A number of virological, epidemiological and ethnographic arguments suggest that COVID-19 has a zoonotic origin. The pangolin, a species threatened with extinction due to poaching for both culinary purposes and traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia, is now suspected of being the "missing link" in the transmission to humans of a virus that probably originated in a species of bat. Our predation of wild fauna and the reduction in their habitats have thus ended up creating new interfaces that favour the transmission of pathogens (mainly viruses) to humans. Domesticated animals and wild fauna thus constitute a reservoir for almost 80% of emerging human diseases (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, Ebola). These diseases are all zoonotic in origin. As if out of a Chinese fairy tale, the bat and the pangolin have taught us a lesson: within an increasingly interdependent world, environmental crises will become ever more intertwined with health crises. Questions relating to public health will no longer be confined to the secrecy of the physician's consulting room or the sanitised environment of the hospital. They are now being played out in the arena of international trade, ports and airports and distribution networks. Simply put, all human activity creates new interfaces that facilitate the transmission of pathogens from an animal reservoir to humans. This pluri-disciplinary article highlights that environmental changes, such as the reduction in habitats for wild fauna and the intemperate trade in fauna, are the biggest causes of the emergence of new diseases. Against this background, it reviews the different measures taken to control, eradicate and prevent the emergence of animal diseases in a globalised world.
BACKGROUND: Azerbaijan currently ranks thirteenth in global incidence of human brucellosis, with an estimated annual incidence through 2000 at over 50 cases per million. Brucella melitensis has been isolated from patients and is thought to have been acquired through contact with small ruminants or as a foodborne infection. To reduce the burden of human brucellosis, the Azerbaijani government began in 2002, a nationwide vaccination control campaign in small ruminants. There is serological evidence of bovine brucellosis (presumably due to Brucella abortus) in Azerbaijan, but no prevalence estimates were available when this study started in March 2017. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify Brucella spp. from cow milk in the Ganja region, where brucellosis takes a heavy toll on humans and livestock. RESULTS: Blood and milk samples were collected from cows (n = 1075) in early lactation (up to 90-days) in farms that had a history of previous positive serological results and abortions. Twenty-two out of 57 milk samples collected from seropositive cows, showed growth on Farrell's media, when incubated with 5% CO(2). Eight additional milk samples showed growth in the absence of CO(2). The classical biotyping classified them as Brucella abortus (22) and Brucella melitensis (8). RT-PCR confirmed that strains belonged to the genus Brucella. MLVA profiles were obtained for DNA extracted from two B. abortus and six B. melitensis strains. While the B. abortus genetic profile was described in the MLVA database, matching the profile of B. abortus strains isolated in East Europe, Central Asia and China, we found a new genotype for the B. melitensis strains isolated in Azerbaijan, clustering with strains belonging to the American clade, rarely identified in the region. CONCLUSION: Despite the implementation of the vaccination program in small ruminants, our results suggest that spill-over events of B. melitensis from small ruminants to cattle have occurred. However, cattle are likely to be primarily infected with B. ...
There is paucity of Brucella prevalence data in Malawi. For this reason, a cross-sectional study was conducted, from 06 January 2020 to 27 February 2020, to estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in dairy cattle herds amongst smallholder farmers, government and private dairy farms in the southern region. A total of 529 serum samples were screened for anti-Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal test (RBT) and a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). A pre-tested electronic (Epicollect tool, Wellcome Sanger Institute, United Kingdom) questionnaire was administered to 378 smallholder farmers to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices towards brucellosis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data in Microsoft Excel(®) and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS(®)) version 21. No animal tested positive for presence of anti-Brucella antibodies, indicating 0% prevalence (individual and herd levels). The majority (94.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 91.8–96.5) of smallholder farmers had never heard about brucellosis. Furthermore, assisting during parturition without protective equipment (41.3%; 95% CI: 36.3–46.2) and using bulls for breeding (75%; 95% CI: 70.2–78.9) were amongst the common risk practices that were identified. We could not detect brucellosis in this study that indicates the disease could be very rare or even absent in the dairy cattle herds of the southern region of Malawi. However, further Brucella studies need to be conducted in cattle, small livestock, wildlife and humans to document the true status of brucellosis in the country. Brucellosis surveillance, monitoring, awareness and preventive measures are required to maintain this favourable situation.
Source at https://www.jsava.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/473 . ; There is paucity of Brucella prevalence data in Malawi. For this reason, a cross-sectional study was conducted, from 06 January 2020 to 27 February 2020, to estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in dairy cattle herds amongst smallholder farmers, government and private dairy farms in the southern region. A total of 529 serum samples were screened for anti-Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal test (RBT) and a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). A pre-tested electronic (Epicollect tool, Wellcome Sanger Institute, United Kingdom) questionnaire was administered to 378 smallholder farmers to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices towards brucellosis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data in Microsoft Excel® and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS®) version 21. No animal tested positive for presence of anti-Brucella antibodies, indicating 0% prevalence (individual and herd levels). The majority (94.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 91.8–96.5) of smallholder farmers had never heard about brucellosis. Furthermore, assisting during parturition without protective equipment (41.3%; 95% CI: 36.3–46.2) and using bulls for breeding (75%; 95% CI: 70.2–78.9) were amongst the common risk practices that were identified. We could not detect brucellosis in this study that indicates the disease could be very rare or even absent in the dairy cattle herds of the southern region of Malawi. However, further Brucella studies need to be conducted in cattle, small livestock, wildlife and humans to document the true status of brucellosis in the country. Brucellosis surveillance, monitoring, awareness and preventive measures are required to maintain this favourable situation. Keywords: bovine brucellosis (contagious abortion); dairy cattle herds; seroprevalence; knowledge; attitudes and practices; Malawi.
