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Background: The increasing popularity of objective gait analysis makes application in prepurchase examinations (PPE) a logical next step. Therefore, there is a need to have more understanding of asymmetry during a PPE in horses described on clinical evaluation as subtly lame. Objectives: The objective of this study is to objectively compare asymmetry in horses raising minor vet concerns in a PPE and in horses raising major vet concerns with that found in horses presented with subtle single-limb lameness, and to investigate the effect of age/discipline on the clinicians' interpretation of asymmetry on the classification of minor vet concerns in a PPE. Study Design: Clinical case-series. Methods: Horses presented for PPE (n = 98) or subjectively evaluated as single limb low-grade (1–2/5) lame (n = 24, 13 forelimb lame, 11 hindlimb lame), from the patient population of a single clinic, were enrolled in the study provided that owners were willing to participate. Horses undergoing PPE were assigned a classification of having minor vet concerns (n = 84) or major vet concerns (n = 14) based on findings during the dynamic-orthopaedic part of the PPE. Lame horses were only included if pain-related lameness was confirmed by an objective improvement after diagnostic analgesia exceeding daily variation determined for equine symmetry parameters using optical motion capture. Clinical evaluation was performed by six different clinicians, each with ≥8 years of equine orthopaedic experience. Vertical movement symmetry was measured using optical motion capture, simultaneously with the orthopaedic examination. Data were analysed using previously described parameters and mixed model analysis and least squares means were used to calculate differences between groups. Results: There was no effect of age or discipline on the levels of asymmetry within PPE horses raising minor vet concerns. MinDiff and RUD of the head discriminated between forelimb lame and PPE horses raising minor vet c

Uit literatuur en praktijkervaring komen aanwijzingen dat na uitladen een verhoogd risico kan bestaan op Campylobacter in de achterblijvende kuikens in de stal. Dit kan verschillende oorzaken hebben. Mogelijk is het vooral een effect van leeftijd (hoe langer dieren worden gehouden, hoe groter het risico op insleep van Campylobacter in de koppel). Maar ook kan tijdens het proces van uitladen ongewild sprake zijn van het naar binnen brengen van Campylobacter vanuit de omgeving, bijvoorbeeld via schoeisel, kleding en/of materialen van de vangploeg of via insecten die binnenkomen wanneer deuren zijn geopend. Ook is een van de mogelijkheden dat op containers die worden gebruikt voor uit- en wegladen nog levende/kweekbare Campylobacters aanwezig kunnen zijn. In deze studie is gekeken in hoeverre containers na reiniging en desinfectie op het slachthuis nog besmet zijn met Campylobacter. Een bemonstering van containers op een Nederlands slachthuis liet zien dat na reiniging en desinfectie nog steeds Campylobacter aanwezig kan zijn.

We report here the complete genome sequence of the widely studied Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serovar 8 reference strain 405, generated using the Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) RS II platform. Furthermore, we compared draft sequences generated by Illumina sequencing of six stocks of this strain, including the same original stock used to generate the PacBio sequence, held in different countries and found little genetic variation, with only three SNPs identified, all within the degS gene. However, sequences of two small plasmids, pARD3079 and p405tetH, detected by Illumina sequencing of the draft genomes were not identified in the PacBio sequence of the reference strain.

