Human Handlers Research Articles

Early adverse experience alters dendritic spine density and gene expression in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in lambs

ABSTRACTThis study reports on three years of prospective, longitudinal data on the psychological well-being of the human handlers and the health and behavior of the search and rescue dogs deployed in New York City and Washington, DC in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Eighty-five human handlers (63 deployed and 22 controls) and ninetyfour dogs (66 deployed, 28 controls) were assessed at multiple time points including 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after the 9/11 attacks. Humans were assessed for psychological health by structured clinical interview and self-report. Dogs were assessed for physical health and behavior by veterinary records and handler report. For humans, deployment after 9/11 did indeed represent a relatively short-term risk factor for developing symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By and large, however, the sample showed remarkable resilience as a whole, and overall rates of DSM-IV diagnoses were quite low. By year 3, 9/11 deployment no longer conferred any special risk. On the other hand, long-term employment in an emergency profession did emerge as a significant risk factor for symptoms of PTSD by year 3. With respect to the interaction between handler emotional well-being and canine health and behavior, we found that physical illness and/or death in the dog was prospectively associated with greater symptoms of depression in the handler. We also found that symptoms of depression and PTSD in the handlers prospectively predicted behavioral problems in the dogs over time. Separation anxiety, attachment/attention seeking, chasing, and excitability emerged in the dogs at 1 year. Behavioral problems escalated to aggression towards other dogs at year 2 and separation anxiety, aggression towards other dogs, and aggression towards strangers at year 3. Like any relationship, the partnership between a handler and his or her working dog can confer both protection—when the relationship is going well and both members are healthy—and vulnerability—when either member is physically ill or psychologically or behaviorally distressed.

This study explores the characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in swine and their human handlers in a convenience sample of 35 farms in Connecticut. Husbandry practices are clearly different from better-known concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) with less intensive rearing conditions. Nasal samples were collected from 263 pigs and nine humans on 35 farms during the 2010 rearing season. Samples were analysed using established microbiology methods, and resulting methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and resistant (MRSA) isolates were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and spa typing. PCR was used to detect the presence of the Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) gene, a cytotoxin usually associated with CA-MRSA infection. A farm assessment form and questionnaire were used to obtain the information about husbandry practices and human exposure risk, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus colonized swine and humans were found in 51% (18/35) of the farms sampled at a rate of 30% (85/259) and 22% (2/9), respectively. Eight pigs and two humans were MRSA positive on five farms. MRSA in swine was related to healthcare-associated (HA), community-associated (CA) or livestock-associated (LA) MRSA strains, whereas humans were colonized with HA-MRSA. On the basis of spa typing, there was evidence of human-animal transmission thereby signifying humanosis/reverse zoonoses. The PVL gene was found in 88% (7/8) of MRSA swine isolates, the first time this gene has been seen in colonized pigs sampled on US farm. MSSA isolates belonged to six spa types: t337 (41%), t034 (12%), t334 (12%), t4529 (12%), t8760 (18%) and t1166 (6%) including LA strains. This is the first time spa type t8760 has been reported and the only MSSA with the PVL gene. In summary, MRSA including LA strains (LA-MRSA) can be found on small farms with different husbandry practices from CAFOs, suggesting that preventive measures for zoonotic MRSA infection should address a range of animal production.

