Assessment of animal welfare in fattening pig farms certified in good livestock practices.

Commercial swine producers are responsible for implementing changes in their production systems to ensure animal welfare. The objective of this study is to evaluate the levels of animal welfare on rearing and fattening farms certified in good animal husbandry practices using the Welfare Quality® protocol. Eighty-one certified commercial farms (n = 2,150 pigs), distributed in six geographical areas of Colombia, were evaluatedby six trained veterinarians. . A multilevel analysis was performed to identify variables associated with the animal welfare/farm rating and to identify behavioral variables. Farms evaluated had an enhanced (n = 68, 83.9%), followed by excellent (n = 7, 8.7%) and acceptable (n = 6, 7.4%) level of animal welfare. Variables significantly associated with the overall protocol rating (R2 = 0.37) were temperature comfort (OR: 1.05, p = 0.008), absence of disease (OR: 1.06, p = 0.02) and absence of pain (OR: 1.06, p = 0.0001). Significant differences in behavioral measures were observed across farms (P < 0.05). The high animal welfare scores of certified farms suggest changes in producers' understanding and attitudes towards production and animal welfare.

Study of the Feasibility of Proposed Measures to Assess Animal Welfare for Zebu Beef Farms within Pasture-Based Systems under Tropical Conditions.

Pasture-based production systems are predominant in major beef-producing countries; however, these systems lack validated protocols to assess animal welfare under commercial conditions. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of the proposed measures and methodology for the evaluation of animal welfare in fattening cattle under pasture conditions. The initial methodology was developed with the participation of producers, professionals, the general public, and the Colombian health authority, through workshops with a participatory approach and collaborative knowledge management. The study was carried out in 24 pasture-based commercial Zebu cattle farms in the middle Magdalena region of Colombia. Visits were made with an average duration of 2.5 h, which included the evaluation of 788 fattening cattle. The methodology evaluated animal-based, resource-based, and management-based indicators through a questionnaire-guided interview to evaluate cattle handling and health, animal-based measurements, and documentation management. A protocol validation process was carried out by selecting indicators that remained unchanged, adjusting those that were feasible to implement, and removing inadequate indicators. The application of the methodology demonstrated that there are feasible measures to include in the evaluation protocols of pasture-based fattening systems. Likewise, the active participation of producers is crucial to achieving a greater commitment to the implementation of this methodology for the assessment of animal welfare in cattle under pasture conditions.

Welfare assessment of horses and mules used in recreational and muleteer work in the Colombian coffee region.

The welfare of working equids in developing countries is sometimes threatened due to the limited resources and/or knowledge of their owners. The objective of this study is to evaluate the welfare of creole horses and mules using a validated protocol that assesses animal-based indicators. A total of 160 horses and 40 mules from three municipalities in the Colombian coffee-growing region were evaluated by means of direct observation of health and behavioral parameters. A descriptive analysis of the variables expressed in proportions was performed. Interactions between the different measurements were examined using the Chi-squared test. Spearman correlations were used to relate the measurements. Horses and mules demonstrated friendly behavior in front of the evaluators (78.13 and 61.54%, respectively); apathetic or severely depressed behavior was low (10.7 and 17.5%, P > 0.05). Significant differences in body condition score (BCS) were observed between mules and horses (P < 0.05); eighty percent of the mules and 54.4% of the horses exhibited a healthy body condition score (3 or more on a scale of 1 to 5). Less than 15% of the animals had eye problems, limb deformities, and gait abnormalities. Injuries to the head, withers, spine, ribs/flank, hindquarters, and hind legs were observed in a frequency between 12.5 and 30.43% of the animals, with a higher frequency in horses (P < 0.05). Weak correlations (R2 coefficient < 0.5), although statistically significant, were observed between low body conditions and the presence of skin and deeper tissue lesions, systemic health abnormalities, and limb problems (P < 0.05). The results indicate that owners care for their animals. However, the presence of skin and deep tissue lesions, especially in horses, suggests that they are subjected to high workloads. Therefore, it is essential to train owners in aspects related to the importance of providing their equids with adequate rest periods to recover from work and develop actions to strengthen human-equine interaction.

Field Trial of Factors Associated With the Presence of Dead and Non-ambulatory Pigs During Transport Across Three Colombian Slaughterhouses.

Transport by land is an essential component for the commercialization of fattening pigs and can have a negative impact on animal welfare. In slaughterhouses, the presence of dead and non-ambulatory animals is an indicator of poor welfare during transport. The objective of the study was to identify risk factors associated with the frequency of dead and non-ambulatory pigs during transport. A survey was conducted in three Colombian slaughterhouses. Data were collected from 372 batches (n = 18,437 gilts barrows) and transported directly from the farms to the slaughterhouses. Each truck was individually evaluated; a structured survey was administered to drivers, non-ambulatory and dead pigs on arrival were identified and blood samples were obtained from non-ambulatory pigs to assess physiological indicators of stress. Mortality rates per batch at arrival ranged from 0.08 to 0.17% and prevalence of non-ambulatory pigs per batch ranged from 0.84 to 1.37%.The results of the multilevel mixed effects linear regression model identified the following as risk factors associated with the frequency of total transport losses: truck speed (P = 0.04), distance (P < 0.01), transport time (P < 0.01), load size (P < 0.01) and the driver (P < 0.01) including the farm as a fixed effect. This study identified risk factors that increased the probability of total transport losses during land transport under Colombian commercial conditions. But more research that involves commercial drivers is needed to develop effective strategies to improve Colombian pig's transportation chain.

Empathy Levels among Veterinary Medicine Students in Colombia (South America).

