Search

This study aimed to develop a mathematical model describing the dynamics of paratuberculosis (PTB) in red deer (Cervus elaphus) under pastoral farming conditions in New Zealand. The model examined infectivity differences between ovine and bovine strains of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and seasonality of MAP survival. We also evaluate variable use of pasture and the effect of management interventions on the infection prevalence and annual clinical incidence of PTB. A state-transition model was developed and calibrated to observed data on both prevalence of infection and incidence of clinical PTB. To accommodate specific PTB features for deer, the model included a fast and a slow track for progression of infection to disease. MAP on pasture was the source for horizontal transmission and infected dams for vertical transmission. In the presence of a single strain, an infectivity reduction of up to 80% allowed MAP to persist in the herd (R(0)>1). For mixed infection by two strains however, a 30% reduction in infectivity of one strain was sufficient to outcompete a strain with lower infectivity, suggesting that mixed infection of MAP strains with different infectivity may not be common in deer. The model showed that seasonal variation of MAP survival on pasture had little impact on transmission dynamics, and that rotational grazing with pasture spelling vs. permanent grazing of the same paddock reduced both infection prevalence and clinical PTB by about 50%. Based on model outputs, early detection of young deer in a high-shedding state was the most effective means of controlling PTB among the tested scenarios., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A case control study on farm level was conducted at the Clinic for Ruminants, LMU Munich, to identify possible risk factors associated with the observed increase in numbers of calves showing clinical signs of Bovine Neonatal Pancytopenia (BNP) since 2006 in southern Germany. Interviews were conducted between August 2008 and June 2010. The characteristics of 56 dairy farms with at least one confirmed case of BNP (thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia and/or typical findings in post-mortem examination and bone marrow histology) were compared with those of two sets of 50 control dairy farms each, with no history of BNP. The first set of 50 control farms was selected randomly from veterinary practices which had never observed a BNP case on the farms they serviced. The second set of 50 control farms was matched by the veterinary practices which had provided case farms. Two separate analyses were conducted: (1) case farms (n=56) vs. randomly selected control farms (n=50) and (2) case farms (n=56) vs. a matched set of control farms (n=50). All variables with p<0.2 in the univariable analysis were included in stepwise logistic regression models. In the first analysis, only the use of PregSure(®) BVD vaccine was positively associated with BNP with an odds ratio of 1292 (95% CI: 114-14707). In the second analysis, conditional logistic regression models did not converge, therefore non-conditional logistic regression models were conducted. In the non-conditional analysis five variables remained in the model, three of which were negatively associated with BNP: the use of vitamin E and selenium, the frequent use of mastitis tubes, and the use of stem growth regulators in grain production. The use of prophylactic measures (such as control of parasites or vaccination of calves against respiratory disease) was positively associated with BNP with an odds ratio of 14.3 as well as the use of PregSure(®) BVD vaccine with an odds ratio of 426 (95% CI: 20-9095)., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A clinical trial was undertaken to assess the efficacy of Bovilis(®) Neoguard, a killed Neospora caninum tachyzoite vaccine on 5 commercial dairy farms in New Zealand with a history of Neospora-associated abortion. Cattle were enrolled in the trial at 30-60 days of gestation and randomly allocated to treatment or control groups. Treatment consisted of 5 mL doses of Bovilis Neoguard administered subcutaneously at enrolment then 4 weeks later. Isotonic saline was administered to the control group. Of 2246 cattle enrolled in the trial, 10.7% of cows and 12.6% of heifers were seropositive to N. caninum. Sampling of a randomly selected proportion of enrolled animals 6 weeks after the second treatment showed that 188/232 (81.0%) vaccinated with Bovilis(®) Neoguard had seroconverted, while 11/130 (8.5%) cows and 10/36 (27.8%) heifers in the control group had seroconverted. Forty-eight vaccinated and 63 control animals aborted. On one farm 12.5% of control animals and 6.1% of vaccinated animals aborted (vaccine efficacy 0.61; p=0.03). On another farm with a high level of abortion 8.4% of control animals and 8.7% of vaccinates aborted. On the remaining 3 farms fewer abortions occurred than expected. A modified Poisson regression approach was used to calculate relative risks for abortion and vertical transmission. Overall vaccine efficacy was 0.25 (p=0.12). Heifer replacement calves from the animals enrolled in the trial were sampled for antibodies to N. caninum at 6-9 months of age. Fourteen of 17 calves from vaccinated, seropositive cows were seropositive as were 13/23 calves from seropositive cows in the control group. The interaction between dam serostatus and treatment group was significant (p=0.05) with vaccination increasing the risk of vertical transmission. It was concluded that vaccination after conception prevented 61% abortions in one of five herds and that vaccination may have increased the risk of early embryonic death., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

SIFamides form a group of highly conserved neuropeptides in insects, crustaceans, and chelicerates. Beyond their biochemical commonalities, the neuroanatomical distribution of SIFamide in the insect nervous system also shows a remarkable degree of conservation. Thus, expression of SIFamide has been found to be restricted to four neurons of the pars intercerebralis in different holometabolous species. By means of immunohistological stainings, we here show that in Manduca sexta, those four cells are complemented by additional immunoreactive cells located in the vicinity of the mushroom body calyx. Immunopositive processes form arborizations throughout the brain, innervating major neuropils like the antennal lobes, the central complex, and the optic neuropils.

