Livestock Losses Research Articles

Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and characterization of the members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from slaughtered cattle in Rwanda.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an endemic disease in Rwanda, but little is known about its prevalence and causative mycobacterial species. The disease causes tremendous losses in livestock and wildlife and remains a significant threat to public health. A cross-sectional study employing a systematic random sampling of cattle (n = 300) with the collection of retropharyngeal lymph nodes and tonsils (n = 300) irrespective of granulomatous lesions was carried out in six abattoirs to investigate the prevalence and identify mycobacterial species using culture, acid-fast bacteria staining, polymerase chain reaction, and GeneXpert assay. Individual risk factors and the origin of samples were analysed for association with the prevalence. Of the 300 sample pools, six were collected with visible TB-like lesions. Our findings demonstrated the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in 1.7% (5/300) of sampled slaughtered cattle. Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from 1.3% (4/300) animals while one case was caused by a rifampicin-resistant (RR) M. tuberculosis. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria were identified in 12.0% (36/300) of the sampled cattle. There were no significant associations between the prevalence and abattoir category, age, sex, and breeds of slaughtered cattle. This study is the first in Rwanda to isolate both M. bovis and RR M. tuberculosis in slaughtered cattle indicating that bTB is present in Rwanda with a low prevalence. The isolation of RR M. tuberculosis from cattle indicates possible zooanthroponotic transmission of M. tuberculosis and close human-cattle contact. To protect humans against occupational zoonotic diseases, it is essential to control bTB in cattle and raise the awareness among all occupational groups as well as reinforce biosafety at the farm level and in the abattoirs.

Assessment of leopard translocations in South Africa

Translocations are commonly employed to mitigate human–carnivore conflict but rarely evaluated, resulting in conflicting reports of success, particularly for leopards (Panthera pardus). We evaluate the status of available leopard translocation data, the factors driving the intentional removal of leopards, and the potential causal factors associated with successful and failed translocation events. We obtained data on 60 leopard translocation events across five provinces in South Africa between 1994 and 2021. We considered a successful translocation outcome when (1) the animal was moved outside of its original home range, (2) the animal established a new home range away from the capture site, (3) no substantive livestock losses were linked to the translocated animal in the post-release monitoring period, and (4) the animal survived at least 6 months post-translocation. If mortality occurred due to factors that were equally likely to impact resident individuals and were unrelated to the translocation event (e.g., poaching), the event was not considered a failed effort. Most translocations were the result of human–carnivore conflict (HCC; 82%, n = 49), stressing the high prevalence of HCC and the importance of advocating preventative conflict mitigation efforts to conserve leopards. The leopards were moved distances from 2.5 to 196.3 km (63.3 ± 51.7km). Forty (67%) translocation events had unknown outcomes, indicating the limited data available on translocation outcomes. This also indicates the disparity in the objectives of translocations by various entities involved with translocations and suggests that monitoring be a prerequisite for future translocations. Twenty events offered reliable outcomes by means of post-event monitoring, with seven (12%) considered successful, with three (5%) as failures, and with four (7%) not moved beyond their original home ranges, while six (8%) ended in unrelated deaths. The failed events were attributed to inter/intra-specific competition, and one animal returned to its original home range after a translocation distance of 68 km. Translocation success was strongly explained by translocation distance. We found that damage-causing leopards were successfully translocated under specific conditions, and longer translocation distances increase success. Translocations are commonly employed but are still poorly monitored. We discuss basic standardized protocols to improve future leopard translocations (including pre- and post-monitoring) while advocating alternative non-lethal practices to reduce the prevalence of human–carnivore conflict.

Spatial Determinants of Livestock Depredation and Human Attitude Toward Wolves in Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India