RIVM rapport:Zoönosen zijn infectieziekten die van dieren naar mensen kunnen worden overgedragen. Evenals in vorige jaren waren er in 2018 geen opmerkelijke veranderingen te zien in de mate waarin zoönosen voorkomen in Nederland. Ook in 2018 zorgden bacteriële infecties via voedsel, zoals Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella en STEC, voor de meeste infecties bij mensen. Het aantal mensen met een STEC-infectie is, na de daling van de afgelopen jaren, weer iets gestegen ten opzichte van 2017. In 2014 is het aantal gevallen van leptospirose sterk gestegen, waarna het aantal langzaam is afgenomen. De ziekte kan onder andere worden opgelopen door te zwemmen in oppervlaktewater dat met rattenurine is besmet. Ook in 2018 is het aantal gevallen weer lager, maar nog wel hoger dan voor 2014. Teken kunnen diverse zoönosen overbrengen. De ziekte van Lyme is de bekendste en komt het meest voor. Een minder bekende zoönose is een infectie met Borrelia miyamotoi. In 2018 is voor de tweede keer in Nederland bij iemand deze diagnose gesteld. Net als in de afgelopen drie jaar zijn de Nederlandse vogels (vooral merels) ook in 2018 hard getroffen door het Usutuvirus. Deze zoönose veroorzaakte nauwelijks ernstige ziekteverschijnselen bij mensen. Dit blijkt uit de Staat van Zoönosen 2018. Het RIVM geeft elk jaar een overzicht van de zoönosen die voor Nederland van belang zijn en welke ontwikkelingen daarin te zien zijn. Het gaat om de zoönosen die onder andere vanwege hun besmettelijkheid moeten worden gemeld bij de GGD (voor mensen) of de NVWA (voor dieren). Het themahoofdstuk van de Staat van Zoonosen gaat dit jaar over preventie van zoönosen, met de nadruk op de productieketen van dierlijk voedsel. Het hoofdstuk geeft onder andere een globaal overzicht van maatregelen in Nederland om zoönosen bij mensen te voorkomen. Zo worden melkgeiten gevaccineerd tegen q-koorts. Het personeel van slachterijen treft hygiënemaatregelen om te voorkomen dat zij zichzelf en het vlees besmetten. Voorbeel, Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be transmitted to people from animals. As in previous years, there were no striking changes in the incidence of zoonoses in the Netherlands in 2018. In 2018 too, food-borne bacteria, such as Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), caused the most infections in people. After having fallen in recent years, the number of people with a STEC infection rose slightly compared with 2017.In 2014, the number of cases of leptospirosis increased steeply, after which it slowly decreased. The disease can be contracted in various ways, including by swimming in surface water that is contaminated with rat's urine. The number fell again in 2018 but is still higher than before 2014. Ticks are able to transmit various zoonoses, the best known and most common of which is Lyme disease. A lesser known zoonosis is the infection caused by Borrelia miyamotoi. The second case of this disease in the Netherlands was diagnosed in 2018. Dutch birds, primarily blackbirds, were badly hit by the Usutu virus in 2018, as was the case in the previous three years. This zoonosis rarely causes severe symptoms in peopleThis is according to the findings published in RIVM's State of Zoonoses 2018. Every year, RIVM publishes an overview of the zoonoses, and related developments, that are important for the Netherlands. The publication covers zoonoses of which cases among people must be reported to the Municipal Public Health Services (GGD) and cases among animals, to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). This year, the focus chapter of the State of Zoonoses discusses prevention, with the emphasis on the production chains of foods of animal origin. It also gives an overall summary of the measures taken in the Netherlands to prevent zoonoses in people. For example, milk goats are vaccinated against Q fever. The personnel at abattoirs take hygiene measures to prevent themselves and the meat t

Evisceration is one of the key steps during processing of broilers at which carcasses may become contaminated with faecal material, a major source of Campylobacter. Faecal leakage typically occurs through damage of intestines when processing equipment is improperly adjusted. It has been shown that the number of carcasses contaminated with faeces varies between slaughterhouses and is associated with the compliance of food handlers with procedures on setting and controlling of the evisceration equipment. Improved compliance with these procedures could thus reduce faecal contamination, but interventions addressing this approach are currently lacking. Nudges, defined amongst other as changes in the presentation of various choice alternatives in such a way that makes the desired choice easier, automatic or default, are frequently used in marketing to guide consumer choices. Such strategies could guide behaviour and choices of food handlers during broiler processing towards handlings that reduce faecal contamination. This study explored the use of nudges as cost-effective interventions to direct behaviour of food handlers (operators and post mortem inspectors) during broiler processing. Nudges were designed specifically for this study with the aim to improve controlling and adjusting of the evisceration equipment as well as to improve treatment of carcasses with visible faecal contamination.

In the Netherlands, nearly half of all produced broiler flocks are colonised with Campylobacter at time of slaughter. Factors that play a role in the infection of broiler farms by Campylobacter are however not understood very well. The aim of this short research project is to explore the importance of between-farm transmission for the infection of broiler farms in the Netherlands by Campylobacter.

Dit rapport beschrijft de resultaten van één van de vier onderzoekslijnen waarin onderzocht is of de mate van uitwendige vervuiling van vleeskuikens bij aankomst in slachthuis van invloed is op de mate van besmetting van het eindproduct. Een dergelijke relatie zou kansen bieden voor sturing met gebruik van bestaande registratiesystemen.

Campylobacter remains the most common reported zoonotic pathogen in humans in the European Union since 2008 (EFSA, 2018). Poultry is a major source of human infection with Campylobacter, although the epidemiology of Campylobacter at broiler farms is still poorly understood. The purpose of the study was to investigate factors associated with the presence of Campylobacter on a selected number of broiler farms in the Netherlands. The investigations were conducted starting from spring/summer 2017 until autumn 2018. Faecal samples were collected on a weekly basis at 21 farms, from one, two or three houses. There were 38 houses participating in the study. Information on flock and farm characteristics including biosecurity measures was gathered via a questionnaire (CAMPAS) and food chain information forms (VKI forms). In addition activities (other than routine activities) at the farms were described by the farmers in log books. The collected data were used as putative variables for a risk factors analysis. In total 284 flocks were sampled of which 32% were positive for Campylobacter. A multivariate logistic regression model revealed three factors associated with presence of Campylobacter in broiler flocks. They included summer/autumn season, mowing premises in the surroundings of the farm and the previous Campylobacter positive flock in the house. Although the factor breed did not remain in the final model, there was a difference in the time of becoming infected between regular and slow growing breeds. With the available data set the thinning practice was not confirmed as a risk factor. Evaluation of the outcome of the biosecurity questionnaire (CAMPAS) revealed an association between both poor hygienic practices on farm as well as the number of houses on farms with Campylobacter presence. Some indicators addressed in the questionnaire however need adjustment to be used as a predictive tool for introduction of Campylobacter on broiler farms. More studies are needed to furt

