High Livestock Density Research Articles

Recent land-use and land-cover changes and its driving factors in a fire-prone area of southwestern Turkey

During the last decades, contrasted trends in forest fires among countries around the Mediterranean basin have been observed. In the northern/western countries, Land Use-Land Cover (LULC) changes led to more hazardous landscapes, with consequent increases in fires. This contrasted with fire trends in southern/eastern countries. The recent incidence of large fires in some of the latter prompted the question of whether they are now following the path of their neighbors decades earlier. In this study, we investigated recent LULC changes in southwestern Turkey, focusing on those that could affect fire, and the factors driving them. To this end, LULC maps at different time steps (1975, 1990, 2000 and 2010) were obtained from Landsat images, together with relevant socioeconomic data. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were applied to assess the effects of socioeconomic and geophysical factors on the dominant LULC changes over time. Over the whole period studied, the most important LULC changes were deforestation followed by afforestation. Deforestation was positively related to high livestock density and proximity to villages and increased forest interfaces with other LULC types. We found no evidence that LULC changes were making the landscape more hazardous as there was a net decrease in fuels biomass and the landscape became more fragmented over time. However, despite the area being heavily used and relatively fragmented, large fires can occur driven by severe weather.

Livestock-assoziierter Methicillin-resistenter Staphylococcus aureus – Erhebung einer orthopädischen Fachklinik im Hochrisikogebiet Nord-West

Background MRSA represents a considerable health threat to orthopaedic patients. Throughout the last decade, livestock-associated MRSA emerged increasingly in livestock all over Europe. LA-MRSA broke the species barrier, colonizing and causing infections in humans. Nevertheless, to date there are no studies concerning livestock-associated MRSA and orthopaedic patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of LA-MRSA in a regional orthopaedic department localized in an area with high-density livestock. Patients and Methods 1544 persons were enrolled in this prospective study. Nasal swabs and questionnaires were collected in patients admitted to the orthopaedic hospital. Nasal carriage was assessed by using selective MRSA agars. MRSA-positive samples were spa typed. Results Overall, the prevalence of MRSA carriage was 3.3%, nearly all spa types were indicative for LA-MRSA. 91% of all LA-MRSA carriers had contact to livestock during the last 6 months before testing. Conclusion Livestock-associated MRSA emerged rapidly over the last few years and will contribute substantially to MRSA infection rates in orthopaedic hospitals. Livestock-associated patients must be screened before admission in order to control infectious complications.

Redistributing Phosphorus in Animal Manure from a Livestock-Intensive Region to an Arable Region: Exploration of Environmental Consequences

Specialized agricultural production between regions has led to large regional differences in soil phosphorus (P) over time. Redistribution of surplus manure P from high livestock density regions to regions with arable farming can improve agricultural P use efficiency. In this paper, the central research question was whether more efficient P use through manure P redistribution comes at a price of increased environmental impacts when compared to a reference system. Secondly, we wanted to explore the influence on impacts of regions with different characteristics. For this purpose, a life cycle assessment was performed and two regions in Norway were used as a case study. Several technology options for redistribution were examined in a set of scenarios, including solid–liquid separation, with and without anaerobic digestion of manure before separation. The most promising scenario in terms of environmental impacts was anaerobic digestion with subsequent decanter centrifuge separation of the digestate. This scenario showed that redistribution can be done with net environmental impacts being similar to or lower than the reference situation, including transport. The findings emphasize the need to use explicit regional characteristics of the donor and recipient regions to study the impacts of geographical redistribution of surplus P in organic fertilizer residues.

Comorbidity and coexisting symptoms and infections presented in general practice by COPD patients: Does livestock density in the residential environment play a role?

