Detection of Enterococcus cecorum to identify persistently contaminated locations using faecal and environmental samples in broiler houses of clinically healthy flocks.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Methodology is suitable to detect EC during production and after C&D.Locations were detected that may serve as a reservoir for EC.Cycles with fewer positive samples were observed.Cleaning and disinfection had a major impact on the detection of EC.

Japanese quails (Coturnix Japonica) show keel bone damage during the laying period-a radiography study.

Keel bone damage is an important welfare issue in laying hens and can occur with a high prevalence of up to 100% of hens within one flock. Affected hens suffer from pain. Although multiple factors contribute to the prevalence and severity of keel bone damage, selection for high laying performance appears to play a key role. With up to 300 eggs/year, Japanese quails show a high laying performance, too, and, thus, may also show keel bone damage. However, to our knowledge, there are no scientific results on keel bone damage in Japanese quails to date. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess whether keel bone fractures and deviations occur in Japanese quails and to obtain more detailed information about the development of their keel bone during the production cycle. A group of 51 female quails were radiographed at 8, 10, 15, 19, and 23 weeks of age. The X-rays were used to detect fractures and deviations and to measure the lateral surface area, length, and radiographic density of the keel bone. In addition, the length of the caudal cartilaginous part of the keel bone was measured to learn more about the progress of ossification. At 23 weeks of age, quails were euthanized and their macerated keel bones assessed for fractures and deviations. Both keel bone deviations and keel bone fractures were detected in the Japanese quails. In the 23rd week of age, 82% of the quails had a deviated keel bone as assessed after maceration. Furthermore, there was a decrease in radiographic density, lateral surface area, and length of the keel bone between weeks of age 8 and 19. This could indicate a general loss of bone substance and/or demineralization of the keel bone. Our study shows that keel bone damage is not only a problem in laying hens but also affects female Japanese quails.

Detecting tail biters by monitoring pig screams in weaning pigs.

Early identification of tail biting and intervention are necessary to reduce tail lesions and their impact on animal health and welfare. Removal of biters has become an effective intervention strategy, but finding them can be difficult and time-consuming. The aim of this study was to investigate whether tail biting and, in particular, individual biters could be identified by detecting pig screams in audio recordings. The study included 288 undocked weaner pigs housed in six pens in two batches. Once a tail biter (n = 7) was identified by visual inspection in the stable and removed by the farm staff, the previous days of video and audio recordings were analyzed for pig screams (sudden increase in loudness with frequencies above 1 kHz) and tail biting events until no biting before the removal was observed anymore. In total, 2893 screams were detected in four pens where tail biting occurred. Of these screams, 52.9% were caused by tail biting in the observed pen, 25.6% originated from other pens, 8.8% were not assignable, and 12.7% occurred due to other reasons. In case of a tail biting event, screams were assigned individually to biter and victim pigs. Based on the audio analysis, biters were identified between one and nine days prior to their removal from the pen after visual inspection. Screams were detected earlier than the increase in hanging tails and could therefore be favored as an early warning indicator. Analyzing animal vocalization has potential for monitoring and early detection of tail biting events. In combination with individual marks and automatic analysis algorithms, biters could be identified and tail biting efficiently reduced. In this way, biters can be removed earlier to increase animal health and welfare.

Development of a Sensitive and Specific Quantitative RT-qPCR Method for the Detection of Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 in Porcine Liver and Foodstuff.

As an international and zoonotic cause of hepatitis, hepatitis E virus (HEV) poses a significant risk to public health. However, the frequency of occurrence and the degree of contamination of food of animal origin require further research. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a highly sensitive quantitative RT-qPCR assay for the detection and quantification of HEV contamination in porcine liver and food. The focus was on genotype 3, which is most common as a food contaminant in developed countries and Europe. The selected assay has its target sequence in the open reading frame 1 (ORF1) of the HEV genome and showed good results in inclusivity testing, especially for HEV genotype 3. The developed assay seems to show high efficiency and a low intercept when compared to other assays, while having a comparable limit of detection (LOD). In addition, a standard curve was generated using artificially spiked liver to provide more accurate quantitative results for contamination assessment and tracking in this matrix. Application of the assay to test 67 pig livers from different origins resulted in a positivity rate of 7.5%, which is consistent with the results of numerous other prevalence studies. Quantitative detection of the viral genome in the food chain, particularly in pig livers, is essential for understanding the presence and evolution of HEV contamination and thus ensures consumer safety.

