scholarly journals Surveillance of equine strangles: a new initiative

2019 ◽  
Vol 184 (11) ◽  
pp. 342-344 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The Uk ◽  

Abigail McGlennon from the Animal Health Trust introduces a new project to gather information on cases of strangles in horses throughout the UK

2018 ◽  
Vol 184 (3) ◽  
pp. 95-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M Coultous ◽  
Paul Phipps ◽  
Charlie Dalley ◽  
Jane Lewis ◽  
Toni-Ann Hammond ◽  
...  

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) has historically been of minor concern to UK equine practitioners, primarily due to a lack of competent tick vectors. However, increased detection of EP tick vector species in the UK has been reported recently. EP screening is not currently required for equine importation, and when combined with recent relaxations in movement regulations, there is an increased risk regarding disease incursion and establishment into the UK. This study evaluated the prevalence of EP by both serology and PCR among 1242 UK equine samples submitted for EP screening between February and December 2016 to the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the Animal Health Trust. Where information was available, 81.5 per cent of submissions were for the purpose of UK export testing, and less than 0.1 per cent for UK importation. Serological prevalence of EP was 8.0 per cent, and parasite DNA was found in 0.8 per cent of samples. A subsequent analysis of PCR sensitivity in archived clinical samples indicated that the proportion of PCR-positive animals is likely to be considerably higher. The authors conclude that the current threat imposed by UK carrier horses is not adequately monitored and further measures are required to improve national biosecurity and prevent endemic disease.


2019 ◽  
Vol 185 (7) ◽  
pp. 198-200 ◽  

With outbreaks of equine influenza continuing to be reported in the UK, Richard Newton and Fleur Whitlock of the Animal Health Trust discusses practical steps that vets can promote and practise to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.


2020 ◽  
Vol 186 (8) ◽  
pp. 241-243

Fleur Whitlock of the Animal Health Trust takes a look at equine infectious disease surveillance initiatives in action in the UK


Livestock ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 176-179
Author(s):  
Chris Lloyd

The Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) was established to promote the highest standards of food safety, animal health and animal welfare in the British livestock industry. It has a current focus to deliver on the Government objective of identifying sector-specific targets for the reduction, refinement or replacement of antibiotics in animal agriculture. The creation and roll out of sector specific targets in 2017 through the RUMA Targets Task Force, has helped focus activity across the UK livestock sectors to achieve a 50% reduction in antibiotic use since 2014. This has been realised principally through voluntary multi-sector collaboration, cross sector initiatives, codes of practice, industry body support and farm assurance schemes. This article provides an overview of RUMA's work to date providing insight into the methods used to create the targets, why they are so important, the impact they are having and how ongoing support and robust data are vital components in achieving the latest set of targets.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Beverley

Abstract T. processionea, commonly known as the oak processionary moth, is a major pest in many European countries and threatens the health of oak trees. The common and scientific names of T. processionea refer to the behaviour of the larvae to form long processions. The larvae cause severe defoliation, reducing the viability of oak trees. They also pose a risk to both human and animal health because they shed poisonous hairs, which can result in severe allergic reactions, amongst other health problems. The moth is native to central and southern Europe but is now present in almost all European countries and also in parts of the Middle East. EPPO issued a Pest Risk Analysis in 2007 for the UK in response to infestations of the species in Europe from 2006. At this time, infestations of the moth were observed on a range of oak (Quercus) species in London. The adult males are strong fliers and can fly long distances, such as from France to the UK (Evans, 2007). Host plants of this pest include many species of deciduous Quercus, and to a much lesser degree, Betula, Carpinus, Castanea, Corylus, Crataegus, Robinia and Fagus; plants commonly found in forests, woods or ornamental plantations in the UK, for example (Evans, 2007). Therefore, areas where these plants are present and offer a suitable climate for pest development are likely to be under threat from T. processionea. Various pines have been reported as hosts, but such records are suspect and are probably the result of confusion with the pine processionary (Thaumetopoea pityocampa).