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) constitute a potentially susceptible group towards environmental exposures such as livestock farm emissions, given their compromised respiratory health status. The primary aim of this study was to examine the association between livestock exposure and comorbidities and coexisting symptoms and infections in COPD patients. Data were collected from 1828 COPD patients (without co-occurring asthma) registered in 23 general practices and living in a rural area with a high livestock density. Prevalence of comorbid diseases/disorders and coexisting symptoms/infections were based on electronic health records from the year 2012. Various indicators of individual exposure to livestock were estimated based on residential addresses, using a geographic information system. At least one comorbid disorder was present in 69% of the COPD patients (especially cardiac disorders and depression, while 49% had at least one coexisting symptom and/or infection (especially upper respiratory tract infections, respiratory symptoms and pneumonia). Half of the COPD-patients resided less than 500m of the nearest farm. Some positive as well as inverse associations were found between the examined outcomes and exposure estimates, although not consistent. Despite the high prevalence of coexisting chronic and acute conditions presented in primary care by in COPD patients, this investigation found no convincing evidence for an association with livestock exposure estimates. There is a need for a replication of the present findings in studies with a longitudinal design, on different groups of potentially susceptible patients. Future research should also elucidate the biological plausibility of possible protective effects of exposure.

Can Phosphate Salts Recovered from Manure Replace Conventional Phosphate Fertilizer?

Pig farming produces more manure than can reasonably be spread onto surrounding fields, particularly in regions with high livestock densities and limited land availability. Nutrient recycling offers an attractive solution for dealing with manure excesses and is one main objective of the European commission-funded project “BioEcoSIM”. Phosphate salts (“P-Salt”) were recovered from the separated liquid manure fraction. The solid fraction was dried and carbonized to biochar. This study compared the fertilizing performance of P-Salt and conventional phosphate fertilizer and determined whether additional biochar application further increased biomass yields. The fertilizers and biochar were tested in pot experiments with spring barley and faba beans using two nutrient-poor soils. The crops were fertilized with P-Salt at three levels and biochar in two concentrations. Biomass yield was determined after six weeks. Plant and soil samples were analysed for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents. The P-Salt had similar or even better effects than mineral fertilizer on growth in both crops and soils. Slow release of nutrients can prevent leaching, rendering P-Salt a particularly suitable fertilizer for light sandy soils. Biochar can enhance its fertilizing effect, but the underlying mechanisms need further investigation. These novel products are concluded to be promising candidates for efficient fertilization strategies.

Health conditions in rural areas with high livestock density: Analysis of seven consecutive years

Previous studies investigating health conditions of individuals living near livestock farms generally assessed short time windows. We aimed to take time-specific differences into account and to compare the prevalence of various health conditions over seven consecutive years. The sample consisted of 156,690 individuals registered in 33 general practices in a (rural) area with a high livestock density and 101,015 patients from 23 practices in other (control) areas in the Netherlands. Prevalence of health conditions were assessed using 2007–2013 electronic health record (EHR) data. Two methods were employed to assess exposure: 1) Comparisons between the study and control areas in relation to health problems, 2) Use of individual estimates of livestock exposure (in the study area) based on Geographic Information System (GIS) data. A higher prevalence of chronic bronchitis/bronchiectasis, lower respiratory tract infections and vertiginous syndrome and lower prevalence of respiratory symptoms and emphysema/COPD was found in the study area compared with the control area. A shorter distance to the nearest farm was associated with a lower prevalence of upper respiratory tract infections, respiratory symptoms, asthma, COPD/emphysema, allergic rhinitis, depression, eczema, vertiginous syndrome, dizziness and gastrointestinal infections. Especially exposure to cattle was associated with less health conditions. Living within 500m of mink farms was associated with increased chronic enteritis/ulcerative colitis. Livestock-related exposures did not seem to be an environmental risk factor for the occurrence of health conditions. Nevertheless, lower respiratory tract infections, chronic bronchitis and vertiginous syndrome were more common in the area with a high livestock density. The association between exposure to minks and chronic enteritis/ulcerative colitis remains to be elucidated.

The incidence of biogas feed-in tariffs on farmland rental rates – evidence from northern Germany

This paper investigates the effects of biogas production on farmland rental rates. We clarify the mechanisms by which biogas subsidies can inflate land rents and how regional livestock density may reinforce this effect. We use spatial econometrics to explain arable land rents in northern Germany based on 2010 agricultural census data. The results indicate that increasing biogas density is associated with a significant rise in the rental rates of arable land only in regions with high livestock densities. In biogas-intensive regions, biogas production is estimated to inflate land rents by €61 to €141 per hectare, depending on regional livestock densities.

Multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat fingerprinting as a method for rapid and cost-effective typing of animal-associated Staphylococcus aureus strains from lineages other than sequence type 398.

In veterinary medicine, Staphylococcus aureus is associated with a range of mild to severe infections. The high density of livestock in intensive farming systems increases the risk of disease spread and hampers its control and measures of prevention, making S. aureus one of the most important animal pathogens. Multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat fingerprinting (MLVF) has been successfully applied to the characterization of livestock-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST398 but not to the characterization of a wide range of other animal isolates. The objective of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of MLVF for studying S. aureus strains isolated from households, farms and exotic animals in three regions of Poland. MLVF, random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), spa typing and diagnostic microarrays were compared to determine the most suitable combination of methods for veterinary purposes. MLVF generated results consistent with host and geographic origins, reflecting population structures with a high concordance to spa typing results. MLVF has been proven to be a rapid, highly discriminatory and cost-effective method suitable for molecular typing in veterinary settings.

The prevalence of enteric RNA viruses in stools from diarrheic and non-diarrheic people in southwestern Alberta, Canada.

Southwestern Alberta is a region of Canada that has high rates of enteritis as well as high densities of livestock. The presence of enteric RNA viruses, specifically norovirus (NoV) GI, GII, GIII, GIV; sapovirus (SaV); rotavirus (RV); and astrovirus (AstV), was evaluated in stools from diarrheic (n=2281) and non-diarrheic (n=173) people over a 1-year period in 2008 and 2009. Diarrheic individuals lived in rural (46.6%) and urban (53.4%) settings and ranged in age from less than 1 month to 102 years, and the highest prevalence of infection in these individuals was in November. In all, viruses were detected in diarrheic stools from 388 individuals (17.0%). NoV GII was the most frequently detected virus (8.0%; n=182) followed by SaV (4.3%; n=97), RV (2.0%; n=46), AstV (1.8%; n=42), NoV GI (0.9%; n=20), and NoV GIV (0.1%; n=1). Animal NoV GIII was never detected. The prevalence of mixed viral infections in diarrheic individuals was 2.8% (n=11). Children from 1 to 5years of age accounted for the highest prevalence of positive stools, followed by the elderly individuals (≥70years). Only NoV GII (1.2%; n=2) and SaV (1.2%; n=2) were detected in stools from non-diarrheic people. Sequence analysis of a subset of stools revealed homology to NoV, SaV and RV sequences from humans but not to strains from non-human animals. The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that viruses of animal origin have a significant impact on the occurrence of acute gastroenteritis caused by RNA enteric viruses in people living in southwestern Alberta.

Spatial Heterogeneity of Habitat Suitability for Rift Valley Fever Occurrence in Tanzania: An Ecological Niche Modelling Approach.

BackgroundDespite the long history of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in Tanzania, extent of its suitable habitat in the country remains unclear. In this study we investigated potential effects of temperature, precipitation, elevation, soil type, livestock density, rainfall pattern, proximity to wild animals, protected areas and forest on the habitat suitability for RVF occurrence in Tanzania.Materials and MethodsPresence-only records of 193 RVF outbreak locations from 1930 to 2007 together with potential predictor variables were used to model and map the suitable habitats for RVF occurrence using ecological niche modelling. Ground-truthing of the model outputs was conducted by comparing the levels of RVF virus specific antibodies in cattle, sheep and goats sampled from locations in Tanzania that presented different predicted habitat suitability values.Principal FindingsHabitat suitability values for RVF occurrence were higher in the northern and central-eastern regions of Tanzania than the rest of the regions in the country. Soil type and precipitation of the wettest quarter contributed equally to habitat suitability (32.4% each), followed by livestock density (25.9%) and rainfall pattern (9.3%). Ground-truthing of model outputs revealed that the odds of an animal being seropositive for RVFV when sampled from areas predicted to be most suitable for RVF occurrence were twice the odds of an animal sampled from areas least suitable for RVF occurrence (95% CI: 1.43, 2.76, p < 0.001).Conclusion/SignificanceThe regions in the northern and central-eastern Tanzania were more suitable for RVF occurrence than the rest of the regions in the country. The modelled suitable habitat is characterised by impermeable soils, moderate precipitation in the wettest quarter, high livestock density and a bimodal rainfall pattern. The findings of this study should provide guidance for the design of appropriate RVF surveillance, prevention and control strategies which target areas with these characteristics.

