The efficacy of a novel topical spray composed of sodium benzoate, alcohol and botanical oils for the treatment of Malassezia dermatitis in dogs - a split body, randomised, blinded study.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of Malassezia pachydermatis dermatitis can be performed by systemic or topical route. As M. pachydermatis is located on the stratum corneum, topical therapy alone may be sufficient to resolve the infection. Owing to systemic antifungal resistance and adverse effects, topical treatment alone may improve treatment outcome. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of a topical spray composed of sodium benzoate, alcohol and botanical oils, compared to a shampoo containing 2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 2% miconazole nitrate for the treatment of Malassezia pachydermaitis dermatitis in dogs. ANIMALS: Sixteen client owned dogs diagnosed with symmetrical interdigital lesions as a result of secondary Malassezia dermatitis. METHODS: The study design was prospective, randomised and single-blinded, using a split body protocol. Malassezia yeasts were determined by cytology at the inclusion day (day0) and after treatment (day14). All dogs were treated during 14 days with both shampoo at one paw and spray on the other paw. RESULTS: At day 14 a reduction of Malassezia dermatitis was shown at both paws. No statistical difference was demonstrated between treatment with shampoo or spray. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: We could not show a difference in efficacy between application of the test spray once daily and the topical use of 2%miconazole/2%chlorhexidine shampoo every other day. No adverse effects were reported.

Contexte - Le traitement de la dermatite à Malassezia peut être réalisé par voie systémique ou topique. Comme M. pachydermatis est situé sur la couche cornée, un traitement topique seul peut suffire à résoudre l'infection. En raison de résistance antifongique systémique et d'effets indésirables, le traitement topique seul peut améliorer les résultats du traitement. Hypothèses/Objectifs - Évaluer l'efficacité d'un spray topique composé de benzoate de sodium, d'alcool et d'huiles végétales, par rapport à un shampooing contenant 2 % de gluconate de chlorhexidine et 2 % de nitrate de miconazole pour le traitement de la dermatite à Malassezia chez le chien. Animaux - Seize chiens appartenant à des clients ont reçu un diagnostic de lésions interdigitées symétriques à la suite d'une dermatite à Malassezia secondaire. Méthodes - La conception de l'étude était prospective, randomisée et en simple aveugle. Les levures Malassezia ont été évaluées par cytologie au jour de l'inclusion (jour0) et après traitement (jour14). Tous les chiens ont été traités pendant 14 jours avec du shampooing sur une patte et un spray sur l'autre patte. Résultats - Au jour 14, une réduction de la dermatite à Malassezia a été observée aux deux pattes. Aucune différence statistique n'a été mise en évidence entre le traitement shampooing ou spray. Conclusions et importance clinique - Nous n'avons pas pu montrer de différence d'efficacité entre l'application du spray test une fois par jour et l'utilisation topique du shampooing 2%miconazole/2%chlorhexidine tous les deux jours. Aucun effet indésirable n'a été signalé.

Introducción- el tratamiento de la dermatitis por Malassezia pachydermatis se puede realizar por vía sistémica o tópica. Como M. pachydermatis se encuentra en el estrato córneo, la terapia tópica sola puede ser suficiente para resolver la infección. Debido a la resistencia antifúngica sistémica y los efectos adversos, el tratamiento tópico podría mejorar los resultados terapeúticos. Hipótesis/Objetivos - Evaluar la eficacia de un spray tópico compuesto por Benzoato de Sodio, alcohol y aceites botánicos, en comparación con un champú que contiene gluconato de clorhexidina al 2% y nitrato de miconazol al 2% para el tratamiento de la dermatitis por M. Paquydermatis en perros. Animales- dieciséis perros de propietarios particulares diagnosticados con lesiones interdigitales simétricas como resultado de una dermatitis secundaria por Malassezia. Métodos- el diseño del estudio fue prospectivo, al azar y simple ciego, utilizando un protocolo de cuerpo dividido. La presencia de levaduras Malassezia se determinó mediante citología el día de inclusión (día 0) y después del tratamiento (día 14). Todos los perros fueron tratados durante 14 días con champú en una pata y spray en la otra pata. Resultados- en el día 14 se mostró una reducción de la dermatitis por Malassezia en ambas patas. No se demostró diferencia estadística entre el tratamiento con champú o spray. Conclusiones e importancia clínica- no pudimos demostrar una diferencia en la eficacia entre la aplicación del aerosol a prueba una vez al día y el uso tópico de champú con miconazol al 2%/clorhexidina al 2% en días alternos. No se detectaron efectos adversos.