The following article, Madut, N.A., Nasinyama, G.W., Muma, J.B., Sube, K.L.L., Ocan, M., Muwonge, A., . Kankya, C. (2018). Prevalence of brucellosis among patients attending Wau Hospital, South Sudan. PLoS ONE, 13 , (6), can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199315 . ; Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of public health importance; its prevalence varies globally. In low-income countries, brucellosis is an endemic and neglected disease affecting both animals and humans. This study was intended to establish brucellosis sero-prevalence among patients attending Wau hospital, South Sudan. Across sectional study, was done among randomly selected patients attending Wau hospital. Data was collected using questionnaires and laboratory investigations. Rose Bengal plate Test (RBPT), Serum agglutination test (SAT) and Competitive Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (c-ELISA) was used in the analysis of blood samples serially starting with RBPT which is more sensitive and least specific then SAT. c-ELISA test which is most specific and less sensitive compared to RBPT and SAT was then used to confirm presence of Brucella antibodies in the samples. A total of 416 participants out of 1664 were enrolled to this study. The majority of participants were between 7-to-76 years of age with mean age of 30.72 (SD+/- 12.83). The sero-positivity of patient's blood samples for brucellosis using c-ELISA was 23.3% (97/416) among patients presenting to Wau hospital. Socio-demographic characteristics, occupation, clinical signs of disease and types of animals reared by animal owners showed no significant correlation with occurrence of sero-positivity among patient's blood samples for brucellosis. While ethnicity (Nilotic), knowledge of zoonotic disease, and consumption of animal urine were statistically significant (p<0.05). The study found a high prevalence of brucellosis among febrile patients attending Wau hospital general outpatient clinic. There is need for co-ordination and collaboration between veterinary and health sectors of government to help prevent and control brucellosis in the region.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) asked the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) for a risk assessment on turkey welfare. The VKM report will be used by NFSA in assessing the need for amending the existing regulations, competence requirements, and guidelines for surveillance and control related to keeping turkeys. Inspectors from NFSA have reported that there are serious animal welfare challenges in today's turkey production, despite the fact that producers largely comply with the existing species-specific legislation for turkeys. Compared with the legislation on broilers, current legislation on turkeys is limited and has not been revised since 2001. VKM was asked to describe the physiological and behavioural needs of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in general, to assess welfare risks related to living area, animal densities, air quality, bedding, feeding and watering, and lighting regimes in turkeys kept for meat production. Description of risk-reduction measures was requested specifically with regards to living area, bedding, and feeding and watering. Relevant welfare indicators for turkeys were also to be described. Additionally, assessment of welfare risks related to semen collection (SC) and artificial insemination (AI) in parent stock were requested, together with a description of relevant risk-reduction measures. Organic production of turkey meat and the genetic constitution of the hybrids kept for meat production were not included in the request. Handling and transport of day old turkeys from hatchery to farm was excluded, as was handling related to transport and slaughter of turkeys kept for meat production. Welfare aspects of parent stock other than with respect to SC/AI were also excluded from the request. Nine detailed Terms of Reference were presented to VKM. VKM appointed a project group consisting of two external experts and two members of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare to answer the request. The Panel on Animal Health and Welfare has reviewed and revised the draft prepared by the project group and finally approved the risk assessment. In the risk assessment, the main physiological and behavioural needs of farmed turkeys are identified and described. Today's Norwegian turkey production environment may present obstacles to the fulfilment of several of these needs, regardless of compliance with existing legislation. Wet bedding is a major hazard to turkey welfare and is a cause of foot pad lesions and other skin lesions. As these skin conditions are widespread in Norwegian turkey production, wet bedding seems to represent a high risk to turkey welfare. An important riskreduction measure would be to minimise the likelihood of the litter becoming wet, by preventing leakages from the drinking system, by ensuring good gut health, replacing wet litter, and by establishing optimal ventilation and heating. Additionally, several moderate welfare risks are identified, including low temperature for poults, inappropriate diet or poor quality of drinking water, failure of the drinking system, as well as too high or too low light intensities or inappropriate lighting regimes. Also, the incorrect use of recovery pens is considered to be a moderate welfare risk related to living area, which may be reduced by introducing appropriate management guidelines. Animal welfare risks of lesser significance are associated with high temperatures, and failure of the feeding system. In addition, several hazards for turkey welfare were identified and characterised. However, due to lack of data with regards to the exposure of Norwegian turkeys to and/or the welfare consequences of these hazards, they were not fit for a complete risk assessment. These hazards include lack of environmental enrichment, insufficient space for movement, resting, and avoidance, inappropriate stocking densities and different air quality parameters. It should be noted that the welfare hazards related to insufficient space are of increasing relevance with progressing age and size of the animals, and that hazard characterisation of different stocking densities would further be complicated by their interaction with other factors in the production unit. High levels of dust, ammonia, and other noxious gases are potential hazards for turkey welfare related to air quality, but sufficient data for risk characterisation lack. The "transect walk" method represents a promising method for systematic on-farm registration of welfare in turkey flocks. Foot pad lesions, breast skin lesions and air sacculitis are valid animal welfare indicators, that are feasible and appropriate for recording at the slaughterhouse. Implementing systematic recording of these indicators would assist in generating an evidence-based document of the turkey welfare situation. With regards to artificial insemination of parent stock, moderate welfare risks are associated with damage/haemorrhage inflicted by the AI procedure, as well as routine feed deprivation prior to AI. Haemorrhage caused by the SC procedure, as well as stress or injuries caused by herding/catching and handling the turkeys in connection with both SC and AI, are characterised as low welfare risks. To reduce the welfare risks when performing SC and AI, the knowledge and skills of the responsible workers are of key importance.