Background: Weight-based victimization has become increasingly reported among overweight youth, but little is known about adolescents' perceptions and observations of weight-based teasing and bullying. This study examined adolescents' observations of and reactions to weight-based victimization toward overweight students at school., Methods: Adolescents (N = 1555) at 2 high schools in central Connecticut completed a questionnaire that examined their perceptions of how common weight-based victimization is compared to other forms of teasing at school, what types of weight-based teasing are frequently observed, who typical perpetrators of weight-based victimization are, and their own reactions to observed teasing incidents. Participants also completed the Fat Phobia Scale., Results: Participants perceived being overweight as a primary reason that peers are victimized at school. At least 84% of participants observed overweight students being teased in a mean way and teased during physical activities, and 65% to 77% of students observed overweight and obese peers being ignored, avoided, excluded from social activities, having negative rumors spread about them, and being teased in the cafeteria. Most students also observed verbal threats and physical harassment toward overweight and obese students. Although the majority of participants felt comfortable stepping in to help an overweight peer who has been teased, many remain passive bystanders following these incidents., Conclusion: Youth perceive frequent and multiple forms of weight-based victimization. Schools' efforts to address weight bias and assist overweight and obese students are important., (© 2011, American School Health Association.)

Aim: To investigate the effect of leptospiral vaccination against serovars Hardjo-bovis and Pomona on fetal loss and weaning percentage in rising 2-year-old farmed red deer hinds., Methods: In mid-February 2007, 252 rising 2-year-old hinds on four farms received a single dose of streptomycin (25 mg/kg), to minimise leptospiral infection. They were randomly allocated to vaccinated and control groups. Vaccinated hinds (n=125) received a 2-ml S/C injection of a bivalent whole-cell killed leptospiral vaccine (Leptavoid-2) followed by a booster 4-6 weeks later, and were grazed with control hinds (n=127). These animals were isolated from other hinds on each property, until after mating (June 2007), when all vaccinated and control hinds were combined with hinds not treated with streptomycin, for maximum exposure to natural leptospiral challenge. Evidence of natural challenge by Leptospira spp. was assessed in blood samples from control hinds by serology against L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo-bovis and L. interrogans serovar Pomona, using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), and in hinds not treated with streptomycin by detection of shedding of organisms in urine, using bacterial culture and real-time PCR. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out in May/June 2007, using transrectal ultrasonography, to determine conception. In late October, prior to calving, the pregnant vaccinated and control hinds were examined by palpation of the abdomen and udder, to determine the percentage of hinds pregnant at term and assess fetal loss. In March 2008, at weaning, vaccinated and control hinds were examined for lactation status, using observation and palpation of the udder. The differences between the groups were evaluated using matched logistic regression analysis., Results: After mating, pregnancy was diagnosed in 97/125 (77.6%) vaccinated and 106/127 (83.5%) control hinds. All four farms had serological evidence of Hardjo-bovis infection, and a single hind was serologically positive for Pomona between October and March. Real-time PCR confirmed urinary shedding on two farms. The mean percentage of hinds pregnant at term, for those animals confirmed pregnant after mating, in the vaccinated and control groups was 95/97 (98%) (range 95-100%) and 103/106 (97%) (range 94-100%), respectively (p>0.05). The mean weaning percentage for vaccinated and control groups was 86/97 (89%) (range 78-95%) and 88/106 (83%) (range 76-88%), respectively (p=0.015)., Conclusion: Vaccination for leptospirosis resulted in no difference in the percentage of hinds pregnant at term, but a higher weaning percentage compared with unvaccinated controls suggesting that vaccination reduced perinatal and/or pre-weaning mortality.

A SYTO9 real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. based on amplification of DNA gyrase subunit B (gyrB) gene has been optimized and evaluated for sensitivity and specificity on kidney and urine samples of New Zealand farmed deer. The detection limit was 10(3) cells/ml (2-10 copies/reaction). Comparison of the assay on deer kidneys (n = 268) with culture as the gold standard revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 99.2%, respectively. For deer urine (n = 113), the assay was compared with known inoculated samples and revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 96.7% and 100%, respectively. The assay was applied for quantifying pathogenic leptospires shed naturally in deer urine and revealed a detectable concentration of 3.7 × 10(3) to 1.7 × 10(6) cells/ml. To assess the assay's capability for identifying pathogenic Leptospira spp., 14 field isolates of L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo-bovis and L. interrogans serovar Pomona were amplified for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product, purified, and sequenced. When compared with the National Center for Biotechnology Information database, sequence data matched with L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo-bovis in 13 samples and L. interrogans serovar Pomona in 1 sample, which was consistent with the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Sequence analysis of purified PCR product amplified directly from kidney and urine samples also yielded serovar-comparable MAT results. Results suggest that the assay is rapid, sensitive, and specific for detection of pathogenic leptospires in deer clinical samples. The developed assay can also be used for estimating the concentration of leptospires and identifying Leptospira spp. in combination with DNA sequencing.