Contexto - O tratamento da dermatite por Malassezia pachydermatis pode ser realizado por via sistêmica ou tópica. Como a M. pachydermatis fica localizada no estrato córneo, a terapia tópica unicamente pode ser suficiente para resolver a infecção. Devido à resistência antifúngica e aos efeitos adversos, terapia tópica em monoterapia pode melhorar o resultado do tratamento. Hipótese/Objetivos - Avaliar a eficácia de um spray tópico contendo benzoato de sódio, álcool e óleos botânicos, comparado a um shampoo de gluconato de clorexidina a 2% e nitrato de miconazol a 2% para o tratamento de dermatite por Malassezia pachydermaitis em cães. Animais - Dezesseis cães de clientes diagnosticados com lesões interdigitais simétricas resultantes de infecção secundária por Malassezia. Métodos - O delineamento do estudo foi prospectivo, randomizado e simples-cego, utilizando um protocolo de corpo dividido. As leveduras identificadas como Malassezia foram determinadas por citologia no dia da inclusão (dia 0) e após o tratamento (dia 14). Todos os cães foram tratados por 14 dias com shampoo em uma pata e spray na outra. Resultados - No dia 14, observou-se um declínio na dermatite por Malassezia em ambas as patas. Não houve diferença estatística entre o tratamento com shampoo ou spray. Conclusões e importância clínica - Não pudemos encontrar diferenças na eficácia entre a aplicação do spray teste uma vez ao dia e o uso tópico de um shampoo contendo 2%miconazol/2%clorexidine em dias alternados. Não foram relatados efeitos adversos.

Screening Methanol Poisoning with a Portable Breath Detector.

Methanol poisoning outbreaks after consumption of adulterated alcohol frequently overwhelm health care facilities in developing countries. Here, we present how a recently developed low-cost and handheld breath detector can serve as a noninvasive and rapid diagnostic tool for methanol poisoning. The detector combines a separation column and a micromachined chemoresistive gas sensor fully integrated into a device that communicates wirelessly with a smartphone. The performance of the detector is validated with methanol-spiked breath of 20 volunteers (105 breath samples) after consumption of alcoholic beverages. Breath methanol concentrations were quantified accurately within 2 min in the full breath-relevant range (10-1000 ppm) in excellent agreement (R2 = 0.966) with benchtop mass spectrometry. Bland-Altman analysis revealed sufficient limits of agreement (95% confidence intervals), promising to indicate reliably the clinical need for antidote and hemodialysis treatment. This simple-in-use detector features high diagnostic capability for accurate measurement of methanol in spiked breath, promising for rapid screening of methanol poisoning and assessment of severity. It can be applied readily by first responders to distinguish methanol from ethanol poisoning and monitor in real time the subsequent hospital treatment.

The effects of cow introductions on milk production and behaviour of the herd measured with sensors.

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that cow introductions in dairy herds affect milk production and behaviour of animals already in the herd. In dairy farms, cows are commonly regrouped or moved. Negative effects of regroupings on the introduced animals are reported in other studies. However, little is known about the effects on lactating cows in the herd. In this research a herd of 53 lactating dairy cows was divided into two groups in a cross-over design study. 25 cows were selected as focal cows for which continuous sensor data were collected. The treatment period consisted of replacing non-focal cows three times a week. Many potentially influencing factors were taken into account in the analysis. Replacement of cows in the treatment period indeed affected the focal animals. During the treatment period these cows showed increased walking and reduced rumination activity and produced less milk compared to the control period. Milk production per milking decreased in the treatment period up to 0.4 kg per milking on certain weekdays. Lying and standing behaviour were similar between the control and the treatment period. The current study suggests that cow introductions affect welfare and milk production of the cows already in the herd.

