World Organisation For Animal Health Research Articles

Agroterrorism: Assessing the Growing Threat to Global Food Security and Economic Stability

Agroterrorism, the deliberate introduction of harmful agents into agriculture to cause disease and economic damage, poses a growing threat to global food security and economic stability. Motivated by deep-seated conflicts and often perpetrated by both state and non-state actors, agroterrorism targets livestock, crops and water supplies, aiming to destabilize economies and social systems. Historical incidents, such as the mercury contamination of Jaffa oranges and cyanide-tainted grapes, underscore its severe impact. Recent concerns, intensified by advancements in biotechnology and increasing global trade, highlight the vulnerability of agriculture to such attacks. The potential economic damage from a single agroterrorism incident could reach billions of dollars, exacerbating food shortages and undermining public trust. Effective prevention and preparedness require multi-sectoral cooperation involving law enforcement, agricultural and scientific communities. Strategies include enhancing detection methods, developing biosecurity measures and improving international trade regulations. The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and related organizations advocate for a comprehensive approach to bolster global resilience against agro-crime and agro-terrorism, emphasizing the need for robust preparedness and inter-agency collaboration to mitigate this evolving threat.

Evaluation of the Epidemic Situation of Anthrax in Armenia Over the Last Decade.

Anthrax is a World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)-listed disease that must be reported upon confirmation based on the Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Anthrax poses a serious health issue for unvaccinated livestock, is a threat to humans through interaction with contaminated livestock and animal products and is endemic in many areas throughout the world, including the Transcaucasian Region. Despite several control and eradication efforts that have been implemented by the government of the Republic of Armenia (RA), sporadic cases of anthrax are still reported. We sought to understand the epidemic situation of anthrax in RA during the last 10 years (2012-2023) based on analysis of outbreaks and reported cases in cattle and humans. We collected and evaluated officially reported data from human and animal cases, such as time, location, animal species, disease intensity and spread radius. The data and various parameters were mapped using ArcGIS to prepare a viable risk assessment. Based on the officially available data and reports, there have been 80 human cases and 55 animal cases of anthrax confirmed in RA from 2012 to 2023. We also identified the presence of anthrax spores in soil and environmental samples near animal burial sites in RA in 2015-2017 through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Upon comparing the human and animal cases by frequency and intensity, the human cases are directly proportional to the animal husbandry practices performed in RA. The detection of the anthrax pathogen at the burial sites highlights the continued threat in these areas. Thus, it is imperative to secure and monitor any areas that have been used for anthrax burial and limit the movement of animals in these areas. In the future, legislation should be updated to prioritise incineration of anthrax-infected carcasses instead of burial to limit further exposure to animals and humans.

The Australian Biosecurity Genomic Database: a new resource for high-throughput sequencing analysis based on the National Notifiable Disease List of Terrestrial Animals.

The Australian Biosecurity Genomic Database (ABGD) is a curated collection of reference viral genome sequences based on the Australian National Notifiable Disease List of Terrestrial Animals. It was created to facilitate the screening of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) data for the potential presence of viruses associated with notifiable disease. The database includes a single verified sequence (the exemplar species sequence, where relevant) for each of the 60 virus species across 21 viral families that are associated with or cause these notifiable diseases, as recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health. The open-source ABGD on GitHub provides usage guidance documents and is intended to support building a culture in Australian HTS communities that promotes the use of quality-assured, standardized, and verified databases for Australia's national biosecurity interests. Future expansion of the database will include the addition of more strains or subtypes for highly variable viruses, viruses causing diseases of aquatic animals, and genomes of other types of pathogens associated with notifiable diseases, such as bacteria. Database URL: https://github.com/ausbiopathgenDB/AustralianBiosecurityGenomicDatabase.

Veterinary Services'use of the Global Burden of Animal Diseases to prioritise interventions, monitor impact and develop critical competencies.