Animals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven McCulloch

The British people voted to leave the European Union (EU) in a 2016 referendum. The United Kingdom (UK) has been a member of the EU since the Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1993 and before that a member of the European Communities (EC) since 1973. EU animal health and welfare regulations and directives have had a major impact on UK animal protection policy. Similarly, the UK has had a substantial impact on EU animal protection. Brexit represents a substantial political upheaval for animal protection policy, with the potential to impact animal welfare in the UK, EU and internationally. Brexit’s impact on farmed animals will determine the overall impact of Brexit on animals. A major threat to animal welfare is from importing lower welfare products. A major opportunity is reform of UK agricultural policy to reward high welfare outside the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). A soft Brexit, in which the UK remains in the single market and/or customs union, mitigates the threat of importing lower welfare products. A harder Brexit means threats to animal welfare are more likely to materialise. Whether threats and opportunities do materialise will depend on political considerations including decisions of key political actors. The Conservative Government delivering Brexit has a problematic relationship with animal protection. Furthermore, Brexit represents a shift to the political right, which is not associated with progressive animal protection. There is significant political support in the Conservative Party for a hard Brexit. Further research is required to investigate whether the various threats and opportunities are likely to materialise.


Author(s):  
Walter Leal Filho ◽  
Linda Ternova ◽  
Sanika Arun Parasnis ◽  
Marina Kovaleva ◽  
Gustavo J. Nagy

Climate change can have a complex impact that also influences human and animal health. For example, climate change alters the conditions for pathogens and vectors of zoonotic diseases. Signs of this are the increasing spread of the West Nile and Usutu viruses and the establishment of new vector species, such as specific mosquito and tick species, in Europe and other parts of the world. With these changes come new challenges for maintaining human and animal health. This paper reports on an analysis of the literature focused on a bibliometric analysis of the Scopus database and VOSviewer software for creating visualization maps which identifies the zoonotic health risks for humans and animals caused by climate change. The sources retained for the analysis totaled 428 and different thresholds (N) were established for each item varying from N 5 to 10. The main findings are as follows: First, published documents increased in 2009–2015 peaking in 2020. Second, the primary sources have changed since 2018, partly attributable to the increase in human health concerns due to human-to-human transmission. Third, the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, Italy, and Germany perform most zoonosis research. For instance, sixty documents and only 17 countries analyzed for co-authorship analysis met the threshold led by the USA; the top four author keywords were “climate change”, “zoonosis”, “epidemiology”, and “one health;” the USA, the UK, Germany, and Spain led the link strength (inter-collaboration); the author keywords showed that 37 out of the 1023 keywords met the threshold, and the authors’ keyword’s largest node of the bibliometric map contains the following: infectious diseases, emerging diseases, disease ecology, one health, surveillance, transmission, and wildlife. Finally, zoonotic diseases, which were documented in the literature in the past, have evolved, especially during the years 2010–2015, as evidenced by the sharp augmentation of publications addressing ad-hoc events and peaking in 2020 with the COVID-19 outbreak.


2004 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 39-48
Author(s):  
J Webb

For the past thirty years pig genetics has enjoyed a clear message from its end–users: reduce backfat and production costs. During that period, genetics, nutrition and health have together delivered improvements of some 60% in lean growth rate and feed efficiency. To compound the recent misfortunes of the UK industry, meat is now slipping further behind everything else on the supermarket shelf in quality, uniformity, and above all predictability. The notion of quality stretches far beyond the product into responsibility for animal welfare, human nutrition and food safety.The industry's present dilemma arises from five factors:1.uncertain market conditions with cyclical profitability2.poor communication of what constitutes good quality3.payment systems that no longer reflect what the market requires4.independent management of the different steps in the pork value chain5.possible effects of animal health on quality and uniformity.Meanwhile the understanding of gene function and the ability to detect potentially useful genetic variation is gathering momentum. This paper examines the role that genetics can play in adding value, reducing risk and differentiating the product, from the perspective of a large vertically coordinated pork producer.


1950 ◽  
Vol 1951 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-24

Opening the discussion on Dr. Walton's paper, Professor Wm. C. Miller (Animal Health Trust) said: “Dr. Walton has presented a paper which outlines the fundamentals of male sex behaviuor and forms an excellent skeletal strcuture into which the minutiae of behaviour can be fitted. I feel I ought to make an effort to fit some of the more precise details into their places and so contribute towards the presentation of a more complete idea of just what is involved in male sex behaviour. I am, however, inevitably faced with the limitations of available data and with the very great amount of variation in behaviour as between individuals, and even more between species of farm animals.


Equine Health ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (30) ◽  
pp. 26-27
Author(s):  
Jenny Routh
Keyword(s):  

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