Empathy plays an important role in veterinarians' relationships with their patients, clients, and colleagues. Because it relates to greater clinical competence and facilitates the acquisition of information for diagnosing, prescribing therapies, and identifying and treating animal pain, empathy is an essential competence to be strengthened during professional training. The objective of this study was to evaluate the empathy levels of veterinary medicine students toward people and animals and to identify associated factors. The animal empathy scale and the Davis interpersonal reactivity index were applied through an electronic survey to first-, third-, and fifth-year students (n = 559) in three veterinarian medical schools in Colombia. A principal components analysis was performed to identify composite scores of human and animal empathy levels. The empathy toward humans total score ranged from 0 to 112, and the empathy toward animals total score was between 22 and 198. The average empathy scores for students were 89.67 ± 9.02 (mean ± SD; range: 60-115) and 115.01 ± 13.41 (mean ± SD; range: 67-165), respectively. The results suggest that empathy scores toward people are acceptable. Gender, university, program type, age, year of study, and diet were significantly associated with empathy levels toward animals. It is proposed that levels of empathy toward animals be strengthened by fostering a positive learning environment, developing ethical and animal welfare competencies, and increasing empathetic contact and hands-on experience with animals during the curriculum.

Iceberg Indicators for Animal Welfare in Rural Sheep Farms Using the Five Domains Model Approach.

Animal welfare for sheep in extensive rural farms is difficult to quantify among rural farmers due to several factors, including the lack of technology and the low level of interaction they have with the animals. The purpose of this study was to search for animal-based iceberg indicators using the Five Domains Model approach and study the relationship between sheep reactive behavior (flight distance), sheep handling training and farmers job satisfaction. Thirteen extensive commercial dual-purpose sheep farms (n = 520 animals) were evaluated in Marulanda, Caldas (Colombia, South America). On-farm Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) were assessed using an adapted version of this protocol. Socio-demographic characteristics, sheep handling training and job satisfaction were evaluated using a structured interview. Blood and stool samples were taken to determine Fecal Egg Count and Packed Cell Volume. Bivariate regression models were used to find animal-based indicators that predicted Nutrition, Ambience, Health and Behavior welfare domains, and a Qualitative Behavior Analysis was used for mind state domain analysis. Body condition score (BCS) (p = 0.001), fleece cleanliness (p = 0.03), FAMACHA© Score (p = 0.05), and flight distance in meters (p = 0.19) were found to be indicators, and were useful for predicting overall welfare assessment (R2 = 0.85) on theses farms. Regarding mind welfare domain, Qualitative Behavioral Assessment found two principal components (PC) that explained 82% and 67% of the variance, and described emotional valence and energy levels of sheep, respectively. Sheep handling training (ß = -8.75, p = 0.004) and job satisfaction (ß = -7.5, p = 0.013) had a negative association with the average flock flight distance. Spearman's rank correlations were significant (p < 0.001) between Fecal Egg Count, Packed Cell Volume, FAMACHA© Score (FS), Body Weight (BW) and, BCS. The strongest association was observed between Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Fecal Egg Count (FEC) (r = -0.43), also FS was correlated with PCV (r = -0.28) and FEC (r = 0.21), and BCS was correlated with weight (r = 0.32). We suggest that these animal-based indicators could be useful as iceberg indicators for extensive sheep production systems and may set the ground for more research in small extensive sheep farms to develop strategies to find welfare problems and solutions.

Animal-Based Measurements to Assess the Welfare of Dairy Cull Cows during Pre-Slaughter.

Culling is the departure of cows from the herd as a result of sale, slaughter, health, national regulations, salvage, or death. Cull cows are removed from farms with poor health, production, behavior, or other problems, and during pre-slaughter they are sometimes kept without food and water, which compromises their well-being. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the welfare state of culled dairy cows during pre-slaughter using some animal-based measurements and to identify possible associations between them. Data were recorded for 62 different dairy production farms referring to 137 cull cows (n = 60 Holstein and n = 77 Normandy crosses) slaughtered in an abattoir in Colombia (South America). In this study, we evaluated and recorded land transport conditions, the health of animals on arrival to the abattoir, human-animal interaction, stress physiological variables and the association of these variables with characteristic bruises on the carcass, the lairage time, the presence of diseases, and the stage of pregnancy. In total, 98.5% of the cows were very thin, 35.7% were pregnant, and 84.7% had bruising on the carcass. In total, 74.5% had clinical conditions; these included skin lesions (32.4%), mastitis (27.5%), lameness (21.6%), vulvar secretions (8.8%), diarrhea (6.8%), and eye carcinoma (2.9%). The total number of cull cows with bruises during pre-slaughter was associated with lot size, transport time, presence of pregnancy, body score condition, and creatine kinase levels. The results suggest that the cows were not fit for transport because their health was severely affected before they left the farms. The animal-based indicators used in this study are useful for evaluating the welfare of cull dairy cows at abattoirs.

Association between Attitude and Empathy with the Quality of Human-Livestock Interactions.