Discrepancies in the bilateral intradermal test and serum tests in atopic horses.

BACKGROUND: In equine atopic patients intradermal testing (IDT) and immunoglobulin (Ig)E serology are used frequently. There is little evidence regarding the reproducibility of the IDT and IgE serology in horses. OBJECTIVES: To compare the results of a simultaneously performed IDT on the left and right side of the neck in atopic horses, and to compare these results with allergen-specific IgE serology. ANIMALS: Ten equine patients from a university hospital population with chronic urticaria and/or pruritus. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The IDT was performed using 16 allergens and the results were evaluated after 30 min, 1, 4 and 24 h. Thirteen allergens also were analysed in duplicate with two monoclonal allergen-specific IgE enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: Good agreement (Kappa > 0.6) between left and right IDT was found only for Dermatophagoides farinae, Lepidoglyphus destructor, birch pollen mixture and perennial rye at 30 min, birch pollen mixture at 1 h, and Acarus siro and nettle and common mugwort mixture at 4 h. The bilateral comparison of the other allergens and even the same allergens at other time points showed little or no concordance between left and right IDT. The interlaboratory comparison between both ELISAs, and the comparison between the ELISAs and IDT, showed a good agreement for two of 13 allergens: D. farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Based on these preliminary data, IDT and IgE serological test results should be interpreted with great care and further studies are needed to indicate the clinical relevance of these findings.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Antibodies in Roe Deer, the Netherlands.

To increase knowledge of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) circulation in the Netherlands, we conducted serosurveillance in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) during 2017 and compared results with those obtained during 2010. Results corroborate a more widespread occurrence of the virus in 2017. Additional precautionary public health measures have been taken.

Assessment of interventions to attract and retain health workers in rural Zambia: a discrete choice experiment.

BACKGROUND: Workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas, limit the delivery of health services in Zambia. Policymakers and researchers co-created this study to identify potential non-monetary employment incentives and assess their cost-effectiveness to attract and retain public sector health workers to the rural areas of Zambia. METHODS: The study consisted of two key phases: a discrete choice experiment (DCE), preceded by a qualitative component to inform DCE questionnaire development. Firstly, in qualitative interviews with 25 health workers and focus group discussions (FGDs) with 253 health students, participants were asked to discuss job attributes and potential incentives that would influence their job choices. Based on this exercise and in consultation with policymakers, job attributes were selected for inclusion in a discrete choice experiment (DCE) questionnaire. Secondly, this questionnaire, consisting of hypothetical job "choice sets," was presented to 474 practicing health workers and students. A conditional logit regression model was applied to the data from this DCE questionnaire to estimate preferences for various job attributes. Using administrative data, we estimated the cost of implementing potential attraction and retention strategies per health worker year worked. RESULTS: Although health workers preferred urban jobs to rural jobs (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.11-1.75), employment incentives influenced health workers' decision to choose rural jobs. If superior housing was offered in a rural area compared to a basic housing allowance in an urban job, participants would be five times as likely to choose the rural job (OR 5.04, 95% CI 4.12-6.18). Education incentives and facility-based improvements also increased the likelihood of rural job uptake. Housing benefits were estimated to have the lowest total costs per health worker year worked, and offer high value in terms of cost per percentage point increase in rural job uptake. CONCLUSIONS: Non-monetary incentives such as housing, education, and facility improvements can be important motivators of health worker choice of location and could mitigate rural health workforce shortages. These results can provide valuable insight into the types of job attributes and incentives that are most likely to be effective in attracting and retaining health workers in rural areas.

