Veterinary Inspection Research Articles

High prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in slaughtered pigs in Rwanda: An abattoir survey.

Porcine cysticercosis (PC) is an important public health problem, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, but limited information is available on the prevalence of infection in pigs entering the food chain. Existing diagnostic methods vary in accuracy and efficiency; whole carcass dissection is the most reliable method but is labour-intensive and destroys the carcass so can only be used in a research setting. Serological tests offer lower specificity, while meat inspection and lingual examination lack sensitivity, hampering accurate estimates and the removal of infected pigs from the food chain. Here, we provide the first estimates of PC prevalence in abattoirs in Rwanda. We use whole carcass dissection to determine the diagnostic accuracy of a commercial antigen-ELISA to estimate the true prevalence of infection across Rwanda and identify Taenia species affecting local pigs. We carried out a cross-sectional survey in 6 abattoirs across Rwanda (n = 744 pigs), with whole carcass dissection of a subset of 67 pigs. Cysts were detected in 20/67 (30%) of carcasses, with >1000 cysts in 9/20 (45%) of infected pigs. All cysts were identified as Taenia solium by PCR-RFLP, with no cysts of Taenia hydatigena found. The antigen-ELISA showed a sensitivity of 90% (95% CI: 68-99) and specificity of 85% (95% CI: 72-94), when compared to dissection. Using these estimates, the true prevalence was calculated as 25-43% in two abattoirs in south-west Rwanda, and 2-3% in the rest of the country. Fewer than half of infected pigs were detected by tongue palpation and post-mortem veterinary inspection. Our data indicate a high prevalence of PC in Rwandan abattoirs. Tongue palpation and veterinary inspections, as currently carried out, have little impact in removing cyst-infested pigs from the food chain. Additional interventions are needed, such as proper pig husbandry, treatment and vaccination against cysticercosis, health education, improved sanitation and hygiene, and improved processing and cooking of meat.

Physiological stress responses in horses participating in novice endurance rides

Horses participating in endurance events encounter enormous physical challenges. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) have been reported before and after endurance rides, but these have not been determined during the rides. Moreover, the modulation in HRV and haematology in horses with different ride results (completed a course or disqualified due to irregular gait) have not been elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate changes in HR, HRV, and haematological parameters during novice endurance rides and to compare these parameters between horses that successfully completed the course (SC) or were disqualified for irregular gait (FTQ-GA). Beat-to-beat (RR) intervals of 16 healthy horses (aged 6–14 years) were recorded before and throughout the approximately 40 km endurance event. Blood samples were taken at the pre-ride inspection and after passing each veterinary inspection. HRV and haematology measures were determined from nine SC and seven FTQ-GA horses. Horses with different ride results demonstrated distinctive physiological stress responses. Increases in PCV, RBC, WBC and neutrophils after completing the ride were found only in SC horses, implying that they were ridden with greater effort than FTQ-GA horses. A reduction in HRV during warm-up, followed by a significant reduction during the first and second riding phases, was observed. HRV returned to baseline at the compulsory rest period of both phases. FTQ-GA horses experienced lower RR intervals, RR triangular index, modified deceleration capacity, very-low-frequency band, and parasympathetic nervous system index, coinciding with higher HR and sympathetic nervous system and stress indices than SC horses. These results indicated that endurance horses revealed a shift toward sympathetic activity during the ride. Lower parasympathetic activity in FTQ-GA horses suggests they were under more stress or discomfort than SC horses in novice endurance rides. These results have welfare implications, indicating the need for additional rest breaks in FTQ-GA horses.

AN INVESTIGATION ON SANITARY AND HYGIENE PRACTICES AT THE GBAGI COMMUNITY SLAUGHTERHOUSE, IBADAN, SOUTHWEST NIGERIA.