Attracting and sustaining investment in Veterinary Services and animal health programmes from national government budgets, development aid and grants, and philanthropic donors requires economic rationale using relevant, reliable and validated analytical approaches. The complex interwoven relationships between animal health, livestock husbandry systems, national food security, global health security and environmental sustainability emphasise the importance of improving data governance and stewardship and applying economic analysis to understand animal disease burdens. These efforts should enable prioritised investment of limited resources and effective monitoring of the impact of programmes over time. Data governance and stewardship capacities are fundamental to development, implementation and performance monitoring of evidence-based policies in animal health. There are challenges in data availability for national and subnational livestock populations in different sectors, for disease incidence and prevalence, and for animal health expenditure in support of optimised allocation of scarce resources, be they finance, land, labour, or management attention and policy focus. Animal health data systems governance and stewardship and economic analysis are core skills for Veterinary Services in developing and applying evidence-based policy, but capability probably varies among World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Members. The WOAH Performance of Veterinary Services programme has several critical competencies that are relevant to economics of animal health and to data governance and stewardship, but these have not yet been targeted for coordinated capacity development. Implementation of publicâ€"private partnership approaches for animal health programmes creates increasing expectations of robust data and methods for prioritisation, options analysis, and assessing impacts and costs. Experience and examples from national systems in New Zealand, Australia, Ethiopia and Indonesia illustrate current challenges associated with prioritisation of animal health programmes using economic analysis. The Global Burden of Animal Diseases programme intends to support WOAH Members and partners to develop capacities for and standardise approaches to economic analysis and prioritisation in animal health programmes.

Prevalence data on chicken diseases in low-resource settings.

The presence of transmissible disease in livestock has a major impact on welfare and economics in animal and public health. A lack of data enables the spread of diseases due to misinformed decision-making on prevention and control. Low-resource settings face challenges in providing data, turning data availability into a development issue. For this study, a large dataset (n = 997) was collected on prevalence and seroprevalence estimates on viral (n = 224), bacterial (n = 83) and parasitic (n = 690) diseases in backyard chickens in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These estimates originate from 306 studies identified during the screening phase of a systematic literature review. An attempt was made to classify the studies according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations'classification system for family poultry production systems. Of the studies, 98.7% (302/306) focused on a single poultry production system, while 1.3% (4/306) targeted two different production systems. Within the group of studies that covered one production system, 85.4% (258/302) were classified as ‘small extensive scavenging or extensive scavenging,'‘small extensive scavenging'and/or ‘extensive scavenging'. In addition, 52% (159/306) of the studies did not report information on chicken breed type. No data were found on any relevant disease for 56.9% (78/137) of LMICs, signifying a potential data gap. Of the estimates on viral and bacterial diseases, 71.0% (218/307) corresponded to diseases notifiable to the World Organisation for Animal Health, highlighting a tendency to measure disease occurrence for diseases relevant to trade. The latter might not necessarily be priority diseases for the producers, however. Furthermore, 72.3% (222/307) of the estimates originate from random samples and could be used to estimate prevalence in backyard chickens using imputation methods, thus bridging the data gap.

Association of Good Dairy Farming Practices, Welfare and Performance: A Review

This review underscores the critical role of good dairy farming practices in enhancing both animal welfare and dairy performance. International organizations like the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and country-specific protocols emphasize the need for tailored Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure effective and contextually appropriate practices. Advanced housing systems for calves, such as pair and group housing, have shown significant benefits in improving social interaction, cognitive development, and overall health. Effective pain management, particularly during procedures like disbudding, and optimized feeding strategies, including appropriate feed delivery timing and frequency, are crucial for enhancing health and productivity. Proper flooring, such as rubber mats, significantly improves cow comfort by providing a softer surface that reduces the risk of lameness and injuries associated with concrete floors. Effective pen management helps to mitigate dominance issues and minimize stress, leading to better welfare and productivity. Gentle handling practices, involving positive interactions like patting and stroking, significantly enhance animal welfare and milk production compared to aversive methods. Addressing issues such as mold and mycotoxins in feed is also essential for maintaining animal health and avoiding adverse effects on growth and milk production. Overall, adopting comprehensive dairy farming practices that prioritize animal welfare not only improves health and reduces stress but also leads to increased dairy productivity and sustainability, highlighting the interdependence of welfare and performance in the dairy industry.

Host Jump of an Exotic Fish Rhabdovirus into a New Class of Animals Poses a Disease Threat to Amphibians.

Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) is a rhabdovirus that primarily infects cyprinid finfishes and causes a disease notifiable to the World Organization for Animal Health. Amphibians, which are sympatric with cyprinids in freshwater ecosystems, are considered non-permissive hosts of rhabdoviruses. The potential host range expansion of SVCV in an atypical host species was evaluated by testing the susceptibility of amphibians native to the Pacific Northwest. Larval long-toed salamanders Ambystoma macrodactylum and Pacific tree frog Pseudacris regilla tadpoles were exposed to SVCV strains from genotypes Ia, Ib, Ic, or Id by either intraperitoneal injection, immersion, or cohabitation with virus-infected koi Cyprinus rubrofuscus. Cumulative mortality was 100% for salamanders injected with SVCV, 98-100% for tadpoles exposed to virus via immersion, and 0-100% for tadpoles cohabited with SVCV-infected koi. Many of the animals that died exhibited clinical signs of disease and SVCV RNA was found by in situ hybridization in tissue sections of immersion-exposed tadpoles, particularly in the cells of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. SVCV was also detected by plaque assay and RT-qPCR testing in both amphibian species regardless of the virus exposure method, and viable virus was detected up to 28 days after initial exposure. Recovery of infectious virus from naïve tadpoles cohabited with SVCV-infected koi further demonstrated that SVCV transmission can occur between classes of ectothermic vertebrates. Collectively, these results indicated that SVCV, a fish rhabdovirus, can be transmitted to and cause lethal disease in two amphibian species. Therefore, members of all five of the major vertebrate groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and amphibians) appear to be vulnerable to rhabdovirus infections. Future research studying potential spillover and spillback infections of aquatic rhabdoviruses between foreign and domestic amphibian and fish species will provide insights into the stressors driving novel interclass virus transmission events.

Description of Sheep Pox Outbreak in Spain in 2022-2023: Challenges Found and Lessons Learnt in Relation with Control and Eradication of This Disease.

Sheep pox and goat pox are infectious viral diseases that affect ovine and caprine animals and are caused by two viruses of the family Poxviridae, genus Capripoxvirus. Sheep pox has been traditionally endemic in Africa, the Middle East, and several Southeast Asian countries, but it is considered a transboundary disease capable of affecting previously free countries epidemically. It is a disease of compulsory immediate notification to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the European Union (EU). On 19 September 2022, the disease reemerged in Spain, which had been free of it since 1968, causing a total of 30 outbreaks until 17 May 2023, when the last outbreak of the disease was reported. The control and eradication measures implemented were those laid down in EU legislation, based on the total stamping out of positive herds, zoning and restriction of movement, and strengthening of biosecurity and passive surveillance. This manuscript describes the outbreak, as well as assesses the challenges and lessons learned in relation to its management, with the aim of helping in the effective management of future outbreaks of this disease.

A practical stakeholder-focused approach for assessing the biosecurity system in Pacific Island countries

ABSTRACT Aims: To develop a structured process for a transparent, efficient, high-level review of a low-resource biosecurity system (limited by physical infrastructure, financial, and human resources), in order to identify and prioritise key areas for future focus which could then lead to interventions, tailored by country, to improve the system. A key requirement was that the approach developed was culturally sensitive and respectful to Pasifika people within the country. Methods: Animal health and biosecurity systems need to be urgently strengthened by Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) if they are to respond to current and future threats. Understanding where additional resources should be allocated to maximise benefit and ensuring buy-in from PICT stakeholders are critical for uptake of any recommendations made. However, there is little available literature on reviewing biosecurity systems, particularly where there is a need for efficiency, simplicity, and cultural sensitivity. A framework was developed through initial in-person consultation between four New Zealand experts who had experience working in international animal health development and support programmes. This was followed by input from informal discussions with selected heads of agriculture in PICTs and included their experiences with previous system reviews, as well as general advice from experts in Pasifika culture. Foundational objectives included simplicity, local inclusivity, and a structured approach, which could be undertaken over a relatively short period of time. A rapid evidence assessment methodology was used to search the available literature (published and grey, search terms biosecurity, system, Pacific, animal, framework, and review used in AND/OR combinations), to establish an evidence base for other methods of biosecurity system review. The developed framework for review of biosecurity systems in low-resource PICTs was based on elements from expert elicitation frameworks, the SurF surveillance evaluation framework and the Performance of Veterinary Services tool from The World Organisation for Animal Health. Results: The developed framework involved bringing stakeholders together in a workshop environment and comprised up to 10 steps including mapping the PICT biosecurity system and exploring attributes of component activities. Understanding the system at a high level enables stakeholders to make informed recommendations on improvements to address future needs. Using the Delphi method, recommendations were then prioritised by stakeholders. Conclusions and clinical relevance: A distinctive difference flowing from the use of the needs analysis described in this process was the empowerment of PICT stakeholders to determine their own needs and priorities, rather than have these developed by external parties.

