[Risk factors for chronic perforating skin lesions in the area of the digits in cattle on Swiss alpine pastures]. / Risikofaktoren für chronisch perforierende Hautläsionen im Zehenbereich beim Rind auf Schweizer Alpen.

INTRODUCTION: Diseases of the digits often occur in cattle on larger cattle mountain pastures. In the late spring 2020, at the time of the ascent of 1554 cattle to 11 high altitude alpine pastures in the Lower Engadine region, lesions in the area of the digits were clinically assessed and documented. 254 cattle were of non-cantonal and 1300 of local origin (Lower Engadine; postal code CH-75XX). Skin lesions in the area of the digits, identified as digital dermatitis (DD; Mortellaro's disease), were further classified according to the DD scoring system. Nonspecific skin lesions with clinical evidence of granulation tissue formation were termed chronic penetrating skin lesions (CPSL). At the end of the alpine pasturing season, in the early fall (descent of cattle from the alpine pastures), the procedure was repeated, and biopsies were taken from randomly selected cattle with CPSL. Digital dermatitis lesions were found in 34 of 1551 cattle at ascent, but no case of CPSL was found at that time. At descent, 19 of 1529 cattle had DD lesions and 88 cattle had CPSL. The clinical appearance of the CPSL was consistent with chronic skin lesions caused by penetrating skin lacerations. Histologically, the majority of the CPSL were classified as chronic hyperplastic dermatitis with granulation tissue formation. In all CPSL biopsies examined by PCR, Fusobacterium necrophorum and Porphyromonas levii, but neither Dichelobacter nodosus nor the tested Treponema species were detected. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed a negative result for Treponema species in all biopsies. In the regression analysis, cattle in the age group of 365 to 730 days had an increased risk for the presence of CPSL compared to the age group of 160 to 365 days (odds ratio (OR) = 4,95; confidence interval (CI) = 1,97-12,43). Holstein cattle had an increased risk of developing CPSL compared to Brown cattle (OR = 2,92; CI = 1,46-5,86) and cattle of non-cantonal origin showed a massively higher risk compared to local cattle (OR = 10,59; CI = 5,79 - 19,37). The statistically significant associations found in the present study can be taken into account in the selection of animals for summer pasturing on high altitudes in the future in order to reduce the prevalence of CPSL and consequently reduce the antimicrobial use. Spread of DD during the alpine pasturing season within the cattle groups examined was not found.

INTRODUCTION: Des atteintes aux onglons sont souvent observées sur les grands alpages de bovins. Des altérations au niveau des onglons ont été examinées cliniquement et répertoriées chez 1554 bovins lors de leur arrivée sur 11 alpages en Basse-Engadine, en provenance d'un autre canton (n = 254) ou de la localité à laquelle l'alpage appartenait (n = 1300, numéro postal 75XX), au moment de la montée à l'alpage en 2020. Les altérations cutanées diagnostiquées comme dermatite digitale (DD; maladie de Mortellaro) ont de plus été classifiées selon les scores en usage pour la DD. Les lésions cutanées non-spécifiques présentant une formation de tissu de granulation ont été enregistrées comme lésions cutanées perforantes chroniques (LCPC). La procédure a été répétée lors de la désalpe et une biopsie a été prise de chez des animaux présentant des LCPC choisis au hasard. Les caractéristiques de la topographie de l'alpage et celles du sol, ainsi que la densité d'occupation ont été enregistrées pour chaque alpage. Des lésions de DD ont été constatées chez 34 des 1551 bovins lors de la montée à l'alpage, mais aucun cas de LCPC n'a été observé. Lors de la désalpe, 19 des 1551 bovins présentaient des lésions de DD et 88 une LCPC. L'apparence des LCPC correspondait à des lésions cutanées chroniques après une blessure perforante de la peau. À l'histologie, il s'agissait la plupart du temps d'une dermatite chronique hyperplastique avec formation de tissu de granulation. Fusobacterium necrophorum et Porphyromonas levii ont été mis en évidence dans toutes les biopsies de LCPC soumises à une analyse par PCR, mais ni Dichelobacter nodosus ni les Treponema spp. recherchées n'ont été mis en évidence. L'hybridation in-situ en fluorescence était négative pour les tréponèmes dans toutes les biopsies. Selon les résultats d'une analyse de régression, les génisses âgées de 366 à 730 jours avaient un risque augmenté (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4,95; intervalle de confiance (IC) = 1,97 ­ 12,43) de présenter une LCPC en comparaison avec le groupe d'âge de 161 à 365 jours. Les bovins de race Holstein avaient un risque augmenté de présenter une LCPC en comparaison avec ceux de race grise (OR = 2,92; IC = 1,46 ­ 5,86), et les animaux en provenance d'autres cantons présentaient un risque massivement plus élevé que le cheptel local (OR = 10,59; IC = 5,79 ­ 19,37). Aucune différence significative n'a été observée dans la topographie ou dans la densité d'occupation entre les alpages avec et sans cas de LCPC. Les associations statistiquement significatives constatées dans cette étude peuvent être prises en compte à l'avenir lors de la sélection d'animaux pour l'alpage, dans le but de réduire la prévalence de LCPC, de diminuer la quantité d'antibiotiques administrés et d'améliorer le bien-être animal. Une propagation de la DD pendant la saison d'alpage n'a pas été constatée dans les groupes de bovins inclus dans l'étude.