Gray wolves are capable of adapting to human-dominated landscapes by utilizing domestic prey as a source of food. Livestock depredation by wolves incurs a heavy economic loss to the villagers, resulting in negative attitudes toward the species and leading to increased conservation conflict. We used multi-state occupancy modeling on the interview data to assess the ecological factors governing livestock depredation by wolves. We also assessed the socio-demographic factors that may govern the attitude of villagers toward the wolf using ordinal regression. Over the past year, 64% of respondents reported a loss of livestock, in which goats (63%) comprised the major share, followed by sheep (22%) and cattle calves (15%). Wolves tend to hunt medium-sized domestic prey (sheep and goats) that commonly graze in open agricultural areas. The estimated livestock depredation probability of wolves was 0.84 (SD = ± 0.23). Depredation probability was influenced by habitat use by wolves, the extent of agricultural areas, scrubland area, and settlement size. Respondents with prior experience of livestock loss held more negative attitudes. Shepherds held more negative attitudes than other occupations. Increases in the respondent’s age and education level reflected a positive shift in attitudes toward the wolf. High economic loss caused by livestock depredation by wolves can lead to retaliatory persecution of wolves. Adequate compensation for livestock loss, along with better education and awareness can help lead to coexistence between wolves and humans in multi-use landscape of Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, India.

Stakeholder Perceptions of Success in Human-Carnivore Coexistence Interventions

Human-carnivore coexistence (HCC) on agricultural lands affects wildlife and human communities around the world, whereby a lack of HCC is a central concern for conservation and farmer livelihoods alike. For intervention strategies aimed at facilitating HCC to achieve their desired goals it is essential to understand how interventions and their success are perceived by different stakeholders. Using a grounded theory approach, interviews (n=31) were conducted with key stakeholders (commercial livestock farmers, conservationists and protected area managers) involved in HCC scenarios in Limpopo, South Africa. Interviews explored perceptions of successful intervention strategies (aimed at increasing HCC), factors that contribute to perceptions of strategy effectiveness and whether coexistence was a concept that stakeholders considered achievable. The use of grounded theory emphasised the individual nature and previously unexplored facets to HCC experiences. The majority of stakeholders based their measures of success on changes in livestock loss. Concern has been raised over the subjectivity and reliance on recall that this measure involves, potentially reducing its reliability as an indicator of functional effectiveness. However, it was relied on heavily by users of HCC interventions in our study and is therefore likely influential in subsequent behaviour and decision-making regarding the intervention. Nonetheless, perceptions of success were not just shaped by livestock loss but influenced by various social, cultural, economic and political factors emphasising the challenges of defining and achieving HCC goals. Perceptions of coexistence varied; some stakeholders considered farmer-carnivore coexistence to be impossible, but most indicated it was feasible with certain caveats. An important element of inter-stakeholder misunderstanding became apparent, especially regarding the respective perceptions of coexistence and responsibility for its achievement. Without fully understanding these perceptions and their underpinning factors, interventions may be restricted in their capacity to meet the expectations of all interested parties. The study highlights the need to understand and explore the perceptions of all stakeholders when implementing intervention strategies in order to properly define and evaluate the achievement of HCC goals.

Pastoralists' perceptions on the impact of Rift valley fever disease following an outbreak in North Eastern Kenya

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease which leads to livestock losses and human fatalities, thus impoverishing pastoralists who largely depend on livestock for their livelihood. These losses lead to both short- and long-term effects that perpetuate poverty and disrupt family order and structure. We used qualitative methods to understand the lived experiences of pastoralists with RVF after a major outbreak in Kenya. Using narratives, we identified the social, economic and psychological effects of this disease, while focus group discussions helped us to understand the experiences of the pastoralists during and after an outbreak. The major impacts were deprivation and impoverishment, abrupt disruption to their way of life and family dynamics and mistrust of the formal healthcare system. The latter was related to the isolation of patients and the presence of foreign medical personnel in the area that fueled mistrust. Efforts need to be made by public health practitioners and policy-makers to enhance dialogue between clinicians and pastoralists and to come up with practical ways of improving local people’s livelihoods during and after an RVF epidemic.

DETECTION OF T. VIVAX AND T. CONGOLENSE IN CATTLE FROM SELECTED ABATTOIRS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA.