Real-time triplex loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) using a turbidimeter for detection of shrimp infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV).

The World Organization for Animal Health still regulates the infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) in shrimp. The existing disease identification approach is time consuming, necessitates expensive equipment, and requires specialized expertise, thereby limiting the accessibility of shrimp disease screening on farms. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is recognized for its ability to detect inhibitory substances with high sensitivity and specificity. We developed a real-time triplex LAMP assay that combines the simplicity of point-of-care testing with the accuracy of a turbidimeter. Using a set of three LAMP primers, our technology enables rapid DNA amplification in a single reaction within 45 min and with a low detection limit (10 copies/reaction). We tested 192 shrimp samples from different sources and demonstrated the clinical utility of our method, achieving 100% specificity (95% confidence interval = 93.40-100.00%), 100% sensitivity (97.36-100.00%), and 100% accuracy (98.10-100.00%) in detecting IHHNV DNA, with a high Cohen's kappa value (1) compared to the standard quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. The high technology readiness level of our method makes it a versatile platform for any real-time LAMP assay, and its low cost and simplicity make it well suited for fast deployment and use in shrimp farming.

Why Foot-and-Mouth Disease-Free with Vaccination Should Be Equivalent to Foot-and-Mouth Disease-Free without Vaccination.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is still one of the most relevant animal diseases and remains of global concern. The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) has specified two sanitary statuses that assure freedom from FMD: a country or zone can be free from FMD either with or without vaccination. To obtain either of the two statuses, absence of virus circulation must be shown. The standards set by WOAH are used for trade negotiations. During recent decades, different tools and approaches were developed to control FMD, including vaccines, diagnostics, and the Progressive Control Pathway for FMD. These tools improved over time, and nowadays high-quality, reliable vaccines and specific diagnostics are available to efficiently control and detect the infection, even in vaccinated populations. Due to these improvements, it is no longer justifiable to treat the two FMD-free statuses differently. The distinction between the statuses provides wrong incentives and tempts countries to take increased risks by stopping vaccination to improve their trade conditions, which can have potentially devastating consequences. The decision to stop vaccination should only be made on the basis of a careful and comprehensive analysis of the local and regional epidemiological situation. This paper presents the perspective that member countries and WOAH should recognize the two FMD-free statuses as equivalent.

Epidemiology, biosafety, and biosecurity of Avian Influenza: Insights from the East Mediterranean region.

The World Organization for Animal Health defines Avian Influenza Virus as a highly infectious disease caused by diverse subtypes that continue to evolve rapidly, impacting poultry species, pet birds, wild birds, non-human mammals, and occasionally humans. The effects of Avian influenza viruses have been recognised as a precursor for serious health concerns among affected birds, poultry, and human populations in the Middle East. Furthermore, low and high pathogenic avian influenza viruses lead to respiratory illness with varying severity, depending on the virus subtype (e.g., H5, H7, H9, etc.). Possible future outbreaks and endemics of newly emerging subtypes are expected to occur, as many studies have reported the emergence of novel mutations and viral subtypes. However, proper surveillance programs and biosecurity applications should be developed, and countries with incapacitated defences against such outbreaks should be encouraged to undergo complete reinstation and reinforcement in their health and research sectors. Public education regarding biosafety and virus prevention is necessary to ensure minimal spread of avian influenza endemic.