SUMMARYThe personality of an animal is described by traits that cause consistent actions and reactions to environmental stimuli. An important part of personality is the reaction to unpleasant or uncontrollable situations. Methods described in the literature to measure personality in animals are often based on measuring or rating escape behaviour in these situations. In the methods described, human handlers are frequently part of the experiment or the animals’ personalities are scored by humans. Thus, these methods are at least partly subjective.In the current study, an appliance to measure objectively the escape behaviour of ungulates and their reluctance during an uncontrollable situation (restraint) with a rather simple and comprehensible methodology is presented using a force transducer with adequate peripheral equipment. While the animals were restrained, a tractive force-time diagram describing escape behaviour was recorded and later analysed with software developed specifically.To evaluate this newly developed technical method, 24 three-month-old calves were restrained by being tethered for 30 min on a halter that was connected to the force transducer. From the tractive force-time diagram, tractive force, maximal tractive force and the number of pulls that the calves performed during 5-min intervals were calculated. The multivariate results were analysed with ak-means-algorithm (function ‘kcca’) and a hierarchical clustering (function ‘hclust’) included in R version 2.12.1.Both analyses revealed two clearly separated clusters including the same individuals in each analysis. The animals of cluster 1 showed a continuously higher reaction level than those of cluster 2 with a strong reaction in the beginning, a short decrease before increasing during the middle of the experiment and a final decrease at the end of the test. The animals of cluster 2 had a lower and quite steady reaction level throughout the experiment, although even here a slight increase during the middle of the experiment could be detected before a final decrease towards the end of the test was shown. There was no significant difference in weight between the two clusters.The results showed that this newly developed method was able to detect differences in the animals’ escape behaviour patterns and reluctance with the measured parameters.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been reported in commercially raised pigs and their human handlers, raising concerns of zoonotic transmission. To determine whether MRSA in backyard-raised pigs is commonly transmitted to their human owners, a matched study of this type of pigs and their owners was conducted in selected counties in Michigan. Nasal swabs from matched owner-pig pairs (n = 50 pairs) with a few unmatched pig (n = 3) and human (n = 4) samples were collected and processed using standard isolation and identification protocols. No matched owner-pig pair was found; however, MRSA was isolated from 1/54 (1.9%) human samples and 2/53(3.8%) of the pigs. The single human isolate was not strain type USA100-1100 by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), was sequence type (ST) 8 by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), possessed SCCmec type IVb and agr I and was negative for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin gene. The two pig isolates were indistinguishable by PFGE (not USA100-1100), and both isolates were ST5 by MLST, possessed SCCmec type III and agr II and were negative for the PVL gene. Persons raising backyard swine from the selected Michigan counties had MRSA carriage rates similar to that of the general US population, suggesting that their avocational pig exposure did not increase their risk of MRSA.

The human handlers of search and rescue dogs are essential first responders in large-scale disasters. Better understanding of factors contributing to their risk for psychological symptoms will help keep them healthy and effective.

Since the discovery that Helicobacter pylori causes a range of pathologies in the stomachs of infected humans, it has become apparent that Helicobacters are found in a diverse range of animal species where they are frequently associated with disease. In 2003 and 2004, there were two outbreaks of increased mortality associated with gastric bleeding and weight-loss in a captive colony of the Australian marsupial, the Stripe-faced Dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura). The presence of gastric pathology led to an investigation of potential Helicobacter pathogenesis in these animals. Histological examination revealed the presence of gastritis, and PCR analysis confirmed the presence of Helicobacter infection in the stomachs of these marsupials. Surprisingly, sequencing of 16S rRNA from these bacteria identified the species as H. pylori and PCR confirmed the strain to be positive for the important pathogenesis factor, cagA. We therefore describe, for the first time, an apparent reverse zoonotic infection of Stripe-faced Dunnarts with H. pylori. Already prone to pathological effects of stress (as experienced during breeding season), concomitant H. pylori infection appears to be a possible essential but not sufficient co-factor in prototypic gastric bleeding and weight loss in these marsupials. The Stripe-faced Dunnart could represent a new model for investigating Helicobacter-driven gastric pathology. Infections from their human handlers, specifically of H. pylori, may be a potential risk to captive colonies of marsupials.

Escherichia coli have been targeted for studying antimicrobial resistance in companion animals because of opportunistic infections and as a surrogate for resistance patterns in zoonotic organisms. The aim of our study is to examine antimicrobial resistance in E. coli isolated from various anatomical sites on healthy dogs and cats and identify genetic relatedness. From May to August, 2007, healthy companion animals (155 dogs and 121 cats) from three veterinary clinics in the Athens, GA, USA, were sampled. Escherichia coli was isolated from swabs of nasal, oral, rectal, abdomen and hindquarter areas. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing against 16 antimicrobials was performed using broth microdilution with the Sensititre™ system. Clonal types were determined by a standardized pulsed-field gel electrophoresis protocol. Although rectal swabs yielded the most E. coli (165/317; 52%) from dogs and cats, the organism was distributed evenly among the other body sites sampled. Escherichia coli isolates from both dogs and cats exhibited resistance to all antimicrobials tested with the exception of amikacin, cephalothin and kanamycin. Resistance to ampicillin was the most prevalent resistance phenotype detected (dogs, 33/199; 17%; and cats, 27/118; 23%). Among the resistant isolates, 21 resistance patterns were observed, where 18 patterns represented multidrug resistance (MDR; resistance ≥ 2 antimicrobial classes). Also among the resistant isolates, 33 unique clonal types were detected, where each clonal type contained isolates from various sampling sites. Similar resistance phenotypes were exhibited among clonal types, and three clonal types were from both dogs and cats. Healthy companion animals can harbour antimicrobial-resistant E. coli on body sites that routinely come in contact with human handlers. This study is the first report that demonstrates a diverse antimicrobial-resistant E. coli population distributed over various sites of a companion animal's body, thereby suggesting potential transfer of resistant microflora to human hosts during contact.