[Survey among livestock veterinarians from the Canton of Fribourg investigating the topics of herd-health management, counselling and the use of antimicrobial drugs]. / Umfrage bei Freiburger Nutztierärzten zu den Themen Bestandesmedizin, Beratung und Antibiotikaeinsatz.

INTRODUCTION: The work of veterinarians is continuously undergoing structural changes. A shift from purely curative individual animal care towards herd-health management is observed worldwide in the livestock sector. To illustrate the practical implementation with all its advantages and disadvantages, an online survey was conducted among all practicing livestock veterinarians in the Canton of Fribourg. A link to the survey was sent by email, it was voluntary and possible to complete the questionnaire anonymously. The survey focused on four topics: Demographic data, herd-health management, billing of counselling and use of antimicrobial drugs. Forty veterinarians from at least 79.2% (n = 19) of all veterinary practices located in the canton of Fribourg (n = 24) responded. Of these, 67.5% were practice owners or partner (n = 27) and 32.5% were employed veterinarians (n = 13). In Fribourg, only herd fertility management is included in the herd-health management on a regular basis. The quality and quantity of advanced trainings in herd-health management for veterinarians was assessed as moderate to poor. There are various options for charging herd-health management services. The amount charged was variable. The most frequently used options were hourly rates (100-300 CHF/h), "rate per cow per year excl. visit rate" (22-75 CHF/cow/year) or "rate per cow per year incl. visit rate" (85-98 CHF/ cow/year). Only one veterinarian (2.5%) charges for advisory activities not included in the the herd-health management service, which was asked for separately. However, the time required for counselling (excluding herd-health management) was estimated to be between 5.0-70.0% of the total working time (median 15.0%, interquartile range = 10.0-32.5%). Veterinarians in Fribourg are reHauptluctant to follow the international trend towards a regular, integrated herd-health management. The majority of them do not charge for consultancy outside the herdhealth management service. A nationwide survey should be considered to better assess the situation all over Switzerland.