Aims: To test equivalence between two different cephalonium dry-cow therapy (DCT) products with regard to the incidence of bacteriological cure of existing infections of quarters, the incidence of new intramammary infections (IMI) from 2-5 days postpartum and the incidence of clinical mastitis from drying-off to 21 days postpartum., Methods: All cows (n=1,570) on four commercial dairy farms in Southland were eligible for inclusion. Power analysis using a variance inflation factor indicated a required minimum of 2,101 quarters per treatment group. Cows were blocked by herd, parity, previous history of mastitis and most recent somatic cell count (SCC), and then randomly allocated to either of two cephalonium treatments at the cow level, viz the treatment group (new formulation cephalonium) or the positive control group (existing reference formulation cephalonium). All quarters within a cow were assigned the same treatment. Samples collected from all quarters with a SCC ≥500,000 cells/mL at drying-off, and those with a positive culture postpartum were cultured, as well as samples from all quarters collected between 2-5 days postpartum. All cases of mastitis were recorded and sampled for culture. The risk of quarter-level incidence of bacteriological cure, IMI and clinical mastitis was modelled using a GLM and generalised estimating equation (GEE), including the effects of treatment group, age,farm, udder-health status at drying-off and length of dry period., Results: For 829 infected quarters, the estimated incidence of bacteriological cure for all pathogens was 78.0 (95% CI=64.3-91.6)% for the treatment group and 75.7 (95% CI=61.6-89.8)% for the positive control group (p=0.71). Incidence of cure varied with the farm (p=0.001), type of pathogen pre-treatment (p=0.009) and log(10)SCC at drying-off (p<0.001). For 4,530 quarters, the estimated incidence of new IMI, with any pathogen, for treatment and positive control groups was 16.1 (95% CI=13.1-19.7)% and 16.0 (95% CI=13.0-19.5)% respectively (p=0.91). Incidence of IMI varied with farm (p<0.001), pathogen and SCC status before treatment (p<0.001), and length of the dry period (in days) (p<0.001). For 5,136 quarters, the estimated incidence of clinical mastitis was 1.0 (95% CI=0.5-1.7)% in the treatment group and 1.1 (95% CI=0.6-2.0)% in the positive control group (p=0.64)., Conclusions: Use of the two different cephalonium products at drying-off in four dairy herds in Southland resulted in equivalence with respect to incidence of bacteriological cure of existing infections, incidence of new IMI postpartum, and incidence of clinical mastitis in early lactation.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of Leptospira spp. and possible novel serovar Arborea infection in farmed deer in New Zealand., Methods: In September 2006, five serum samples from a serum bank from each of 70 farms sampled for a previous national prevalence survey were forwarded to the World Health Organisation/Food and Agriculture Organisation/World Organisation for Animal Health (WHO/FAO/OIE) reference laboratory for leptospirosis in Brisbane, Australia, to test for reactivity to a reference panel of 23 serovars, most believed to be exotic to New Zealand, using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Eleven farms were seropositive for Arborea, a serovar novel to New Zealand. In July 2007, 126 additional banked serum samples from nine of those 11 farms (n=8-20/farm) were sent to the reference laboratory for similar serology. Two farms in the Southland region were considered positive for serovar Arborea. Tissue from deer kidneys (n=43) from these two farms collected at a deer slaughter premises (DSP) was cultured in November 2007 and November 2008. Sera from those deer were also sent to the laboratory in Brisbane., Results: From the initial 350 sera, 96 (27.4%) and 19 (5.4%) samples were positive for Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo-bovis and Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona respectively. There were cross-reactions between serovar Hardjo-bovis with serovars Medanensis and Szwajizak. Serological evidence of serovars Tarassovi, Grippotyphosa, Celledoni, Australis, Zanoni, Robinsoni, Canicola, Kremastos, Bulgarica, Cynopteri, Ballum, Bataviae, Djasiman, Javanica, Panama, Shermani and Topaz was negative or sporadic, generally with titres of 1:50 and therefore likely non-specific. Fourteen (4.0%) samples from 11 farms were positive for serovar Arborea, justifying further investigation. The prevalence of serovar Arborea was 15% and 30% on two farms, from the 126 samples. None of 43 kidney and serum samples collected subsequently from those two farms were positive by culture or serology for serovar Arborea., Conclusions: While there were samples serologically positive for serovar Arborea in deer, attempts to isolate the organism were unsuccessful. The sample size for the follow-up investigation was insufficient to validate the presence or absence of infection, so further study should be undertaken to verify the status of this serovar of Leptospira spp. in New Zealand, in both deer and other livestock species.

This study estimated the frequency of exposure of meat workers to carcasses infected with Leptospira serovars Hardjobovis or Pomona in a sheep-only abattoir in New Zealand. A stochastic spreadsheet model was developed to assess the daily risk of exposure of eviscerators, meat inspectors and offal handlers to live leptospires in sheep carcasses from May to November 2004 (high-risk period), and from December 2004 to June 2005 (low-risk period). The average sheep processed per day were 225 for an eviscerator, 374 for a meat inspector, and 1123 for an offal handler. The median daily exposures during high- and low-risk periods were 11 [95% distribution interval (DI) 5-19] and three (95% DI 1-8) infected carcasses/day for eviscerators, 18 (95% DI 9-29) and six (95% DI 2-12) for meat inspectors, and 54 (95% DI 32-83) and 18 (95% DI 8-31) for offal handlers, respectively. Stochastic risk modelling provided evidence that processing of sheep carcasses exposed meat workers regularly to live leptospires with substantial seasonal variation.

Accounting standards for valuing goodwill and intangible assets are becoming more rigorous for not-for-profit organizations: Not-for-profit healthcare organizations need to test for goodwill impairment at least annually. Impairment testing is a two-stage process: initial analysis to determine whether impairment exists and subsequent calculation of the magnitude of impairment. Certain "triggering" events compel all organizations--whether for-profit or not-for-profit--to perform an impairment test for goodwill or intangible assets.

