment of Mediterranean diet adherence and comparison with Italian dietary guidelines: a study of over 10,000 adults from 2019 to 2022

Despite the many well-documented benefits of the Mediterranean diet (MD), many Mediterranean countries seem to be moving away from it. The aim of this study was to investigate the MD adherence in 10,916 adults who completed the validated Medi-Lite questionnaire from January 2019 to December 2022 in Italy, and to assess the consumption of its food groups by comparing them with current national dietary guidelines. The sample showed a good level of MD adherence (12 ± 2.5). However, from 2019 to 2022, a significant (p < 0.001) decline in the adherence level emerged. An overconsumption of fresh red meat, cheese and poultry compared to dietary guidelines was observed. In contrast, an under-consumption of vegetables, bread, legumes, fish and milk and dairy products emerged. In recent years, a decline in MD adherence was observed in Italy, probably determined by an excessive consumption of animal products.

Risk-indicative or sustainable consumption? Consumers’ risk perception on conventional and organic food products in Poland

The consumption of organic food is becoming increasingly popular and, to avoid numerous threats to human health and the natural environment, the issues devoted to it require greater attention from decision-makers, producers, and consumers. Consumer decisions have an impact on shaping food consumption patterns and recently the trend of the consumption of conventional versus organic food products has been widely discussed. This is especially true given the fact that the area of human health is strongly related to the consumption of food products produced under the challenges of environmental protection and sustainability. The study aimed to investigate if the perception of consumption among Polish respondents was risk-indicative or sustainable based on the animal, fruit, and vegetable products purchased from conventional or organic production. The results revealed that fruit and vegetable consumption was not identically related with socio-demographic features, but the income level equally affected consumer choices regarding the purchase of organic food products. Gender and marital status only influenced decisions regarding the purchase of organic fruit. The consumption of animal products regarding the frequency of their consumption did not reveal the features of sustainability. The metal accumulation index (MAI) for conventionally cultivated vegetables was not higher for all of the investigated vegetables, namely pumpkin, spring onion, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and garlic. Our study contributes to addressing the knowledge gap on consumer choices about organic food products in Poland.

P518 Dietary and non-dietary predictors of treatment response to adalimumab in anti-TNFα-naïve adults with Crohn’s disease

Abstract Background Biologics, such as anti-TNFα agents, are commonly used in the management of Crohn’s disease (CD). A significant proportion of patients do not respond to treatment, necessitating the exploration of pre-treatment predictors of treatment response. Methods Anti-TNFα-naïve adults with active CD (Crohn’s Disease Activity Index; CDAI≥150) participating in an RCT (NCT04859088) were randomised to receive adalimumab monotherapy or adalimumab combination therapy with 50% partial enteral nutrition (PEN). Treatment response (CDAI&amp;lt;150) was assessed after 6 weeks, baseline diet was assessed with EPIC-Norfolk FFQ, alternative Mediterranean diet scores (aMED), and principal component analysis (PCA) with orthogonal (varimax) rotation was used to identify data-derived dietary patterns. Baseline predictors evaluated included PEN use, steroid use, immunomodulator use, age, disease duration, CDAI, C-Reactive protein (CRP), albumin, haemoglobin, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) score, adherence to dietary patterns identified, aMED score, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity level, body mass index (BMI), fat mass (kg/m2), fat-free mass (kg/m2), and handgrip strength. Differential analysis between responders and non-responders was carried out with general linear model or chi-square test when appropriate. Random forest model with recursive feature elimination (RF-RFE) was used to identify the most predictive factors of treatment response. Results Of 42 participants recruited to the study, 62% (26) responded to treatment. PCA revealed four dietary patterns (Figure 1A). Responders to adalimumab were younger (mean (SD): 36.0 (17.1) vs 50.8 (10.0), P=0.004), had lower baseline CDAI (mean (SD): 228 (62) vs 286 (78), P=0.018), higher CRP (14.5 (19.2) vs 4.6 (5.8) mg/L, P=0.036), were less likely to smoke (31% (5 of 16) vs 8% (2 of 26), and less likely to adhere to a dietary pattern characterised by high consumption of animal products (PC2) (P=0.030). Adherence to PC2 also correlated positively with age (r=0.327, P=0.035). The RF-RFE algorithm highlighted young age, low baseline CDAI and low PC2 adherence as key factors (Sensitivity: 77%, Specificity: 63%, PPV: 77%, NPV: 63%, OOB: 29%, P=0.012) (Figure 1B). Interestingly, exclusion of dietary factors improved diagnostic performance of the model (Sensitivity: 77%, Specificity: 75%, PPV: 83%, NPV: 67%, OOB: 24%, P=0.003) (Figure 1C), indicating potential interactions by other factors like age. Conclusion Young age, non-smoking, low baseline CDAI and elevated CRP predict adalimumab response in anti-TNFα-naïve adults. While dietary factors may also play a role, their impact seems confounded by other non-dietary factors. Further research is warranted in this area.

