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The article discusses an annual bovine tuberculosis (TB) surveillance report about the epidemiology of TB in cattle in Great Britain. Topics discussed include the frequency and geographical distribution of bovine TB in England and Wales, bovine TB incidents in 2014 and epidemiological and economic benefits associated with the different types of bovine TB test.

The February 2016 Animal and Plant Health Agency's disease survielance report in England and Wales is presented. Topics discussed include emerging issues related to haplotype cholesterol Holstein cattle and mass mortalities in wild mute swans, K99 Escherichia coli infection in calves, and acute salmonellosis in finishing pigs.

In rabies endemic regions, a proportionally higher incidence of rabies is often reported in dogs younger than 12 months of age, which includes puppies less than 3 months of age; this presents a serious risk to public health. The higher incidence of rabies in young dogs may be the effect of low vaccination coverage in this age class, partly as a result of the perception that immature immune systems and maternal antibodies inhibit seroconversion to rabies vaccine in puppies less than three months of age. Therefore, to test this perception, the authors report the virus neutralising antibody titres from 27 dogs that were vaccinated with high quality, inactivated rabies vaccine aged three months of age and under as part of larger serological studies undertaken in Gauteng Province, South Africa, and the Serengeti District, Tanzania. All of these dogs seroconverted to a single dose of vaccine with no adverse reactions reported and with postvaccinal peak titres ranging from 2.0 IU/ml to 90.5 IU/ml. In light of these results, and the risk of human beings contracting rabies from close contact with puppies, the authors recommend that all dogs in rabies endemic regions, including those less than three months of age, are vaccinated with high quality, inactivated vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in dogs. Knowledge about the epidemiology of kidney disease in the dog population is valuable and large-scale epidemiological studies are needed. The aim of the present study was to use insurance data to estimate kidney-related morbidity and mortality in the Swedish dog population. Insurance company data from insured dogs during the years 1995-2006 were studied retrospectively. Incidence and mortality were calculated for the whole group of dogs as well as divided by sex and breed. The total number of veterinary care insured dogs was 665,245. The total incidence of kidney disease in this group of dogs was 15.8 (15.3-16.2) cases/10,000 dogyears at risk. The number of dogs in the life insurance was 548,346 and in this group the total kidney-related mortality was 9.7 (9.3-10.2) deaths/10,000 dog-years at risk. The three breeds with the highest incidence of kidney disease were the Bernese mountain dog, miniature schnauzer and boxer. The three breeds with the highest mortality caused by kidney disease were the Bernese mountain dog, Shetland sheepdog and flat-coated retriever. In conclusion, the epidemiological information provided in this study concerning kidney disease in dogs can provide valuable information for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study which explore the epidemiology of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) or jaagsiekte in the sheep industry in Great Britain. It discusses the veterinary examination of 5097 sheep carcases conducted at the slaughterhouse in Birmingham, England. It shows that most of the OPA-positive animals occurred in England, Scotland, and Wales, and mentions the essential development of diagnostic tools to control the prevalence of OPA.

The article focuses on bacterial pneumonia outbreaks in dairy cows in Scotland as of May 2014. Topics discussed include diagnosis of neonatal bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) infection in Dumfries, the role of insufficient dietary protein to the ruminal impactions in dairy cows, and the case of anencephaly in aborted fetus.