The sanitary conditions of a food processing facility play a vital role in the safety and quality of its final products. This study assessed the hygiene practices and sanitary conditions of the Gbagi Community Slaughterhouse in Ibadan, Nigeria, to identify the factors hindering sanitation and meat hygiene at the facility, and provide recommendations for improvement. The study was conducted using a combination of observation and surveys as the data collection technique. The activities taking place in the slaughterhouse were observed for two weeks during which certain practices were documented textually and pictorially. Twelve key informants comprising butchers, cleaners, buyers, and people in the neighborhood were purposively recruited as study participants and were interviewed, using open-ended questions about the sanitation and hygiene practices at the facility. All obtained data were analyzed qualitatively by thematic content analysis. Study results showed poor waste management practices, inadequate ante- and post-mortem veterinary inspection of slaughtered animals, the absence of requisite slaughterhouse infrastructure, and the unhygienic behaviors of slaughterhouse personnel. The sanitary and hygiene practices of the Gbagi Community Slaughterhouse environment fall below the required standards for food processing operations and hence, poses a risk to food safety and public health. An integrated involvement of relevant arms of government is needed at the state and local levels for sanitary enforcement, provision of critical waste management infrastructure at the Gbagi slaughterhouse, and education of slaughterhouse personnel, so as to prevent microbial food contamination and safeguard public health.

Remote post-mortem veterinary meat inspections in bovine and analysis of post-mortem inspection outcomes: preliminary results

The work aimed to collect and analyse data obtained from the routine post-mortem veterinary inspection of bovine viscera and to evaluate the reliability of remote veterinary meat inspections. A comparative study was conducted on viscera belonging to 30 bovines. For each bovine, findings were recorded simultaneously by two veterinarians, one conducting an on-site post-mortem inspection and another performing the remote inspection through a tablet. A total of 10 (33.33 %) bovines were healthy. In a total of 18 (60.00 %) and 11 animals (33.00 %) pulmonary and hepatic lesions were respectively, observed. The most reported finding was pleuritis recorded in 17 animals (56.67 %), followed by pneumonia (16.67 %). The agreement between the two methods used for the post-mortem inspection of bovines was generally high. In an overall 73.33 % of bovines the findings recorded by the veterinarian who conducted the on-site post-mortem inspection and those recorded by the veterinarian performing the remote inspection were overlapping. In conclusion, a move to a remote post-mortem inspection has a negligible negative impact on public health since the most frequently detected lesions recorded were of scarce significance and in most cases, they were effectively detected by the veterinarian through the tablet.

Advancing One Health through veterinary education: a mixed methods needs assessment for implementing a WOAH-harmonized national veterinary medicine curriculum in Ethiopia.

International organizations now actively promote and implement One Health collaborative approaches to prevent, detect, and control diseases in humans and animals, recognizing the critical importance of the veterinary and agricultural sectors. Moreover, Veterinary Services are chronically under-resourced, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Given the importance of National Veterinary Services to food security, nutrition, poverty alleviation, and global health security, strengthening veterinary capacity is a priority for the international community. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) outlines a set of minimum competencies veterinarians need to support National Veterinary Services effectively. To improve the quality of veterinary education, Ethiopia has developed a new 2020 national curriculum that is harmonized with the WOAH competencies. A mixed methods needs assessment was conducted to identify barriers and challenges that Ethiopian veterinary medicine programs have faced in implementing the new WOAH-harmonized national curriculum. Representatives from active veterinary programs granting a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree were invited to share their experiences via an online survey and follow-up focus group discussion. Fourteen veterinary programs, representing 93% of eligible programs nationwide, participated in the needs assessment. Quantitative analysis indicated that the most difficult topics associated with the new curriculum included Organization of Veterinary Services (Competency 3.1), Inspection and Certification Procedures (3.2), and practical applications of the regulatory framework for disease prevention and control (multiple competencies). Challenges associated with specific instructional methodologies, particularly the facilitation of off-site (private and public sector) student training, were also perceived as barriers to implementation. Focus group discussions elucidated reasons for these challenges and included limitations in faculty expertise, resource constraints (e.g., supplies, infrastructure), and access to off-site facilities for hands-on teaching. The results of this needs assessment will be used to identify and prioritize solutions to implementation challenges, helping Ethiopian veterinary medicine programs move the new WOAH-harmonized curriculum from theory to practice. As veterinarians are integral partners in advancing One Health, strengthening the capacity of Veterinary Services can ultimately safeguard animal and human health, grow economies, and improve lives.