Microdeletions of 1q41q42 have recently been classified as a syndrome. Features include significant developmental delay and characteristic dysmorphic features as well as cleft palate, clubfeet, seizures, and short stature in some individuals, with a clinical diagnosis of Fryns syndrome in two individuals with congenital diaphragmatic hernia at the severe end of the spectrum. The gene DISP1, which is involved in sonic hedgehog signaling, has been proposed as a candidate for the midline defects in this syndrome. We undertook a genotype-phenotype analysis of seven previously unreported individuals with deletions of 1q41q42 that range from 777 kb to 6.87 Mb. Three of the individuals in our cohort do not display the major features of the syndrome and have more proximal deletions that only overlap with the previously described 1q41q42 smallest region of overlap (SRO) at DISP1. One individual with several features of the syndrome has a more distal deletion that excludes DISP1. The three remaining individuals have larger deletions that include the entire SRO and demonstrate features of the microdeletion syndrome. Confounding genotype-phenotype correlations, one of the small deletions involving DISP1 was inherited from a phenotypically normal parent. DISP1 haploinsufficiency may not be solely responsible for the major features of 1q41q42 microdeletion syndrome, and other genes in the SRO likely play a role in the phenotype. Additionally, some features present in a minority of individuals, such as Pelger-Huët anomaly, may be attributed to deletions of genes outside of the SRO., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To examine attitudes, priorities, and constraints pertaining to herd reproductive management perceived by farmers managing seasonal-calving, pasture-based dairy herds in four regions of New Zealand, and to explore how these varied with demographic and biophysical factors., Methods: Key decision makers (KDM) on 133 dairy herds in four dairy regions (Waikato, Taranaki, and north and south Canterbury) were interviewed between May and July 2009. They were asked to provide demographic and biophysical data about the farm, and to rate their attitude in relation to their own personality traits, management issues and priorities, and likely constraints affecting reproductive performance in their herds. Associations between demographic factors and attitudes, priorities and constraints were analysed using univariable and multivariable proportional-odds regression models., Results: Farms in the regions studied in the South Island were larger, had larger herds and more staff than farms in the regions studied in the North Island. The farms in the South Island were more likely to be owned by a corporation, managed by younger people or people who had more education, and the herds were more likely to be fed a higher percentage of supplementary feed. The majority of KDM rated the current genetics, milksolids performance and reproductive performance of their herds as high or very high, and >70% believed that the reproductive performance had remained the same or improved over the preceding 3 years. Despite this, improving reproductive performance was the most highly rated priority for the next 3 years. The constraints considered most likely to have affected reproductive performance in the last 2 years were anoestrous cows, protracted calving periods, and low body condition scores; those considered least likely were artificial breeding and heat detection. Of the variables examined related to attitudes, priorities and likely constraints, there were significant differences between region for 10/40, and with age and occupation of the KDM for 24/40 and 5/40, respectively (p<0.05)., Conclusions: The majority of KDM reported the current reproductive performance of their herds to be high or very high, yet rated improving reproductive performance as a very high priority for the next 3 years. Mismatch between perceived and actual performance may result in reduced uptake of extension programmes designed to improve performance, and accurate benchmarking may help increase uptake and engagement. Further work is needed to determine whether the attitudes and perceptions about performance of farmers affect the likelihood of changes in their management behaviour which translate to measurable change in the actual reproductive performance of their herds. The variation in attitude, priorities and perceived constraints among age groups and region indicates that design of extension programmes may need to vary with these demographics.

A retrospective cohort study involving 137 dairy herds randomly selected from all 390 participating in the Victorian Test and Control Program for bovine Johne's disease was undertaken to gain insight into the relationships between calf rearing practices and the occurrence of bovine Johne's disease on infected dairy farms. Each study farm was visited between July 2005 and January 2006 and a structured survey examining herd management and calf rearing practices was completed. The resultant data, along with information from annual herd testing for Johne's disease and records of clinical Johne's disease diagnosed in the herd, from May 1990 to March 2008, were analysed. Factors associated with time to the birth of the animal that was the first home-bred clinical case of Johne's disease or ELISA positive animal born after the second annual whole herd test in the herd were investigated using survival analysis methods. The publicly-subsidised Test and Control Program commenced in 1996. On the 1st of July 2003 the program was modified with more rigorous and externally audited calf rearing requirements introduced for all participants. The more stringent calf rearing requirements introduced in July 2003 appear to have translated into significantly reduced disease transmission within the infected study herds., (Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Accounting Standard Codification Topic 958 (formerly Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 164), Not-for-Profit Entities: Mergers and Acquisitions, applies to mergers and acquisitions as early as Jan. 1, 2010, for calendar-year entities. Not-for-profit organizations need to move to fair value accounting, with a focus on the valuation of intangible assets. Noncompliance could cause a hospital's auditors to issue a qualified report, which could lead to difficulties obtaining bank and bond financing.

To quantify the sensitivity and specificity of a serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and fecal culture (FC) tests and to estimate the prevalence of Johne's disease (JD) in New Zealand dairy herds using Bayesian methods, 4 New Zealand dairy herds were tested simultaneously by ELISA and FC 5 times over 3 lactations. Test results were dichotomized. A Bayesian regression model was developed that considered test sensitivity as a function of the covariates parity, lactation stage, and prevalence of JD, which is expected to vary between herds. It was applied to a cross-sectional subset of the data and the full, repeated measures data set. Results were compared with frequentist pseudo gold standard results of the full data. Using the regression model, sensitivity of the ELISA was higher in older animals, but the sensitivity of the FC test showed no trend across age groups. Both FC and ELISA sensitivity were lower in late lactation. Estimated prevalence was lower and FC sensitivity higher when analyzing the complete data. The regression model enabled a more accurate diagnosis of JD to be made because it incorporated cow-specific information in the diagnosis, such as age and lactation stage. The model also enabled the incorporation of previous test results for an individual when diagnosing disease. The trends in results from the regression model support the current understanding of the disease process. The advantage of repeated testing of individuals in the assessment of test performance is discussed in the current study.

