The prevalence of lice (Bovicola ovis) in sheep flocks on the central and southern Tablelands of New South Wales

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 659 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Popp ◽  
J. Eppleston ◽  
B. R. Watt ◽  
S. Mansfield ◽  
R. D. Bush

In response to suggestions that the incidence of louse infestations in New South Wales has increased markedly, a survey of 173 producers was conducted in the Tablelands Livestock Health and Pest Authority region using visual detection and a questionnaire to document retrospective lice history. An estimated apparent prevalence of 16.5% is a moderate increase from the 10% reported in 2004. On a subset of the surveyed sheep flocks sheep, lice-specific immunoassay conducted by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries were used to detect low levels of infestation that were not identified by visual detection. This provided a true prevalence estimate of 30%. These results will be used to promote improved control and preventative strategies.

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 675 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Bush ◽  
R. Barnett ◽  
I. J. Links ◽  
P. A. Windsor

The prevalence of Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in Australia was estimated to be 5.2% using 2009 abattoir surveillance data from all States supplied by Animal Health Australia involving 5029 lines comprising 1 339 463 sheep. This is a decrease from the 26% estimated in a similar study in 1995. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in CLA prevalence between all states except Tasmania and Victoria (P = 0.75) with prevalences of 12.8 and 12.9%, respectively. Western Australia recorded the lowest prevalence with 1.0%. The average CLA prevalence for New South Wales was 5.3% and within three surveyed Livestock Health and Pest Authority regions (Tablelands, Central North and Central West) was 2.9, 4.9 and 4.4%, respectively. The attitude of the majority of producers surveyed in these three Livestock Health and Pest Authority areas was that CLA was of little or no significance (75%) but were aware of the need for CLA control with ~68% using 6-in-1 vaccine, though only 39.9% as recommended. It appears that the prolonged use of CLA vaccination has been successful in reducing the prevalence of CLA across Australia and particularly in New South Wales. Further improvements in communication of information on preventative management practices associated with lice control, importance of using an approved vaccination program, plus increasing producers’ awareness of the importance of CLA control, are indicated.


2003 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A Gray ◽  
Steven J Kennelly ◽  
Kate E Hodgson

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  

Nationally, COVID-19 notifications remained at low levels this fortnight. Testing rates also decreased during the surveillance period. The daily average number of cases was eight compared to an average of 11 cases for the previous fortnight. There were 109 cases of COVID-19 and no deaths this fortnight, bringing the cumulative case count to 28,049 and 908 deaths. New South Wales reported the highest proportion of cases again this fortnight (54%; 59/109), with the majority of these acquired overseas (97%; 57/59). Locally-acquired cases accounted for 5% (5/109) of all cases reported this fortnight, with one of these from an unknown source. FluTracking data indicated that 47% of people in the community with ‘fever and cough’ and 19% of those with ‘runny nose and sore throat’ were tested for SARS-CoV-2, which was a decrease from the previous reporting period. Testing rates decreased to 9.3 tests per 1,000 population per week during this reporting period, representing a 29% decrease in fortnightly tests conducted compared to the last reporting period. The overall positivity rate for the reporting period remains at 0.03%.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damian P Kotevski ◽  
Meeyin Lam ◽  
Christine Selvey ◽  
David J Templeton ◽  
Linda G Donovan ◽  
...  

Aim To describe the epidemiology of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in New South Wales (NSW) from 2006 to 2015. Methods LGV notification data between 2006 and 2015 from New South Wales were analysed to describe time trends in counts and rates by gender, age group and area of residence, as well as anatomical sites of infection. A positivity ratio was calculated using the number of LGV notifications per 100 anorectal chlamydia notifications per year. Data linkage was used to ascertain the proportion of LGV cases that were co-infected with HIV. Results There were 208 notifications of LGV in NSW from 2006 to 2015; all were among men, with a median age of 42 years, and half were residents of inner-city Sydney. Annual notifications peaked at 57 (1.6 per 100,000 males) in 2010, declined to 16 (0.4 per 100,000 males) in 2014, and then increased to 34 (0.9 per 100,000 males) in 2015. Just under half (47.4%) of LGV cases were determined to be co-infected with HIV. Conclusion The number of LGV notifications each year has not returned to the low levels seen prior to the peak in 2010. Continued public health surveillance is important for the management and control of LGV.