ANALIZA CZĘSTOTLIWOŚCI ZMIAN I OBJAWÓW CHOROBOWYCH U BYDŁA I ŚWIŃ W POLSCE NA PODSTAWIE WYNIKÓW BADANIA SANITARNO-WETERYNARYJNEGO W 2019 ROKU

Lesions or signs of disease found before and after slaughter provide information about the health and well-being of the animals. The testing of slaughter animals and meat is a tool to reduce the risks to the safety and health of consumers and should be carried out systematically. The aim of the study was to analyze the results of post-mortem inspection of pigs and cattle in Poland in 2019. The data from the sanitary and veterinary examination taken from the annual reports prepared by the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate in 2019 were analysed. In the assessment of the causes of lesions and unfitness for consumption, the following diseases were taken into account: tuberculosis, actinomycosis, as well as qualitative deviations: emaciation and watery muscles, icterus, organoleptic changes, incomplete loss of blood, natural death, slaughter in agony, pus foci, contamination and congestion, as well as other changes and parasitic invasions: cysticercosis, echinococcosis, fasciolosis and trichinellosis. The collected material was compiled according to the frequency of pathological changes found in the sanitary-veterinary examination of pigs and cattle in individual provinces in Poland, and then their percentage structure was determined. In 2019, veterinary supervision covered over 1.9 million cattle and over 21.5 million pigs. During the ante-mortem and post-slaughter inspection, diseases or lesions were found in over 7.3 million animals, i.e. 31.4% of the examined slaughter animals. The percentage of carcasses unfit for consumption in cattle was 0.22%, and in pigs it was 0.14%. Among the lesions registered in pigs and cattle, the most numerous group consisted of foci of pus, contamination and congestion – 22.4 and 8.51%, respectively. The presence of foci of pus, contamination and congestion in pig and cattle carcasses was found in all voivodeships. The highest percentage of these changes in cattle carcasses was recorded in the following voivodeships: Kujawsko-Pomorskie (50.71%), Podlaskie (19.29%) and Zachodniopomorskie (11.74%). In all voivodeships, foci of pus, congestion and contamination in pig carcasses were also found. In the Lubuskie voivodeship, such changes were registered in over 90% of the examined pig carcasses, and in the Podlaskie and Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeships in over 49% of the examined pig carcasses. In 2019, the number of animals for slaughter showing abnormal health status or symptoms and lesions remained high in Poland. A large number of congestion and contamination proves insufficient care for the conditions of slaughter animals, as well as for hygiene and conditions for slaughtering and carcass cutting and processing.

Impact of different cooling solutions on autonomic modulation in horses in a novice endurance ride

Cooling down is essential for horse recovery before veterinary inspection during an endurance ride. As salt potentially decreases water temperature, we tested whether adding salt to the water used to cool horses could aid their recovery. Twelve healthy Arabian horses participating in a novice endurance ride were divided evenly into two groups. Heart rate variability (HRV) variables, including time and frequency domains, non-linear results, and autonomic nervous system indices, were determined before recovery and at 1-min intervals for 9 min during recovery using either cold or cold-saline water. An interaction between water type and time was observed in the modulation of the SD of beat-to-beat (RR) intervals, square root of the mean squared differences between successive RR intervals (RMSSD), HRV triangular index, very low-frequency band (VLF), low-frequency band/high-frequency band ratio, and SD of the Poincaré plot perpendicular to the line of identity (SD1) non-linear results. A decrease in heart rate and the sympathetic nervous system index corresponding to an increase in RR intervals and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) index was observed over time. A rise in the triangular interpolation of the normal-to-normal intervals, number of successive RR interval pairs that differ more than 50 ms, low-frequency band, and total power, coinciding with decreased stress index, was detected at 9 min of recovery. A difference between RMSSD and SD1 was observed between groups, in which they were higher in horses cooling with cold-saline water when compared to cold water at 5 min after cooling began. An increase in VLF was seen at 9 min only in horses cooled with cold-saline water. In conclusion, different water types distinctly impacted HRV in horses. The predominant PNS activity in horses recovering with cold-saline water reflects its positive impact on cooling during an endurance ride.