The human-animal interactions are a key component of human and animal welfare. The quality of this interaction can therefore be assessed by measuring the reaction response of the animals to the handler's behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between attitude and empathy towards the animals with the quality of human-livestock interactions. Additionally, we aimed to investigate whether the quality of cattle handling deteriorates as the working day progresses. A total of 18 livestock handlers and 1514 Colombian commercial Zebu steers were evaluated. A questionnaire pack consisting of 50 questions regarding demographic information, attitude and empathy characteristics was applied, using a structured interview. Each handlers' responses to positive and negative attitude and empathy questions were calculated to produce a composite score. Observations of human-animal interactions were made at three times during the day (5:00, 7:00 and 9:00), each observation lasting 30 min. The handlers had an average age of 39.4 ± 3.4 y (range = 18-66 y), with little schooling but a lot of experience in the trade (17.13 ± 14.21 y). During handling, hitting, prodding and hand raising predominated over other actions (p < 0.05), and in response, the cattle behaved by freezing and running. Significant differences were found in the interactions used by handlers depending on the time of day (p < 0.05). The empathy total score ranged from 20 to 100, and the attitude total score between 24 and 120. The average attitude and empathy scores for handlers were 85.05 ± 6.92 (mean ±SD; range, 73-97) and 74.61 ± 4.72 (mean ±SD; range, 65-83), respectively. It has been concluded that there is an association between handlers' attitudes and empathy towards animals and the quality of human-animal interaction during pre-slaughter.

Prevalence of leptospirosis in vaccinated working dogs and humans with occupational risk / [Prevalencia de leptospirosis en perros de trabajo vacunados y en población humana con riesgo ocupacional].

Introduction: Working dogs have been identified as a risk group for developing leptospirosis because they can be infected by Leptospira spp., which can be kept in the renal tubules and interstices for a long time, making them carriers and sources of infection for other hosts, including humans. Objective: To establish the prevalence of Leptospira spp. in vaccinated working dogs and in the occupationally exposed population in six police units in Colombia. Materials and methods: A total of 92 vaccinated dogs (65 males and 27 females) and 69 people from six police units in the municipalities of Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Ibagué, Tuluá, and Cali were tested. Three structured instruments were applied and blood samples were obtained from people and dogs, which were processed with the microagglutination test (MAT) in 24 serogroups. A clinical examination of the dogs was performed and urine samples were obtained for urine cultures. Results: The seroprevalence of human leptospirosis was 2.9% (n=2) and in dogs, it was 57.61% (n=53). Among the dogs, serogroups L. canicola and L. panama were the most prevalent. Urine cultures were positive in 58.7% (54/92) of the samples. A statistically significant association was found between the age of the dogs (≥10 years; p=0.043) and the location of the police unit (p=0.016) with the urine culture. Conclusion: The epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis in dogs suggest an endemic presentation of the infection. There is an urgent need to improve current diagnostic methods to investigate canine leptospirosis and differentiate between vaccine and natural infection antibodies.

Introducción. Los perros de trabajo pueden infectarse con diversas serovariedades de Leptospira que se mantienen en sus túbulos renales e intersticios por mucho tiempo, por lo que se convierten en portadores y fuentes de infección para otros huéspedes. Objetivo. Establecer la prevalencia de Leptospira spp. en perros de trabajo vacunados y en población humana con riesgo ocupacional de seis unidades policiales en Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Mediante tres instrumentos estructurados, se evaluaron 92 perros de trabajo con inmunización previa contra Leptospira spp. (65 machos y 27 hembras) y 69 personas de seis unidades policiales de los municipios de Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Ibagué, Tuluá y Cali. Se obtuvieron muestras sanguíneas de las personas y de los perros, las cuales se evaluaron mediante la prueba de microaglutinación (Microscopic Agglutination Test, MAT) en 24 serogrupos. Se hizo un examen clínico de los perros y se obtuvieron muestras de orina para urocultivo. Resultados. La seroprevalencia de leptospirosis en las personas fue de 2,9 % (n=2) y en los perros de 57,61 % (n=53). Los serogrupos más prevalentes en los perros fueron Leptospira canicola y L. panama. El urocultivo fue positivo en 58,7 % (54/92) de las muestras y se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la edad de los perros (≥10 años; p=0,043) y la ubicación de la unidad policial (p=0,016). Conclusión. Las características epidemiológicas de la leptospirosis en los perros sugieren una presentación endémica de la infección. Se requieren algoritmos diagnósticos sensibles y específicos para investigar la leptospirosis canina y diferenciar los anticuerpos vacunales de la infección natural.

Prevalencia de leptospirosis en perros de trabajo vacunados y en población humana con riesgo ocupacional / Prevalence of leptospirosis in vaccinated working dogs and humans with occupational risk

Introducción. Los perros de trabajo pueden infectarse con diversas serovariedades de Leptospira que se mantienenen sus túbulos renales e intersticios por mucho tiempo, por lo que se convierten en portadores y fuentes de infección para otros huéspedes. Objetivo. Establecer la prevalencia de Leptospira spp. en perros de trabajo vacunados y en población humana con riesgo ocupacional de seis unidades policiales en Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Mediante tres instrumentos estructurados, se evaluaron 92 perros de trabajo con inmunización previa contra Leptospira spp. (65 machos y 27 hembras) y 69 personas de seis unidades policiales de los municipios de Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Ibagué, Tuluá y Cali. Se obtuvieron muestras sanguíneas de las personas y de los perros, las cuales se evaluaron mediante la prueba de microaglutinación (Microscopic Agglutination Test, MAT) en 24 serogrupos. Se hizo un examen clínico de los perros y se obtuvieron muestras de orina para urocultivo. Resultados. La seroprevalencia de leptospirosis en las personas fue de 2,9 % (n=2) y en los perros de 57,61 % (n=53). Los serogrupos más prevalentes en los perros fueron Leptospira canicola y L. panama. El urocultivo fue positivo en 58,7 % (54/92) de las muestras y se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la edad de los perros (≥10 años; p=0,043) y la ubicación de la unidad policial (p=0,016). Conclusión. Las características epidemiológicas de la leptospirosis en los perros sugieren una presentación endémica de la infección. Se requieren algoritmos diagnósticos sensibles y específicos para investigar la leptospirosis canina y diferenciar los anticuerpos vacunales de la infección natural.