The use of nonhuman primates in biomedical research has led to the isolation of many simian viruses (4, 5). These viruses were given either consecutive SV (simian virus; for isolates from Asian monkeys) or SA (simian agent; for isolates from African monkeys) numbers (7, 10). SA10 was first isolated from the mouth of a samango monkey (Cercopithecus mitis) in 1963 (10). Based on serological findings (10), SA10 has long been classified as a distinct simian virus in the genus Respirovirus within the family Paramyxoviridae (2, 7). We obtained SA10 from the ATCC and determined a complete consensus sequence for the genome using standard procedures (9). The genome of SA10 was determined to be 15,462 nucleotides (nt) in length (GenBank accession number {type:entrez-nucleotide,attrs:{text:HM583801,term_id:312618595,term_text:HM583801}}HM583801), which is identical to that of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3). Comparison with full-length genome sequences of other members of the family Paramyxoviridae showed that SA10 clustered with HPIV3. The extent of nucleotide sequence difference between SA10 and the various strains of HPIV3 is the same as that between the HPIV3 strains (Table ​(Table11). TABLE 1. Nucleotide sequence identity among the complete genome sequences of the indicated viruses The general features of the genome of SA10 (Fig. ​(Fig.1a)1a) are identical to those of the genome of HPIV3. Like HPIV3, the P gene of SA10 contains an additional open reading frame (ORF) encoding the accessory C protein and a putative RNA editing site, 2498UUUUUUCCCCC2508, that is identical in position and sequence to that of HPIV3 (3). Like HPIV3, the insertion of two G residues at this site by the RNA editing mechanism would cause a frameshift and create an ORF encoding a D protein. FIG. 1. SA10 genome map and phylogeny. (a) The genome of SA10 is shown in 3′-to-5′ orientation. The six genes are identified by their encoded proteins. The nucleotide length of each gene is shown above the map, as well as the amino acid length(s) ... Furthermore, SA10 is identical to HPIV3 with regard to the nucleotide lengths of all of the genes, the exact spacing of each gene within the genome and within the respective hexamer subunits (8), and the lengths of the leader, trailer, and extragenic regions (Fig. ​(Fig.1a).1a). The predicted lengths of the unmodified encoded proteins also are identical to those of various strains of HPIV3, with some heterogeneity in the predicted P and HN protein lengths, whereas the lengths of the other proteins are invariant among the HPIV3 strains and SA10. Analysis using 17 HPIV3 HN protein sequences showed that the SA10 HN protein sequence clustered with those of the HPIV3 strains (Fig. ​(Fig.1b).1b). The cleavage site of SA10 is 104DPRTKR↓F110, which conforms to the furin cleavage site (underlining indicates the basic amino acids in the cleavage site). The veritable identity of SA10 with HPIV3 suggests that SA10, rather than being a simian virus, is a strain of HPIV3. In particular, the few differences that occur between SA10 and various HPIV3 strains are of the same frequency as those occurring among the HPIV3 strains. A more likely possibility is that HPIV3 had been transmitted to the monkey from human handlers. A serologic survey of Indonesian macaques showed that nearly half of the sampled wild adult animals were seropositive for HPIV3, whereas no seropositive animals among the sampled wild infant, juvenile, and subadult animals were observed, implying that transmission can occur frequently, even to wild animals (6). In particular, human respiratory syncytial virus was originally isolated from captive chimpanzees and initially was called “chimpanzee coryza agent” (1) but was quickly recognized as a human pathogen and not a natural pathogen of chimpanzees. The present findings on SA10 clarify the taxonomy of Paramyxoviridae, illustrate that host range identification can be ambiguous, and provide a cautionary tale for hasty virus classification.