African trypanosomiasis is disease caused by protozoan parasite in sub-Saharan Africa that affects human and animals. In animals it causes serious economic loss in livestock as a result of anaemia, loss of appetite and emaciation and when not treated death occurs. This study therefore, was aimed at detecting T. vivax and T. congolense in cattle from selected abattoirs in Kaduna State using the conventional wet mount technique and PCR. A total of 300 blood samples were obtained from the study area with 100 samples from each of three abattoirs. Out of the 300 samples, 64 were positive at a prevalence of 21.3% using wet mount, while for individual abattoir, the lowest prevalence was observed in Makera at 5.0% for 15 cows, Kawo at 5.7% for 17 cows; while Tudun-wada recorded the highest prevalence of 10.7% for 32 cows, respectively. T. congolense recorded a higher prevalence when compared to T. vivax with 17% for the former and 4.3% for the latter. Seventeen positive blood samples were randomly selected and subjected to PCR to confirm the presence of the parasites using specific primers. In addition to confirming the presence of both parasites with the PCR, false positive result were detected in the gel picture after electrophoresis compared to the earlier result of the microscopy. In conclusion, microscopy and PCR should be used complimentarily for the confirmatory diagnosis of trypanosomal infection in cattle in order to carry out effective prophylactic and therapeutic control measures and curb the menace of this neglected tropical disease.

Population size, density, and ranging behaviour in a key leopard population in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Globally, leopards are the most widespread large felid. However, mounting anthropogenic threats are rapidly reducing viable leopard populations and their range. Despite the clear pressures facing this species, there is a dearth of robust and reliable population and density estimates for leopards across their range, which is particularly important in landscapes that consist of protected and non-protected areas. We conducted a camera trapping survey between 2017 and 2018 in the Western Cape, South Africa to estimate the occupancy, density, and population size of a leopard population. Leopards were recorded at 95% of camera trapping sites, which resulted in a high occupancy that showed no significant variation between seasons, habitat types, or along an altitudinal gradient. Our results indicated a low leopard density in the study area, with an estimated 1.53 leopards/100 km2 in summer and 1.62 leopards/100 km2 in winter. Mean leopard population size was therefore estimated at 107 and 113 individuals in the winter and summer respectively. Leopard activity centres for female ranges were centred in the core study area and could be predicted with good certainty, while males appeared to move out of the study area during winter which resulted in a higher uncertainty in locations of activity centres. Interestingly, livestock depredation events in the surrounding farmlands were significantly higher in winter, which coincides with male leopards moving outside the core protected area into the surrounding farmlands. To reduce livestock losses and retaliatory leopard killings, we suggest that human-carnivore conflict mitigation measures be intensely monitored during the winter months in the study area. We also suggest that future leopard conservation efforts should focus on privately-owned land as these non-protected areas contain the majority of the remaining suitable leopard habitat and may provide important dispersal corridors and buffer zones on which the long-term sustainability of leopard populations depends.

Red orange and lemon extract preserve from oxidative stress, DNA damage and inflammatory status in lambs

Oxidative stress causes several pathological conditions in farm animals by inducing a reduction in animal welfare and production with major economic losses for livestock. The standardised phytoextract obtained by red orange and lemon processing has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study we have investigated whether treating lambs for 40 days with red orange and lemon extract (RLE) was able to prevent the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, typically in newborn period. For this purpose, at the end of treatment, redox status was assessed in plasma using oxidative stress markers: malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) activities. Moreover, 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in urine was measured as a biomarker of DNA damage and finally, the markers of inflammatory status, interleukin (IL) 1β and 6, were measured in plasma by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results showed that RLE-treated lambs improved antioxidant mechanisms as demonstrated by the increase in SOD, CAT and GPx activities and, furthermore, a significant reduction in oxidative stress-induced damage was demonstrated through MDA and 8-OHdG measurements. Moreover, RLE was also able to prevent the increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines concentration, such as IL- 1 β and IL 6. Results showed in the present paper demonstrate the potential beneficial effects of the RLE in lambs. HIGHLIGHTS Oxidative stress causes economic loss and welfare impairment in livestock. Several oxidative markers can be used to assess the redox status in plasma. The activity of some antioxidant enzymes increased in RLE treated lambs. A reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines was recorded in RLE treated lambs.