Introduction: Working dogs have been identified as a risk group for developing leptospirosis because they can be infected by Leptospira spp., which can be kept in the renal tubules and interstices for a long time, making them carriers and sources of infection for other hosts, including humans. Objective: To establish the prevalence of Leptospira spp. in vaccinated working dogs and in the occupationally exposed population in six police units in Colombia. Materials and methods: A total of 92 vaccinated dogs (65 males and 27 females) and 69 people from six police units in the municipalities of Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Ibagué, Tuluá, and Cali were tested. Three structured instruments were applied and blood samples were obtained from people and dogs, which were processed with the microagglutination test (MAT) in 24 serogroups. A clinical examination of the dogs was performed and urine samples were obtained for urine cultures. Results: The seroprevalence of human leptospirosis was 2.9% (n=2) and in dogs, it was 57.61% (n=53). Among the dogs, serogroups L. canicola and L. panama were the most prevalent. Urine cultures were positive in 58.7% (54/92) of the samples. A statistically significant association was found between the age of the dogs (≥10 years; p=0.043) and the location of the police unit (p=0.016) with the urine culture. Conclusion: The epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis in dogs suggest an endemic presentation of the infection. There is an urgent need to improve current diagnostic methods to investigate canine leptospirosis and differentiate between vaccine and natural infection antibodies.

Epidemiological characterization of Leptospira spp. infection in working horses and in an occupationally exposed population in six Colombian police stations / Caracterización epidemiológica de la infección por Leptospira spp. en caballos de trabajo y en personas ocupacionalmente expuestas en seis unidades de la Policía Nacional de Colombia

Introduction: Police working horses are in close contact with their managers and the general population during recreational and patrol activities, which can favor the transmission of leptospirosis among the horses and the occupationally exposed personnel. Objective. To characterize epidemiologically leptospirosis through serology, urine culture and PCR in working horses and in the occupationally exposed population in six police stations in Colombia. Materials and methods. We tested 153 castrated male horses and 123 people in six police stations in the municipalities of Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Ibagué, Tuluá, and Cali. Three structured formats were applied and blood samples were obtained from people and horses, which were processed with the Macroscopic Agglutination Test, (MAT) for 24 serogroups. Horses were subject to a clinical examination, and urine samples were obtained for urine culture and conventional PCR. Results. The seroprevalence of human Leptospira spp. was 3.25% (n=4) while in horses it was 85% (n=130). Among the horses, serogroups Djasiman and Shermani were the most prevalent. The urine culture was positive in 64.7% (99/153) of the samples, whereas PCR analyzes were negative. A statistically significant association was found between the frequency of exiting the facilities (p=0.009) and the presence of wildlife (p=0.0051) with the infection by serogroup Shermani. Conclusion. The epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis in horses suggest an endemic presentation of the infection and its role as reservoirs of the bacteria; however, it is necessary to elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease with complementary studies.

Introducción. Los caballos de trabajo de la Policía Nacional tienen un estrecho contacto con sus manejadores y la población en general durante las actividades recreativas y de patrullaje, lo cual puede favorecer la transmisión de la leptospirosis en los caballos y el personal ocupacionalmente expuesto. Objetivo. Caracterizar epidemiológicamente la leptospirosis mediante pruebas de serología, urocultivo y reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR) en caballos de trabajo y personal con riesgo ocupacional pertenecientes a seis unidades de la Policía Nacional de Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se evaluaron 153 caballos machos castrados y 123 personas en las seis unidades en los municipios de Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Ibagué, Tuluá y Cali. Se utilizaron tres formatos estructurados para recabar información y se obtuvieron muestras sanguíneas de las personas y de los caballos, las cuales se procesaron con la prueba de aglutinación microscópica (Macroscopic Agglutination Test, MAT) para 24 serogrupos. Se practicó el examen clínico de los caballos y se obtuvieron muestras de orina para el urocultivo y la PCR convencional. Resultados. La seroprevalencia de Leptospira spp. fue de 3,25 % (n=4) en las personas y de 85 % (n=130) en los caballos. Entre los caballos, los serogrupos Djasiman y Shermani fueron los más prevalentes. El urocultivo fue positivo en el 64,7 % (99/153) de las muestras, en tanto que los análisis de PCR fueron negativos. Se encontró una asociación estadísticamente significativa de la frecuencia de salida de las instalaciones (p=0,009) y la presencia de fauna silvestre (p=0,051) con la infección por el serogrupo Shermani. Conclusión. Las características epidemiológicas de la leptospirosis en los caballos sugieren una presentación endémica de la infección y su papel como reservorios de la bacteria; sin embargo, debe dilucidarse la patogenia de la enfermedad con estudios complementarios.

