Beliefs, intentions, and beyond: A qualitative study on the adoption of sustainable gastrointestinal nematode control practices in Flanders' dairy industry.

Emerging anthelmintic resistance emphasizes the need for sustainable control approaches against gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections in cattle. The uptake of diagnostic methods for sustainable control could enable more informed treatments and reduce excessive anthelmintic use. Unfortunately, the adoption of such methods remains relatively poor. A better understanding of farmers' motivations and behaviour would help to develop applicable advises and communication strategies for sustainable worm control strategies. A previous study created a general model for adoption intention of GIN diagnostics on dairy farms and measured the most important factors driving this intention (Vande Velde et al., 2015). The current research aimed to dig deeper into this model for the beliefs underlying these factors, and to identify additional factors impelling this specific behaviour. Data were collected through 22 semi-structured interviews with dairy farmers. Using analytic induction analysis, data were moved between deduction and induction. Results show that the adoption process of diagnostic methods for GIN occurs through three different phases: adoption intention, actual adoption and maintenance. Low infection awareness and low priority ('top of mind') of the disease are important barriers for adopting sustainable GIN control. Secondly, farmer behaviour is guided by two important social norms: the opinion of their veterinarian and their fellow farmers. However, farmers hold an incongruent relationship with both norms throughout different stages of behaviour: they do not value other farmers' opinions as a positive reference (intention phase), but follow and mimic their behaviour as a group (action phase). The veterinarian is seen as the most important positive reference, but also the responsible actor for GIN control. As such, the farmers do not hold themselves responsible for implementing sustainable control strategies. Thirdly, different types of motivations influence different sorts of behaviours. Sustainable behaviour such as use of diagnostics will be influenced by moral motives, while management behaviour such as treatment is raised by more economic motives. Finally, not only performing, but also maintaining behaviour is important to fully address the adoption of sustainable control. As such, to maintain the adoption on farm, planning could be an important contribution. These insights can be used by animal health organizations and industry by exploiting motivations, social norms and planning to encourage the uptake of diagnostic approaches in GIN control.

Attitudes towards worm egg counts and targeted selective treatment against equine cyathostomins.

Gastrointestinal nematodes present a major threat to the health and welfare of equids worldwide. Anthelmintic resistance (AR) is increasingly reported and challenges effective control in horses and ponies in many regions. The use of faecal worm egg counts (FECs) to support targeted treatment (FEC-TT) and targeted selective treatment (FEC-TST) has been promoted as an effective deworming strategy that may prolong the useful life of anthelmintics and reduce the costs associated with parasite control. However, treatment applied at set intervals or on pre-determined dates remains common. A structural equation model was developed to identify factors influencing the uptake of FEC-directed treatment strategies, based on well-established socio-psychological theories of intentional health-related behaviours: the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Health Belief Model. More than 850 valid responses were received from horse owners in the UK via an online survey. The intention to use FECs prior to deworming was not influenced by the perceived risk of anthelmintic resistance or that of gastrointestinal nematode infection but was positively influenced by a negative attitude towards anthelmintics, a positive attitude towards FECs, an increase in social pressure (e.g. significant others think the respondent should use FECs) and an increase in perceived control over their deworming programme. The results were consistent with a similar study conducted on FEC-TT in cattle in Belgium. An increase in respondents' self-perceived level of knowledge significantly increased the intention to use FECs via mediating factors. These results suggest that knowledge transfer activities aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of sustainable nematode control practices may be more effective at encouraging behaviour change than emphasising the dangers of nematodes and AR, which had limited influence on behaviour intention in this study population.

Diagnosis before treatment: Identifying dairy farmers' determinants for the adoption of sustainable practices in gastrointestinal nematode control.