Vegetarianism and mental health: Evidence from the 1970 British Cohort Study

BackgroundReducing animal product consumption has benefits for population health and the environment. The relationship between vegetarianism and mental health, however, remains poorly understood. This study explores this relationship in a nationally representative cohort in Great Britain. MethodsWe use data from the 1970 British Cohort Study, which collected information on vegetarianism at age 30 in 2000 (n = 11,204) and psychological distress (PD) at ages 26, 30, 34, 42, and 46–48 in 2016/18. We first developed a statistical adjustment strategy by regressing PD at age 30 on vegetarianism and 14 confounders measured at ages 10 and 26. We then ran multilevel growth curve models, testing whether within-person changes in PD between ages 30 and 46–48 differed by vegetarianism, before and after statistical adjustment. ResultsAt age 30, 4.5 % of participants reported being vegetarian. In the cross-sectional models at age 30, vegetarians reported more distress compared with non-vegetarians in bivariate analysis (b = 0.30, 95%CI 0.09, 0.52), but this difference disappeared in the fully-adjusted model (b = 0.02, 95%CI −0.17, 0.21). In the longitudinal models between ages 30 and 46/48, there were no differences in within-person changes in psychological distress between vegetarians and non-vegetarians (p = .723). Sensitivity analyses using red meat consumption yielded similar findings. ConclusionIn this British cohort, vegetarianism at age 30 was not associated with changes in psychological distress during mid-adulthood. Since psychological distress in early adulthood predicted vegetarianism at age 30, more studies are needed to disentangle the progression of this relationship over the life-course.

Rare serovars of non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica isolated from humans, beef cattle and abattoir environments in Nigeria.