Making the best of both worlds: Can high-resolution agricultural administrative data support the assessment of High Nature Value farmlands across Europe?

Worldwide, the role of farmlands for biodiversity conservation and the delivery of multiple ecosystem services has been widely acknowledged. In the European Union (EU), societal demands to include environmental conservation concerns within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have resulted in the recognition of the importance of maintaining High Nature Value farmlands (HNVf).HNVf constitute complex social-ecological systems, which owe their nature conservation value to the maintenance of specific, mostly low-intensity farming systems, supporting high levels of species and habitats dependent on agricultural practices. Even though HNVf assessment in space and time is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of Rural Development Programmes, the diversity of rural landscapes across EU, the scarcity of data on farming systems, and the lack of common methodological guidelines has hampered the implementation of HNVf mapping and monitoring across Europe. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop and test methodological approaches that may support HNVf assessment across the EU.The Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) which is mandatory for all EU Member States constitutes a system for the management and control of CAP payments to farmers. Essentially, IACS comprises high-resolution, spatially explicit information on the type and intensity of agricultural land-use. Even though such data exhibits high thematic, spatial and temporal resolution, IACS has seldom been used, due to significant access restrictions. Here, the potential to use IACS data to support the assessment of HNVf was evaluated within the German Federal State of Lower Saxony by implementing a recently developed methodological framework. Sets of indicators known to be essential for identifying potential HNVf and underlying farming systems (expressing landscape structure and composition, farming systems, and crop diversity), were derived from IACS. Spatial patterns of indicators were analyzed at two different scales to delineate the potential distribution of HNVf across Lower Saxony.Results highlighted that most regions in Lower Saxony were characterized by intensive farming practices including high livestock density, high share of intensive crops and low density of linear elements. Only 3% of the Utilized Agricultural Area (UAA) of Lower Saxony potentially constituted HNVf, with the majority of HNVf coinciding with mosaics of arable and/or permanent crops and semi-natural features under less intensive farming practices. Semi-natural grasslands, partially under agri-environment scheme management contracts, covered roughly 1% of the UAA and were mostly intermingled with other farmland habitats in extensively managed agricultural landscapes.In the context of the EU-wide HNVf assessment, IACS constitutes an important source of data, characterized by a high spatial, thematic and temporal resolution of data collected annually. Whilst having the potential for use in HNVf assessment, some challenges remain, especially due to significant access restrictions. Nevertheless, IACS constitutes a powerful tool to evaluate the extent and condition of HNVf across the EU countryside. Making use of IACS data in such a way could provide a stepping-stone towards achieving a more effective balance between the management and control of CAP support payments and the growing societal demands related to the maintenance and enhancement of farmland biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Antibiotics in groundwater under locations with high livestock density in Germany