What is a lion worth to local people – Quantifying of the costs of living alongside a top predator

The presence of large predators entails a range of costs and some benefits for the communities that live alongside them. The cost in terms of the value of livestock lost to predation is well known, but this represents only a part of the costs that people experience, as it does not account for non-market costs such as fear, avoidance behaviours and threat to human life. We quantify the total cost of lion presence for agro-pastoral communities in Zimbabwe using economic valuation techniques. The total perceived value of one additional lion was estimated to be negative US$180 per person per year, which is several hundred times larger than the market value of the average loss of livestock per household. If making simplifying economic assumptions, this discrepancy reveals the magnitude of the non-market costs associated with the presence of large predators. The disvalue of lion presence was linked to fear, ecocentric values, wealth and trust in compensation institutions. We also demonstrate the importance of considering heterogeneity in preferences within communities; segments of the population did not have net negative value attached to lions, and some disliked monetary compensation. We also estimate the willingness-to-accept for two human-wildlife conflict mitigation programs in terms of acceptable increases in lion numbers, as opposed to monetary units which is the conventional approach in economic valuation studies. We argue that estimating value in terms of biodiversity outcomes should be used more widely. We also demonstrate the distorting effect of distrust towards compensation in choice experiments and argue that economic valuation methods employing choice experiments should control for this distrust when estimating willingness-to-pay. These discoveries have relevance for a wide range of situations where potentially dangerous wildlife species co-exist with people.

In Vivo Bacteriophages' Application for the Prevention and Therapy of Aquaculture Animals-Chosen Aspects.

Simple SummaryThe world’s population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050. To meet the nutritional needs of this growing population, animal production must double by 2050. The production of fish and other aquatic animals is growing rapidly, but with an intensification of farming, the risk of infectious diseases is increasing, including bacterial diseases. In recent years, antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents that can be used in aquaculture have been evidenced as no longer effective, resulting in a lack of effective treatment options and leading to higher animal mortality and economic losses for the farm. For this reason, new prevention and treatment options are being sought. One such method is the use of bacteriophages. These are viruses that attack bacteria, consequently destroying them. This is not a new idea, as the first scientific reports on the use of bacteriophages on animals in aquaculture were published 40 years ago but were abandoned after the invention of antibiotics. Now, they are rapidly gaining renewed interest. This paper summarizes the results of using bacteriophages in various aquaculture animals for the prevention and control of bacterial pathogens.To meet the nutritional requirements of our growing population, animal production must double by 2050, and due to the exhaustion of environmental capacity, any growth will have to come from aquaculture. Aquaculture is currently undergoing a dynamic development, but the intensification of production increases the risk of bacterial diseases. In recent years, there has been a drastic development in the resistance of pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents approved for use, which has also taken place in aquaculture. Consequently, animal mortality and economic losses in livestock have increased. The use of drugs in closed systems is an additional challenge as it can damage biological filters. For this reason, there has been a growing interest in natural methods of combating pathogens. One of the methods is the use of bacteriophages both for prophylactic purposes and therapy. This work summarizes the diverse results of the in vivo application of bacteriophages for the prevention and control of bacterial pathogens in aquatic animals to provide a reference for further research on bacteriophages in aquaculture and to compare major achievements in the field.

Household Conflicts with Snow Leopard Conservation and Impacts from Snow Leopards in the Everest and Annapurna Regions of Nepal

Impacts on households from large carnivores are frequently reported in the conservation literature, but conflicts between households and large carnivore conservation are not. Employing a human-wildlife coexistence framework that distinguishes between human-wildlife impacts on one hand, and human-conservation conflicts on the other, this paper presents data from Annapurna Conservation Area and Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park, Nepal, each with different models of conservation governance. Using systematic sampling, quantitative information from 705 households was collected via questionnaires, while 70 semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants for cross-methods triangulation. 7.7% of households reported conflicts with snow leopard conservation in the previous 12 months, primarily due to damage to livelihoods; these were significantly higher in the Annapurna region. 373 livestock were reported lost by households to snow leopards in the previous 12 months, representing 3.4% of total livestock owned and US$ 132,450 in financial value. Livestock losses were significantly lower in the Everest area. In linear regression models, total household livestock losses to all sources best explained conflicts with snow leopard conservation and household livestock losses to snow leopards but the models for the former dependent variable had very low explanatory power. Conservation in general, and large carnivore conservation in particular, should distinguish carefully between impacts caused by coexistence with these species and conflicts with conservation actors and over the methods and interventions used to conserve carnivores, especially where these negatively impact local livelihoods. In addition, livestock husbandry standards are highlighted again as an important factor in the success of carnivore conservation programmes.