INTRODUCTION: Les vétérinaires sont soumis à un changement structurel permanent dans leur travail et cette évolution va dans la direction de la médecine de troupeau pour le secteur des animaux de rente. Pour pouvoir décrire les avantages et les inconvénients, une enquête en ligne a été effectuée auprès de tous les vétérinaires praticiens ruraux du canton de Fribourg et des régions limitrophes. Un lien vers l'enquête a été envoyé par courriel. La participation était sur une base volontaire et les données pouvaient être anonymisées, si souhaité. L'enquête portait sur les quatre thématiques principales suivantes: données démographiques, médecine de troupeau, facturation des prestations de conseil et administration d'antibiotiques. Quarante vétérinaires, soit 79.2% (n = 19) de toutes les pratiques vétérinaires rurales fribourgeoises (n = 24), ont répondu. De ceux-ci, 67.5% étaient propriétaires ou associés ( n= 27) et 32.5 % employés (n = 13). Dans le canton de Fribourg, le suivi de fertilité est effectué seulement de manière généralisée et intégré régulièrement dans le suivi de troupeau (100%). L'offre en formation continue aux vétérinaires sur la thématique médecine de troupeau est évaluée de moyenne à médiocre. La facturation des prestations de médecine de troupeau se déroule auprès des participants à l'étude de manière différenciée, avec même de très grandes différences: le plus souvent un barème horaire (100-300 CHF/h), à la seconde place «par vache et année sans le tarif de la visite¼ (22-75 CHF/vache/an) et en troisième position «par vache et année avec le tarif de la visite inclus¼ (85-98 CHF/Vache/an). Seul un vétérinaire (2.5%) a indiqué facturer des prestations de conseil en dehors du suivi de troupeau. Cependant, l'investissement en temps pour le conseil (sans le suivi de troupeau) est estimé de 5.0 à 70% du temps total de travail (moyenne: 15.0%, écart interquartile = 10.0­32.5%). La corporation vétérinaire fribourgeoise suit la tendance internationale à l'introduction d'un suivi de troupeau intégré et régulier, avec un peu de retard. Une enquête au niveau suisse devrait permettre d'évaluer la situation au niveau national.

[Footbath as treatment of footrot in sheep. Current -situation on Swiss sheep farms]. / Klauenbad zur Bekämpfung der ­Moderhinke bei Schafen. Eine Bestandes­aufnahme bei Schweizer Schafhaltern.

INTRODUCTION: Footrot in sheep should be eradicated in Switzerland in the future. Based on scientific findings, this can be achieved with disinfectant footbaths. It is unknown how many sheep farmers are already using this means and how it is used. The current study evaluated the farm operation, the design of the footbath, the use of disinfectants and footbath with a written survey of a representative sample of all sheep farmers. The sample population was selected randomly, however stratified by language region and herdsize to control for differences between these groups. 45.3% (n=1134) of the distributed questionnaires were received for evaluation. On average 32.8% of the respondents used a footbath. Even on large farms (> 50 animals), which were more frequently affected by footrot, a footbath was available only in 52.6% of the farms in the French-speaking part and 67.7% in the German/Italian speaking part of Switzerland. The footbaths were correctly applied in most respects (e.g., pre-claw cleaning, liquid level and concentration of disinfectants, time in the footbath, post-bath drying phase) in the current study. Most commonly mobile plastic baths were in use. The disinfectants used were mainly formalin, copper and zinc sulfate. The incorrect disposal of the heavy-metal containing copper and zinc sulfate solutions was identified as an important problem: In 59% of the sheep farms the remaining footbath solutions were disposed in the slurry pit or manure storage. In summary the current study recommends (i) to motivate sheep farmers to use a footbath for the treatment and prevention of footrot, and (ii) to replace the currently used disinfectants with substances that are non-toxic to humans, animals and the environment.

INTRODUCTION: Le piétin du mouton doit être, à l'avenir, combattu sur l'ensemble du territoire suisse. Sur la base des connaissances scientifiques, cela peut être fait avec un bain désinfectant pour les onglons. On ignore combien d'éleveurs utilisent déjà cette mesure et comment elle est utilisée. On a cherché, au moyen d'un sondage d'un échantillon représentatif d'éleveurs de moutons, à obtenir la réponse à quatre groupes de questions sur l'exploitation, la construction du pédiluve, l'utilisation de désinfectants et l'usage du bain des onglons. La stratification concernant la région linguistique d'une part et la taille du troupeau d'autre part, permettait de donner la meilleure image possible dans l'échantillon. Avec l'évaluation de 1134 des questionnaires évaluables (45,3% de ceux initialement envoyés) ont a constaté qu'en moyenne 32,8% seulement des exploitants utilisaient un bain des onglons. Même avec les grands troupeaux avec > 50 animaux, qui sont donc plus fréquemment touchés par le piétain, seuls 52,6% des exploitants francophones respectivement 67,7% des germanophones ou des italophones disposent d'un bain. D'autre part, les utilisateurs de bain des onglons appliquent dans la plupart des cas correctement les aspects principaux (par ex.: prélavage des onglons, niveau de liquide et concentration des désinfectants, temps passé dans le bain, phase de séchage après le bain). Les installations les plus communément utilisées étaient les bains mobiles en plastique. La formaline, le sulfate de cuivre et de zinc étaient principalement utilisés comme désinfectants. On constatait un grand manque quant à l'élimination des désinfectants, en particulier des solutions contenant des métaux lourds comme le cuivre ou le zinc. Ainsi, 59,4% des éleveurs ont déclaré jeter les liquides dans la fosse à lisier ou sur le tas de fumier. Les constatations principales sont donc: (i) que les éleveurs de moutons devraient être motivés à utiliser un bain des onglons pour le traitement et la prévention du piétain, et (ii) que le remplacement des désinfectants actuellement utilisés par des substances non toxiques pour l'homme, l'animal et l'environnement est absolument nécessaire.