Process Hygiene Criterion for Campylobacter and Number of Campylobacter Enteritis Cases in Northwest Germany.

Campylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported bacterial foodborne disease in the European Union. Its transmission is often associated with the consumption of poultry meat. In 2018, Regulation (EC) No. 2017/1495 introduced a process hygiene criterion and with this, the testing requirements for Campylobacter. The results of microbiological testing for Campylobacter of chicken carcass neck skin samples from several slaughter lines in Northwest Germany collected by the food business operators and contamination levels (cfu/g Campylobacter) of these samples were analysed from 2018 to 2021. Classification into three different categories was made based on contamination levels. The proportion of highly contaminated (category three) neck samples (>1000 cfu/g) decreased from 2018 to 2021. Our analysis showed a relationship between the number of neck samples with high Campylobacter contamination levels (>1000 cfu/g) and human cases in Northwest Germany. Spearman's rank test (p < 0.01) showed a higher correlation in 2018 (0.66) and 2019 (0.58) compared to 2020 and 2021. Campylobacter enteritis cases in Northwest Germany stayed at a low level in 2020 and 2021. It remains unclear whether the decrease in reported Campylobacter enteritis cases is related to a decrease in Campylobacter levels on chicken carcasses or due to other reasons like underreporting during the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore must be investigated in further analyses.

Research Note: Preliminary results, first detection of Enterococcus cecorum from environmental samples by streaking on X-Gluc containing selective media.

The isolation of cultivable E. cecorum from the environment of poultry houses remains a challenge. Environmental samples (dust wipes, equipment swabs, pooled feces) and samples from culled bird vertebras were collected from an infected broiler flock on d 37 posthatching. To isolate the bacterium from the cultivable microbiota, suspensions from the environmental samples were streaked onto a blood agar base medium supplemented with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucuronic acid cyclohexylammonium salt (X-Gluc), colistin sulfate, and nalidixin. The chromogenic reaction facilitated the isolation of E. cecorum from contaminated surfaces and pooled feces. Isolates from both the environment and vertebras were confirmed using MALDI-TOF and PCR analysis. Colony appearance and antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed no phenotypic differences among the isolates. It remained unclear whether the isolates originated from the same clone. However, the principle of isolating the pathogen by streaking on a chromogenic agar may motivate researchers to investigate the transmission routes of infectious isolates, potentially leading to the optimization of biosecurity measures.

Hair corticosterone concentration as a potential stress marker in pet rabbits.

BACKGROUND: As a prey species, rabbits tend to hide their illnesses and injuries. Consequently, pet rabbit owners often do not notice that their pet may be suffering. METHODS: Data on the housing and health of 34 dwarf rabbits were collected from a total of 22 rabbit owners. A score from 0 (not stressed) to 3 (highly stressed) was assigned to each rabbit based on the owners' reports. Afterwards, the hair corticosterone concentration (HCC) of the rabbits was analysed as an indicator of long-term stress. RESULTS: The mean HCC of all rabbits was 1.54 ± 0.64 pg/mg. Animals with a stress score of 3 had a higher HCC (2.17 pg/mg) than those with a score of 0 (1.09 pg/mg) or 1 (1.44 pg/mg) (p < 0.05). HCC was not significantly affected by sex or age (p > 0.05). LIMITATION: Only a small number of rabbits were included in the study. Therefore, the findings need to be confirmed in a larger cohort of animals. CONCLUSION: HCC seems to be a promising stress marker in pet rabbits.

The Detection of Salmonella Enteritidis on German Layer Farms after Cleaning and Disinfection.