Caracterización epidemiológica de la infección por Leptospira spp. en caballos de trabajo y en personas ocupacionalmente expuestas en seis unidades de la Policía Nacional de Colombia / Epidemiological characterization of Leptospira spp. infection in working horses and in an occupationally exposed population in six Colombian police stations

Resumen Introducción. Los caballos de trabajo de la Policía Nacional tienen un estrecho contacto con sus manejadores y la población en general durante las actividades recreativas y de patrullaje, lo cual puede favorecer la transmisión de la leptospirosis en los caballos y el personal ocupacionalmente expuesto. Objetivo. Caracterizar epidemiológicamente la leptospirosis mediante pruebas de serología, urocultivo y reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR) en caballos de trabajo y personal con riesgo ocupacional pertenecientes a seis unidades de la Policía Nacional de Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se evaluaron 153 caballos machos castrados y 123 personas en las seis unidades en los municipios de Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Ibagué, Tuluá y Cali. Se utilizaron tres formatos estructurados para recabar información y se obtuvieron muestras sanguíneas de las personas y de los caballos, las cuales se procesaron con la prueba de aglutinación microscópica (Macroscopic Agglutination Test, MAT) para 24 serogrupos. Se practicó el examen clínico de los caballos y se obtuvieron muestras de orina para el urocultivo y la PCR convencional. Resultados. La seroprevalencia de Leptospira spp. fue de 3,25 % (n=4) en las personas y de 85 % (n=130) en los caballos. Entre los caballos, los serogrupos Djasiman y Shermani fueron los más prevalentes. El urocultivo fue positivo en el 64,7 % (99/153) de las muestras, en tanto que los análisis de PCR fueron negativos. Se encontró una asociación estadísticamente significativa de la frecuencia de salida de las instalaciones (p=0,009) y la presencia de fauna silvestre (p=0,051) con la infección por el serogrupo Shermani. Conclusión. Las características epidemiológicas de la leptospirosis en los caballos sugieren una presentación endémica de la infección y su papel como reservorios de la bacteria; sin embargo, debe dilucidarse la patogenia de la enfermedad con estudios complementarios.

Abstract Introduction: Police working horses are in close contact with their managers and the general population during recreational and patrol activities, which can favor the transmission of leptospirosis among the horses and the occupationally exposed personnel. Objective. To characterize epidemiologically leptospirosis through serology, urine culture and PCR in working horses and in the occupationally exposed population in six police stations in Colombia. Materials and methods. We tested 153 castrated male horses and 123 people in six police stations in the municipalities of Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Ibagué, Tuluá, and Cali. Three structured formats were applied and blood samples were obtained from people and horses, which were processed with the Macroscopic Agglutination Test, (MAT) for 24 serogroups. Horses were subject to a clinical examination, and urine samples were obtained for urine culture and conventional PCR. Results. The seroprevalence of human Leptospira spp. was 3.25% (n=4) while in horses it was 85% (n=130). Among the horses, serogroups Djasiman and Shermani were the most prevalent. The urine culture was positive in 64.7% (99/153) of the samples, whereas PCR analyzes were negative. A statistically significant association was found between the frequency of exiting the facilities (p=0.009) and the presence of wildlife (p=0.0051) with the infection by serogroup Shermani. Conclusion. The epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis in horses suggest an endemic presentation of the infection and its role as reservoirs of the bacteria; however, it is necessary to elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease with complementary studies.

Physiological profiles of Zebu steers during transport and pre-slaughter / Perfiles fisiológicos de novillos Cebú durante el transporte y pre-sacrificio / Perfis fisiológicos de novilhos Zebu durante o transporte e pré-sacrifício

Background: pre-slaughter handling causes stress in cattle that may alter numerous physiological variables. Objective: to determine whether in-farm handling of steers, road transport by truck, or slaughterhouse lairage affect blood stress indicators. Methods: a total of 65 castrated Zebu steers were randomly selected and transported during 4 h in the same truck, under similar handling conditions. Blood samples were taken by jugular or coccygeal venipuncture at the farm, at the slaughterhouse, and during exsanguination to measure plasma cortisol, glucose, lactate, creatine kinase (CK), ß-hydroxybutyrate (ßHB), creatinine, total protein, urea, packed cell volume (PCV) values, white blood cells (WBC) and neutrophil:lymphocytes ratio (N/L). Results: pre-slaughter handling did not have a negative influence on protein metabolism nor did it cause dehydration. ß-hydroxybutyrate and lactate values did not change (p>0.05). Transportation increased cortisol, glucose, creatine kinase concentrations and N/L ratio (p<0.05). Conclusion: pre-slaughter was a stress-generating event that moderately affected animal welfare and increased physiological variables within a range considered normal for steers.

Antecedentes: el manejo presacrificio causa estrés en el ganado que puede alterar variables fisiológicas. Objetivo: determinar si el manejo en la granja, el transporte terrestre o la estadía en la planta de bovinos cebú sacrificados en una planta localizada en una zona productiva tienen efecto sobre los indicadores sanguíneos de estrés. Métodos: se seleccionaron aleatoriamente 65 novillos Cebú, los cuales fueron transportados durante 4 h, bajo las mismas condiciones de manejo. El ganado fue muestreado por venopunción de la vena yugular o coccígea en la granja, en la planta de sacrificio y durante el desangrado para medir los niveles de cortisol, glucosa, lactato, creatinquinasa (CK), betahidroxibutirato (ßHB), creatinina, proteína total, urea, volumen celular acumulado (PCV), conteo de células blancas (WBC) y la relación neutrófilos/linfocitos (N/L). Resultados: el manejo presacrificio no influyó negativamente sobre el metabolismo proteico, ni causó deshidratación. El ß-hidroxibutirato y el lactato no presentaron cambios (p>0,05). El transporte incrementó las concentraciones de cortisol, glucosa, creatinquinasa y la relación N/L (p<0,05). Conclusiones: el presacrificio afectó moderadamente el bienestar animal e incrementó algunas variables fisiológicas, las cuales se encontraron dentro de los rangos considerados como normales para la especie bovina.