There seems to be little literature about the toxicity of the widely used garlic, which makes it important to investigate chemical elements as well as chemical compounds that could be present in garlic bulbs and their safety for human handlers and consumers. Phytochemical screening and elemental analysis of powdered bulb of Allium sativum L. and toxicological effects of its aqueous extract were investigated in experimental rabbits. Acute toxicity study was conducted following subcutaneous administration of graded doses of the plant extract in experimental rabbits. LD50 was found to be 3034 mg/kg and maximum tolerated dose was 2200 mg/kg. Mortality occurred in rabbits given the extract at 3200 and 4200 mg/kg with other behavioural signs like loss of appetite and partial paralysis. The percentage yield of the extract was 75.8%. Elemental analysis indicated that the powdered plant material contained mainly potassium, phosphorus and iron among other elements. While the phytochemical screening revealed presence of the following chemical compounds: saponins, steroids, tannins, carbohydrates and cardiac glycosides, whereas, alkaloids, cadenolide, flavonoid, anthraquinone and cyanogenic glycosides were found absent. Key words: Garlic, chemical elements, chemical compounds, safety margin, rabbits, Nigeria.

The effect of early handling of foals on their reaction to handling, humans and novelty, and the foal–mare relationship

Caulfield and Cambridge1 have written a thoughtful essay arguing that the criteria for assessing the welfare of animals should be widened from a consideration of scientific evidence to encompass moral and ethical considerations. They have drawn from a review of the Code of practice for the welfare of animals – pigs and argue, among other things, against the individual confinement of sows in stalls. They recognise that the available science finds no one system of housing superior to others under all conditions and according to all criteria of animal welfare. Citing Duncan, who states that human experience, and what is distressing to a member of another sentient species, must be taken into account, the authors argue that the question of how sows should be housed can be answered only by approaching the question from this broader viewpoint. Hemsworth and others2 over the last three decades have researched the welfare of animals from several perspectives. They argue that the attitude and behaviour of the people looking after the animals are major determinants of animal welfare in farm animals. Fear, methods of interaction with human handlers, stocking density, group size and pen design all have an impact on welfare status.3 Within the welfare science discipline, the welfare of an animal can be defined as how well the animal copes with its environment.4 As defined by Broom, this refers to both how much has to be done in order to cope with an event or situation, as well as the extent to which coping attempts are succeeding. Thus, biological functions (growth, reproductive performance, immune response) are compromised by an adverse welfare environment. This implies that as the animal's welfare status improves, its biological output should continue to improve, assuming that people are clever enough to understand and manage the system. Pig producers moved sows into stalls not because they were fundamentally cruel people, but because, 50 years ago, they saw an advantage in terms of the care of the sow, her nutrition and protection from other aggressive sows. Sows under these conditions were easier to manage and the stalls enabled a high standard of care in a financial environment that has always been competitive. The focus through the 1980s was on productivity and there were plenty of studies and experiences worldwide demonstrating the superior output of sows in stalls compared with various group housing arrangements. During this period, the importance of the stockperson to improved herd output, including the level of knowledge, competency to apply that knowledge, and the attitudes and behaviour of stockpeople towards pigs, were just starting to be investigated. Higher notions of animal welfare, beyond the basic care of the animal, were a peripheral issue for the livestock sectors. Approximately 50% of Australian producers house their sows in stalls for the entire pregnancy and over the past 20 years new construction of large-scale farms has leant towards this method of housing. Welfare science through the 1980s and 1990s failed to demonstrate consistent differences in welfare status5 because of different housing systems at a time when the Australian industry focus was on domestic competition and later competition from imports. Those producers housing their sows in stalls recognised a production advantage6 and the threat of a possible 2% reduction in return on equity if they changed their system to provide more generous space allowances. More recent data7 suggest there's not much difference between the two. Perhaps this is a reflection of the Australian industry's increasing focus on staff understanding of animal management and innovation in housing design. Producers need a stable environment for them to invest in food production of any sort. They have demonstrated that they can change food production practices, but they are also cautious of change where the outcomes are uncertain. There are plenty of studies to demonstrate that individual attitudes to ethical positions do not necessarily rationally translate at the point of purchase. It is clear that community perceptions of livestock production in general, and the acceptability of different housing and husbandry practices, are evolving and that the animal welfare debate is becoming more polarised. There are many views. As the resolution of the debate in terms of the Welfare Codes pragmatically moves toward the centre, it risks satisfying no-one completely. While commending Caulfield and Cambridge on their essay, it is ultimately consumers making their choices in the supermarket who can encourage the pig industry to invest in the construction of new housing accommodation for sows that is financially sustainable for the farmer, and also perceived as ‘welfare-friendly’. In fact, consumers are now able to purchase certified range-bred or RSPCA badged products. Perhaps Government should assist producers and the welfare groups by facilitating increased demand for the latter products, rather than try and regulate on the strength of moral opinion, whatever that may be.