The presence of Salmonella Enteritidis in poultry houses after cleaning and disinfection can pose a potential risk to public health, as Salmonella remains one of the most important causes of foodborne diseases. This study focused on ten German layer farms (including floor-reared and free-range systems) with a recent history of Salmonella Enteritidis, and samples were collected from July 2018 to March 2021 after the cleaning and disinfection process. A total of 244 swab samples were tested for the presence of Salmonella using real-time PCR, followed by a culture of positive samples. Results revealed that 61 out of the 244 swab samples tested positive for Salmonella, indicating a prevalence of 25% in the samples examined. Among the Salmonella-positive swab samples identified with the PCR assay, 65.6% (40 out of 61) were confirmed by the culture. Of the 40 isolates obtained from the culture, 36 were identified as Salmonella Enteritidis, while 4 were categorized as rough Salmonella strains. This study emphasizes the importance of both the surrounding area of the poultry houses in terms of infection carry-over and the meticulous implementation of cleaning and disinfection procedures to eliminate any remaining infection within the houses. To mitigate the risk of further Salmonella spread on layer farms, additional investigations are recommended to focus on the existing transmission pathways of Salmonella and their genetic diversity.

Association with Different Housing and Welfare Parameters on Results of a Novel Object Test in Laying Hen Flocks on Farm.

The objective of this on-farm study was to determine if flocks showing feather damage and/or cannibalism would have a higher fear response to the novel object (NOT) and the association between different housing and welfare parameters on results of the NOT. Therefore, 16 flocks were observed during the laying period in Germany. In total, there were six barns, seven free-range, and three organic flocks. The plumage and integument condition of 50 birds of each flock were evaluated at 4 different times during the laying period (V1: 18th to 23rd week of life, V2: 26th to 35th week of life, V3: 49th to 57th week of life, V4: 61st to 73rd week of life). At the same observation times, the NOT was performed in the flocks (at four different locations per visit time). Based on the average number of hens gathered around the novel object (NO) within the period of two minutes, conclusions can be made about the fearfulness of the flock. The present study shows that the more fearful a flock was, the more frequent feather damage (p < 0.001) and cannibalism (p < 0.01) occurred. Age and flock size were associated with fearfulness. Fearfulness of hens increased with the increasing age of hens (p < 0.001) and with an increasing flock size (p < 0.001). Hens of white feather color appeared to be more fearful than brown hens (p < 0.001). Hens kept on barn farms showed significantly lower numbers of hens around the novel object (p < 0.001) than on free-range farms, which possibly indicates that having permanent access to outdoor space generally appears to be associated with the fearfulness of a flock.

Learning pathways: Levelling, scaffolding & mapping curriculum.

At one mid-sized research-intensive university in Western Canada, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program recently underwent significant curriculum revisions (Epp et al., 2021). A constructivist approach was adopted to create opportunities for students to align knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) with prior learning to build a deeper understanding (Vygotsky, 1978). In congruence with constructivist theory, faculty developed several learning pathways as curriculum planning tools to strategically sequence student learning outcomes, facilitate student achievement of program learning outcomes, and improve curriculum integrity. The faculty developed a conceptual model of a learning pathway and identified several key program outcomes that would benefit from a curriculum review to ensure these concepts were adequately covered across the nursing program. Each learning pathway details curriculum mapping of the levelling and scaffolding of specific concepts and content to facilitate students in the acquisition of KSA through a progressive approach (Gazza & Hunker, 2012; Maguire, 2013). This article will profile the BSN Scholarly Writing Pathway and the BSN Psychomotor Pathway as exemplars.

Influence of an Automatic Enrichment Device on Laying Hen Behavior and Plumage Condition.