Aims: To undertake a pilot study to measure the sero-prevalence to Leptospira serovars Hardjo and Pomona in an occupationally exposed group. To evaluate worker age, sex and previous clinical episodes of leptospirosis as risk factors for sero-positivity., Methods: A cross-sectional sero-prevalence study was conducted in February and March 2008 at a predominantly sheep slaughterhouse in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. A single blood sample was collected from 242 meatworkers, comprising 145 men and 97 women. Sera were tested by the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) with a titre cut point of 1:24, using serovars Pomona and Hardjo as antigens. Age, sex, and details of previous clinical episodes of leptospirosis were recorded., Results: Overall sero-prevalence was 9.5%. Ten (4.1%) workers were positive to serovar Hardjo (titres 1:24-1:192), 13 (5.4%) were positive to serovar Pomona (titres 1:24-1:768), and one worker was positive for both serovars. Sero-prevalence was 13.1% and 4.1% in men and women, respectively. The median age for sero-positive workers was 54 years while that for sero-negative workers was 48 years. Twenty-three workers (9.5%) reported a leptospirosis disease episode 1-35 years previously, and 14 of those were sero-positive in the current study., Conclusion: The sero-prevalence observed suggests significant exposure to leptospirosis from sheep in meatworkers in the slaughterhouse studied. This sero-prevalence was similar to that reported in a survey in 1982. Further study is needed to determine the link between sero-prevalence and incidence, whether the prevalence of leptospirosis is similar in other slaughterhouses, and to develop a better understanding of risk factors important for the reduction of exposure of this occupationally acquired disease.

Background: Several studies have examined attitudes about obesity among food and nutrition professionals, yielding mixed results, and no experimental research has tested the impact of dietitians' attitudes on their treatment practices or health evaluations with obese patients., Objective: This study investigated attitudes of dietetics students toward obese persons and tested whether a patient's body weight influences students' treatment decisions and health evaluations within a randomized experiment., Design: Between the months of September and December 2007, a convenience sample of 182 dietetics undergraduate students (92% women; mean age 23.1+/-5.4 years) from colleges throughout the United States completed online self-report surveys to assess weight bias (using the Fat Phobia Scale). Participants were also randomly assigned to read one of four mock health profiles of patients who varied only by weight-related characteristics (eg, obese or average weight) and sex (male or female), and asked to make judgments about the patient's health status and participation in treatment., Statistical Analyses Performed: To compare group data, multiple analysis of variance was used to test for an effect of the patient's body mass index on participants' health evaluations and their perceptions of patients in each of the four experimental conditions. Correlations were calculated between mean fat phobia scores and perceptions of patients., Results: Participants in all conditions expressed a moderate amount of fat phobia (mean=3.7), and students rated obese patients as being less likely to comply with treatment recommendations compared with nonobese patients (P<0.05). Results from multivariate analysis of variance tests showed students also evaluated obese patients' diet quality and health status to be poorer than nonobese patients, despite equivalent nutritional and health information across weight categories for each sex in patient profiles. In contrast, obese and nonobese patients were rated to be similarly motivated, receptive, and successful in treatment., Conclusion: Implications of these findings for education and intervention in dietetics training are discussed, with emphasis on increasing awareness of weight bias in existing dietetics curricula.

Aim: To investigate associations between both farm management factors and breed of dairy cow, and the incidence of farmer-observed clinical Johne's disease (JD) on dairy farms in four major dairying regions in the North Island of New Zealand., Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted to identify associations between both farm management practices and breed of dairy cow, and the incidence of clinical cases of JD suspected by farmers, on dairy farms in the Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington-Manawatu-Wanganui, and Wairarapa regions of New Zealand. Using multinomial logistic regression, the frequency of management practices was compared between farms on which no clinical cases of JD were observed, farms on which the observed incidence was low, and farms on which the observed incidence was high., Results: Of the 427 responding farmers, 201 (47%) had suspected clinical cases of JD in their herd in the preceding 5 years. Only 56/427 (13%) farmers observed an average annual incidence of >0.5 cases/100 cows during this period. Ninety percent (203/225) of farmers that had not observed clinical cases and 21% (42/201) of farmers that had observed clinical cases did not consider the disease a serious problem. Farmers and veterinarians had a moderate level of agreement regarding the JD status of a farm. Their perceptions were in agreement for 86% (38/44) of the high-incidence herds for which both a farmer's and a veterinarian's perception were available. The presence of Jersey cows in the herd and the purchase of bulls were most strongly associated with the incidence of clinical JD. Grazing calves in the hospital paddock, purchase of a large percentage of heifers, larger-than-average herds within our sample, and the use of induction were also positively associated with JD. Farmers who ensured heifers were at least 2 years old, rather than younger, when mixed with adult stock were likely to observe fewer cases of clinical JD., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: The annual incidence of farmer-observed clinical cases of JD was low, and the disease was generally regarded as of little importance by farmers. Farmers that had a high proportion of Jersey cows or that purchased bulls from either one or more than four sources were most likely to report clinical cases of JD. Management practices that could aid in the control of JD are the purchase of bulls free of JD, ensuring that calves do not graze in the hospital paddock, and ensuring that young stock are at least 2 years old prior to contact with adult stock.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of the two most commonly diagnosed pathogenic Leptospira spp. serovars, Hardjobovis and Pomona, in sheep in a sheep-only abattoir in New Zealand, and to determine the prevalence of kidneys which were leptospire culture-positive collected from sheep seropositive or seronegative to the microscopic agglutination test (MAT)., Methods: A repeated cross-sectional observational study was conducted of serological and kidney culture prevalences of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjobovis and Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona. Lines of sheep and individual sheep were systematically randomly selected at a sheep-only abattoir during 18 May 2004 to November 2004 and 06 December 2004 to 14 June 2005. Additionally, a cross-sectional study examined prevalences in a purposively selected line of sheep from a flock with clinical evidence of an outbreak of leptospirosis., Results: In the study population of 15,855 sheep of which 2,758 were sampled, 5.7 (95% CI=4.9-6.7)% were seropositive to one or both serovars; 44.2 (95% CI=34.6-54.2)% of 95 lines of sheep and 44.9 (95% CI=35.0-55.3)% of 89 farms showed serological evidence of infection. The serological prevalence of serovar Hardjobovis was significantly higher than that of serovar Pomona both at line (33% and 4%, respectively) and individual (5% and 1%, respectively) levels. A low but persistent seroprevalence of Hardjobovis throughout both years suggested low-level endemicity to this serovar, whereas Pomona infections appeared to be sporadic. Leptospires were isolated from kidneys of 8/37 (22%) Hardjobovis- and 1/6 (17%) Pomona-seropositive, and 5/499 (1%) seronegative animals. Of the animals purposively sampled from a farm with a clinical outbreak of leptospirosis, all kidneys from the 13 seropositive animals were culture-positive, indicating a high risk of exposure of meat workers in outbreak situations. Kidneys of MAT-seropositive sheep were 21.7 (95% CI=7.6-61.9) times more likely to test culture-positive than kidneys from animals with negative MAT titres. In general, the results indicated that 13/1,000 sheep slaughtered were potentially shedding leptospires., Conclusions: The study demonstrated the presence of a definite risk of occupational exposure of meat workers in a sheep-only slaughterhouse to the two most commonly diagnosed pathogenic Leptospira spp. serovars in New Zealand.