Review of lattice results concerning low-energy particle physics: Flavour Lattice Averaging Group (FLAG).

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, D- and B-meson physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the particle-physics community. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor [Formula: see text], arising in the semileptonic [Formula: see text] transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay constant ratio [Formula: see text] and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] Chiral Perturbation Theory. We review the determination of the [Formula: see text] parameter of neutral kaon mixing as well as the additional four B parameters that arise in theories of physics beyond the Standard Model. The latter quantities are an addition compared to the previous review. For the heavy-quark sector, we provide results for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (also new compared to the previous review), as well as those for D- and B-meson-decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters. These are the heavy-quark quantities most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. Finally, we review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant [Formula: see text].

Roaming of dogs in remote Indigenous communities in northern Australia and potential interaction between community and wild dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the roaming of Indigenous community dogs and potential interaction with wild dogs and dingoes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey and longitudinal follow-up study. METHODS: Six remote Indigenous communities in Cape York Peninsula and Arnhem Land in northern Australia were selected. Hair samples were collected from community dogs and microsatellite DNA analyses were used to determine hybrid (>10% dingo DNA) status. Dogs were fitted with GPS collars and home range (ha) was estimated during monitoring periods of up to 3 days. RESULTS: In Cape York Peninsula, 6% of the 35 dogs sampled were dingo hybrids, whereas in Arnhem Land 41% of the 29 dogs sampled were hybrids. The median extended home range was estimated to be 4.54 ha (interquartile range, 3.40 - 7.71). Seven community dogs were identified with an estimated home range > 20 ha and home ranges included the bushland surrounding communities. No significant difference in home ranges was detected between hybrid and non-hybrid dogs. CONCLUSIONS: Study results provide some evidence (dingo hybridisation, bushland forays) of the potential interaction between domestic and wild dogs in northern Australia. The nature of this interaction needs further investigation to determine its role in disease transmission; for example, in the case of a rabies incursion in this region.

What influences the home range size of free-roaming domestic dogs?

In many regions of the world domestic dogs are free roaming and live in close relationship with humans. These free-roaming domestic dogs (FRDD) can cause public health problems such as dog bites and transmission of infectious diseases. To effectively control diseases transmitted by FRDD, knowledge on the dogs' behaviour is required. To identify predictors of home range (HR) size, we collected global positioning system data from 135 FRDD living in eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Northern Australia. The core HR size ranged from 0·17 to 2·33 ha and the extended HR size from 0·86 to 40·46 ha. Using a linear mixed effect model with a Restricted Maximum Likelihood approach, the dog's sex and reproductive status were identified as predictors of roaming. Non-castrated males had the largest HRs, followed by neutered females. Also, FRDDs were found to roam further during the pre- than the post-wet season. These findings have implications for infectious disease spread. Identification of risk groups for disease spread within a population allows for more targeted disease response and surveillance. Further investigation of predictors of roaming in other FRDD populations worldwide would increase the external validity of such studies.