Feather pecking and cannibalism are prominent problems in modern laying hen husbandry. Among the various approaches to address this issue, environmental enrichment plays a crucial role. In this on-farm study, four winter gardens of an organic farm henhouse were equipped with an automatic enrichment device. Different quantities of downpipes dosing grain on rough-coated pecking plates (PPs) were tested. One group served as a control (CG) without an automatic enrichment device, while the others were offered different numbers of PPs, with one equipped with a doubled amount of PPs (DEG) compared to the other two groups (SEG). Video analyses of the hens' duration of stay and behaviors in the recorded winter garden area and around the PPs were performed, and regular assessments of the plumage condition were conducted. By the end of the production cycle, no hens with intact plumage were found, with hens in the CG and DEG showing worse scores and earlier deterioration in the plumage condition than in the SEG. The offer of PPs showed a significant influence on the duration of stay in the filmed area. Hens in the DEG stayed significantly longer (mean: 129 s, SD: 126 s) than those in the CG (mean: 79 s, SD: 91 s; p < 0.05) and SEG (mean: 75 s, SD: 83 s; p < 0.005). On the performed behavioral bouts per hen and minute (CG mean bouts/minute (SD): 5.47 (2.92); SEG mean (SD): 5.33 (2.76); SEG mean (SD): 5.81 (3.24)), no significant influences were detected. Environmental pecking was the behavior most frequently observed in all winter gardens, where, particularly around the PPs, pecking at the device was observed. Therefore, the enrichment device can be assessed as well accepted by the hens in winter gardens. The effect of the device on the plumage condition remains unclear, with external factors probably showing a greater influence than the enrichment.

Physical Injuries and Hair Corticosterone Concentration in Rabbit Kits from Single- and Group-Housed Does Kept on a Commercial Farm.

In intense breeding programs, rabbits are exposed to numerous stress factors which could affect their welfare and health. It has been suggested that group housing is more comfortable for does and similar to the living conditions of European wild rabbits. In this study, we compared three different housing systems­single housing; housing in pairs; and housing in groups of three does­to test whether there is a measurable impact on skin lesions, health, and hair corticosterone concentration (HCC) of their kits. The number of kits with lesions increased with the number of does kept together. The probability of kits getting injured was higher in groups of three does than in pens of single-housed does (p = 0.041). When does were pair-housed, kits seemed to have fewer disease symptoms compared to the other treatments. Concerning HCC of kits, there was no significant difference between the housing systems (p > 0.05). The mean HCC of kits was 2.94 pg/mg, while pair housing had the lowest HCC (2.59 pg/mg). This study focused on the welfare of kits from group-housed does. From this perspective, pair housing of does may be appropriate to allow social interaction between does without unduly affecting the welfare of their kits.

Heat Stress Trends in Regions of Intensive Turkey Production in Germany-A Challenge in Times of Climate Change.

This study analyzed trends of enthalpy and the temperature-humidity index (THI) over a period of 50 years in outer air, which lead to severe heat stress in turkeys. Weather station data from 15 German districts with high densities of turkey production were used to investigate the heat input into the barns. Therefore, the parameters of enthalpy and THI with specified thresholds were used for heat stress assessment. Trends in extreme weather situations where these thresholds were exceeded were analyzed and tested for significance using the Mann-Kendall test. In all districts, the heat load increased between 1973 and 2022 for both parameters. Statistically significant heat stress trends were found in 9 of the 15 districts for enthalpy and 14 out of 15 districts for THI. Thus, the established THI thresholds seem to be more sensitive for the detection of heat stress than the chosen enthalpy values. As heat stress is an important issue and a rising concern in times of climate change, farmers and constructors of farm animal facilities should take this into account in future sustainable work.

An innovative leap: Embracing new pedagogical approaches for clinical education.

In response to increasingly complex care environments, a mid-sized research-intensive university in Western Canada engaged in an extensive curriculum redesign of the BSN program, including the development of an Innovative Clinical Learning Model. In this article, the authors share their experience of developing and implementing two innovative pedagogical approaches for clinical teaching in the medical surgical context. Program evaluation data indicated that these pedagogical strategies provided increased opportunities for timely application of theory in practice and facilitated students' development of clinical reasoning, skill mastery, and professional identities as accountable, responsible, ethical nurses.

Occurrence of claw asymmetries in fattening pigs and potential impact on the development of sole ulcerations.