Comparative analyses of neuroanatomical characters can make valuable contributions to the inference of phylogenetic relationships. Whereas investigations in this field are numerous for arthropods, in-depth studies on other protostomes are sparse. Here, we provide a survey of the internal neuroarchitecture of the brain of the aciculate ragworm Nereis diversicolor (Polychaeta, Annelida). Descriptions are based on confocal laser scanning microscope analyses of brain sections labeled with the nuclear marker DAPI and antibodies raised against FMRF-amide, serotonin, and histamine. Autofluorescence of the nervous tissue has been utilized to further elucidate the anatomical structures of the brain. The architecture of two major brain compartments, i.e., the paired mushroom bodies and the central optic neuropil, is described in detail. The findings are compared with existent literature on polychaete neuroanatomy and on arthropod neuroanatomy, and possible phylogenetic implications are outlined.

Aim: To use disease modelling to inform a response team about the number of animals per herd/flock to be examined, and the start date and duration of clinical surveillance required to be confident that foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was not present on an island in New Zealand with a population of approximately 1,600 cattle, 10,000 sheep and a small number of pigs, goats and alpacas., Methods: Because the probability of detecting clinical disease in (the) primary case(s) in larger herds and flocks was extremely low, deterministic and stochastic mathematical SLIR (susceptible, latent, infectious, recovered) models for the transmission of infection were constructed to estimate the date when clinical lesions in herds and flocks would be detected with 95% confidence. Surveillance targeted the first wave of infections following a suspect index case., Results: If 70 cattle in herds of about 400 cattle were examined it was estimated it would take approximately 13 (90% stochastic range 9-19) days from first exposure before it would be possible to achieve 95% confidence for detecting clinical signs for a low-virulence virus, and 9 (7-14) days for a high-virulence virus. The duration of sufficiently accurate clinical detection was 17 (15-19) days and 13 (12-14) days for low- and high-virulence viruses, respectively. A sample of 70 sheep from flocks of >1,000 would be required to achieve clinical detection at about the same time but with a shorter period of detection than for cattle. The duration of effective detection could be increased by examining a larger sample in most sheep flocks, however the small size of many cattle herds in the study population limited the confidence of detecting group-level disease in cattle, therefore necessitating repeated herd inspections. The model suggested that group-level detection was not feasible if it was based on elevated body temperature alone because of short durations of fever in infected animals., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Simulation modelling is a useful and powerful tool for informing ongoing surveillance activities in the face of an exotic disease incursion. Results of modelling suggested to start clinical inspection activities at 4 days and to continue regular inspection twice a week for about 35 days after the date of first exposure, to satisfy the required 95% confidence threshold of clinical detection of FMD in cattle herds and sheep flocks.

An exported 22 kDa putative lipoprotein was identified in an alkaline phosphatase gene fusion library of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and expressed in Mycobacterium smegmatis. The full nucleic acid sequence of the gene encoding P22 was determined and the ORF was cloned into a mycobacterial expression vector, enabling full-length P22 to be produced as a C-terminal polyhistidine-tagged protein in M. smegmatis. N-terminal sequencing of the recombinant protein confirmed cleavage of a signal sequence. Native P22 was detected in culture supernatants and cell sonicates of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis strain 316F using rabbit antibody raised to recombinant P22. Investigation of the presence of similar genes in other mycobacterial species revealed that the gene was present in Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium and similar genes existed in Mycobacterium intracellulare and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum. Database searches showed that P22 belonged to the LppX/LprAFG family of mycobacterial lipoproteins also found in Mycobacterium leprae and in members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. P22 shared less than 75% identity to these proteins. Recombinant P22 was able to elicit interferon-gamma secretion in blood from eight of a group of nine sheep vaccinated with a live attenuated strain of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis (strain 316F) compared to none from a group of five unvaccinated sheep. Antibody to P22 was detected by Western blot analysis in 10 out of 11 vaccinated sheep, in two out of two clinically affected cows and in 11 out of 13 subclinically infected cows.

Four years after the release of Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in New Zealand, we conducted a mail survey of farmers to ascertain their attitudes and practices about rabbit control. A multistage sampling frame (stratified by rabbit-proneness and farm type) was used to select 828 farms in eight geographical regions. The useable response proportion of the survey was 69.3%, and 21% of respondents considered rabbits to be a problem on their farms. Although practices for rabbit control had changed from 1995 to 2001, shooting (practised by 85% of respondents) remained the predominant method used (albeit less frequently than in 1995). Ten percent of farmers used RHDV baiting; of those, 90% released the virus relatively infrequently. Farmers perceived shooting to be the most-humane and environmentally safe method, while RHDV was perceived to be the most effective. Perception of the level of competition for grazing between rabbits and livestock was the factor most-strongly associated with the use of shooting and RHDV. Most (60%) respondents considered the introduction of RHDV to have been beneficial.