Virulence profiling of Campylobacter spp., C. jejuni and C. fetus subsp. fetus abortions rise in sheep farms in Kashmir, India

Campylobacter spp. are the leading causes of ovine abortions leading to severe economic losses and a source of bacterial food borne illness in humans, posing a major public health concern. This study reports an increase in Brucella negative abortions in sheep farms in Kashmir, India in the last few years. Screening of sheep farms was carried to rule out Campylobacter abortion. Three Government sheep breeding farms in the Kashmir valley and some other private flocks were screened for the presence of C. jejuni and C. fetus subsp. fetus. A total of 217 samples comprising of 200 swabs (rectal and vaginal swabs; 100 each) from clinically healthy animals, ten vaginal swabs from cases of abortion and seven abomasal contents of the aborted fetuses were collected from sheep breeding farm Khimber (District, Srinagar), sheep breeding farm Goabal, the Mountain Research Centre for sheep and goats (MRCSG, SKUAST-K) (District, Ganderbal) and from private sheep breeders were screened. In the present study a total of 15.2% of samples were positive for different Campylobacter spp. by PCR. C. jejuni and C. coli were detected individually or coexisting by PCR in the rectal swabs from all farms, while C. fetus subsp. fetus was detected only in the vaginal swabs from private sheep farms and abortion samples. Additionally, C. jejuni was also isolated from vaginal swabs. A total of 5, 20 and 18 samples were confirmed positive by PCR for C. fetus subsp. fetus, C. jejuni and C. coli, respectively. The Campylobacter isolates obtained in the present study were screened for flaA, cdtB, cadF, wlaN, pldA, virB and dnaJ virulence determinants. However, the isolates harboured flaA, cdtB and cadF virulence determinants only. The recovery of virulent Campylobacter isolates from healthy sheep fecal swabs in the present study may have longer human health implications. The presence of abortive strains of C. jejuni and C fetus subsp. fetus in sheep farms has long term economic implications in the Kashmir valley. This study emphasizes the need for efforts to be taken on farms to prevent animal infections and minimizing human exposure to these pathogens through proper hygiene and production practices as suggested by World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

Prevalence and associated risk factors of peste des petits ruminants in selected districts of the northern border region of Pakistan

BackgroundPeste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a world organization for animal health (WOAH) notifiable and economically important transboundary, highly communicable viral disease of small ruminants. PPR virus (PPRV) belongs to the genus Morbillivirus of the family Paramyxoviridae.AimThe present cross-sectional epidemiological investigation was accomplished to estimate the apparent prevalence and identify the risk factors linked with peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in the previously neglected northern border regions of Pakistan.MethodA total of 1300 samples (serum = 328; swabs = 972) from 150 flocks/herds were compiled from sheep (n = 324), goats (n = 328), cattle (n = 324), and buffaloes (n = 324) during 2020–2021 and tested using ELISA for detection of viral antibody in sera or antigen in swabs.ResultsAn overall apparent prevalence of 38.7% (504 samples) and an estimated true prevalence (calculated by the Rogan and Gladen estimator) of 41.0% (95% CI, 38.0–44 were recorded in the target regions. The highest apparent prevalence of 53.4% (85 samples) and the true prevalence of 57.0%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were documented in the Gilgit district and the lowest apparent prevalence of 53 (25.1%) and the true prevalence of 26.0%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 19.0–33.0) was reported in the Swat district. A questionnaire was designed to collect data about associated risk factors that were put into a univariable logistic regression to decrease the non-essential assumed risk dynamics with a P-value of 0.25. ArcGIS, 10.8.1 was used to design hotspot maps and MedCalc’s online statistical software was used to calculate Odds Ratio (OR). Some of the risk factors significantly different (P < 0.05) in the multivariable logistic regression were flock/herd size, farming methods, nomadic animal movement, and outbreaks of PPR. The odds of large-sized flocks/herds were 1.7 (OR = 1.79; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.034–91.80%) times more likely to be positive than small-sized. The odds of transhumance and nomadic systems were 1.1 (OR = 1.15; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.022–58.64%) and 1.0 (OR = 1.02; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.020–51.97%) times more associated to be positive than sedentary and mixed farming systems, respectively. The odds of nomadic animal movement in the area was 0.7 (OR = 0.57; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.014–38.06%) times more associated to be positive than in areas where no nomadic movement was observed. In addition, the odds of an outbreak of PPR in the area were 1.0 (OR = 1.00; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.018–46.73%) times more associated to be positive than in areas where no outbreak of PPR was observed.ConclusionsIt was concluded that many northern regions considered endemic for PPR, large and small ruminants are kept and reared together making numerous chances for virus transmission dynamic, so a big threats of disease spread exist in the region. The results of the present study would contribute to the global goal of controlling and eradicating PPR by 2030.