Consumer preferences and willingness to pay for safe pork products in rural Kenya

Designing interventions to support the safe development of rapidly growing livestock value chains in sub-Saharan Africa requires a clear understanding of consumer demands. This study aimed to determine purchase patterns, consumers' preferences, and willingness to pay for safe pork attributes; specifically, the presence of a veterinary inspection stamp and the cleanliness of the butchery.A discrete choice experiment-based survey was used to investigate the purchasing behavior of 401 pork consumers: 253 buying raw pork for household consumption, and 148 buying cooked pork for out-of-home consumption. The study findings indicate that the average quantity of pork purchased by consumers was approximately 0.4 Kg per transaction, with the majority of consumers making several purchases per week.The average price per Kg of pork was KES 310 (Approx. 2.60 USD) at the time of the study. Data from the choice experiment showed that consumers were willing to pay a price premium of KES 245 (Approx. 2.1 USD) and KES 164 (Approx. 1.4 USD) per Kg for evidence of better veterinary meat inspection and higher butchery hygiene respectively; further, these were the two most important attributes they considered while making a pork purchase decision.These findings highlight the potential to leverage consumers' willingness to pay to improve the food safety within pork value chains in this context. Investing to increase consumer awareness on food safety issues should be considered to generate an effective market demand, especially in rural areas with relatively lower literacy levels.

A humoral diagnostic test outperforms cellular tests in a farm with a latent tuberculosis outbreak caused by a new Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex spoligotype that affected sheep but not goats.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by members of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTC) that affects numerous species. M. caprae, a member of the complex which is close to M. bovis, is emerging and affects several different hosts that include goats, cattle, sheep, pigs, rabbits, wild boar, red deer, foxes and also humans. A new M. caprae spoligotype (SB2737) was isolated from an outbreak of sheep tuberculosis affecting a mixed sheep (323)-goat (29) farm in 2021. The index case was detected by the La Rioja slaughterhouse veterinary inspection. Tracing back to the farm of origin, both species were submitted to Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Test (CITT) and M. bovis-specific antibody ELISA tests. A subsample was also examined by IFN-γ release assay (IGRA) and all positives were slaughtered and pathologically and microbiologically investigated. Only 1.2% of sheep and no goat were positive in the CITT, and 11.4% in the IGRA sheep subsample, while up to 36.8% were positive in two consecutive M. bovis-specific antibody ELISA tests. Goats had always tested negative in annual intradermal follow-up since 2013. Upon confirmation of the immunologically positive sheep at slaughter, all the remaining negative animals were killed and 29.2% of sheep were still found infected. This raised the final overall prevalence to 37.5%. Antibody ELISA was the most sensitive (81.4%) in vivo detection method still showing a 85.0% specificity relative to pathological and microbiological tuberculosis status. It was nearly 10 times more sensitive than skin test and had an 86.8% positive predictive value. Notwithstanding a possible singular pathogenesis of the new spoligotype, this outbreak adds up to previous reports suggesting that sheep tuberculosis could be huge reservoir of infection worldwide overlooked by skin test low sensitivity or simply lack of investigation. This makes it urgent to extend the use antibody tests to address the Trojan horse of hidden M. tuberculosis complex infections on bovine TB control programs.

Surveillance for lumpy skin disease and foot and mouth disease in the Kimberley, Western Australia.