Anthelmintic resistance is emerging in dairy cattle and this can result in a lack of effective control and production losses. Therefore, sustainable control strategies, such as targeted treatments (TT) and targeted selected treatments (TST), should be adopted by the industry. TT and TST approaches require the use of diagnostic methods to take informed treatment decisions. To understand the factors affecting the farmers' intention to adopt diagnostic methods before implementing anthelmintic drugs ('adoption intention'), a cross-sectional survey was carried out in dairy farms in Belgium (Flanders). A framework was constructed to predict adoption intentions based on two fundamental theories in the field of behavioural psychology and health psychology: the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Health Belief Model. In the tested model, adoption intentions were predicted based on attitudes towards anthelminthics, attitudes towards diagnostic methods, subjective norms, behavioural control and perceived risk. Structural equation modelling was used for analyses. The model fitted the data well and explained 46% of the variance in adoption intention of diagnostics. The factors 'attitude towards diagnostic methods' and 'subjective norm'; i.e. the influence of significant others, had the strongest, positive influence on adoption intention of diagnostic methods. 'Perceived behavioural control' had a weak, positive effect on intention. Further, 'attitude towards the use of anthelmintic drugs' had a negative effect on adoption intention of the diagnostic methods. This implicates an effect of current behaviour on future adoption, which should be considered in future research. Factors measuring risk perception of anthelmintic resistance; perceived severity and perceived susceptibility, had no effect on the adoption intention of diagnostic methods. The threat of anthelmintic resistance is perceived to be low for dairy herds. The study further did not find any differences in the effects of the predictors for young stock and adult dairy cows. The results of this study can be used to develop communication strategies to advertise sustainable nematode control on dairy farms.

[Clinical, histological and scanning electron microscopy evaluation of the Prophy-Jet in vivo and in vitro]. / Klinische, histologische en scanning elektronenmicroscopische evaluatie van het gebruik van de Prophy-Jet in vivo en in vitro.

Clinical, histologic and scanning electron microscopic study of the use of the Prophy-Jet. The Prophy-Jet (Cavitron-International) is used for the removal of gross stain and heavy plaque. In this study the plaque and stain removal capacities have been investigated in patients with a healthy and inflamed gingiva. The influence of the spray of cleaning powder (sodiumbicarbonate) on the gingiva has been studied in gingival biopsies of Beagle dog. With the use of a scanning electron microscope the dentine and cementum have been investigated after spraying during 30 seconds to 2 minutes. The clinical results show that the plaque and the stain are removed easily and significantly except for the deep interproximal regions where the handpiece tip cannot be used in a correct angulation to the tooth surface. All patients showed gingival desquamation which could last up to 3 days. After treatment several patients suffered from aphthous ulcers. The gingiva of the Prophy-Jet treated areas in the Beagle dog showed severe epithelial desquamation, even of the papillary connective tissue, which in certain areas, can lead to necrosis. A spray lasting for 30 seconds removed approximately 10 micrograms of dentine or cementum. From these results it can be concluded that the negative aspects of the use of the Prophy-Jet are very important. It should therefore be used with caution.

[Microbial aspects of periodontopathies and implications for antimicrobial treatment]. / Microbiële aspecten van de parodontopathieën en de gevolgen voor de antimicrobiële behandeling.

The development of periodontitis is always preceded by a gingivitis. Therefore, the studies of the etiological, histopathological, microbiological and therapeutic aspects of gingivitis form an essential contribution to the prevention of the major oral diseases. After 9-21 days without oral hygiene, in a previously healthy gingiva, a generalized mild gingivitis always develops. However, subclinical inflammation starts much earlier, obviously as a host reaction to the initial phases of plaque development. The development of gingivitis, and especially of peridontitis, is accompanied by a marked increase of anaerobic Gram-negative organisms and a decrease of aerobic Gram-positive organisms. However, their possible specific etiological role in the development of gingival inflammation is still unknown. On the other hand, the proliferation of the total mass of the original flora could be of importance, too. The actual treatment modalities of periodontal disease consist in a total non-specific elimination of the plaque, which imposes an intensive plaque control, independent of the individual tolerance level. Future bacteriological investigation will have to elucidate the pathogenic potential of specific micro-organisms.