Affiliative and disciplinary behavior of human handlers during play with their dog affects cortisol concentrations in opposite directions

Overcoming T cell–mediated rejection of bone marrow allografts by T-regulatory cells: Synergism with veto cells and rapamycin

Isosexual pair housing improves the welfare of young Amazon parrots

Environmental enrichment affects the fear and exploratory responses to novelty of young Amazon parrots

Abstract Two pairs of harbor (Phoca vitulina) and three pairs of gray (Halicboeruls grypus) seals were exposed to one of three human handlers for 15 min, twice a day, for a total of six sessions. Following habituation to the familiar handler, animals were then exposed to a novel human for 7 min, and then retested for 7 min with the familiar human. In all cases, animals responded to the unfamiliar human with increased vigilant behavior, i. e., they spent more time oriented towards the unfamiliar handler during the first 2 min of the test session than during the same interval of either the final habituation session or the retest with the familiar human (P= 0.03 in all cases). There was also a tendency for seals to contact the familiar handler with their noses more rapidly than the novel human (P= 0.06). These results support the hypothesis that phocid seals are capable of discriminating between individual humans in their environment, setting the stage for human‐based Pavlovian conditioning.

This paper discusses the infectious agents and chemical substances potentially capable of contaminating the meat of ostriches and crocodiles and which thus pose a danger to human handlers and consumers. For ostrich meat, there is no danger from Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever or spongiform encephalopathy. Contamination of ostrich meat with salmonellae, chlamydia, pasteurellae, mycobacteria and erysipelas might be possible, but has never been reported. No parasites are known which could be transmitted through ostrich meat to human consumers. Residues from growth hormones, antibiotics and acaricides are potential public health hazards. For crocodile meat, there is a distinct possibility of contamination with salmonellae, depending on housing, feed, slaughter technique and hygiene practices under which the animal is reared. Chlamydial infections are common on some crocodile farms in southern Africa. Mycobacteriosis is extremely rare. Tapeworm cysts have been found in crocodile meat in two cases only. Trichinellosis has been reported on several crocodile farms in Zimbabwe. A generalised coccidiosis with invasion of organs and tissues has been seen in several species of crocodiles, but should present no danger to consumers.

The susceptibility of S. aureus strains isolated from milk and human handlers in dairy farms in Trinidad to bacteriophages was determined. Of the 110 strains isolated from bulk milk, 73 (66.4%) were typable either at routine test dilution (RTD) or 100-RDT compared to 108 (72.5%) of 149 strains from composite milk sensitive but the difference was not statistically significant (P > or = 0.05; chi 2). Strains of S. aureus from human handlers had significantly (P < or = 0.05; chi 2) lower sensitivity, with only 90 (59.6%) of 151 strains typable. Phages in various groups were predominantly more active on both milk isolates, 54.1% (98 of 181) and human strains, 73.3% (66 of 90). Phage 42D alone lysed 22 (12.2%) but with other phages typed 90 (49.7%) of 181 typable strains from milk compared to a lytic activity of only 1.1% (1 of 90) alone and 35 (38.9%) with other phages for strains isolated from human handlers. The differences were however not statistically significant (P > or = 0.05; chi 2). Relatedness of S. aureus strains isolated from bulk milk, composite milk and human handlers on each farm was demonstrated in 21 (46.7%) of 45 dairy farms using the phage patterns detected. Similarly, the relatedness of S. aureus strains isolated from the anterior nares and hands of each human milker was detected on 10 (35.7%) of 28 dairy farms studied. It was concluded that S. aureus strains from human milkers contaminated both composite and bulk milk on the farms studied while bovine strains of S. aureus were also acquired by humans during milking.

Rapid and simple method for detecting Salmonellain chicken feces using polymyxin-cloth enzyme immunoassay