We quantified the sensitivity of surveillance for lumpy skin disease (LSD) and foot and mouth disease (FMD) in cattle in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. We monitored producer and veterinary activity with cattle for 3 years commencing January 2020. Each year, ~274,000 cattle of 685,540 present on 92 pastoral leases (stations) were consigned to other stations, live export or slaughter. Veterinarians examined 103,000 cattle on the stations, 177,000 prior to live export, and 10,000 prior to slaughter. Detection probabilities for the disease prior to transport or during veterinary procedures and inspections were elicited by survey of 17 veterinarians working in Northern Australia. The veterinarians estimated the probabilities that they would notice, recognise, and submit samples from clinical cases of LSD and FMD, given a 5% prevalence of clinical signs in the herd. We used scenario tree methodology to estimate monthly surveillance sensitivity of observations made by producers and by veterinarians during herd management visits, pre-export inspections, and ante-mortem inspections. Average monthly combined sensitivities were 0.49 for FMD and 0.37 for LSD. Sensitivity was high for both diseases during the dry season and low in the wet season. We estimated the confidence in freedom from the estimated surveillance sensitivity given one hypothetically infected herd, estimated probability of introduction, and prior confidence in freedom. This study provided assurance that the Kimberley is free of these diseases and that routine producer and veterinary interactions with cattle are adequate for the timely detection of the disease should they be introduced.

Sarcocystis spp. – an underestimated parasite with zoonotic potential associated with food of animal origin

The protozoa of the genus Sarcocystis are worldwide distributed parasites affecting a wide range of animals. They life cycle requires two hosts: definitive and intermediate. Over 250 species of Sarcocystis have been described but three of them are known to have a zoonotic potential. These are: S. hominis, S. heydorni and S. suihominis. Domestig pigs and wild boars can be intermediate hosts for S. suihominis, wheras cattle for S. hominis and S. heydorni. Therefore, people can become infected after eating raw or insufficiently heat-treated pork, wild boar meat or beef. Human sarcocystosis is generally asymptomatic but in some cases can induce the syptoms of intestinal illness. People can also become accidental intermediate hosts after ingesting sporocysts from feces-contaminated food or water leading to muscular sarcocystosis. The cysts of Sarcocystis spp. (sarcocysts), which with some exceptions, are not visible and therefore they are rarely detected during routine veterinary meat inspection consisting of visual assessment of muscle tissue and digestion (in case of examination of pig and wild boar meat). The presence of visible cysts of Sarcocystis spp. can lead to meat condemnation and it generates economic losses for farmers. Food safety regulations require the control of the parasites presence in meat intended for human consumption but there are no regulations regarding the control of Sarcocystis spp. Nevertheless, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) encourage to monitor and characterise Sarcocystis ssp. in animal and foodstuffs.

ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ И БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ ДЕЗИНФИЦИРУЮЩИХ СРЕДСТВ НА ОСНОВЕ ГЛУТАРОВОГО АЛЬДЕГИДА В ЗАВИСИМОСТИ ОТ СОДЕРЖАНИЯ ДЕЙСТВУЮЩЕГО ВЕЩЕСТВА

The article presents the results of a comparative study of the content of the active substance in various multicomponent disinfectants based on glutaraldehyde and the possibility of their use on the objects of veterinary inspection, taking into account effectiveness and safety. The data on the determination of the mass fraction of glutaraldehyde in preparations from different manufacturers (including several foreign ones) submitted for research to the laboratory for the period 2022–2023 are presented.

