RESUMEN
Reducing food loss is a key target for Sustainable Development Goal 12-responsible consumption and production. This study aimed to explore Australian sheep producers' knowledge of and attitude towards post-harvest feedback and how these influence pre-consumer losses in the Australian sheep meat value chain. A mixed-methods approach was taken, using a structured survey and focus group discussions. Descriptive analysis was performed on the completed structured surveys and framework analysis was performed on the focus group discussion transcripts. The structured survey results showed that sale method was the main factor influencing the quality of feedback received on carcases. No respondents reported receiving feedback on edible offal. Most producers indicated that they wanted more detailed feedback on carcases and all respondents wanted more detailed feedback on edible offal. Four themes emerged from the focus group discussions: situation, knowledge, and attitudes of producers to the feedback system; factors, enablers, and barriers in the feedback system; equity in the feedback system; and sustainability of the value chain. In addition, several short-to-medium- and long-term strategies were identified by the authors to reduce pre-consumer losses in the Australian sheep meat value chain, based on the results of this study.
RESUMEN
Brucella suis is a zoonotic disease of feral pigs that also affects pig hunting dogs, pig hunters, veterinarians and veterinary staff. In recent years the incidence of B. suis in the eastern Australian states of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (QLD) has increased. A cross-sectional study was conducted to document the seroprevalence, geographical extent and risk factors for B. suis in dogs at-risk of contracting the disease. Eligible dogs were those that were known to hunt or consume feral pig meat. Dogs were enrolled through private veterinary clinics and/or directly by District Veterinarians in six regions of NSW and QLD. Blood was collected by venepuncture and tested for B. suis antibodies using the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) followed by a Complement Fixation Test (CFT) if they returned a positive RBT. Owners were invited to complete a questionnaire on the dogs' signalment, husbandry including hunting practices and locations, and any clinical signs referable to brucellosis. Of the 317 dogs included in the prevalence survey, 21 were seropositive returning a survey-adjusted true seroprevalence of 9.3 (95% CI 0.45 to 18) B. suis positive dogs per 100 dogs at-risk. True seroprevalence ranged from 0 to 24 B. suis positive dogs per 100 across eastern Australia, with the highest prevalence in central west NSW and southern QLD. Adjusted for other factors, dogs that shared a household with other seropositive dogs and those that traveled away from their home regions to hunt were more likely to be seropositive. Clinical signs at presentation were not predictive of serostatus, with seropositive and seronegative dogs equally likely to present with signs consistent with brucellosis. The results obtained from this study show that B. suis exposure is relatively common in dogs that have contact with feral pigs, with one in 10 testing seropositive. Further studies are needed to understand the progression and risk of transmission from seropositive dogs.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) causes human illness that is indistinguishable from classical rabies. All Australian bats have the potential to carry and transmit ABLV, and potentially risky human exposures to bats are common. ABLV infection has resulted in three human deaths in Australia since 1996. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to equip general practitioners (GPs) to assist in the prevention and management of potential ABLV exposures in Australia, including complex clinical scenarios that are not fully addressed in current national guidelines. DISCUSSION: Potential ABLV exposures are frequently encountered in general practice. GPs play a critical role in risk mitigation for groups such as veterinarians and wildlife carers, and in triggering urgent multidisciplinary responses to potential exposures. Timely notification of the public health unit following a potential exposure is crucial to ensure appropriate assessment and access to correct treatment. Complex exposure scenarios require careful consideration.
