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Aims To determine the risk associated with the use of carcase storage vessels on a scrapie infected farm. Methods and Results A stochastic quantitative risk assessment was developed to determine the rate of accumulation and fate of scrapie in a novel low-input storage system. For an example farm infected with classical scrapie, a mean of 103·6 Ovine Oral ID50s was estimated to accumulate annually. Research indicates that the degradation of any prions present may range from insignificant to a magnitude of one or two logs over several months of storage. Conclusions For infected farms, the likely partitioning of remaining prion into the sludge phase would necessitate the safe operation and removal of resulting materials from these systems. If complete mixing could be assumed, on average, the concentrations of infectivity are estimated to be slightly lower than that measured in placenta from infected sheep at lambing. Significance and Impact of the Study This is the first quantitative assessment of the scrapie risk associated with fallen stock on farm and provides guidance to policy makers on the safety of one type of storage system and the relative risk when compared to other materials present on an infected farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ontario cancer patients’ monthly out-of-pocket costs (OOPC) were assessed to determine whether these costs were problematic. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to breast ( n = 74), colorectal ( n = 70), lung ( n = 68) and prostate ( n = 70) cancer patients between October 2001 and April 2003. It measured categorical OOPC, which were analysed using linear regression modelling, to determine whether any of a variety of independent variables influenced OOPC. Monthly OOPC (mean, range) were: parking/fares ($47, $0–450), devices ($46, $0–2350), prescription drugs ($45, $0–1400), accommodation ($43, $0–1500), complementary and alternative medicine ($29, $0–5000), vitamins ($25, $0–400), homemaking ($14, $0–1000), family care ($12, $0–1200), homecare ($2, $0–330) and other ($8, $0–250), with the total averaging $213 ($0–5230). Imputed travel mileage costs added $372 ($0–6180). Most patients were well served by the current healthcare programmes. In multivariate analysis, variables influencing several OOPC categories were: tumour site, hospitalization, age, and number of clinic trips. Travel costs proved the most problematic, with patients under 65 years and without insurance more likely to have high OOPC. Education and income were not reliable predictors for high OOPC. Many of these costs were for items not traditionally covered by public healthcare financing systems, raising important issues around defining ‘medically necessary’ care and the role of government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

a.p. williams, l.m. avery, k. killham and d.l. jones. 2005.To compare the persistence ofEscherichia coliO157 on a variety of common faecally contaminated farmyard material surfaces (wood and steel) under different moisture and temperature regimes.Samples of field-conditioned farmyard materials (galvanized steel and wood) were cut into pieces and contaminated with fresh cattle faeces inoculated with nontoxigenicE. coliO157 (strain 3704). Thereafter, they were stored at four different environmental conditions; with temperature (5 and 20°C) and moisture (moist or dry) as variables. Transfer of the pathogen to hands from the surfaces was also evaluated.Escherichia coliO157 numbers declined over time on all surfaces albeit at different rates according to the sample material and environmental conditions. Persistence was greatest on moist wood samples under cooler temperatures with large population numbers remaining after 28 days. Desiccation of surfaces resulted in a more rapid decline inE. coliO157 populations under both temperature regimes. Substantial numbers of colonies may also potentially be transferred to human hands from the surfaces during brief contact.When environmental conditions are favourable,E. coliO157 may persist for considerable times on a range of surfaces. However, when exposed to higher temperatures and dehydration, survival is notably decreased. Overall, bacterial persistence was significantly greater on wood samples relative to steel.Escherichia coliO157 is a prevalent pathogen, common in ruminant faeces. Contact with contaminated faeces may lead to human infection, resulting in possible severe illness. Although our study used only one strain of bacteria, our findings indicates thatE. coliO157 has the potential to persist for long periods of time on gates, stiles and other farmyard surfaces under a range of environmental conditions. These farmyard surfaces therefore pose a potential infection pathway particularly where there is a high risk of direct human contact (e.g. child petting zoos, open farms). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective shelter has been demonstrated to reduce neonatal lamb mortality rates during periods of inclement weather. Periods of high wind speed and rainfall have been shown to influence shelter usage; however, it is not yet known how ewe factors such as breed, age and body condition score influence shelter-seeking behaviour. This study, conducted on a working upland farm in the UK, examined impact of artificial shelter on the biological and climatic factors that influence peri-parturient ewe behaviour. Pregnant ewes (n = 147) were randomly allocated between two adjacent fields which were selected for their similarity in size, topography, pasture management, orientation to the prevailing wind and available natural shelter. In one field, three additional artificial shelters were installed to increase the available shelter for ewes, this field was designated the Test field; no additional artificial shelter was provided in the second field which was used as the Control field. Individual ewes were observed every 2 h between 0800 and 1600 for 14 continuous days to monitor their location relative to shelter. Ewe breed (Aberfield and Highlander), age (2–8 years) and body condition score were considered as explanatory variables to explain flock and individual variance in shelter-seeking behaviour and the prevalence of issues which required the intervention of the shepherd, termed 'shepherding problems'. Any ewe observed with dystocia, a dead or poor vigour lamb or who exhibited mismothering behaviour was recorded as a shepherding problem. The prevalence of these shepherding problems which necessitate human intervention represents arguably the most critical limiting factor for the successful management of commercial sheep flocks in outdoor lambing systems. Overall, ewes in the Test field with access to additional artificial shelter experienced fewer shepherding problems than those in the Control field (P < 0.05). A significant breed effect was also observed, with Highlander ewes more likely to seek shelter than Aberfield ewes (P < 0.001), and experiencing significantly fewer shepherding interventions (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate the substantial and significant benefits to animal welfare and productivity that can be achieved through the provision of shelter in commercial, upland, outdoor lambing systems in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]