Veterinary and sanitary assessment of rabbit meat when using the Zdravur feed additive

Today, the production of rabbit meat products, which contains a large amount of protein, essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals with a low fat content, is very promising in the meat industry. Thanks to these properties, the demand for rabbit meat, which is widely used in healthy diet, has increased. The purpose of this article was a veterinary and sanitary assessment of rabbit products when using the Zdravur feed additive in their nutrition. The farm-scale scientific experiment was carried out at a Californian rabbit farm where animals were divided into 2 groups of 10 rabbits each. The duration of the experiment was 31 days. The control group did not receive the Zdravur feed additive and ate food supplied on the farm. The experimental group, in addition to the basic diet, received the Zdravur feed additive at a dose of 2 g per 1 kg of granulated feed. After completing the experiment, 2 rabbits from each group were killed. The veterinary and sanitary examination of slaughter products included an organoleptic, chemical, and bacteriological assessment of slaughter products in accordance with the Rules for the Veterinary Inspection of Slaughtered Animals and the Veterinary and Sanitary Assessment of ¬Meat and Meat Products. In the experimental rabbits, a higher carcass weight was noted, which was 231 g (11.5%) greater than the control. Upon visual inspection of the experimental and control rabbit meat, an adequate bleeding of the carcasses was observed. All meat samples had a well-defined drying crust. After 24-hour storage, in control and experimental rabbit meat, the rate of leveling of pits on the surface after pinch test was the same. In the experimental animals, the content of protein, fat, and ash in meat was higher. Compared to the control, in the experimental group, the energy value was higher (by 8.4%). In rabbits, the use of the Zdravur feed additive does not cause pathological changes and improves the quality of slaughter products in terms of organoleptic, physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters, which meets the GOST requirements for good-quality meat.

Electrophoretic Methods for Identifying the Species of Seafood and Its Derivatives

The identification of the species of seafood and their products, whether they are fresh or cooked, is one of the key concerns of food regulations in many countries that have a significant intake of seafood. In point of fact, a commercial fraud happens when a species that is less value is intentionally substituted for a species that is more valuable, and a sanitary fraud takes place when a product that is potentially harmful is introduced into the market. A primary responsibility of veterinary inspection of seafood products is the detection of harmful species with the aim of removing them from the retail trade (Council Directive 91/493/ECC). Two efficient methods for seafood species identification are molecular biology methods and protein electrophoresis. Classic electrophoretic methods have been used for a long time to authenticate seafood; they are simple, accurate, and inexpensive compared to molecular biological methods, which are the wave of the future in food safety labs. The purpose of this article is to offer an overview of the electrophoretic methods commonly used to identify different species of seafood, including sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE), native or urea-isoelectric focusing electrophoresis (IEF), two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), and capillary electrophoresis (CE).

Prevalence of Fasciola Infection in Cattle- Ready- for -Slaughtering at some Abattoirs in Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria

Fascioliasis is one of the most prevalent and economically significant parasitic illnesses of domestic animals, particularly cattle, sheep, goats, and man. It is particularly widespread in countries with heavy cattle production especially places with low interest in vector-related diseases. Therefore, the study was designed to investigate the prevalence of this parasitic disease among the cattle slaughtered in the selected abattoirs in Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria. Two hundred and fifty (250) faecal samples were collected from the rectum of the slaughtered cattle. The samples were analyzed using the Formol-ether Concentration technique. Also, post mortem examination of the liver and other organs of the slaughtered cattle (250) at the abbattior were also examined for Fasciola infestation. The data were were analyzed with Chi-square at 5% level of significance using SPSS. It was observed that 77 (30.8%) were positive to fascioliasis out of the 250 slaughtered cattle examined. The prevalence of the infection based on the sex of the cattle was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.001).The percentage of fascioliasis depending on the breed of the cattle was observed to be lowest (25%) in Sokoto Gudali and highest (33.33%) in White Fulani. The analysis implied that there was a strong association between infection and cattle breeds. Prevalence of fascioliasis based on the estimated age of animals was not statistically significant however; animals aged 3 years and 6 months had the highest percentage (54.1%) while those within 2 years and 6 months had no cases of fascioliasis. Fascioliasis is an endemic illness in the study area among cattle slaughtered for consumption. This suggests the possibility of human infestation through consumption especially when it is under-processed. The need for health policy to ensure slaughtering of healthy cattle become important to ensure safe public health especially through consumption of meat. Also, public health intervention through mass vaccination of cattle, education of cattle farmers and introduction of veterinary inspectors at the point of slaughter is important in controlling Fascioliasis.