Antibiotics are deployed in large quantities both in human and in veterinary medicine. Studies show that antibiotic residues occur in the environment (e.g. soil and surface waters). In some cases they were also detected in ground and drinking water. However, the degree of groundwater pollution by antibiotic residues from livestock farming is unknown. Therefore, the federal environment agency (UBA) supported a project that aimed to investigate near-surface groundwater samples in regions of high livestock density and high risk of groundwater exposure to antibiotics. By applying worst case criteria on existing sampling sites of our groundwater monitoring grid (high amounts of manure on site, high precipitation, low adsorption capacity of soils, high nitrate concentrations in ground water, etc.) adequate sampling sites were identified as well as relevant antibiotics (amount of application, water solubility, biological stability, etc.) by a literature review and contacts to local veterinary authorities. In total, groundwater at 48 sampling sites was selected for analyses of 23 antibiotic substances. Out of the 23 antibiotics, only three sulfonamides could be detected and quantified. With regard to the 48 sampling sites, at 39 locations no veterinary antibiotics were detected. At seven locations sulfadimidine and/or sulfadiazine was detected at low concentrations (&amp;lt;0.012 μg/L). Only sulfamethoxazole was repeatedly detected above 0.1 μg/L at two sites. Results show that translocation of veterinary antibiotics into near-surface groundwater in most parts of Germany does not occur above detection limits. Under unfavourable conditions leaching does occur but well below the limit values for pesticides (0.1 μg/L/0.5 μg/L). However, under some extreme conditions (to be identified by further research work) one antibiotic was present in groundwater above the pesticides limit values.

Determination of fluoroquinolone antibiotic residues in the plasma of Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) in Spain

Due to the possible toxicological impact, the accumulation of pharmaceuticals in wildlife as a consequence of human practices is of growing concern. The consumption of carrion at feeding stations – the so-called ‘vulture restaurants’ – with no management of the veterinary drugs it contains may expose scavengers to pharmaceuticals. To demonstrate this, we analyzed plasma from Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) originating from two different areas of Spain for antibiotics such as enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, its primary metabolite. Quinolone residues were detected in about 65% (n=106) of birds, of which 15.1% (16/106) had quantifiable amounts of enrofloxacin (0.049±0.102μg/mL) and 5.7% (6/106) of ciprofloxacin (0.009±0.007μg/mL). The differences in exposure between the two sampled areas are attributable to different types of carrion management: the vultures that fed in areas with a high density of dead livestock (supplied directly to feeding stations) were more prone to exposure than those that sought food in areas where carcass availability is more unpredictable. Our findings are evidence that vultures have access to medicated livestock and that there are quantifiable levels of livestock antibiotics in vulture plasma. However, the vultures analyzed in this study had maximum antibiotic concentrations of only 0.4μg/mL, much less than the concentrations used in the clinical treatment of scavengers and a level that is probably too small to cause intoxication.

Wild Ungulate Decision-Making and the Role of Tiny Refuges in Human-Dominated Landscapes.

Wildlife conservation in human-dominated landscapes requires that we understand how animals, when making habitat-use decisions, obtain diverse and dynamically occurring resources while avoiding risks, induced by both natural predators and anthropogenic threats. Little is known about the underlying processes that enable wild animals to persist in densely populated human-dominated landscapes, particularly in developing countries. In a complex, semi-arid, fragmented, human-dominated agricultural landscape, we analyzed the habitat-use of blackbuck, a large herbivore endemic to the Indian sub-continent. We hypothesized that blackbuck would show flexible habitat-use behaviour and be risk averse when resource quality in the landscape is high, and less sensitive to risk otherwise. Overall, blackbuck appeared to be strongly influenced by human activity and they offset risks by using small protected patches (~3 km2) when they could afford to do so. Blackbuck habitat use varied dynamically corresponding with seasonally-changing levels of resources and risks, with protected habitats registering maximum use. The findings show that human activities can strongly influence and perhaps limit ungulate habitat-use and behaviour, but spatial heterogeneity in risk, particularly the presence of refuges, can allow ungulates to persist in landscapes with high human and livestock densities.

Ongoing Transmission of Onchocerca volvulus after 25 Years of Annual Ivermectin Mass Treatments in the Vina du Nord River Valley, in North Cameroon.