The efficacy and safety of a florfenicol plus flunixin meglumine formulation in the treatment of respiratory disease was evaluated in calves less than six weeks of age, compared with a positive control group treated with a well-established florfenicol formulation. A total of 210 calves, selected from nine sites in Belgium, France and Spain, showing severe signs of respiratory disease, were randomly assigned to treatment with either florfenicol plus flunixin meglumine (Resflor; MSD Animal Health) or florfenicol (Nuflor; MSD Animal Health), both administered subcutaneously once. Animals were clinically observed daily for 10 days following treatment initiation. The predominant respiratory pathogens were Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma bovis, Mannheimia haemolytica and Histophilus somni. All isolates were subject to in vitro sensitivity testing and found susceptible to florfenicol. In both groups, rectal temperature dropped and clinical index (depression and respiratory signs) significantly improved after treatment. Specifically, for the change in rectal temperature from pretreatment to six hours post-treatment, the florfenicol-flunixin formulation was found significantly superior to florfenicol. Moreover, the florfenicol-flunixin formulation alleviated the clinical signs of disease more rapidly, and was demonstrated to be non-inferior to florfenicol on days 4 and 10. The use of the product combining florfenicol and flunixin in calves is safe and efficacious in the treatment of outbreaks of bovine respiratory disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pododermatitis, often called 'sore hocks', is a chronic, granulomatous, ulcerative dermatitis which most commonly affects the plantar aspect of the caudal metatarsal and tarsal areas. Pododermatitis is a common clinical finding in the pet rabbit population, but no data is available regarding the actual prevalence of this condition in the UK pet rabbit population or possible husbandry-related factors which may predispose pet rabbits to development of this condition. It was the aim of this study to determine the prevalence of pododermatitis within a sample pet rabbit population, and study possible correlations with husbandry, sex, breed and origin of the rabbits. Findings suggested that young rabbits are at a lower risk of pododermatitis compared with older rabbits; female domestic rabbits are more predisposed to pododermatitis than males; and 100 per cent of the neutered females examined showed clinical evidence of pododermatitis. The effect that different types of bedding may have on the prevalence of pododermatitis was also investigated. This study also produced a scoring system which can be used to score clinical cases. Our study is of clinical importance because it helps to recognise many of the factors which predispose pet rabbits to pododermatitis, representing the first step towards increased awareness of this extremely common problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In October 2001, a survey was conducted about cavities formed within the hoof wall (called GIDOH in Japanese) of racehorses at the Ritto and Miho Training Centres, which are managed by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). Gidoh is defined as a progressive cavity within the deep layers between the stratum medium and stratum internum. A total of 148 out of 5386 surveyed horses (2.75 per cent) were affected. Out of 244 affected feet, fore hooves (84.02 per cent) were more susceptible than hind hooves, and the site most affected was midline dead centre of the toe (59.62 per cent) which tends to place extra stress at the break-over point in a straight-line exercise. Logistic regression analysis revealed that prevalence was significantly related with horse affiliation (OR 0.65, 95 per cent CI 0.46 to 0.91) and age (OR 1.43 per one year, 95 per cent CI 1.27 to 1.61). We hypothesised that the primary cause of Gidoh development in JRA stables was mechanical deformation of the hoof wall during exercise, and secondary exciting causes can subsequently lead to the spread of the lesion over the entire hoof wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the animal diseases discussed in the August 2012 surveillance report of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) in Great Britain. The agency mentions the outbreaks of abortions associated with neosporasis for a period of several weeks with 14 of 100 cows. It mentions the outbreak of rhinitis in a Jersey herd where 15 of 50 animals exhibited nasal discharge, noisy breathing, and were seen to push their noses onto sticks.

The article focuses on the study aims to investigate two outbreaks of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) with breed-dependent clinical signs in two stud farms in Eastern Croatia, inferred by Bayesian inference (BI) analysis. It says that the outbreaks occurred following the import of 12 horses from the U.S. that cause the abortion to mares, prenatal death, and myeloencephalopathy with fatal case. The study found that the identical virus caused both outbreaks, despite different clinical signs.

The article offers information on several animal diseases caused by botulism in a dairy herd in northern England based on the disease surveillance report for September to October 2011 by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency. It states that Neospora species was linked with abortion on various occasions. It also mentions that bovine babesiosis was determined in four adult cattle at three regional laboratories, and acute fasciolosis was diagnosed in three incidents.

The article looks at the results of the British Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency's disease surveillance report for May 2011. It notes that the cause of two stillbirths in a group of dairy heifers was iodine deficiency. It also notes that the common diagnoses in cattle during the month were ketosis and fatty liver syndrome. Also included are information on respiratory diseases in pigs and health problems found in broilers and broiler breeders.

The article offers an update on outbreaks of animal diseases from April to June 2010. It reports on a widespread epizootic of bluetongue virus serotype 1 (BTV-1) in France. East Asian countries affected by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) serotype O include Japan and South Korea. A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in a barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) was noted by the authorities in Hong Kong, China.

The article offers information concerning communicable diseases of animals in Scotland. It emphasizes that swine flu was confirmed in pigs for the first time in Scotland because of the H1N1 virus. Other cases include bovine respiratory diseases, metabolic and toxic conditions related to the feeding of sheep during extreme weather and starvation and salmonellosis in wild birds. Illustrations of internal organs including lungs and throat of a swine affected with H1N1 are also presented.

The article discusses the equine disease occurrence report of Great Britain's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for the first quarter of 2009. It notes that the vectorborne Equine encephalosis virus (EEV) had caused 42 outbreaks in Israel from October to December 2008. Cases of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) which led to abortion have Croatian authorities apply quarantine and disinfection measures. DEFRA also cites high horse sickness incidence in South Africa.