Salmonella is considered one of the most significant pathogens in public health since it is a bacterium that is frequently linked to food-borne illnesses in humans. Some Salmonella serovars are responsible for outbreaks that are connected to the consumption of animal products. Cattle are connected to humans through a shared environment and the food chain as a significant source of animal protein. In Nigeria, antimicrobial medications are easily accessible for use in food-producing animals. Abattoir environments are reservoirs of foodborne bacteria like non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica (NTS), that have become resistant to antibiotics used for prophylaxis or treatment in animals. This study investigated the prevalence and resistance patterns of Salmonella enterica serovars in abattoir employees, beef cattle and abattoir environments in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. A total of 448 samples were collected from healthy personnel, slaughtered cattle, and abattoir environments between May and December 2020. Using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, the resistance profile of NTS isolates were determined. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was considered when NTS was resistant to ≥3 antimicrobial drug classes. We performed phenotypic and genotypic characterizations of all Salmonella isolates including serotyping. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Twenty-seven (6%) NTS isolates were obtained. Prevalence of NTS was highest in abattoir environments (15.5%; 9/58), followed by cattle (4.8%;13/272) and abattoir employees (4.2%; 5/118). A high prevalence of resistance was observed for gentamicin (85.2%; 23/27) and tetracycline (77.8%; 21/27). Whole-genome sequencing of 22 NTS showed dissemination of aac(6')-laa (22/22), qnrB19 (1/22), fosA7 (1/22), and tetA (1/22) genes. Serovar diversity of NTS varied with source. S. Anatum, a rare serovar predominated with a prevalence of 18.2% (4/22). Chromosomal point mutations showed ParC T57S substitution in 22 NTS analyzed. Among 22 NTS, 131 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were detected including insertion sequences (56.5%) and miniature inverted repeats (43.5%). Two integrating MGEs IS6 and IS21 were observed to carry the tetA gene + Incl-1 on the same contig in NTS originating from cattle. Rare serovars namely S. Abony and S. Stormont with MDR phenotypes recovered from cattle and abattoir environments were closely related with a pairwise distance of ≤5 SNPs. First report of rare serovars in Nigeria with MDR phenotypes in humans, cattle, and abattoir environments. This study demonstrates the spread of resistance in the abattoir environment possibly by MGEs and emphasizes the importance of genomic surveillance. Beef cattle may be a risk to public health because they spread a variety of rare Salmonella serovars. Therefore, encouraging hand hygiene among abattoir employees while processing beef cattle will further reduce NTS colonization in this population. This requires a One Health collaborative effort among various stakeholders in human health, animal health, and environmental health.

Prospects and Challenges of Bacteriophage Substitution for Antibiotics in Livestock and Poultry Production.

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics in the livestock and poultry industry has led to the development of multi-drug resistance in animal pathogens, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in bacteria transfer from animals to humans through the consumption of animal products, posing a serious threat to human health. Therefore, the use of antibiotics in livestock production has been strictly controlled. As a result, bacteriophages have attracted increasing research interest as antibiotic alternatives, since they are natural invaders of bacteria. Numerous studies have shown that dietary bacteriophage supplementation could regulate intestinal microbial composition, enhance mucosal immunity and the physical barrier function of the intestinal tract, and play an important role in maintaining intestinal microecological stability and normal body development of animals. The effect of bacteriophages used in animals is influenced by factors such as species, dose, and duration. However, as a category of mobile genetic elements, the high frequency of gene exchange of bacteriophages also poses risks of transmitting ARGs among bacteria. Hence, we summarized the mechanism and efficacy of bacteriophage therapy, and highlighted the feasibility and challenges of bacteriophage utilization in farm animal production, aiming to provide a reference for the safe and effective application of bacteriophages as an antibiotic alternative in livestock and poultry.

Vegetarian diets: prevalence in the Russian population, regional accents and associations with cardiovascular risk factors. Results of the ESSE-RF, ESSE-RF2 and ESSE-RF3 epidemiological studies

At the present time, there is a growing trend of vegetarian diets, even in countries with a traditional Nordic diet.Aim. To study the prevalence and characteristics of vegetarian diets in the Russian population at the present stage.Material and methods. The analysis included data from representative samples of the adult population 25-74 years old, examined within three sections of the Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and their Risk Factors in Regions of Russian Federation (ESSE-RF) study in 20132014, 2017 and 2020-2022. A total of 57351 participants (24862 men and 32489 women) were analyzed. Nutrition assessment was carried out using the frequency method. Restrictive diets include semi-vegetarian, vegetarian and vegan diets. Data are presented as frequencies and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results. The prevalence of restrictive diets in the Russian population according to three sections of the ESSE-RF study was 3,1%. There is an increase in the prevalence of these diets from 2,7% in 2013, to 3,6% in 2017 and 3,3% in 2020-2022. Men are less likely than women to exclude red meat from their diet (OR 0,55 [0,49-0,61], p&lt;0,05), as are married individuals (0,58 [0,52-0,64], p&lt;0,05). Persons with higher education more often follow a semi-vegetarian diet (OR 1,15 [1,04-1,27], p&lt;0,05). With age, the refusal to consume red meat in the population increases (p&lt;0,001). A semi-vegetarian diet is associated with a lower likelihood of general (OR 0,84 [0,71-0,99], p=0,037) and abdominal obesity (0,78 [0,52-0,64], p&lt;0,001), hypertriglyceridemia (0,82 [0,73-0,92], p=0,001) and hyperglycemia (0,81 [0,67-0,97], p=0,021). The probability of hypertension is lower among people who limit the consumption of animal products (semi-vegetarians (OR 0,85 [0,76-0,95], p=0,004) and vegetarians (0,62 [0,42-0,92], p=0,018), as well as hypercholesterolemia: in semi-vegetarians (0,90 [0,81-0,99], p=0,041), in vegetarians (0,68 [0,47-0,97], p=0,035) and in vegans (0,37 [0,15-0,91], p=0,030).Conclusion. In the Russian population, individuals following vegetarian diets (3,1% of the population) have a healthier profile of nutritional risk factors.