Pilot study on the distribution of caseous lymphadenitis in Korean native goats and the relationship between sex and age in disease occurrence

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is a chronic disease that affects goats. The Korean native goat (KNG) is the most popular goat breed raised in Korea. In this study, the distribution of CLA in the KNG population and the relevance of sex and age in disease development were determined. From March 2020 to February 2021, 1,177 KNGs from 110 farms were assessed. The distribution of CLA in animals was determined by a veterinary inspector who performed gross examinations of goat carcasses and confirmed diagnoses via polymerase chain reaction and bacteriological examination. The CLA detection rate in the KNG population was 19.80%, and more than half of the farms were affected by the disease (56.36%). A statistically significant difference was observed among the sex groups, with castrated males (13.98%) having the lowest detection rate, followed by intact males (22.48%) and females (24.09%), suggesting that castration has a positive effect on reducing the risk of CLA (p < 0.05). In terms of age groups, an increased detection rate of 28.16% was observed in the late adult (>2 years) group. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the RNA polymerase beta subunit-encoding gene can effectively differentiate biovar ovis from biovar equi and can be used for further epidemiological studies of C. pseudotuberculosis. This is the first nationwide surveillance study of CLA distribution to confirm the continuous occurrence of CLA in Korean goat farms. Future studies should include risk factor analyses of CLA based on herd levels to prevent and control this disease in Korea.

Prospects for the use of feed biologically active additive NAA in rearing of quails

The purpose of the research was to determine the effectiveness of using different doses of a feed biologically active additive NAA when rearing of quails. In an experiment to determine the effectiveness of using different doses of feed additive, data on the dynamics of live weight, growth rate, livestock livability, and feed conversion in quails of breed of meat productivity Pharaoh were studied. The results of slaughter, the results of anatomical cutting and the weight of internal organs were analyzed. A veterinary and sanitary inspection of quail carcasses was carried out. The amino acid composition of muscle tissue has been studied. During the experiment, the microclimate of the poultry house where the experimental quails were housed was controlled; microclimate complied with generally accepted standards. The results obtained indicate that the most eff ective of the three tested dosages (0,5 ml, 1,0 ml and 2,0 ml per 1 kg of compound feed) turned out to be a dose of 1,0 ml per 1 kg of compound feed. With the introduction of 1,0 ml of feed additive per 1 kg of compound feed throughout the entire technological cycle of quails rearing, the live weight of the quails at 56 days of age was higher by 9,23 %, the average daily gain was higher by 9,50 %, and the livability of livestock was higher by 3,41 abs.%, slaughter yield by 1,7 abs.%, weight of all muscles by 7,5 g compared to the control group. A veterinary and sanitary examination of quail carcasses did not reveal any pathological changes. The smell was characteristic of fresh meat. The internal organs were located physiologically correctly. The positive effect of the feed biologically active additive NAA on the amino acid composition of muscle tissue has been established.

Nurturing Sustainability and Health: Exploring the Role of Short Supply Chains in the Evolution of Food Systems-The Case of Poland.

Over the last few decades, short food supply chains and local food markets, where farmers either sell their products directly to consumers or use a limited number of intermediaries, have developed worldwide in rural and urban areas. They complement conventional, often globalized, long food chains where small farmers have little bargaining power, and consumers cannot link the food they buy to a known agricultural producer or geographical area where the food is produced. The advantage of direct sales is that producers can obtain a higher price while consumers have easier access to fresh and seasonal food products. The main aim of the paper is to identify and characterize the spatial concentration of local food systems in Poland and their importance in sustainable development and food policy for healthy eating. As part of this study, an analysis of the statistical data of the Central Statistical Office for 2021 was carried out. Data obtained from the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate as of mid-2021 were analyzed to discuss the topic in detail. Descriptive methods and comparative analyses were used to understand regional differences. Absolute and proportional values were used for the research to enable better comparisons between regions, using the traditional method used in spatial structure studies, i.e., the distribution index (number of entities per 1000 inhabitants). The analysis identified spatial differences and possible implications for food policy and regional development. In addition, data on the number of marketplaces in Polish regions in 2022 were used. The study results indicated that short supply chains in the Polish food system contribute to increasing the availability of healthy local products, which may improve consumer health. However, despite these benefits, the results revealed challenges such as the limited production scale of local suppliers and the need to adapt to changing market conditions.