Roaming behaviour of dogs in four remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, Australia: preliminary investigations.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the home range (HR) and investigate the potential predictors for roaming of 58 dogs in four Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. DESIGN: Prospective study. PROCEDURE: Global positioning system (GPS) collars were attached to the dogs for 1-4 days, recording location fixes every 1-3 min. Utilisation distributions (UDs) and extended (95% isopleth) and core (50% isopleth) HRs of dogs were determined. Potential predictors of roaming were assessed. RESULTS: Estimated core (median, 0.27 ha) and extended (median, 3.1 ha) HRs differed significantly (P = 0.0225 and 0.0345, respectively) between the four communities; dogs in the coastal community travelled significantly (P < 0.0001) more per day than dogs in the three inland communities studied. Significant associations were found between extended HR size and sex (P = 0.0050) and sex + neuter (P = 0.0218), and between core HR size and sex (P = 0.0010), neuter status (P = 0.0255) and sex + neuter (P = 0.0025). Entire males roamed more than neutered females. The core HR of dogs with poor/fair body condition scores (BCSs) was larger than dogs with ideal/obese BCSs (P = 0.0394). Neutered male dogs also travelled more per day than entire female dogs (P = 0.0475). CONCLUSIONS: Roaming information can be used to inform the management of dogs in remote communities and to design disease control programs. Widespread data collection across the Northern Territory should be undertaken to further investigate the associations found in this study, considering that data were collected during relatively short periods of time in one season.

Lattice Computation of the Nucleon Scalar Quark Contents at the Physical Point.

We present a QCD calculation of the u, d, and s scalar quark contents of nucleons based on 47 lattice ensembles with N_{f}=2+1 dynamical sea quarks, 5 lattice spacings down to 0.054 fm, lattice sizes up to 6 fm, and pion masses down to 120 MeV. Using the Feynman-Hellmann theorem, we obtain f_{ud}^{N}=0.0405(40)(35) and f_{s}^{N}=0.113(45)(40), which translates into σ_{πN}=38(3)(3) MeV, σ_{sN}=105(41)(37) MeV, and y_{N}=0.20(8)(8) for the sigma terms and the related ratio, where the first errors are statistical and the second errors are systematic. Using isospin relations, we also compute the individual up and down quark contents of the proton and neutron (results in the main text).

Ab initio calculation of the neutron-proton mass difference.

The existence and stability of atoms rely on the fact that neutrons are more massive than protons. The measured mass difference is only 0.14% of the average of the two masses. A slightly smaller or larger value would have led to a dramatically different universe. Here, we show that this difference results from the competition between electromagnetic and mass isospin breaking effects. We performed lattice quantum-chromodynamics and quantum-electrodynamics computations with four nondegenerate Wilson fermion flavors and computed the neutron-proton mass-splitting with an accuracy of 300 kilo-electron volts, which is greater than 0 by 5 standard deviations. We also determine the splittings in the Σ, Ξ, D, and Ξcc isospin multiplets, exceeding in some cases the precision of experimental measurements.

Canine rabies in Australia: a review of preparedness and research needs.

Australia is unique as a populated continent in that canine rabies is exotic, with only one likely incursion in 1867. This is despite the presence of a widespread free-ranging dog population, which includes the naturalized dingo, feral domestic dogs and dingo-dog cross-breeds. To Australia's immediate north, rabies has recently spread within the Indonesian archipelago, with outbreaks occurring in historically free islands to the east including Bali, Flores, Ambon and the Tanimbar Islands. Australia depends on strict quarantine protocols to prevent importation of a rabid animal, but the risk of illegal animal movements by fishing and recreational vessels circumventing quarantine remains. Predicting where rabies will enter Australia is important, but understanding dog population dynamics and interactions, including contact rates in and around human populations, is essential for rabies preparedness. The interactions among and between Australia's large populations of wild, free-roaming and restrained domestic dogs require quantification for rabies incursions to be detected and controlled. The imminent risk of rabies breaching Australian borders makes the development of disease spread models that will assist in the deployment of cost-effective surveillance, improve preventive strategies and guide disease management protocols vitally important. Here, we critically review Australia's preparedness for rabies, discuss prevailing assumptions and models, identify knowledge deficits in free-roaming dog ecology relating to rabies maintenance and speculate on the likely consequences of endemic rabies for Australia.

Use of contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence to detect brain lesions in dogs and cats.