Antecedentes: o manejo pré-abate causa estresse no gado, o que pode alterar numerosas variáveis fisiológicas. Objetivo: determinar se o manejo na fazenda, o transporte terrestre ou a permanência no frigorífico de bovinos zebuínos abatidos em um abatedouro instalado numa região produtiva, tem efeito nos indicadores sanguíneos do estresse. Métodos: foram selecionados aleatoriamente 65 novilhos zebu, os quais foram transportados durante 4 h, sob as mesmas condições de manejo. O gado foi monitorado por venopunção na fazenda, no frigorífico e durante a sangria para medir os níveis de cortisol, glucosa, lactato, creatinoquinase (CK), beta hidroxibutirato (ßHB), creatinina, proteína total, uréia, volume celular acumulado (PCV), contagem de células brancas (WBC) e a relação neutrófilos/linfócitos (N/L). Resultados: o manejo pré-abate não influenciou negativamente o metabolismo proteico, nem provocou desidratação. O ß-hidroxibutirato e o lactato não apresentaram mudanças (p>0,05). O transporte elevou as concentrações de cortisol, glicose, creatina-quinase e a relação N/L (p<0,05). Conclusões: o pré-abate afetou moderadamente o bem-estar animal e incrementou algumas variáveis fisiológicas avaliadas, as quais encontraram-se dentro de intervalos considerados como normais para a espécie bovina.

Evaluation of bruises as an animal welfare indicator during pre-slaughter of beef cattle / Evaluación de contusiones como un indicador de bienestar animal durante el pre-sacrificio de bovinos / Avaliação de lesões como um indicador de bem-estar dos animais durante o pré-abate

Objective: To evaluate and characterize the bruises occurring during the pre-slaughter of beef cattle in a commercial slaughterhouse, and to identify the risk factors involved. Methods: a cross sectional- study was conducted on 2,288 carcasses evaluating transport conditions, animal characteristics, severity, extent, and location of the bruises to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors. Results: The bruising prevalence was 84.3%. Sex, weight, stocking density and lairage time were associated with the presence of bruising (p<0.005). Transport time was not considered a risk factor for the presence and severity of bruises (p>0.005). Conclusions: results suggest that animal welfare conditions of the evaluated cattle are deficient. Several factors should be improved, such as: training the staff, reducing the lairage time, preventive maintenance for equipment, specialized transportation, sanitary design strategies, and divulgation of sanitary laws, among others.

Objetivo: evaluar, identificar factores de riesgo y caracterizar las contusiones ocurridas durante el pre-sacrificio de Ganado de carne en una planta de sacrificio comercial. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte en 2,288 canales evaluando las condiciones de transporte, la estadía en la planta de sacrificio, las características de los animales, la severidad, extensión y localización de las contusiones. Resultados: la prevalencia de contusiones fue del 84.3%. El sexo, el peso de los bovinos, la densidad de carga y el tiempo de permanencia en la planta, estuvieron asociados con la presencia de contusiones (p<0.005). El tiempo de transporte no fue considerado como un factor de riesgo de la presencia y severidad de las lesiones (p>0.005). Conclusiones: los resultados sugieren que las condiciones de bienestar animal de los bovinos evaluados son deficientes. Se requiere la capacitación y el entrenamiento del personal, la disminución de los tiempos de permanencia en la planta de sacrificio, el mantenimiento preventivo de equipos, transporte especializado, estrategias de diseño sanitario y la divulgación de la legislación sanitaria.

Objetivo: avaliar, identificar fatores de risco e caracterizar as lesões presentes em 2288 carcaças num abatedouro comercial. Métodos: se realizou um estudo descritivo de corte transversal, onde foram avaliadas as condições de transporte, estadia no local, características dos animais, estado de gravidez e localização e extensão das lesões na carcaça. Resultados: a prevalência das lesões foi de 84.3%. O sexo, peso, densidade de carga e o tempo de permanência no abatedouro foram associados à presença de hematomas (p<0.005). O tempo de transporte não foi considerado um fator de risco para a presença e severidade das lesões na carcaça (p<0.005). Conclusões: os resultados sugerem que as condições de bem- estar animal do gado testado foram deficientes. É necessária a formação e o treinamento do pessoal que trabalha nos abatedouros; a redução do tempo dos animais no abatedouro; a manutenção preventiva de equipamentos; transporte especializado em gado de corte; desenho de estratégias sanitárias e a divulgação da legislação de saúde.

Anticuerpos contra Leptospira sp. en primates neotropicales y trabajadores de un zoológico colombiano / Leptospiral antibodies in a Colombian zoo's Neotropical primates and workers

Objetivo Detectar anticuerpos contra Leptospira sp. en primates neotropicales y funcionarios de un zoológico colombiano e identificar factores de riesgo de la enfermedad. Métodos Se realizó un estudio transversal analítico en 65 primates y 20 funcionarios del Zoológico. Las muestras fueron procesadas mediante la técnica de Microaglutinación macroscópica (MAT) usando un cepario de referencia conformado por 21 serovares de Leptospira sp. Se aplicó un instrumento estructurado al personal evaluado para identificar factores de riesgo. Resultados La seroprevalencia de la infección por Leptospira sp. fue del 25 % (5/20) en el personal y 23,07 % (15/65) en los monos neotropicales. Los serovares más frecuentes entre los funcionarios fueron bataviae, gryppotyphosa y hurstbridge. En los monos neotropicales predominaron los serovares icterohaemorrhagiae, pomona y ranarum. Las especies mono araña negro (Ateles fusciceps), mono cariblanco (Cebus albifrons) y tití gris (Saguinus leucopus), presentaron mayor reactividad. La mayor proporción del personal usaba dotación de protección. Conclusiones Se evidenció el contacto de los primates neotropicales y del personal con diferentes serovares de Leptospira. El uso de la dotación de protección y el tiempo de experiencia de los funcionarios del zoológico se consideraron como factores protectores de la enfermedad. Se sugiere que existe un riesgo de transmisión de leptospirosis, en los animales del zoológico y el personal, siendo por lo tanto importante fortalecer la vigilancia epidemiológica activa e implementar programas de promoción y prevención.