An exploration of facilitators and challenges in the scale-up of a national, public sector community health worker cadre in Zambia: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: In 2010 a public sector cadre of community health workers called Community Health Assistants (CHAs) was created in Zambia through the National Community Health Worker Strategy to expand access to health services. This cadre continues to be scaled up to meet the growing demands of Zambia's rural population. We summarize factors that have facilitated the scale-up of the CHA program into a nationwide CHW cadre and the challenges of introducing and institutionalizing the cadre within the Zambian health system. METHODS: Semi-structured, individual interviews were held across 5 districts with 16 CHAs and 6 CHA supervisors, and 10 focus group discussions were held with 93 community members. Audio recordings of interviews and focus group discussions were transcribed and thematically coded using Dedoose web-based software. RESULTS: The study showed that the CHAs play a critical role in providing a wide range of services at the community level, as described by supervisors and community members. Some challenges still remain, that may inhibit the CHAs ability to provide health services effectively. In particular, the respondents highlighted infrequent supervision, lack of medical and non-medical supplies for outreach services, and challenges with the mobile data reporting system. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that in order to optimize the impact of CHAs or other community health workers, key health-system support structures need to be functioning effectively, such as supervision, community surveillance systems, supplies, and reporting. The Ministry of Health with support from partners are currently addressing these challenges through nationwide supervisor and community data trainings, as well as advocating for adding primary health care as a specific focus area in the new National Health Strategy Plan 2017-2021. This study contributes to the evidence base on the introduction of formalized community health worker cadres in developing countries.

Implementation of the Community Health Assistant (CHA) Cadre in Zambia: A Process Evaluation to Guide Future Scale-Up Decisions.

Universal health coverage requires an adequate health workforce, including community health workers (CHWs) to reach rural communities. To improve healthcare access in rural areas, in 2010 the Government of Zambia implemented a national CHW strategy that introduced a new cadre of healthcare workers called community health assistants (CHAs). After 1 year of training the pilot class of 307 CHAs deployed in September 2012. This paper presents findings from a process evaluation of the barriers and facilitators of implementation of the CHA pilot, along with how evidence was used to guide ongoing implementation and scale-up decisions. Qualitative inquiry was used to assess implementation during the first 6 months of the program rollout, with 43 in-depth individual and 32 small group interviews across five respondent types: CHAs, supervisors, volunteer CHWs, community members, and district leadership. Potential 'implementation moderators' were explored using deductive coding and thematic analysis of participant perspectives on community acceptance of CHAs, supervision support mechanisms, and coordination with volunteer CHWs, and health system integration of a new cadre. Community acceptance of CHAs was generally high, but coordination between CHAs and existing volunteer CHWs presented some challenges. The supervision support system was found to be inconsistent, limiting assurance of consistent quality care delivered by CHAs. Underlying health system weaknesses regarding drug supply and salary payments furthermore hindered incorporation of a new cadre within the national health system. Recommendations for implementation and future scale based on the process evaluation findings are discussed.

Decision-making under risk and ambiguity in low-birth-weight pigs.

Low birth weight (LBW) in humans is a risk factor for later cognitive, behavioural and emotional problems. In pigs, LBW is associated with higher mortality, but little is known about consequences for surviving piglets. Alteration in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in LBW pigs suggests altered emotionality, but no behavioural indicators have been studied. Decision-making under uncertain conditions, e.g., risk or ambiguity, is susceptible to emotional influences and may provide a means of assessing long-term effects of LBW in piglets. We tested LBW (N = 8) and normal-birth-weight (NBW; N = 8) male pigs in two decision-making tasks. For decision-making under risk, we developed a simple two-choice probabilistic task, the Pig Gambling Task (PGT), where an 'advantageous' option offered small but frequent rewards and a 'disadvantageous' option offered large but infrequent rewards. The advantageous option offered greater overall gain. For decision-making under ambiguity, we used a Judgement Bias Task (JBT) where pigs were trained to make an active response to 'positive' and 'negative' tone cues (signalling large and small rewards, respectively). Responses to ambiguous tone cues were rated as more or less optimistic. LBW pigs chose the advantageous option more often in later blocks of the PGT, and were scored as less optimistic in the JBT, than NBW pigs. Our findings demonstrate that LBW pigs have developed different behavioural strategies with respect to decision-making. We propose that this is guided by changes in emotionality in LBW piglets, and we provide behavioural evidence of increased negative affect in LBW piglets.