The long-term frequency and intensity of cyclonic storms and associated losses in Odisha, India

ABSTRACT We investigated long-term (1890–2020) frequency changes in depressions (D), cyclonic storms (CS) and severe cyclonic storms (SCS), along Odisha coast. We reviewed the fatalities, damage to properties and livestock and linked with the existing cyclone disaster management policy of the state. The decadal frequencies of D and CS show marked declining pattern after reaching their peak in 1930–1939 and 1890–1899, respectively. On an average, the SCS hits slightly more than two times per decade. No notable change in the long-term frequency of SCS was noticed, though last five decades (1970–2020) witnessed an upsurge in % contribution of SCS (13%) to the total atmospheric disturbances, and the maximum contribution (20%) was in the latest decade (2010–2020). Human fatalities exceeded more than 5000 in 1895, 1967, 1971, 1972, and 1999 cyclones. Establishment of SDMA (State Disaster Management Authority), efficient forecasting and evacuation strategies have successfully brought down the fatalities, but the loss of livestock, biodiversity, livelihoods, and infrastructure remains a concern. Decision-makers should strive to increase the resilience of at-risk communities through planting protective mangrove cover, educating and ensuring better living conditions, and implementing 4R (Robustness, Redundancy, Resourcefulness and Rapid response) resilience principles for the infrastructure.

The Effect of Market Operations on Drought Induced Livestock Mortality in North Horr Ward of Marsabit County of Kenya

Drought is one of the disasters that occur naturally caused by changes in climate and weather which can lead to impacts on the economy, environment and society. The study objective was to establish the effect of access to markets on drought induced livestock mortality in Marsabit County. This study was anchored on two theories; the market theory and the theory of resource mobilisation focusing on assessing the role of market operation in reducing the livestock losses due to drought emergencies in Marsabit County. A causal design was adopted in this which is basing on quantitative approaches to figure out why phenomena happen as is often the purpose of researches carried out in social sciences. The location in which the study was done is North Horr Ward of North Horr-Sub County in Marsabit County. The study concluded that access to markets has a significant effect on drought induced livestock mortality in Marsabit County. With low accessibility to markets, the pastoralists may wish to sell of their livestock as drought situations worsen but fail to get their livestock in time to the markets. The respondents, however, observed that the accessibility to livestock markets in Marsabit County worsens during drought as herders and their livestock have to walk longer distances to the livestock. With better access to markets, pastoralists can sell away their livestock in good time ahead of serious drought catastrophes and reduce the chances of losing their livestock to mortality. Access to markets also increases the access to livestock feeds that would reduce the chances of livestock deaths due to reduced pasture.The study recommends improved accessibility of markets by the local government, national government and other stakeholders and partners should encourage the development of markets to make them more accessible for pastoralist communities in the events of droughts to help preserve the livelihoods of the households in these communities. By encouraging the development of markets, the losses in terms of livestock deaths induced by drought will be reduced, hence preserving the livelihoods. Consideration on the pastoral nomadic lifestyles of the communities should be made for increased accessibility. Development of mobile markets other than the permanent markets should be encouraged to help the communities that move further from civilisation during droughts in search for pasture to still have accessible markets to help reduce losses they incur when their livestocks die as they try to access markets.

Application of CRISP-DM methodology for managing human-wildlife conflicts: an empirical case study in India

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is a major concern for protected area management. Managing HWC around protected areas requires structured and replicable processes to reduce subjectivity and promote adherence to good governance principles. The Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM) is a widely-used process model for structured decision-making. This study demonstrates the novel application of CRISP-DM to HWC related decision-making. We apply CRISP-DM and conduct hotspot and temporal (monthly) analysis of HWC data from Ramnagar Forest Division, India. Based on the patterns of crop loss, livestock loss, and human loss, we propose conflict-type and species-specific preventive strategies. A qualitative assessment of the initial outcomes of the ongoing implementation finds the preventive strategies to be effective. We suggest a participatory approach, localization of strategy, and need for data management as opportunities for improvement.