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic value of a contrast-enhanced T2-weighted FLAIR sequence (ceFLAIR) in brain imaging is unclear. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: That the number of brain lesions detected with ceFLAIR would be no greater than the sum of lesions detected with nFLAIR and ceT1W sequence. ANIMALS: One hundred and twenty-nine animals (108 dogs and 21 cats) undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head between July 2010 and October 2011 were included in the study. METHODS: A transverse ceFLAIR was added to a standard brain MRI protocol. Presence and number of lesions were determined based on all available MRI sequences by 3 examiners in consensus and lesion visibility was evaluated for nFLAIR, ceFLAIR, and ceT1W sequences. RESULTS: Eighty-three lesions (58 intra-axial and 25 extra-axial) were identified in 51 patients. Five lesions were detected with nFLAIR alone, 2 with ceT1W alone, and 1 with ceFLAIR alone. Significantly higher numbers of lesions were detected using ceFLAIR than nFLAIR (76 versus 67 lesions; P = 0.04), in particular for lesions also detected with ceT1W images (53 versus 40; P =.01). There was no significant difference between the number of lesions detected with combined nFLAIR and ceT1W sequences compared to those detected with ceFLAIR (82 versus 76; P =.25). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Use of ceFLAIR as a complementary sequence to nFLAIR and ceT1W sequences did not improve the detection of brain lesions and cannot be recommended as part of a routine brain MRI protocol in dogs and cats with suspected brain lesions.

Evaluating perspectives for PRRS virus elimination from pig dense areas with a risk factor based herd index.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is wide-spread in pig populations globally. In many regions of Europe with intensive pig production and high herd densities, the virus is endemic and can cause disease and production losses. This fuels discussion about the feasibility and sustainability of virus elimination from larger geographic regions. The implementation of a program aiming at virus elimination for areas with high pig density is unprecedented and its potential success is unknown. The objective of this work was to approach pig population data with a simple method that could support assessing the feasibility of a sustainable regional PRRSV elimination. Based on known risk factors such as pig herd structure and neighborhood conditions, an index characterizing individual herds' potential for endemic virus circulation and reinfection was designed. This index was subsequently used to compare data of all pig herds in two regions with different pig- and herd-densities in Lower Saxony (North-West Germany) where PRRSV is endemic. Distribution of the indexed herds was displayed using GIS. Clusters of high herd index densities forming potential risk hot spots were identified which could represent key target areas for surveillance and biosecurity measures under a control program aimed at virus elimination. In an additional step, for the study region with the higher pig density (2463 pigs/km(2) farmland), the potential distribution of PRRSV-free and non-free herds during the implementation of a national control program aiming at national virus elimination was modeled. Complex herd and trade network structures suggest that PRRSV elimination in regions with intensive pig farming like that of middle Europe would have to involve legal regulation and be accompanied by important trade and animal movement restrictions. The proposed methodology of risk index mapping could be adapted to areas varying in size, herd structure and density. Interpreted in the regional context, this could help to classify the density of risk and to accordingly target resources and measures for elimination.

Review of lattice results concerning low-energy particle physics.

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-meson physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the particle-physics community. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor [Formula: see text], arising in semileptonic [Formula: see text] transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay-constant ratio [Formula: see text] of decay constants and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] Chiral Perturbation Theory and review the determination of the [Formula: see text] parameter of neutral kaon mixing. The inclusion of heavy-quark quantities significantly expands the FLAG scope with respect to the previous review. Therefore, we focus here on [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-meson decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters, since these are most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. In addition we review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant [Formula: see text].

[Does emergency vaccination make sense as a supporting element in control of foot-and-mouth disease in Switzerland]. / Ist die Notimpfung als unterstützende Massnahme zur Tilgung der Maul- und Klauenseuche in der Schweiz sinnvoll?

The outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Great Britain in 2001 let to discussions and especially emergency vaccination was deemed as an alternative to the culling of vast numbers of healthy animals. The project emergency vaccination for FMD in Switzerland was conducted to compare the effectiveness of conventional control strategies during a FMD outbreak alone and with ring vaccination of 3 km and 10 km, respectively. The results of this project showed that emergency vaccination conducted at the beginning of an epidemic was not favorable compared to conventional disease control strategy in Switzerland. In case of an advanced FMD epidemic, a 10 km ring vaccination could support the disease control in a positive way. However, the goal of emergency vaccination to save animal live can hardly be achieved due to actual legal basis and the consequent restriction measures within vaccination zones which will lead to welfare culling.