Handheld methanol detector for beverage analysis: interlaboratory validation.

Methanol is a toxic alcohol contained in alcoholic beverages as a natural byproduct of fermentation or added intentionally to counterfeits to increase profit. To ensure consumer safety, many countries and the EU have established strict legislation limits for methanol content. Methanol concentration is mostly detected by laboratory instrumentation since mobile devices for routine on-site testing of beverages in distilleries, at border stations or even at home are not available. Here, we validated a handheld methanol detector for beverage analysis in an ISO 5725 interlaboratory trial: a total of 119 measurements were performed by 17 independent participants (distilleries, universities, authorities, and competence centers) from six countries on samples with relevant methanol concentrations (0.1, 1.5 vol%). The detector was based on a microporous separation filter and a nanostructured gas sensor allowing on-site measurement of methanol down to 0.01 vol% (in the liquid) within only 2 min by laymen. The detector showed excellent repeatability (<5.4%), reproducibility (<9.5%) and small bias (<0.012 vol%). Additional measurements on various methanol-spiked alcoholic beverages (whisky, rum, gin, vodka, tequila, port, sherry, liqueur) indicated that the detector is not interfered by environmental temperature and spirit composition, featuring excellent linearity (R2 > 0.99) down to methanol concentrations of 0.01 vol%. This device has been recently commercialized (Alivion Spark M-20) with comparable accuracy to the gold-standard gas chromatography and can be readily applied for final product inspection, intake control of raw materials or to identify toxic counterfeit products.

A prospective study on a cohort of horses and ponies selected for participation in the European Eventing Championship: reasons for withdrawal and predictive value of fitness tests.

BACKGROUND: Eventing is generally recognized as a challenging equestrian discipline and wastage figures for this discipline are relatively high. There is a need for information that provides insight into the causes of wastage and withdrawal from competition, for animal welfare and economic reasons. The aim of the present investigation was to conduct a prospective study following the entire national selection of event horses (n = 20) and ponies (n = 9) in the Netherlands that prepared for the European Championship in 2010 (ponies) and 2011 (horses), noting causes of withdrawal and monitoring fitness using standardized exercise tests (SETs), with heart rate (HR; beats/min), speed (V; m/s) and plasma lactate concentrations (LA; mmol/L) as measured parameters. RESULTS: In SET-I, performed at the beginning of the season, horses (n = 17) had a mean VLA4 (V at LA 4 mmol/L) of 10.3 ± 0.4 m/s with a mean V200 (V at 200 beats/min) of 11.4 ± 0.8 m/s and ponies (n = 9) a mean VLA4 of 7.8 ± 0.9 m/s and V200 of 9.6 ± 0.7 m/s. Before SET-II, performed six weeks before the European Championship, 16/20 horses and 6/9 ponies were withdrawn. The most common reason for withdrawal was locomotor injury (9/16 horses, 4/6 ponies; P < 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). Other reasons included an animal 'not meeting the competition criteria' (4/16 horses, 2/6 ponies) and being sold (3/16 horses). Animals were divided on the basis of VLA4 and recovery-HR during SET-I into good and average performers. Average performers were significantly more likely to be injured (50.0%) than good performers (0%, P = 0.05). In a subpopulation of ten horses, in which all condition training sessions were evaluated for HR and speed, HRpeak was significantly lower in horses that stayed sound (186 ± 9 beats/min) compared with horses withdrawn from training and competition because of injury (201 ± 5 beats/min; P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Of the national selection, 45% of all animals were unavailable for the European Championship because of locomotor injuries. Field tests were useful in assessing the potential injury risk, as individuals with better fitness indices (good performers) were less likely to become injured than average performers. Furthermore, monitoring of training sessions showed predictive value for future injuries, as horses withdrawn because of injury later on showed already higher peak HRs during condition training than horses that stayed sound. Therefore the increase in peak HR seemed to precede visible lameness in a horse.