BackgroundRecent reports of transmission interruption of Onchocerca volvulus, the causing agent of river blindness, in former endemic foci in the Americas, and more recently in West and East Africa, raise the question whether elimination of this debilitating disease is underway after long-term treatment of the population at risk with ivermectin. The situation in Central Africa has not yet been clearly assessed.Methods and findingsEntomologic data from two former endemic river basins in North Cameroon were generated over a period of 43 and 48 months to follow-up transmission levels in areas under prolonged ivermectin control. Moreover, epidemiologic parameters of animal-borne Onchocerca spp. transmitted by the same local black fly vectors of the Simulium damnosum complex were recorded and their impact on O. volvulus transmission success evaluated. With mitochondrial DNA markers we unambiguously confirmed the presence of infective O. volvulus larvae in vectors from the Sudan savannah region (mean Annual Transmission Potential 2009–2012: 98, range 47–221), but not from the Adamawa highland region. Transmission rates of O. ochengi, a parasite of Zebu cattle, were high in both foci.Conclusions/significanceThe high cattle livestock density in conjunction with the high transmission rates of the bovine filaria O. ochengi prevents the transmission of O. volvulus on the Adamawa plateau, whereas transmission in a former hyperendemic focus was markedly reduced, but not completely interrupted after 25 years of ivermectin control. This study may be helpful to gauge the impact of the presence of animal-filariae for O. volvulus transmission in terms of the growing human and livestock populations in sub-Saharan countries.

Light grazing of saltmarshes increases the availability of nest sites for Common Redshank Tringa totanus, but reduces their quality

The breeding population of Common Redshank Tringa totanus on British saltmarshes has reduced by >50% since 1985, with declines linked to changes in grazing management. Conservation initiatives have encouraged low-intensity grazing of 0.5 cattle ha−1y−1 but even light grazing can lead to high rates of nest mortality. To avoid predators, Redshank nest in patches of tall vegetation, but the effects of grazing on the availability and quality of habitat selected by Redshank remain unclear. We investigated Redshank nest site selection in relation to cattle grazing and asked (a) which nest vegetation conditions do Redshank select and (b) does grazing limit the availability of higher quality nest sites? We characterised vegetation height and composition at nests and control locations on six saltmarshes grazed between 0 and 0.55 cattle ha−1y−1, which falls within or near the UK Environment Agency definition of light grazing. Redshank selected nest locations in the tallest vegetation available (26±13cm with no grazing), but grazing limited the availability of such tall vegetation (11±7cm at 0.55 cattle ha−1y−1). However, Redshank also selected nest locations dominated by the grass Festuca rubra, which increased with higher livestock densities. By causing Redshank to nest in shorter vegetation, but with more of their preferred grass species, grazing presented a trade-off for Redshank. As previous work has shown that nesting in shorter vegetation results in higher nest predation rates, results of this study suggest that even light conservation grazing can result in Redshank nesting in lower quality habitat. Reducing saltmarsh grazing levels below 0.55 cattle ha−1y−1 may therefore increase Redshank populations by maintaining a vegetation structure with patches of F. rubra but with longer sward heights for nesting.

Risk of exacerbations in COPD and asthma patients living in the neighbourhood of livestock farms: Observational study using longitudinal data.

Living in an area with a high density of livestock farms has been associated with adverse respiratory health effects in some studies. As patients with COPD and asthma already have a compromised respiratory function and chronic airway inflammation, they are expected to be at increased risk for adverse respiratory health effects. The objective of this study was to assess the association between livestock exposure and exacerbations in COPD and asthma. 899 COPD and 2546 asthma patients from 15 general practices in a rural area with a high livestock density and 933 COPD and 2310 asthma patients from 15 practices in a control area in the Netherlands were included. Occurrence of exacerbations was based on the pharmaceutical treatment of exacerbations in COPD and asthma patients using 2006-2012 prescription data of electronic medical records. Farm exposure was assessed by comparing the study area with the control area, and with individual exposure estimates in the study area using Geographic Information System data. The exacerbation rate was higher in the study area compared with the control area in COPD (IRR: 1.28; 95%CI: 1.06-1.55), but not in asthma patients (IRR: 0.87; 95%CI: 0.72-1.05). In general, individual exposure estimates in the study area were not associated with exacerbations. COPD patients living within a 500m radius of up to12,499 chickens had a 36% higher exacerbation rate (IRR: 1.36; 95%CI: 1.03-1.79). Living in an area with a high livestock density is a risk factor for exacerbations in COPD patients. The environmental exposure responsible for this increased risk remains to be elucidated.