The article focuses on the international disease monitoring for October to December 2008 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in Great Britain. DEFRA's Food and Farming Group, International Animal Health (FFG-IAH) monitors the outbreak of animal diseases like the African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease in countries that Europe do business with. The FFG-IAH presents an analysis of the threats of the disease to the livestock in Great Britain.

The article offers information about the topics discussed in the surveillance report concerning the outbreak of pseudocowpox and blackspot in cows on a farm in Dumfries, Scotland, by Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services (SAC VS). Included are bovine abortion cases, fasciolosis associated with hypocalcaemia in dairy cows, fourteen outbreaks of pregnancy toxaemia confirmed in sheep flocks, and the increase of chronic fasciolosis in sheep in the first quarter of 2008.

In this paper, data derived from the national database of the Italian surveillance system for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BsE) are used to describe the Italian epidemic of BSE. Two data flows were established to collect the results of active and passive surveillance, and 25 regional laboratories were involved. The National Reference Centre (CEA) was in charge of the data analysis. Crude and age-standardised estimates of the prevalence and incidence of BSE were obtained to describe the distribution of the disease in terms of the main risk factors (age, breed and herd size), year of birth, time of diagnosis and geographical location. The increased risk was calculated in terms of the incidence rate ratio. During the five years since January 2001, 128 cases of BSE were identified in domestic cows and four were identified in imported cattle. All but one of the cases were detected through active surveillance. The risk of the disease was highest in dairy stock and in large herds. The northern regions of Italy had an incidence of BSE 2.6 times higher than the southern regions. There was a clear decline in the age-standardised prevalence, from one positive case per 10,000 tests in 2001 to one per 100,000 tests in 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2001, clinical cases of bluetongue were observed in Kosovo, and in that year and in 2003 and 2004, serum samples were collected from cattle and small ruminants and tested for antibodies to bluetongue virus. The results provide evidence that bluetongue virus was not present in Kosovo before the summer of 2001, but that the virus circulated subclinically among the cattle and sheep populations of Kosovo in 2002, 2003 and 2004. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the cause of the outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 infection in cattle and sheep, with associated human infection in Great Britain. Examination of the cases of acetonaemia and fatty liver syndrome in dairy cattle; Investigation of the seasonal rise in nematodirosis in lambs; Evaluation of the widespread of duck virus enteritis.

Discusses issues related to animal diseases found in the disease surveillance report for January from Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Services in Scotland. Reduction in Salmonella Dublin outbreaks in cattle; Impaction of the forestomach in beef cows; Announcement of measures by the Scottish Executive to reduce the incidence of salmonella in domestic fowl; Plan of the Executive to improve the long-term position of scrapie resistance in Scottish sheep flocks under the National Scrapie Plan.

The foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in Dumfries and Galloway in south-west Scotland comprised 177 infected premises (ups) in 24 geographical clusters, and ran from March 1 until May 23, 2001. Initial seeding of infection was by livestock (predominantly sheep) that had passed through Longtown Market in adjacent Cumbria. Thereafter, spread within existing, and to new, clusters was associated with the movement of personnel and vehicles, with further transmission by Longtown Market contacts and across common boundaries. Sheep and cattle premises were equally affected. After the peak of the epidemic at the beginning of the third week of March, the upper possible limit of attack rates for premises contiguous to IPS, and premises within 3 km, remained around 10 per cent with new clusters emerging more distantly. Control procedures included traditional methods of slaughter of all animals on us and, elsewhere, of animals considered by veterinary assessment to be Dangerous Contacts; movement restrictions; enhanced biosecurity; tracing of potential sources and spread of virus; and surveillance of premises subsequently considered at risk. These methods were supplemented by the novel pre-emptive slaughter, without veterinary assessment of all susceptible livestock on all premises contiguous to ups, and of small ruminants and pigs within a 3 km radius (known as the Protection Zone) around IPS. In total, approximately 80,000 cattle, 564,000 sheep, 2600 pigs and 500 goats were slaughtered, the novel methods accounting for 29 per cent of all cattle and 75 per cent of all sheep killed. Limitations of existing national databases necessitated the development of local databases to administer control procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International animal health standards designed to facilitate safe trade in livestock and livestock products are set by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and documented in the OlE's Terrestrial Animal Health Code. A core principle of the Code is the need for countries to eradicate important transboundary animal diseases (TADs) to reduce the risk of exporting disease to trading partners. International food safety standards are set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, administered jointly by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The goal of global eradication of most TAD5 is unachievable for the foreseeable future, other than in the case of rinderpest, and this prevents many countries, especially developing nations, from engaging in international trade under WTO rules. This paper proposes an alternative, commodity-based approach to the formulation of international animal health and food safety standards, based on the fact that different commodities pose very different risks when it comes to the spread of human and animal pathogens. Therefore, the risk mitigation strategies required are equally commodity-dependent. The authors conclude that more focused commodity standards would improve access to international markets for all countries, especially those in the developing world. For this objective to be realised, credible and independent certification is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summarizes matters discussed in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency's (VLA) disease surveillance report from England and Wales for July 2004. Fatty liver syndrome and displaced abomasum affecting dairy cows; Diseases affecting small ruminants, pigs, bird and miscellaneous animals.