VETERINARY, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF CATTLE WELFARE: A REVIEW

The paper presents a review of the literature on cattle welfare. The objective of this review is to outline the veterinary, economic, and social aspects of cattle welfare and highlight the current problems, global trends, and solutions. The global major scientific reference databases (Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus) were reviewed. The review brought the following findings: a change in scientific and practical approaches to the understanding and assessment of the welfare of productive animals that requires not only health maintenance, stress prevention, or the ability of animals to express natural behavior. Animal welfare gains more anthropometric traits, including such concepts as 'pleasure' or 'happiness'. The concept of 'positive welfare' has become a more popular trend in scientific research on animal welfare. The review identified positive trends of possible modification of production systems, to make them more diverse and animal welfare friendly. The research found livestock products consumers growing concerned about animal welfare and housing conditions. The concept of welfare is more commercialized, which encourages livestock producers to adhere to ethical production standards. However, the demand of consumers to meet high standards of animal welfare does not have sufficient economic leverage. Only a few are willing to pay more for the better welfare of the animals or to refuse to consume animal products from production systems with poor welfare conditions. This review was intended to draw the attention of scientists, farmers, and consumers to the problems of the humane treatment of productive animals. And to assist stakeholders in finding their place in the process of creating better conditions for animals that are used for food, helping people with their existence or with their lives.

Knowledge, perceptions and practices on antimicrobial resistance in humans and animals in Wakiso district, Uganda: A cross sectional study

Despite increasing evidence on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), there is limited literature on antimicrobial access and use in humans and animals in community settings globally. This study assessed knowledge and perceptions of AMR, as well as practices relating to the use of antimicrobials in humans and animals in Wakiso district, Uganda. This was a cross-sectional study among 418 participants that employed quantitative data collection methods. A structured questionnaire that included questions on knowledge, perceptions, practices related to AMR, and perceptions on access to antimicrobials in humans and animals was used. Data was analysed in STATA version 10. The majority of participants 63.6% (266/418) had heard about AMR mainly from family and friends 57.5% (153/266), and most 70.8% (296/418) were aware that resistant microorganisms cause infections that are difficult to treat. Most participants 62.7% (262/418) thought that they should complete the full dose of antimicrobials when on treatment. However, on the last occasion of antimicrobial use, 13.0% (44/338) revealed that they did not complete the full course of treatment. Participants who were single (APR = 1.12, C.I = 1.03–1.12, p-value = 0.01) and earning between 91 and 290 USD on average per month (APR = 1.12, C.I = 1.02–1.23, p-value = 0.02) were more likely to have completed a given antimicrobial course as compared to those who were married/cohabiting and earned less than 15 USD respectively. The majority of participants 60% (251/418) owned animals, and 81.3% (204/251) reported using antimicrobials mainly for prevention 61.3% (125/204) or treatment of sick animals 70.6% (144/204). Among the participants, 57.4% (117/204) reported not having sold or consumed animal products within a week after exposure to antimicrobials. Interventions to prevent AMR should adopt a One Health approach to address the gap in knowledge and practices relating to the use of antimicrobials in humans and animals.