Longitudinal Training and Workload Assessment in Young Friesian Stallions in Relation to Fitness, Part 2-An Adapted Training Program.

Young Friesian stallions have to complete a 10-week training program (70-day test) for acceptance as a breeding stallion. Part one of this study showed that the 70-day test was too intense and led to reduced fitness. In the present (part two) study, the effects of an adapted training program were studied. Training frequency and minutes of cantering per week were lowered compared with part one. The external workload (EW) of sixteen stallions (3.4 ± 0.8 years) was monitored during the 6-weeks before testing (preparation period) as well as during the 70-day test. Standardized exercise tests (SETs) were performed in week 1 (SET-I), 6 (SET-II), and 10 (SET-III) of the 70-day test, measuring heart rate (HR) and plasma lactate concentration (LA). Linear mixed effect models were used to analyze the EW, and the HR and LA related to the SETs. The EW increased from the preparation period to the 70-day test; this increase in the EW was lower compared with the original training program. The horses showed lower HR and LA levels in SET-III compared with SET-I. The young Friesian horses were at risk to be overtrained in part one, but the adapted training program resulted in increased fitness. This study shows that a carefully chosen program is necessary to improve the performance and welfare of (young) horses.

Longitudinal Training and Workload Assessment in Young Friesian Stallions in Relation to Fitness: Part 1.

Friesian stallions have to complete a 10-week studbook approval test (70-day test) consisting of dressage and driving training for acceptance as a breeding stallion. Training response of the horses to this approval program was evaluated. External workload (EW) of 16 stallions (3.2 ± 0.4 years old) was registered during the 9 weeks preceding the 70-day test (preparation period) and during 70-day test. Ridden indoor standardized exercise tests (SET), measuring heart rate (HR) and plasma lactate concentration (LA) at walk, trot and canter, were performed in week 1 (SET-I), 6 (SET-II) and 10 (SET-III) of the 70-day test. Linear mixed effect models were used to analyze HR and LA related to SETs and EW related to the phase of the study, using Akaike's information criterion for model reduction. EW was higher in the 70-day test compared to the preparation period, with longer duration of training sessions. Compared to SET-I, horses showed increased HR and LA after canter in SET-II and SET-III, indicating that they were more fatigued. The fact that the fitness of these Friesian stallions decreased during the 70-day test suggests overtraining. To optimize training effects and welfare of these horses, the workload of the training program needs to be adjusted.

Farm biosecurity measures to prevent hepatitis E virus infection in finishing pigs on endemically infected pig farms.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can be transmitted from pigs to humans and cause liver inflammation. Pigs are a major reservoir of HEV and most slaughter pigs show evidence of infection by presence of antibodies (ELISA) or viral RNA (PCR). Reducing the number of HEV infected pigs at slaughter would likely reduce human exposure, yet how this can be achieved, is unknown. We aimed to identify and quantify the effect of biosecurity measures to deliver HEV negative batches of pigs to slaughter. A case-control study was performed with Dutch pig farms selected based on results of multiple slaughter batches. Case farms delivered at least one PCR and ELISA negative batch to slaughter (PCR-ELISA-), indicating absence of HEV infection, and control farms had the highest proportion of PCR and/or ELISA positive batches (PCR+ELISA+), indicating high within-farm transmission. Data about biosecurity and housing were collected via a questionnaire and an audit. Variables were selected by regularization (LASSO regression) and ranked, based the frequency of variable selection. The odds ratios (OR) for the relation between case-control status and the highest ranked variables were determined via grouped logistic regression. Thirty-five case farms, with 10 to 60% PCR-ELISA- batches, and 38 control farms with on average 40% PCR+ELISA+ batches, were included. Rubber and steel floor material in fattening pens had the highest ranking and increased the odds of a PCR-ELISA- batch by 5.87 (95%CI 3.03-11.6) and 7.13 (95%CI 3.05-16.9) respectively. Cleaning pig driving boards weekly (OR 1.99 (95%CI 1.07-3.80)), and fly control with predatory flies (OR 4.52 (95%CI 1.59-13.5)) were protective, whereas a long fattening period was a risk. This study shows that cleaning and cleanability of floors and fomites and adequate fly control are measures to consider for HEV control in infected farms. Yet, intervention studies are needed to confirm the robustness of these outcomes.