This article summarises the most relevant data of presentations delivered at the 19th International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP)held in New Orleans, LA, USA, from 10 to 14 August 2003) in a symposium session on bovine neosporosis. The symposium was organised by Juan Muñoz-Bielsa,Wicher Holland, Enzo Foccoliand Theo Schetters (chairman). The focus was on the present state of knowledge of the biology, epidemiology(presented by J.P. Dubey) and immunology of Neospora infection (presented by A. Adrianarivo),with special emphasis on the prospects of vaccination of cattle against Neospora-induced abortion (presentations of K. Frankena (Costa Rican trial) and C. Heuer (New Zealand trial)).

Twelve trials designed to test the effect of monensin on milk production were carried out at eight different research farms. Data from these studies were evaluated for effects of monensin on health and reproduction. Monensin was added to the concentrate starting either 2 wk before (293 cows) or 5 wk after calving (601 cows) for periods ranging 16 to 37 wk. Applied after calving, the incidence of clinical mastitis was reduced in the monensin-treated animals. Monensin decreased the rate of intramammary infection (approximated by a change from below to above 250,000 somatic cells in milk) in first lactation heifers by 13%. Indicated by an adjusted incidence rate ratio of 0.58 (P = 0.03), the case incidence of noninfectious lameness decreased from 31% in control cows to 18% in cows receiving monensin before calving. The time from calving to first service was shorter for cows fed monensin before calving. Monensin reduced calving to conception intervals in cows with endometritis during the pretreatment period. No significant effects of monensin were observed for the duration of intra mammory infection (somatic cells in milk above 250,000), infectious lameness, endometritis, cystic ovarian disease, a summary category of 'other diseases,' times from calving to first observed estrus, and from first service to conception.

The objective of this study was to review the possible relationships between hyperketonemia and the function of phagocytes with respect to the bovine udder defense mechanism. We hypothesize that an increased incidence of clinical mastitis in high-producing cows is caused by the impairment of the udder defense mechanism during hyperketonemia. First, we review the acute phase of udder defense mechanisms after intramammary infection. The physiological changes of cows in negative energy balance are subsequently discussed. Finally, possible relationships between udder defense and physiological changes during negative energy balance, especially hyperketonemia, are reviewed. The three stages of an acute phase of udder defense are: (1) immediately eliminating invading pathogens by phagocytes, (2) releasing inflammatory substances, especially chemoattractants, and (3) migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the infected udder. Leukocytes from hyperketonemia subjects show a lower capacity of the phagocytic defense mechanism. In addition, the phagocytic and bactericidal capacities of neutrophils are reduced when these cells are acting in the presence of high concentrations of ketone bodies. Lower amounts of cytokine production after bacterial infection are observed in ketotic subjects. The chemotactic capacity of blood leukocytes is impaired in leukocytes obtained from ketotic cows. Lower numbers of blood leukocytes are observed in ketotic cows. In conclusion, the impairment of the udder defense mechanism in negative energy balance cows seems related to hyperketonemia.

Neuronavigation, today a routine method in neurosurgery, has not yet been systematically assessed in direct comparison with conventional microsurgical techniques. The aim of the present study was the direct comparison of the impact of neuronavigation on glioblastoma surgery regarding time consumption, extent of tumor removal and survival. For each of 52 patients operated for primary glioblastoma with neuronavigation, a patient operated on without navigation was matched. Completeness of tumor resection, including volumetric analysis, was examined by early post-operative MRI. Operating and survival times were obtained for all patients. At a rate of 86.5%, surgeons' opinions about neuronavigation were positive. Operating times were identical in the two groups, while preparation times were 30.4 min longer with navigation. Radiological radicality was achieved in 31% of navigation cases vs. 19% in conventional operations. The absolute and relative residual tumor volumes were significantly lower with neuronavigation. Radical tumor resection was associated with a highly significant prolongation in survival (median 18.3 vs. 10.3 months, p < 0.0001). Survival was longer in patients operated on using neuronavigation (median 13.4 vs. 11.1 months). Neuronavigation increases radicality in glioblastoma resection without prolonging operating time. Regarding the problem of brain shift, neuronavigation should be optimized by intraoperative real-time imaging.

From investigations of smoking habits, which included information about onset of smoking, we have extrapolated gender- and age-specific smoking prevalence in Germany back to the 1920s. The exploration of these data, together with an analysis of lung cancer mortality by age-period-cohort models shows that the increase of smoking and lung cancer is modulated by factors related to the country-specific socio-economic environment and that it proceeds in waves. Though recent data indicate a decline in the prevalence of smoking among both sexes, Germany is now on the way to having a similar smoking-related cancer mortality to those countries in the world which previously had a much higher rate, but have intervened vigorously. The refusal in Germany to adopt actions such as those successfully implemented to save lives in these countries means that the German population is exposed to avoidable risks, whose effects can be counted in the terms of the thousands of lives that might have been saved each year.