Downstream Economic Implications of Predation in the South African Red Meat Industry

Globally, predation is an important and ongoing problem facing the livestock sector. This study estimated the downstream economic impact of predation in the South African red meat industry using a recent South African Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) and a partial equilibrium model. Due to predation the total output decreased by R 3,806 million and R 648 million for large (cattle) and small livestock (sheep and goat), respectively. The result implies that the loss of livestock due to predation reduces the number of livestock available for marketing and the presence of predators influences the level and intensity of best management practices employed by the red meat industry. The findings of this study, which looked at the macroeconomic implications of predation in the South African red meat industry, as well as the biodiversity and ecology aspects of predation, could help government and policymakers develop appropriate policies and mitigation strategies to reduce prediction and prioritize strategies that will help lessen the impact of predation.

Lung Ultrasonography and Clinical Follow-Up Evaluations in Fattening Bulls Affected by Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) during the Restocking Period and after Tulathromycin and Ketoprofen Treatment.

Simple SummaryThe restocking period is a crucial time for fattening bulls: stressors such as transport predispose animals to bovine respiratory disease, reducing animal well-being and causing economic losses. Ultrasonography is a non-invasive, real-time, and portable method frequently employed in farming. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the thoracic ultrasound in identifying animals with bovine respiratory disease on a restocking farm, and in assessing the efficacy of tulathromycin and ketoprofen treatment in sick animals. Our findings reveal that lung ultrasound is a useful diagnostic tool for screening respiratory diseases. Moreover, tulathromycin and ketoprofen treatment was effective in reducing both clinical symptoms and lung lesions. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a global infectious disease, causing decreased well-being and economic losses in livestock, frequently during the restocking period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) to assess BRD in restocked animals, and the effectiveness of tulathromycin and ketoprofen treatment in sick animals. A total of 60 Limousin fattening bulls were enrolled. On the day of restocking (T0), the animals were divided into two groups based on TUS assessment of six lung areas: group C (ultrasonography score (US score) < 3) and group D (US score ≥ 3). Group D received a single administration of tulathromycin and ketoprofen at T0: this group was revaluated after 1.5, 3, 7, and 14 days. Both groups were revaluated after 21 days. The two groups showed a significant difference both in US score and clinical symptoms (respiratory score, nasal and ocular discharges, and rectal temperature) at T0. In group D, the treatment was effective in improving the clinical symptoms and US score, particularly reducing the severity of lung lesions. TUS represents a non-invasive and cost-effective tool for BRD early diagnosis and for monitoring treatment efficacy in restocked livestock.

Studies on Detection, Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Avian Rotavirus

Rotaviruses are the foremost cause of acute gastroenteritis. Outbreaks of rotavirus infection can lead to significant economic losses in livestock and poultry industry. Group A and D rotavirus are the predominant enteric viruses groups in birds. Limited prevalence studies are available to date in India. Poultry samples consisting of 20 fecal samples and 80 intestinal content samples were screened by VP6 gene based diagnostic PCR for AvRVA and AvRVD. All samples were negative for group A rotavirus. Five fecal samples and 22 intestinal samples were positive for AvRVD-VP6 gene giving an amplicon of 185 bp giving a prevalence of 27%. Positive samples screened for VP4, VP7, NSP4 and NSP5 genes of AvRVD were negative for VP4, VP7 and NSP4 but six samples were positive for NSP5 gene giving an amplicon of 652 bp size. Cloning and sequencing showed 99.4 to 100% sequence similarity among all six isolates at nucleotide level. The percent nucleotide similarity with chicken RVD isolates was in the range 78.2-85.1%. All isolates showed highest similarity of 85% with chicken isolate from South Korea followed by Germany (81.5%) and Australia (78.2%). The phylogenetic analysis exhibited all six isolates clustered together in a separate clade with isolates from Australia, Germany and South Korea.

Multi-week prediction of livestock chill conditions associated with the northwest Queensland floods of February 2019