Comparing the transmission of carbapenemase-producing and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli between broiler chickens.

The emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) is a threat to public health, because of their resistance to clinically important carbapenem antibiotics. The emergence of CPE in meat-producing animals is particularly worrying because consumption of meat contaminated with resistant bacteria comparable to CPE, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, contributed to colonization in humans worldwide. Currently, no data on the transmission of CPE in livestock is available. We performed a transmission experiment to quantify the transmission of CPE between broilers to fill this knowledge gap and to compare the transmission rates of CPE and other antibiotic-resistant E. coli. A total of 180 Ross 308 broiler chickens were distributed over 12 pens on the day of hatch (day 0). On day 5, half of the 10 remaining chickens in each pen were orally inoculated with 5·102 colony-forming units of CPE, ESBL, or chloramphenicol-resistant E. coli (catA1). To evaluate the effect of antibiotic treatment, amoxicillin was given twice daily in drinking water in 6 of the 12 pens from days 2-6. Cloacal swabs of all animals were taken to determine the number of infectious broilers. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to quantify the transmission of the E. coli strains. E. coli can survive in the environment and serve as a reservoir. Therefore, the susceptible-infectious transmission model was adapted to account for the transmission of resistant bacteria from the environment. In addition, the caecal microbiome was analyzed on day 5 and at the end of the experiment on day 14 to assess the relationship between the caecal microbiome and the transmission rates. The transmission rates of CPE were 52 - 68 per cent lower compared to ESBL and catA1, but it is not clear if these differences were caused by differences between the resistance genes or by other differences between the E. coli strains. Differences between the groups in transmission rates and microbiome diversity did not correspond to each other, indicating that differences in transmission rates were probably not caused by major differences in the community structure in the caecal microbiome. Amoxicillin treatment from day 2-6 increased the transmission rate more than three-fold in all inoculums. It also increased alpha-diversity compared to untreated animals on day 5, but not on day 14, suggesting only a temporary effect. Future research could incorporate more complex transmission models with different species of resistant bacteria into the Bayesian hierarchical model.

Bromide Dose in Dogs With Epilepsy Living Close to Coastal Areas and Living More Inland: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Potassium bromide is a frequently used antiseizure medication with a half-life time of over 25 days. Oral intake of sodium chloride as well as renal function influence this half-life time and may have an influence on the needed dose to get proper serum levels. The hypothesis is that dogs living close to coastal areas require a greater potassium bromide dose than dogs living more inland. The main study objective was to determine the relationship between bromide dose, serum bromide concentration, treatment duration, type of food, concurrent therapies and the proximity of the dog's residency to a coastal area. A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed. A total of 658 bromide serum measurements were retrieved from the veterinary faculty's laboratory archive, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Information on the bromide dose, renal function, treatment period, type of food, concurrent therapies and residence was obtained retrospectively from owners of all dogs using a postal survey. A dataset of 220 unique study units was created. The dogs were grouped based on their residence (proximity to the coast > or <50 km). Differences between the groups of dogs regarding bromide dose, serum bromide concentration, treatment duration, type of food and concurrent therapies were analyzed to evaluate the effect of residence on bromide dose and serum concentration. Results: Although not statistically significant there is a trend that dogs living in close proximity to the sea may require a higher dose of potassium bromide to maintain therapeutic concentrations compared to dogs living more inlands. Additional studies are needed to further explore this observation.

The effectiveness of bovine tuberculosis surveillance in Dutch badgers.