Objective Detecting antibodies against Leptospira spp. in Neotropical primates and workers in a Colombian Zoo and identifying the risk factors associated with the disease. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed regarding 65 Neotropical primates and 20 zookeepers. The samples were processed by microagglutination test (MAT) using a reference strain collection consisting of 21 Leptospira serovars. The people being evaluated were given a structured survey to identify risk factors. Results There was 25 % (5/20) Leptospira spp. infection seroprevalence in the staff and 23.07 % (15/65) in Neotropical monkeys. The most frequently occurring serovars in workers were bataviae, gryppotyphosa and ranarum; icterohaemorrhagiae, pomona and ranarum were the predominant serovars in non-human primates. The black spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps), white-fronted capuchin (Cebus albifrons) and white-footed tamarin (Saguinus leucopus) showed the highest reactivity. Most of the personnel were using protective clothing. Conclusions The contact between primates and zookeepers involving different Leptospira sp. serovars was evident. Zoo personnel using protective clothing and their length of experience were considered to be protective factors for the disease. There may be a risk of Leptospira transmission between zoo animals and staff, and it is therefore important to strengthen active surveillance and implement promotion and prevention programs.

Evaluación de prácticas de bienestar animal durante el transporte de bovinos para sacrificio / Evaluating animal welfare practice when transporting cattle to slaughter

Objetivo Evaluar las prácticas de bienestar animal durante el transporte terrestre de bovinos para el sacrificio. Métodos Se realizó un estudio transversal analítico en 194 transportadores de bovinosde dos zonas comerciales del occidente colombiano. Se analizaron variables de mográficas, actitudes de los conductores frente a los animales, y las condiciones de los vehículos, de acuerdo con los lineamientos de la legislación sanitaria. Resultados El transporte de bovinos es realizado por personas con edades comprendidas entre los 31 y 60 años (69 %), con escasa capacitación en manejo animal (4,1 %). Los conductores no vigilan las condiciones físicas de los animales durante el viaje, y los manejan con métodos como la picana eléctrica (46,8 %), torciendo la cola u otros métodos que generan dolor (24,2 %), por medio de palos (16,1 %) y lazos (12,9 %), los cuales no garantizan el bienestar animal. El transporte no es especializado (79,4 %) y las condiciones de los vehículos cumplen parcialmente con los requerimientos sanitarios. Conclusiones Se requiere el mejoramiento de la infraestructura de transporte de los bovinos en el área de estudio, la capacitación de los conductores, el fomento de prácticas de bienestar animal en todos los usuarios de la cadena cárnica y el desarrollo de investigación en el área.(AU)

Objective Evaluating animal welfare practices during land transport of cattle to slaughter. Methods A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out regarding 194 livestock transporters from two cattle-producing areas in western Colombia. Demographic variables, drivers' attitudes towards the animals and trucking conditions were analyzed according to sanitary legislation guidelines. Results The livestock are transported by people aged 31 to 60 (69 %) having little animal management training (4.1 %). The drivers do not supervise the cattle's physical conditions when they are being transported and handled by methods such as electric prodding (46.8 %), twisting their tails or other pain-inducing methods (24.2 %), using sticks (16.1 %) and ropes (12.9 %) which do not guarantee appropriate animal welfare. Transportation is not specialised (79.4 %) and the conditions of the vehicles only partially meet sanitary requirements. Conclusions Cattle transport infrastructure must be improved in the area being studied, as must driver training; animal welfare practice must be promoted in all users of the meat chain and research developed in this particular area.(AU)

Implications of including animal welfare in Colombian sanitary legislation / Implicaciones de la inclusión del bienestar animal en la legislación sanitaria Colombiana / Bem-estar animal no âmbito da legislação da saúde na Colômbia

Animal welfare (BA) has been recently included into the Colombian health legislation, following the guidelines of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Implementing BA concepts in the beef chain requires considering ethical issues and regulatory policies. Animal welfare has implications in meat quality and trade. Ignoring BA concepts leads to economic losses related to death of animals, higher weight losses and lower carcass yield. Furthermore, contusions and seizures decrease the commercial value of beef, among others. This paper reviews several BA concepts that were included into Colombian laws, the implication of its adoption, and the requirements for their implementation.

El bienestar animal (BA) ha sido integrado recientemente a la legislación sanitaria colombiana de acuerdo a los lineamientos de la Organización Mundial de Salud Animal (OIE). La importancia de su implementación en la cadena cárnica bovina responde a consideraciones éticas, a las exigencias reglamentarias, a sus implicaciones en la calidad de la carne y a las pérdidas económicas relacionadas con la muerte de los animales, pérdida de peso vivo, disminución de los rendimientos de la canal, decomisos por contusiones y disminución del valor comercial de la carne, entre otros. El presente artículo pretende hacer una revisión sobre los conceptos de BA incluidos en la legislación colombiana, las implicaciones de su adopción y los requerimientos para su implementación.