Current status and future challenges of avian influenza – a literature review

An infectious agent affecting both domestic and wild birds may cause avian influenza. All of them can be transmitted by coming into contact with tainted food, drink, or bird emissions, particularly feces. Numerous clades of H5N1 infections have been circulating since 2003, including one introduced to the United States in 2014 by wild birds, which persisted until 2016. There were 2,240 wild birds found in 45 states and 519 counties in the United States alone by September 14, 2022. According to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the predominant Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A (H5) virus subtype causing poultry outbreaks worldwide from late 2021 to early 2022 is A (H5N1). Most notifications from wild birds across multiple countries and regions suggest that the virus may have been introduced and spread via uncontrolled bird migration. The primary instance of a goose/Guangdong/1/96-lineage H5 HPAI infection inside the Americas since June 2015 was checked by the later disclosure of an H5N1 HPAI outbreak in Newfoundland, Canada. The avian flu Type A viruses, or bird flu viruses, rarely cause human infection; some bird flu viruses have done so in the past. The HPAI (H5) virus has been persistent in wild bird populations in Europe since the 2020-21 epidemic wave, according to the paper titled “Avian Influenza Overview: March-June 2022.” Even regions like Antarctica had avian influenza cases in 2023-24. Prevention and control can be done by monitoring and reporting outbreaks, preventing avian influenza at its source in animals, banning chicken farms, controlling methodologies, remuneration for ranchers, and vaccination.

Lumpy Skin Disease: An Emerging Concern in Pakistan and its Impact on National Economic Loss

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), an emerging viral infection of cattle and buffalo, poses significant challenges to the livestock industry in Pakistan. Symptoms of this disease include enlarged appearance of lumps, high fever, discharge from the eyes and nose, and loss of appetite. The incubation period of this virus in cattle is approximately 28 days, as per the report of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This viral infection spreads through direct contact among herds. The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the FAO both warn that the spread of illnesses could lead to serious economic losses. A considerable financial loss in this industry is due to the mortality rate, reduced milk and meat production rate, and increasing management and treatment expenses. Generally, the best administrative approach to treating this disease is vaccination, which is also an economically effective strategy. This review aims to provide insights into the symptoms, risk factors, control, and disease administrative strategies, economic loss associated with Lumpy Skin Disease, and the potential role of vaccination in future disease management strategies.

Development and evaluation of time-resolved rapid immunofluorescence test for detection of TSOL18 specific antibody in porcine cysticercosis infections

BackgroundPorcine cysticercosis, a serious zoonotic parasitic disease, is caused by the larvae of Taenia solium and has been acknowledged by the World Organization for Animal Health. The current detection methods of Cysticercus cellulosae cannot meet the needs of large-scale and rapid detection in the field. We hypothesized that the immunofluorescence chromatography test strip (ICS) for detecting Cysticercus cellulosae, according to optimization of a series of reaction systems was conducted, and sensitivity, specificity, and stability testing, and was finally compared with ELISA. This method utilizes Eu3+-labeled time-resolved fluorescent microspheres (TRFM) coupled with TSOL18 antigen to detect TSOL18 antibodies in infected pig sera.ResultsICS and autopsy have highly consistent diagnostic results (n = 133), as determined by Cohen’s κ analysis (κ = 0.925). And the results showed that the proposed ICS are high sensitivity (0.9459) with specificity (0.9792). The ICS was unable to detect positive samples of other parasites. It can be stored for at least six months at 4℃.ConclusionsIn summary, we established a TRFM-ICS method with higher sensitivity and specificity than indirect ELISA. Results obtained from serum samples can be read within 10 min, indicating a rapid, user-friendly test suitable for large-scale field detection.