BACKGROUND: Claw abnormalities, particularly claw asymmetries, are associated with lameness in pigs and can be a welfare issue. However, the prevalence and development of claw asymmetries in pigs of different age is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the claw symmetry over the pig lifetime from birth to slaughter as well as the occurrence of sole ulcerations in fattening pigs possibly caused by such asymmetric claws. RESULTS: From third day of life until slaughtering, asymmetric growth of the claws was detected more frequently and more severely with increasing age as determined by three-step scoring. Sole ulcerations were detected in slaughtered pigs only with a prevalence of 64.2% (197/307 examined animals). The risk for a sole ulceration was 3.6-fold higher for pigs with strongly asymmetric claws (≥ 30% size difference of the claw footing area) compared to slightly asymmetric claws (≥ 5-15% size difference of the claw footing area) (odds ratio (OR) = 3.6). It was even higher for pigs showing intermediately asymmetric claws (≥ 15-30% size difference of the claw footing area) (OR = 2.7). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed a significant increase in the prevalence of claw asymmetries over the pigs' lifetime, which can lead to serious pathologic findings with increasing age such as sole ulcerations. Most likely, the unbalanced weight load on single claws in combination with hard flooring can result in claw damages. Moreover, a genetic component cannot be excluded because claw asymmetries were already detected in suckling piglets.

Validation of an automatic scoring system for the assessment of hock burn in broiler.

This study aimed to develop and validate a camera vision score that could detect macroscopic alterations of the hock, to identify errors and to assess possible factors that could influence the assessment. Two hundred hocks in the first (calibration) phase and 500 hocks in the second (validation) phase were collected at slaughter, visually assessed, placed back into the evisceration line and assessed by a camera system with 2 software systems. The size of the alteration in percent (%) measured by the camera system was evaluated ("camera score", CS). Additionally, temperature, humidity, and light intensities were measured. In the calibration phase, threshold values of camera scores for respective macro scores were defined and performance measures evaluated. In the validation phase, the generated threshold values were validated, occurring errors, as well as possible impacts of climatic factors analyzed. The results showed that the generated thresholds predict the camera score values at which the respective macro score has the highest probability of appearance. Small hock burn lesions ≤0.5 cm have the highest probability at a camera score of ≥0.2 (original CS) or ≥0.1 (updated CS), and lesions >0.5 cm have the highest probability at a camera score of ≥0.7 (original CS) or ≥1.1 (updated CS). Large lesions (>0.5 cm) are more reliably identified by the system than small lesions. The risks of errors in assessing reference areas and lesions showed a correct identification of lesions to be the most probable result even if the reference area is not correctly identified. The probability of a correct identification of lesions by the camera system was slightly higher (not significant) with the updated software (risk = 0.66 [0.62-0.70]) than with the original software (risk = 0.63 [0.58-0.67]). Automatic assessment systems at slaughter could be adjusted to the presented threshold values to classify hock burn lesions. Software adaptations can improve the performance measures of diagnosis and reduce the probability of errors.

Feed Space Allowance and Perch Design Criteria for Broiler Breeders Determined by Biometric Data.

The equipment used in broiler breeder houses is an important factor in allowing the expression of the various behaviours of the animals, and thus realizing high welfare standards. Presently, detailed requirements for the equipment in broiler breeder houses are not specified in Germany, especially feed space and perch design allowance. One reason is that basic biometric data on broiler breeders are lacking. To close this gap, a pilot study was conducted, and birds' width, weight, and feet were measured. Broiler breeders at 22 weeks of age (50 female and 17 male) were weighed and photographed digitally, and their body widths were calculated from the photographs. Female broiler breeders weighed 2791.80 ± 334.99 g on average and showed a body width of 20.63 ± 1.88 cm. For males, a mean of 3615.88 ± 432.46 g was measured with a body width of 21.94 ± 2.32 cm. Our examinations revealed that a trough side length of 21.00 cm per hen and 22.00 cm per cock must be provided to ensure that all broiler breeders have equal access to feed. The same dimensions should be planned as the perch length for each animal. Measurements of broiler breeders' feet (506 female and 150 male Cobb 500) were performed at 60 weeks of age. The length of each toe and the width and length of the foot pad of both sexes were photographed and measured digitally. Female broiler breeders' feet showed an average length of 10.14 cm, and male birds showed a length of 12.05 cm. Based on recommendations for the perch design for laying hens, round and oval perches for broiler breeders should have a circumference of at least 11.30 cm (female) or 13.40 cm (male). For angular perches, the upper contact area should have a width of 2.80 cm (female) or 3.40 cm (male). The obtained biometric data could be a useful basis for the development of legal requirements for broiler breeders.