For the analysis of time trends in incidence and mortality rates, the age-period-cohort (apc) model has became a widely accepted method. The considered data are arranged in a two-way table by age group and calendar period, which are mostly subdivided into 5- or 10-year intervals. The disadvantage of this approach is the loss of information by data aggregation and the problems of estimating interactions in the two-way layout without replications. In this article we show how splines can be useful when yearly data, i.e., 1-year age groups and 1-year periods, are given. The estimated spline curves are still smooth and represent yearly changes in the time trends. Further, it is straightforward to include interaction terms by the tensor product of the spline functions. If the data are given in a nonrectangular table, e.g., 5-year age groups and 1-year periods, the period and cohort variables can be parameterized by splines, while the age variable is parameterized as fixed effect levels, which leads to a semiparametric apc model. An important methodological issue in developing the nonparametric and semiparametric models is stability of the estimated spline curve at the boundaries. Here cubic regression splines will be used, which are constrained to be linear in the tails. Another point of importance is the nonidentifiability problem due to the linear dependency of the three time variables. This will be handled by decomposing the basis of each spline by orthogonal projection into constant, linear, and nonlinear terms, as suggested by Holford (1983, Biometrics 39, 311-324) for the traditional apc model. The advantage of using splines for yearly data compared to the traditional approach for aggregated data is the more accurate curve estimation for the nonlinear trend changes and the simple way of modeling interactions between the time variables. The method will be demonstrated with hypothetical data as well as with cancer mortality data.

Age-Period-Cohort (APC) models have become a widely accepted method to analyse incidence and mortality rates of cancer or other diseases. In this paper we compare simple descriptive methods such as plotting age-specific rates and standardized rates with regression models in order to investigate mortality rates of Morbus Hodgkin's disease in Germany (West-Germany) between 1955 and 1989. With any of the approaches it can be seen that the mortality of Morbus Hodgkin's disease has been decreasing around 1970. Although APC-models allow some detailed investigation of the separate influence of the age, period and cohort effect, the results are difficult to interpret as there is no unique solution for the parameter estimates (identification problem of APC-models). For the mortality of Morbus Hodgkin's, the result of the APC-modelling shows that the decrease of mortality is overestimated if the cohort effect is not taken into consideration. We therefore conclude that the interpretation of the APC-model should be done in connection with other methods to avoid misinterpretation. The combination of both approaches will lead to a better understanding of the incidence or mortality patterns of cancer.

For an optimized bioreactor design which is adapted to the cultivation of sensitive animal cells different modular bioreactor components for gentle agitation, sufficient aeration and long-term perfusion were developed and investigated with respect to their suitability from laboratory to production scale. Aeration systems have been designed for both shear sensitive cells and cells which tolerate bubbles. The systems are based on either membranes for bubble-free aeration or stainless steel sparger systems. They were characterized by determination of their oxygen transfer capacity and optimized in cultivation processes of different cell lines under process conditions such as batch and perfusion mode. Different impellers for suspension cells and cells grown on carriers were investigated for their suitability to ensure homogeneous gentle mixing. A large pitch blade impeller as well as a novel 3-blade segment impeller are appropriate for homogeneous mixing at low shear rates. Especially with the 3-blade segment impeller fluid mechanical stress can be reduced at a given stirrer speed which is advantageous for the cultivation of cells attached to microcarriers or extremely shear sensitive suspension cells. However, our results indicate that shear sensitivity of animal cells has been generally overestimated. Continuous perfusion of both suspension cell cultures and cells cultivated on microcarriers could be successfully performed over extended periods of time using stainless steel spinfilters with appropriate pore sizes and systems based on microporous hydrophilic membranes. Spinfilters are suitable cell retention systems for technical scale bioreactors allowing continuous perfusion cultures of suspension cells (pore size 10 to 20 microns) as well as anchorage dependent cells grown on microcarriers (pore size 75 microns) over six weeks to 3 months. Applying the developed modules for agitation, aeration and perfusion process adapted bioreactor set-ups can be realized which ensure optimum growth and product formation conditions in order to maximize cell and product yields.

This paper reports on the case of a 38-year-old woman with multiple stenoses in the proximal and middle section of the jejunum, as well as in the terminal ileum, who had been symptomatic for nine years, with symptoms progressively reflecting obstruction due to mechanical subileus. The cause was found to be extragenital endometriosis which, with the mucosa remaining intact, was associated with hormone-dependent bleeding with subsequent fibrosis leading to segmental thickening of the bowel wall and narrowing of the lumen. The diagnostic work-up included a radiological study of the small bowel as described by Sellingk, abdominal sonography and a CT exam; the X-ray study and the CT scan revealed stenosing of the bowel, while sonography and CT showed wall thickening. The treatment of this condition comprises resection of the affected bowel segment together with anti-estrogen treatment or ovariectomy, and in this respect differs notable from the more common Crohn's disease of the small bowel, from which it must be diagnostically differentiated.

Contacts between tet operator DNA and Tet repressor protein are characterized by modification interference studies. The modified DNA fragments are separated into fractions with high, intermediate and low affinities for Tet repressor by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Ethylation of the phosphates with N-ethylnitrosourea reveals 12 contacts of a repressor dimer to tet operator. Eight of these contacts appear to be important for Tet repressor binding, as judged by the strong interference at these positions, while four contacts are probably less important. All of the phosphate contacts are located on the same side of the B-DNA structure. The sequences of tet operators proposed to interact with the recognition alpha-helix of Tet repressor are TCTATC in three cases and CCTATC in one case. After methylation of N-7 with dimethylsulfate, strong interference is observed at the guanine residues at positions +/- 2. None of the N-7 functions of other guanine residues seems to be involved in tight contacts to Tet repressor. Tet repressor subunits form identical phosphate and guanine N-7 contacts with each half side of the two tet operators indicating twofold dyad symmetry of the complexes. Attempts to analyze the methylation interference at the adenine N-3 sites reveal different results for the operators. Modification of DNA fragments with diethylpyrocarbonate yields hypersensitive sites in the tet operators, indicating different local DNA structures. Carbethoxylation interference studies confirm the contacts at the purines found by methylation interference. All of the sequence-specific protein-DNA contacts detected in this study are centered at the inside four base-pairs in each tet operator half side. The contacts are discussed with respect to the structure of the repressor-operator complex.