Effect of vaccination program on immune response, production performance, and carcass composition of Ross 308 broiler chickens

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of 2 different vaccination programs using vaccines against infection bronchitis virus (IBV) and avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) on the humoral immune response, production performance, carcass weight and composition, and the percentage of selected internal organs. During the rearing of broiler chickens, blood was collected for serum samples from randomly selected birds from each experimental group on d 1, 21, 28, and 38. Geometric mean titer (GMT) values were determined for the aforementioned diseases using serological ELISA tests, performed during routine veterinary inspections. During rearing, body weight, mortality, and feed consumption were monitored, allowing the calculation of feed consumption per kilogram of body weight gain (FCR) and the European Production Index (EPI). At the end of rearing, 20 chickens were selected for dissection, 10 birds from each group. After slaughter, the weight of the eviscerated carcass was determined, and the percentages of carcass parts and selected internal organs in the body weight were calculated. The vaccination program exerted a significant (P<0.05) effect on body weight on days 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42, the percentage of wings in the carcass and the proportion (%) of heart, liver and spleen in body weight. ELISA showed no significant effect of the vaccination program on the anti-IBV serological response, and no negative effect of covaccination against both diseases on the anti-aMPV serological response.

33 Assessing the effect of fatigue on stadium jumping penalty scores in elite three-day event horses utilizing artificial intelligence

Mandatory veterinary inspections assess lameness and fatigue to help predict the success of performance horses during competition. Horses competing at the international level in 3-d eventing must pass both mandatory inspections (pre-competition and post-cross country) to attempt the final phase: stadium jumping. With this in mind we hypothesize that quantifying the gait quality of horses for fatigue during the inspections will help predict if they will have faults in stadium jumping. However, these pass/fail exams are based on subjective and non-repeatable guidelines referencing the locomotor function of the horse, and do not have the ability to detect small gait changes over time. The development of artificial intelligence-based video analysis approaches allows for the objective production of quantitative scores which can be used to accurately assess the physical capability of the equine athlete. We quantified our custom gait parameter pipeline using the software package DeepLabCut (DLC) of horses at the trot during the veterinary inspections and analyzed 197 horses across 3 levels (CCI-2*, CCI-3*, and CCI-4*) and 5 venues. We used a Quadratic Discriminant Analysis to assign a standardized coefficient score, which we noted as a fatigue score, to all horses. Utilizing 3 common fatigueparameters in a multivariate model using the row-wise method we found stride length (P < 0.001) and speed (P < 0.001) had significant negative correlation probabilities, and stance time (P < 0.001) had a significant positive correlation probability with the fatigue scores. The significance supports the idea that a higher fatigue score is indicative of greater fatigue in the horse. We then applied a qualitative label to each horse, faults or no faults, where a horse with no faults had zero time and zero jump faults, and a horse with faults had any combination of the 2. Then we compared the horse's fatigue score to the qualitative label and found that horses with faults had a significantly higher (P = 0.0149, standard t-test) fatigue score suggesting that fatigue may impact stadium jumping performance more than previously appreciated. Further work investigating the impact of locomotor phenotypes and fatigue on competition performance will encourage the use of objective measures to protect sport horse welfare and improve training strategies, as well as providing the opportunity to add an objective tool to the procedures for mandatory veterinary inspections.