L'épizootie de fièvre aphteuse en Grande Bretagne en 2001 a montré que les abatages de masse d'animaux sains sont plus en plus critiquée. On discute régulièrement de la vaccination d'urgence comme mesure permettant de réduire le nombre d'animaux à tuer en cas d'épizootie. Dans le cadre du projet vaccination d'urgence FA suisse, on a comparé l'effet de la seule lutte conventionnelle avec celui d'une vaccination d'urgence «vaccination to live¼ dans un périmètre de 3 km (GV3) respectivement 10 km (GV10) quant à la durée et à l'importance du foyer. Au début d'une épizootie, la vaccination d'urgence supplémentaire n'apporte pas d'avantage face à la lutte conventionnelle. Si une vaccination V10 est pratiquée plus tardivement, elle peut dans certains cas amener une diminution et un raccourcissement de l'épizootie. Le but visant, grâce à la vaccination d'urgence, à tuer moins d'animaux ne peut toutefois pas, dans les conditions actuelles, être atteint car vu les fortes limitations du trafic d'animaux à l'intérieur des zones de vaccination, on doit compter avec des abattages pour des raisons de protections des animaux.

Illegal import of bushmeat and other meat products into Switzerland on commercial passenger flights.

Illegal imports of meat can present substantial risks to public and animal health. Several European countries have reported considerable quantities of meat imported on commercial passenger flights. The objective of this study was to estimate the quantity of meat illegally imported into Switzerland, with a separate estimation for bushmeat. Data were obtained by participation in intervention exercises at Swiss international airports and by analysing data on seizures during the four-year period 2008 to 2011. The study revealed that a wide array of animal species was imported into Switzerland. From the database, the average annual weight of meat seized during the period analysed was 5.5 tonnes, of which 1.4% was bushmeat. However, in a stochastic model the total annual inflow of illegal meat imports was estimated at 1,013 tonnes (95% CI 226 to 4,192) for meat and 8.6 tonnes (95% CI 0.8 to 68.8) for bushmeat. Thus, even for a small European country such as Switzerland the quantities of illegally imported meat and meat products are substantial and the consequences for public and animal health could be high. To reduce the risk, it is essential that surveillance at European airports is harmonised and that passenger information campaigns clarify the consequences of the illegal import of meat, particularly bushmeat.

Bayesian estimation of the seroprevalence of brucellosis in humans and livestock in Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan reported 77.5 new cases of human brucellosis per 100,000 inhabitants in 2007, which is one of the highest incidences in the world. However, because this number is based on official records, it is very likely that the incidence is underreported. The diagnostic tests most commonly used in Kyrgyzstan are the Rose Bengal test in ruminants and the Huddleson test in humans. The sensitivity and specificity of these tests have never been evaluated under field conditions in Kyrgyzstan, where the strains circulating in livestock and humans are unknown. Therefore, a representative national cross-sectional serological study was undertaken in humans, cattle, sheep and goats to assess the true seroprevalence and to compare different serologicaltests. In the year of study (2006), few animals were vaccinated against brucellosis in Kyrgyzstan. A total of 5,229 livestock sera and 1,777 human sera from three administrative regions were collected during spring 2006 and submitted to a range of serological tests. The true seroprevalence of brucellosis, estimated using Bayesian methodology, was 7% (95% credibility interval 4%-9%) in humans, 3% (1%-5%) in cattle, 12% (7%-23%) in sheep and 15% (7%-30%) in goats. The Rose Bengal test was confirmed as a useful screening test in livestock and humans, although its sensitivity was lower than that of other tests. The estimates of specificity of all tests were significantly higher than those for sensitivity. The high seroprevalence of brucellosis in humans, cattle and small ruminants in Kyrgyzstan was confirmed. Bayesian statistical approaches were demonstrated to be useful for simultaneously deriving test characteristics and true prevalence estimates in the absence of a gold standard.