2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 215 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Sharp ◽  
M. Norton ◽  
A. Marks

The remnant New South Wales (NSW) yellow-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus) population underwent a substantial decline between 1985 and 1992 and remained at dangerously low levels until 1995. To determine the processes underlying this decline, a population study was conducted at one colony, between winter 1995 and winter 1998. The colony was observed to remain relatively constant in size, consisting of between 12 or 13 individuals throughout the study. Reproductive rates were found to be relatively high. Both reproduction and pouch young survival were comparable with those reported for other P. xanthopus colonies, while adult survival rates were higher than those noted in other studies. Because population size remained constant during the study and adult survivorship was consistently high, this suggested that juvenile recruitment into the colony was low. Such low levels of recruitment may have had a substantive role in the slow decline of the entire NSW P. xanthopus population. The results of this study suggest that any management actions undertaken in the NSW P. xanthopus population should focus on increasing juvenile survival rates. Further research is required to determine whether juvenile survival is constrained by predation or competition with other herbivores.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  

Nationally, COVID-19 notifications remained at low levels this fortnight. The daily average number of cases for this reporting period was nine, which was similar to last fortnight’s average. There were 123 cases of COVID-19 and no deaths this fortnight, bringing the cumulative case count to 27,892 and 907 deaths. Hospitalisations for COVID-19 dropped further in the past two fortnights: there were just two cases admitted to FluCAN participating hospitals and there were no admissions to ICU in SPRINT-SARI sites during this four-week period. New South Wales reported the highest proportion of cases this fortnight (46%; 56/123), all of which were overseas acquired. Locally-acquired cases accounted for 15% (19/123) of all cases reported this fortnight all of which were attributed to a cluster of cases in South Australia. At the end of this reporting period, it had been 24 days since there was a locally-acquired case of unknown source. Testing rates increased to 12.0 tests per 1,000 population per week during this reporting period, driven by a significant increasing in testing in South Australia. The overall positivity rate for the reporting period was 0.03%, will all jurisdictions reporting a positivity rate ≤ 0.10%.


Author(s):  
B. P. Parolin

One aspect of rationalization of rural passenger services in the state of New South Wales, Australia is examined: the travel and activity consequences for rural consumers of the substitution of longer-haul bus services for rail passenger services. Interview surveys of bus passengers in selected communities and town residents who previously used train services or presently use bus services were used to develop travel-activity profiles in the pre- and postrationalization period. The extent and nature of reorientation of travel-activity patterns were assessed to determine the effects of service substitution. Results indicate that most respondents were able to adjust their travel-activity patterns and benefit from the service substitution's greater number of travel choices, despite relatively low levels of mobility. The new bus services provide a higher level of service and are well patronized by respondents. Rural public transportation patronage in the study communities is now higher compared with that in the prerationalization period. Furthermore, no evidence was found of a link between rationalization and decline in services provision. The conclusion is drawn that new rural bus services have been overwhelmingly accepted and are well patronized in the study communities. They have also attracted many car users. Longer-haul bus services are now an integral part of the network of rural passenger services and of travel-activity patterns.


Author(s):  
C. Olabarria ◽  
M.G. Chapman

Three species of microgastropods, Eatoniella atropurpurea, Eatonina rubrilabiata and Amphithalamus incidata, are common in various habitats at mid to low levels on intertidal shores in New South Wales, Australia. These habitats include patches of sediment, pebbles and algal turf. These species are very patchy, varying in abundance within and among habitats at scales of centimetres to many metres. This study describes laboratory experiments which tested hypotheses about differences in mortality and growth rates for each species in three different habitats: sediment, pebbles and coralline turf. There was greater mortality in coralline turf without sediment for E. rubrilabiata and A. incidata, whereas Eatoniella atropurpurea showed a greater mortality in sediment. Moreover, Eatonina rubrilabiata had a faster rate of growth in sediment, whereas Eatoniella atropurpurea grew more rapidly in coralline turf. The different rates of mortality and growth for these species in different habitats provide mechanisms which may partially explain the patterns of abundance in the field.


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