Short communication: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in bulk tank milk of dairy cows and effect of swine population density

The methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has recently frequently been reported in dairy cattle, usually with low prevalence. The livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) ST398 is especially involved in cases of subclinical and clinical mastitis. Swine carry LA-MRSA without clinical symptoms and are considered its reservoir and shedder. People exposed to swine are particularly at risk of LA-MRSA colonization. Environments with relevant livestock density are a demonstrated risk factor for humans to be carriers of a LA-MRSA. This work investigated dairy farms located in an area with a high livestock density, mainly represented by swine. Bulk tank milk samples from 224 dairy farms were collected, and their status was defined as MRSA-positive or MRSA-negative based on culture on chromogenic medium. The number of fattening swine and of fattening swine herds was calculated in an area of 3 km around each dairy farm through georeferencing. The probability of a Staphylococcus aureus-positive dairy farm to be MRSA positive based on the extent of potential infective pressure due to swine density was calculated. Both the number of swine herds and the number of swine were associated with the MRSA status of dairy herds. The 9 MRSA isolated were typed by multi-locus sequence typing and spa-typing, and characterized for their virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance profiles. The ST and spa-types detected are consistent with those present in the Italian swine population. Virulence and resistance profiles are mostly consistent with the types detected. This work provides the first evidence of the epidemiological challenge exerted by the density of the swine population on MRSA in dairy cows.

Brucellosis at the Human-Animal Interface in Kafrelsheikh Governorate, Egypt

Brucellosis is an endemic disease in Egypt among humans and animals. Accurate estimates of disease prevalence are the cornerstone to apply and study the efficiency of any control program. In this study, a cross sectional study was carried out at one area of the Nile Delta with high livestock density; Kafrelsheikh district to study the disease prevalence in cattle and humans. A total of 149 milk samples randomly collected from cattle in this district were tested using ELISA against Brucella spp. antibodies. The prevalence of brucellosis was estimated at 7% (95% CI: 2.9 – 11.1%). The within village seroprevalence was ranged from 0% to 46.5%. About half of the visited villages had at least one infected cattle; 44.8% (95% CI: 13.0 % – 75.9%). There is a positive strong correlation (> 0.7) between the prevalence of brucellosis among sheep and cattle on village flock level (P < 0.02). In humans, the prevalence of Brucella was estimated at 1.25% (95%CI: 0% – 3.45%) in Kafrelsheikh district. Hospital-based incidence rate of human brucellosis at the governorate level was 0.54/100000 population; 0.75/100000 population for male and 0.38/100000 population for females. Half of the reported human cases with brucellosis in the governorate have no contact with animals, while 35.7% of them owned a seropositive animal in their households. Continuous integrated surveillance at human-animal interface, revising the current national control program in animals with suggestion of vaccination to be in place, restriction of raw milk marketing and enhancement of public health education regarding brucellosis risks are recommended measures to reduce brucellosis prevalence among human and animal population of the study region.

Monitoring of Ruminant Sera for the Presence of Brucella Antibodies in Alexandria Province

A serological investigation was carried out in some ruminant species including cattle (100), sheep (200) and goats (200) in Alexandria Province. Serum samples were randomly selected then tested for the presence of antibodies against Brucella by using the Rose Bengal test (RBT) supplied by Veterinary Vaccine Institute, Abbasia, Egypt and only positive samples were confirmed by Complement Fixation test (CFT). It was found that the seroprevalence of Brucella antibodies in the examined serum samples of cattle, sheep and goats was 6, 6 and 7 %, respectively. The effect of some epidemiological factors including seasons of the year and sex groups on the occurrence of infection in ruminant animals were studied. The obtained results clarified that occurrence of Brucella infection was higher in females than in males with highest seasonal incidence occurring in spring season. Our study revealed that brucellosis is endemic at high levels in all ruminant species in the study area and questions the efficacy of the control measures in that place. The high intensity of infection transmission among ruminants combined with high livestock and human density and widespread marketing of unpasteurized milk and dairy products may explain the increasing rates of human brucellosis. The public health importance of brucellosis was discussed and an effective integrated human-animal control strategy is urgently needed.