Countries survey wildlife for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) to ensure case detection or to ascertain a high probability of freedom from bTB in wildlife. The Eurasian badger (Meles meles) is a potential bTB reservoir host. Between 2008 and 2019, 282 badgers were examined post-mortem in the context of general wildlife disease and targeted bTB surveillance programmes in the Netherlands, and no bTB cases were detected. However, it was unclear how effective this surveillance effort was to demonstrate freedom from Mycobacterium bovis infection in the badger population of ±6000 or to detect cases if present. Therefore, surveillance effectiveness was assessed using scenario tree modelling. For lack of standards for wildlife, the models were run against three assumed levels of disease in the population called design prevalence P*: 0.1%, 0.5%, and 3%. A small risk of introduction (0.015/year) was applied, because the Netherlands are officially free from bTB in cattle, with rare import of bTB-infected cattle and no bTB-infected wildlife reported along the Belgian and German borders with the Netherlands. Surveillance more readily picks up bTB presence in badgers when case detection sensitivity tends towards 100% and demonstrates freedom best when the probability of freedom tends towards 100%. For P* 0.1%, 0.5% and 3%, respectively, maximum case detection sensitivity during 2008-2019 was 8%, 35% and 94% and the probability of freedom in 2019 was 46%, 67%, and 95%. At P* = 3%, performing targeted surveillance on 300 badgers in a year would make it extremely unlikely to miss a case (case detection sensitivity > 99.9%); and if no cases are detected, the adjusted probability of freedom would then reach nearly 98.5%. Stakeholders should be made aware that at P* = 3%, one case detected implies around 3% infected badgers. Additional surveillance system components to assess bTB in wildlife and its economics are to be explored further.

Prevalence and predictors of vector-borne pathogens in Dutch roe deer.

BACKGROUND: The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of nine vector-borne pathogens or pathogen genera in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the Netherlands, and to identify which host variables predict vector-borne pathogen presence in roe deer. The host variables examined were the four host factors 'age category', 'sex', 'nutritional condition' and 'health status', as well as 'roe deer density'. METHODS: From December 2009 to September 2010, blood samples of 461 roe deer were collected and analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of genetic material from Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia spp., and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), and by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies against bluetongue virus (BTV). The possible associations of host factors and density with pathogen prevalence and co-infection, and in the case of A. phagocytophilum with bacterial load, were assessed using generalized linear modelling. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Analysis revealed the following prevalence in roe deer: A. phagocytophilum 77.9%, Bartonella spp. 77.7%, Babesia spp. 17.4%, Rickettsia spp. 3.3%, B. burgdorferi sensu lato 0.2%. Various co-infections were found, of which A. phagocytophilum and Bartonella spp. (49.7% of infected roe deer) and A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp. and Babesia spp. (12.2% of infected roe deer) were the most common. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., and co-infection prevalence were significantly higher in calves than in adult roe deer, whereas the prevalence of Bartonella spp. was lower in roe deer in good nutritional condition than in deer in poor nutritional condition. Local roe deer density was not associated with pathogen presence. The high prevalence of A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., and Babesia spp. is evidence for the role of roe deer as reservoirs for these pathogens. Additionally, the results suggest a supportive role of roe deer in the life-cycle of Rickettsia spp. in the Netherlands.

Wild birds and increased transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) among poultry, Thailand.

Since the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 virus, wild birds have been suspected of transmitting this virus to poultry. On January 23, 2004, the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand informed the World Health Organization of an avian influenza A (H5N1) outbreak. To determine the epidemiology of this viral infection and its relation to poultry outbreaks in Thailand from 2004 through 2007, we investigated how wild birds play a role in transmission. A total of 24,712 swab samples were collected from migratory and resident wild birds. Reverse transcription PCR showed a 0.7% HPAI (H5N1) prevalence. The highest prevalence was observed during January-February 2004 and March-June 2004, predominantly in central Thailand, which harbors most of the country's poultry flocks. Analysis of the relationship between poultry and wild bird outbreaks was done by using a nonhomogeneous birth and death statistical model. Transmission efficiency among poultry flocks was 1.7 X higher in regions with infected wild birds in the given or preceding month. The joint presence of wild birds and poultry is associated with increased spread among poultry flocks.