Animal sentience: The science and its implications, with particular reference to farmed animals

AbstractThere is an increasing amount of scientific research into animal sentience. Many scientists are studying the cognitive, emotional, and communicative capacities of a range of animals. The results of this research have led to a number of legal recognitions of the sentience of a range of animals. In 1997, the European Union (EU) gave legal recognition to the sentience of animals and updated and elevated this recognition in the Treaty of Lisbon. Other countries and states as well as the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE) have followed it. Scientists are increasingly acknowledging that sentience and emotion have arisen in a wide range of species. Research now emphasizes that there is an extraordinary variation in how different animal species (such as mammals, birds, fish, or insects) perceive the world and their environment. This paper looks at the sentience of the main farmed land and aquatic animals and the implications of this for how such animals are bred and housed. The paper concludes that intensive farming systems deprive animals of opportunities for positive emotions, such as play, exploration, social interaction, and feeding to satiation, and stops them from satisfying naturally motivated behaviors. To truly respect animal sentience, production systems should be designed with the animal's characteristics and needs in mind. The authors conclude that regenerative, agroecological, or organic farming systems better protect and respect the sentience of animals leading to less suffering and more opportunities for positive experiences.

Is Artemia susceptible to the microsporidium Ecytonucleospora hepatopenaei (EHP) infection?

Following the three-stage approach of the WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health) standard on the confirmation of susceptible species to a specific pathogen, Artemia franciscana juveniles were challenged with immersion exposure (IM) in a homogenate suspension of Penaeus vannamei hepatopancreas infected with Ecytonucleospora hepatopenaei (EHP) and per os administration (PO) with chlorella soaked in EHP-infected hepatopancreatic homogenate suspension. Using TaqMan probe-based quantitative PCR, we detected that loads of EHP in A. franciscana juveniles from both the IM and PO groups were about 101 copies/ng-DNA on the 3rd day post-exposure (3 dpe). However, no more EHP was detectable in the challenged A. franciscana juveniles on 7 dpe. Nested PCR targeting the EHP spore wall protein gene did not produce a target band in A. franciscana juveniles on either 3 dpe or 7 dpe. The confirmative evidence of the absence of sustained infection with EHP in the exposed Artemia was substantiated using in situ DIG-labeling-loop-mediated DNA amplification (ISDL) on A. franciscana juvenile sections, which revealed a few weak grey-blue positive signals appeared on 3 dpe but disappeared on 7 dpe. The results indicated that exposure to EHP resulted in the invasion of Artemia in intestinal epithelial cells, but the infection was unable to persist, confirming Artemia is not susceptible to EHP. Therefore, the research countered the assertion of Artemia as a potential EHP reservoir.

The epidemiology and clinical features of post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies: A retrospective study of 9772 cases

BackgroundIn December 2015, the World Health Organization, the World Animal Health Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations convened the International Congress on the elimination of rabies in Geneva. How to use epidemiological factors of post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent rabies has become the focus of attention. ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics of 9772 patients with rabies in a four-year period in one hospital, to clarify the outbreak law of rabies and to explore the corresponding prevention and control strategies. MethodsThe epidemiological data of rabies patients were collected from the infectious disease reporting information management system of the hospital from July 2018 to June 2022. The distributional characteristics of 13 influencing factors were analyzed using the chi-square test and linear regression. ResultsThere was a significant correlation between the number of wounds and age, and the numbers of female and male patients were close. People over the age of 44 were more likely to get bites or scratches on their lower extremity (P<0.0001). There was a greater possibility for elderly people to be bitten by dogs (P<0.0001). Dogs preferred to bite or scratch lower limbs (P<0.0001), while cats upper limbs (P<0.0001). Upper limbs were more possibly attacked by animals at home (P<0.0001). There were significant correlations among exposure grade, wound treatment and number of wounds. Conclusions: Lower extremity protection is needed for the elderly and when encountering dogs, and more attention needs to be paid to the upper extremities when encountering cats and household pets, as well as pets that are cute but need to be protected from bites or scratches.