Investigates outbreaks of adenoviral gizzard erosion in slaughtered broiler chickens in Japan. Histological, immunohistochemical and virological diagnoses in the eroded gizzards; Economic losses resulting to gizzard erosions.

Summarizes the international veterinary disease monitoring report for June to September 2003 prepared by the British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs's International Animal Health Division. Foot and mouth disease; Classical swine fever; Identification of bluetongue virus; Disease outbreaks in Europe; Absence of cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Canada following confirmation of a single case in May 2003. INSETS: Enlargement of the European Union.;EU TRACES project..

The article discusses the determination of epidemiological factors that produce the gastrointestinal stasis syndrome of low fecal output, dyslexia and lethargy in rabbits. Study subjects were classified as dwarf lop, long-haired and other breeds for recording of frequency of gut stasis episodes and dental disease. Dietary fiber and carbohydrate variety were not considered in the research due to unreliable owner data.

The article discusses the growth of severe porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) in pigs in the U.S. It mentions the concern of the British pig industry on its outbreak in the country which was confirmed on May 16, 2013 and July 27, 2013. It also notes efforts in raising awareness among veterinary practitioners in Great Britain on the said virus along with its epidemiological movements and measures in reducing the risk of its incursion.

The article discusses a small outbreak of actinobacillosis in adult suckler cows presenting primarily with respiratory tract involvement in Great Britain. Clinical signs of the disease were mentioned, which include stertorous respiratory noise, nasal discharge and parotid lymph node swelling. It also notes that affected cattle had symptoms of chronic rhinitis, and histological examination of the turbinates indicated lesions typical of actinobacillosis caused by Actinobacillus lignieresii.

The article discusses a study which examined the individual animal and herd prevalence of Johne's disease in beef cattle in Orkney, Scotland. A Pourquier enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used in this study. Results of the study showed that the estimated herd prevalence was 34.7%, while the number of farms with at least one ELISA-positive animal was 65.4%. It also found that there was no difference in individual animal or herd prevalence when dairy herds were excluded.

The article presents a short communication on an outbreak of type Clostridium botulism in laying hens. The outbreak affected a group of 7500 Lohmann layer hens housed in a slatted barn. It lasted for 12 weeks. Twelve birds were tested for botulinum toxin. The article cites the ingestion of preformed toxin from carcases of wildlife as the source of toxin in this outbreak.

The article focuses on a study that investigated the efficacy of Lawsonia intracellularis in the prevention of porcine proliferative enteropathy (PE) or ileitis in pigs, in light of the new discoveries and technologies. The researchers identified three progeny farm sites in Australia, known for PE endemic, to receive vaccinated and unvaccinated 8-weeks old pigs. A discussion on the methodology, farm conditions, results, and possible factors which affected the results is also presented.

The article reports on the findings of the equine disease surveillance in Great Britain. Virological results from multiple diagnostic laboratories during the last quarter of 2005 show the occurrence of Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) abortion, EHV-1 respiratory disease and equine influenza in Great Britain. Other diagnostic testing as well as postmortem outcomes are also considered to determine the presence of other infectious disease in the region.

Examines the epidemiology of the camel tick Rhipicephalus muhsamae in the Laikipea District of Kenya. Parts of the body where the ticks were collected; Scanning microscopy of the ticks; Ecological requirements of the tick.

The article discusses the management of mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in gilts. It proposes a targeted timeline for acclimisation of infected young female swine entering a farm by considering two epidemiological features of the disease, such as long persistence and infectious period and low transmission rate. It also considers the effectiveness of vaccination protocols and treatments.