O bem-estar animal (BA), recentemente incluído na legislação sanitária colombiana, de acordó com as orientações da Organização Mundial de Saúde Animal (OIE). O BA é importante na cadeia de carne bovina porque responde às considerações éticas, aos requisitos legais e da qualidade da carne. Também influencia nas perdas económicas, relacionadas com a morte dos animais, perdas de peso, menor rendimento da canal, contusões e convulsões, diminuindo o valor comercial da carne, entre outros. Este artigo visa rever os conceitos do BA incluídos na legislação colombiana, as implicações da adopção e os requisitos para sua implementação.

[Leptospiral antibodies in a Colombian zoo's neotropical primates and workers]. / Anticuerpos contra Leptospira sp. en primates neotropicales y trabajadores de un zoológico colombiano.

OBJECTIVE: Detecting antibodies against Leptospira spp. in Neotropical primates and workers in a Colombian Zoo and identifying the risk factors associated with the disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed regarding 65 Neotropical primates and 20 zookeepers. The samples were processed by microagglutination test (MAT) using a reference strain collection consisting of 21 Leptospira serovars. The people being evaluated were given a structured survey to identify risk factors. RESULTS: There was 25 % (5/20) Leptospira spp. infection seroprevalence in the staff and 23.07 % (15/65) in Neotropical monkeys. The most frequently occurring serovars in workers were bataviae, gryppotyphosa and ranarum; icterohaemorrhagiae, pomona and ranarum were the predominant serovars in non-human primates. The black spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps), white-fronted capuchin (Cebus albifrons) and white-footed tamarin (Saguinus leucopus) showed the highest reactivity. Most of the personnel were using protective clothing. CONCLUSIONS: The contact between primates and zookeepers involving different Leptospira sp. serovars was evident. Zoo personnel using protective clothing and their length of experience were considered to be protective factors for the disease. There may be a risk of Leptospira transmission between zoo animals and staff, and it is therefore important to strengthen active surveillance and implement promotion and prevention programs.

[The prevalence of antibodies against Leptospira in urban human and canine populations from the Tolima Department]. / Prevalencia de anticuerpos contra Leptospira en población urbana humana y canina del Departamento del Tolima.

OBJECTIVE: Determining Leptospira sp. antibody seroprevalence and prevalent serovars in human and canine populations from three municipalities in the Tolima Department of Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study (subjects being selected by convenience sampling in 62 districts). Samples were collected from 850 dogs and 850 people during June, July and August 2007; these were processed using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and five serovars: Hardjo, Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Bratislava. MAT was considered positive when 50 % or more leptospira were agglutinated with one or more serovars in a 1:100 serum dilution in both species. RESULTS: At least one serovar showed evidence of infection in 6 % of the people and 21.4 % of canines. The most prevalent serovars were Pomona and Grippotyphosa in two populations. Co-agglutinations were present in 49 % of human sera and 19.2 % of canine samples. Decreased Canicola and Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar agglutination frequency was evident in dogs. CONCLUSIONS: There was a change in leptospirosis pattern in urban populations. Active and passive surveillance must be strengthened, routine diagnostic tests implemented and preventative measures taken in specific animal reservoirs.

Prevalencia de anticuerpos contra Leptospira en población urbana humana y canina del Departamento del Tolima / The prevalence of antibodies against Leptospira in urban human and canine populations from the Tolima Department

Objetivo Determinar la seroprevalencia de anticuerpos contra Leptospira sp. y los serovares dominantes, en población urbana humana y canina de tres municipios del departamento del Tolima, Colombia. Materiales y Métodos Se realizó un estudio epidemiológico trasversal con selección de sujetos por conveniencia en 62 barrios. Se obtuvieron muestras de 850 personas.y 850 caninos durante los meses de junio, julio y agosto de 2007, las cuales fueron procesadas utilizando la prueba de microaglutinación (MAT). En la prueba se incluyeron 5 serovares: Hardjo, Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae y Bratislava. La prueba se interpretó como positiva por la presencia de una aglutinación >50 por ciento de las leptospiras con uno o más serovares, en una dilución del suero >100 para las dos especies. Resultados Se encontró evidencia de infección en el 6 por ciento de la población humana y en el 21,4 por ciento de los caninos, con al menos uno de los serovares. La mayor reactividad fue para los serovares Pomona y Grippotyphosa para humanos y caninos. Se presentaron coaglutinaciones en el 13,7 por ciento de los sueros humanos y en el 4,4 por ciento de los caninos. Fue evidente la disminución de la frecuencia de aglutinación de los serovares Canicola e Icterohaemorrhagiae en los perros. Conclusiones Se observa un cambio en el patrón de presentación de la leptospirosis en poblaciones urbanas, siendo necesario fortalecer la vigilancia epidemiológica activa y pasiva, la implementación de pruebas rutinarias de diagnóstico y medidas de prevención específica en los reservorios animales.

Objective Determining Leptospira sp. antibody seroprevalence and prevalent serovars in human and canine populations from three municipalities in the Tolima department of Colombia. Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional study (subjects being selected by convenience sampling in 62 districts). Samples were collected from 850 dogs and 850 people during June, July and August 2007; these were processed using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and five serovars: Hardjo, Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Bratislava. MAT was considered positive when 50 percent or more leptospira were agglutinated with one or more serovars in a 1:100 serum dilution in both species. Results At least one serovar showed evidence of infection in 6 percent of the people and 21.4 percent of canines. The most prevalent serovars were Pomona and Grippotyphosa in two populations. Co-agglutinations were present in 49 percent of human sera and 19.2 percent of canine samples. Decreased Canicola and Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar agglutination frequency was evident in dogs. Conclusions There was a change in leptospirosis pattern in urban populations. Active and passive surveillance must be strengthened, routine diagnostic tests implemented and preventative measures taken in specific animal reservoirs.