Keypoint Detection for Injury Identification during Turkey Husbandry Using Neural Networks.

Injurious pecking against conspecifics is a serious problem in turkey husbandry. Bloody injuries act as a trigger mechanism to induce further pecking, and timely detection and intervention can prevent massive animal welfare impairments and costly losses. Thus, the overarching aim is to develop a camera-based system to monitor the flock and detect injuries using neural networks. In a preliminary study, images of turkeys were annotated by labelling potential injuries. These were used to train a network for injury detection. Here, we applied a keypoint detection model to provide more information on animal position and indicate injury location. Therefore, seven turkey keypoints were defined, and 244 images (showing 7660 birds) were manually annotated. Two state-of-the-art approaches for pose estimation were adjusted, and their results were compared. Subsequently, a better keypoint detection model (HRNet-W48) was combined with the segmentation model for injury detection. For example, individual injuries were classified using "near tail" or "near head" labels. Summarizing, the keypoint detection showed good results and could clearly differentiate between individual animals even in crowded situations.

Footpad Monitoring: Reliability of an Automated System to Assess Footpad Dermatitis in Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) During Slaughter.

Footpad dermatitis (FPD) is an indicator of animal welfare in turkeys, giving evidence of the animals' physical integrity and providing information on husbandry management. Automated systems for assessing FPD at slaughter can present a useful tool for objective data collection. However, using automated systems requires that they reliably assess the incidence. In this study, the feet of turkeys were scored for FPD by both an automated camera system and a human observer, using a five-scale score. The observer reliability between both was calculated (Krippendorff's alpha). The results were not acceptable, with an agreement coefficient of 0.44 in the initial situation. Therefore, pictures of 3,000 feet scored by the automated system were evaluated systematically to detect deficiencies. The reference area (metatarsal footpad) was not detected correctly in 55.0% of the feet, and false detections of the alteration on the footpad (FPD) were found in 32.9% of the feet. In 41.3% of the feet, the foot was not presented straight to the camera. According to these results, the algorithm of the automated system was modified, aiming to improve color detection and the distinction of the metatarsal footpad from the background. Pictures of the feet, now scored by the modified algorithm, were evaluated again. Observer reliability could be improved (Krippendorff's alpha = 0.61). However, detection of the metatarsal footpad (50.9% incorrect detections) and alterations (27.0% incorrect detections) remained a problem. We found that the performance of the camera system was affected by the angle at which the foot was presented to the camera (skew/straight; p < 0.05). Furthermore, the laterality of the foot (left/right) was found to have a significant effect (p < 0.001). We propose that the latter depends on the slaughter process. This study also highlights a high variability in observer reliability of human observers. Depending on the respective target parameter, the reliability coefficient (Krippendorff's alpha) ranged from 0.21 to 0.82. This stresses the importance of finding an objective alternative. Therefore, it was concluded that the automated detection system could be appropriate to reliably assess FPD at the slaughterhouse. However, there is still room to improve the existing method, especially when using FPD as a welfare indicator.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of C. perfringens Isolates from Dairy Cows with a Pathological Puerperium.

Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) forms part of the intestinal microbiome, but is also a known pathogen in histotoxic infections. The significance of the pathogen as a cause of uterine infections in cattle has been little studied so far. Here, we analyzed the association between a pathological puerperium in cattle and the detection of C. perfringens in a prospective longitudinal study. Clostridium perfringens were only found in vaginal and uterine samples of diseased cattle, and were absent in healthy controls. Isolates (n = 21) were tested for the production of major toxins (alpha-, beta-, epsilon-toxin) by ELISA and for the potential of production of major (alpha-, beta-, iota-toxin) and minor toxins (beta2 toxin) by PCR. Furthermore, antimicrobial susceptibility was also tested phenotypically by microdilution. Despite the frequent use of tetracycline treatment in cows suffering from puerperal disorders, no isolate showed phenotypic tetracycline resistance. Most isolates did not release major amounts of toxin. The strict association of C. perfringens with puerperal disease, together with the absence of major toxins might hint towards a major role of other or unknown clostridial virulence factors in uterine disease.