The article presents a review of advances in the understanding of the evolution of Streptococcus equi, the causative agent of the equine disease called strangles, and the different ways to prevent and resolve outbreaks of infection. Topics discussed include the prevalence of the disease in Great Britain as of 2011, the history and recurrence of the disease, and the challenges of detecting infected animals.

The article reports on the determination of the virus strain H5N8 for an avian influenza outbreak in a farm in Yorkshire, England. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs finds the virus strain to have no food chain risk and very low human health risk. The Food Standards Agency advises that bird flu is not a threat to the food safety risk of consumers in Great Britain.

The author reflects on the study by D. Murray and colleagues regarding the use of 'singleton protocol' for bovine tuberculosis (TB) testing. He says that with the singleton protocol, health status of herds, which are meeting epidemiological and probing criteria as singleton herd, could possibly be restored early. He mentions that the findings presented by Murray and colleagues showed lower rate of bovine TB lesions among singleton reactors.

The article focuses on the outbreak of non-healing hoof lesions in grazing herds in Osorno region in southern Chile. It says that the lesions shows little or no response from repeated treatment through paring and topical chlortetracycline. It adds that typical exostoses were found after boiling and examination of the affected amputated claws.

The article discusses the role of veterinarians in responding to disasters by shaping society's attitudes to animals and by lessening the effect of disease. It cites several myths about disasters including one which states that disasters create horrific social and economic conditions. It explains the eradication of rinderpest outbreaks as an example of how veterinarians reduce the impact of disasters.

The article focuses on the growing incidence of meticillin-resistant staphylococcal infection in animals. It notes that most meticillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MSRP) isolates can be found in dogs and cats with skin problems. It points out the challenge posed by MSRP to the control of opportunistic infection in animals. It cites a possible reason behind a reduction in the number of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus cases in animals.

The article discusses the relation between a bovine viral diarrhoea virus type 2 (BVDV-2) in dairy cattle in Belgium and hypervirulent viruses in North America. Outbreaks of severe acute disease caused by BVDV-2 occurred in North America between 1993 and 1995. The cases of a cow which died from uterine and intestinal haemorrhages and a blue bull with mucosal disease are described. The findings obtained from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of the 5' untranslated region (UTR) and nucleoprotein (Npro) region are detailed.

The article reports on the epidemiological investigation over the confirmed cases of classical Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a cow in Ardennes, France.

The article offers updates on British Veterinary Association (BVA) Congresses. The 2008 BVA Congress held in London, England discussed topics on managing disease outbreaks and training of veterinary surgeons. It also offers information on the 2009 BVA Congress in Cardiff, Wales on September 24-26, 2009, which covers issues on pedigree dog breeding and consideration of animal health and welfare policy. Information on awards given in the 2008 BVA Congress like Chiron Award is also noted.

The article reports on the outbreak of the viral disease bluetongue in France. Topics discussed include the bluetongue virus' serotype 8 as the causative agent of the disease, the risk of windborne spread of the disease, and the exposure of Great Britain to windborne midges Culicoides from the outbreak's initial site in Allier, France.

The article discusses the first record of bluetongue virus (BTV) main vector Culicoides imicola in the Basque Country in northern Spain. This insect presents mainly an Afro-Asian distribution, but it was first reported on mainland Europe in southern Spain and southern Portugal. During 2001 and 2002, sampling undertaken as a consequence of the BTV epizootic in the Balearic Islands of Majorca and Menorca in 2000 showed for the first time that C. imicola was present on these two islands.

The article announces that Dr. Iain Anderson will chair the review of the Great Britain's government response to the 2007 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Surrey, England. According to reports, Anderson was asked to review the government's handling of the FMD outbreak to establish whether the relevant points from the report of the 2001 outbreak were implemented, and establish new lessons drawn from the handling of the 2007 outbreak.

The article focuses on an investigation regarding the reported seven outbreaks of suspected botulism in sheep in Great Britain. It covers the reported outbreaks of botulism in England and Wales for the period of 1999 and 2006, which occurred after two days of exposure to poultry litter. Moreover, the article presents a chart that depicts figures mortality and morbidity, clinical signs and symptoms observed, and association with poultry litter.

The article discusses the possible sources of infection for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases in France. The recycling of meat and bone meal has been known as the root cause of the BSE epidemic in cattle. The European Union has prohibited the use of proteins from mammalian tissues in all feedstuffs from June 27, 1994 in order to control the spread of the disease. Such prohibition became a temporary ban on all processed proteins derived from birds, fish, and mammals.