The compound extreme weather event that impacted northern Queensland in February 2019 featured record-breaking rainfall, persistent high wind gusts and relatively cold day-time temperatures. This caused livestock losses numbering around 500,000 in the northwest Queensland Gulf region. In this study, we examine the livestock chill conditions associated with this week-long compound weather event and its potential for prediction from eleven world-leading sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) forecast systems. The livestock chill index combines daily rainfall, wind and surface temperature data. Averaged over the event week, the potential heat loss of livestock was in the moderate to high category, with severe conditions on the day of peak rainfall (5 February). Using calibrated forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology's S2S forecast system, ACCESS-S1, a 1-week lead prediction showed a 20–30% probability of extreme livestock chill conditions over the northwest Queensland Gulf region, however the highest probabilities were located to the west of where the greatest livestock impacts were observed. Of the remaining ten S2S systems, around half predicted a more than 20% chance of extreme conditions, more than twice the climatological probability. It appears that the prediction accuracy arose from the skilful forecasts of extreme rainfall, as opposed to cold day-time temperature and strong wind forecasts. Despite a clear association between the observed extreme weather conditions and an active Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) event stalling in the western Pacific, the majority of 1-week lead S2S forecasts showed little indication of a slow-down in the MJO. As the livestock chill index was developed for southern Australian sheep, it may not be the best metric to represent the effects of exposure on tropical cattle breeds. Hence, this study draws attention to the need for tailored diagnostics that better represent the cold effects of summer tropical cyclones and tropical depressions on northern Australian livestock.

Circulating serogroups of Leptospira in swine from a 7-year study in France (2011\u20132017)

BackgroundLeptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira and is responsible for significant economic porcine livestock losses. Knowledge of Leptospira serogroups and their distributions is important for evaluation of the relevance of leptospirosis management measures, including use of the prophylactic vaccine that was recently made available in France. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the relationships between different circulating Leptospira serogroups. Pigs from across France presenting clinical signs suggestive of leptospirosis were tested with the microagglutination test (MAT) between 2011 and 2017. We used weighted averages to determine serogroup distributions according to MAT results and considering cross-reactions.ResultsA total of 19,395 pig sera, mostly from Brittany, were tested, and 22.7% were found to be positive for at least one Leptospira serogroup. Analysis of the 4,346 seropositive results for which the putative infective serogroup could be defined, revealed that two out of ten serogroups were much more frequent than the others: Australis (48.5%) and Icterohaemorrhagiae (38.2%). Other serogroups, including Autumnalis, Panama, Ballum, Tarassovi, Sejroe, Grippotyphosa, Bataviae, and Pomona, were less common.ConclusionsAlthough diagnostic laboratory data cannot be extrapolated to infer the distribution of Leptospira serogroups at the nationwide scale in France, the analysis of such data can provide an overview of the relationship between circulating Leptospira serogroups in space and time. During the last decade, protection against the serogroups Australis and Icterohaemorrhagiae would have prevented most of the clinical porcine leptospirosis cases in the large number of farms that we studied. In the future, epidemiological information related to circulating Leptospira serogroups should be extracted from data with a standardized approach for use in nationwide or international surveillance and prophylactic strategy support.

Population estimation and livestock loss by spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in Damota community managed forest, Southern Ethiopia

The spotted hyena is positioned at the top of food chains and has the ability to influence the diversity of herbivores. Knowledge of this predator through research can assist in effective management decisions which will ensure ecosystem integrity. A study on population estimation and livestock loss by the spotted hyenas was conducted from January 2019 to December 2020 in the Damota community managed forests. Data was collected through distance sampling techniques, and the economic impacts of spotted hyena predation on livestock were quantified using a questionnaire survey with randomly selected households. Twenty-five transects were monitored over a period of two consecutive years. A mean of 113 ± 0.51 individuals of spotted hyena was observed per 100 km 2 . The density of spotted hyena was 1.34 ± 0.42 and 0.69 ± 0.12 individuals/km2 and 0.55 ± 0.97 and 0.75 ± 0.14 individuals/km 2 in farm and forest during 2019 and 2020, respectively. The mean sex ratio of the adult male to adult female was 0.56:1.00 and 0.74:1.00 during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Moreover, the mean sex ratio of adult to cub was 1:0.25 and 1:0.29 during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Respondents indicated a total loss of 377 livestock due to the depredation of spotted hyenas over the past five years. The total estimated economic loss caused by depredation, theft, and diseases was US$ 47,885. On average, US$ 9577 per year (US$ 26 per day) has been lost over the past five years. The average annual depredation per household was 0.98 head of livestock worth US$ 95.6. Among depredated livestock, 64.8% of sheep were lost by spotted hyena, followed by donkey (16.4%). Therefore, livestock management practices, assessment of spotted hyena population, and economic loss are very important for carnivore conservation and scaling up human livelihood development.