In 2015 is een vierjarig onderzoeksproject (AF-14203) gestart in de vorm van een Publiek Private Samenwerking (PPS) onder het Topsectorenbeleid van het Ministerie van Economische Zaken. Binnen deze PPS ‘Beheersing van Campylobacter in de pluimveesector’ hebben de kennisinstellingen Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (voorheen Centraal Veterinair Instituut), Wageningen Livestock Research en de Faculteit Diergeneeskunde van de Universiteit Utrecht samengewerkt met NEPLUVI, PLUIMNED, LTO-NOP en NVP aan onderzoek naar reductie van Campylobacter dat zich richt op zowel de primaire bedrijven als op het slachtproces. Doel is om het aandeel Campylobacter besmette koppels, en hieruit voortkomend Campylobacter positief pluimveevlees, terug te dringen om zo het aantal ziektegevallen bij de mens te verlagen. Het project bestaat uit diverse onderzoekslijnen, gericht op zowel de primaire sector als op de pluimveeverwerkende sector (https://www.wur.nl/nl/project/Campylobacter-de-baas.htm).

In 2015 is een vierjarig onderzoeksproject (AF-14203) gestart in de vorm van een Publiek Private Samenwerking (PPS) onder het Topsectorenbeleid van het Ministerie van Economische Zaken. Binnen deze PPS ‘Beheersing van Campylobacter in de pluimveesector’ hebben de kennisinstellingen Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (voorheen Centraal Veterinair Instituut), Wageningen Livestock Research en de Faculteit Diergeneeskunde van de Universiteit Utrecht samengewerkt met NEPLUVI, PLUIMNED,LTO-NOP en NVP aan onderzoek naar reductie van Campylobacter dat zich richt op zowel de primaire bedrijven als op het slachtproces. Doel is om het aandeel Campylobacter besmette koppels, en hieruit voortkomend Campylobacter positief pluimveevlees, terug te dringen om zo het aantal ziektegevallen bij de mens te verlagen. Het project bestaat uit diverse onderzoekslijnen, gericht op zowel de primaire sector als op de pluimveeverwerkende sector (https://www.wur.nl/nl/project/Campylobacter-debaas.htm). In deze studie is onderzocht is of er verschillen bestaan in de hoeveelheid maternale antilichamen in eieren tussen twee types vleeskuikens, namelijk tussen reguliere en trager groeiende merken). Gekozen is voor de vijf merken die op het moment van dit onderzoek het meest worden gebruikt in de Nederlandse vleeskuikenhouderij; RG1 en RG2 zijn de meest voorkomende snelgroeiende merken, en SG1, SG2 en SG3 de meest gebruikte trager groeiende merken.

Tularaemia is a zoonotic disease, in Europe caused by Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica. Many lagomorphs and a variety of small rodents are wildlife species prone to develop clinical disease, while predators and scavengers are relatively resistant and may serve as sentinels. Blood samples from 656 Swedish wild predators and scavengers were serologically investigated using slide agglutination and microagglutination. In the slide agglutination test, 34 seropositive animals were detected, and they were found among all species investigated: brown bear (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), wild boar (Sus scrofa), wolf (Canis lupus) and wolverine (Gulo gulo). Due to haemolysis the microagglutination test was more difficult to read at low titres, and only 12 animals were classified as seropositive. F. tularensis subsp. holarctica was detected by a polymerase chain reaction in lymphatic tissues of the head in one brown bear, one red fox and one wolf. The significance of this finding regarding possible latency of infection is not clear. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that all predator and scavenger species included in this study may serve as sentinels for tularaemia in Sweden. Their role as reservoirs is unclear.

Background: Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) may carry pathogens that can be a risk for public health. Brown rats in the Netherlands were tested for the zoonotic pathogens Leptospira spp. and Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), in order to obtain insight in their prevalence. Methods and results: Cross-sectional studies were performed at four locations from 2011 to 2015. The rats were tested for Leptospira spp. using real-time PCR and/or culture resulting in a prevalence ranging between 33–57%. Testing for SEOV was done through an adapted human Seoul hantavirus ELISA and real-time RT-PCR. Although at several locations the ELISA indicated presence of SEOV antibodies, none could be confirmed by focus reduction neutralization testing. Conclusion: The results indicate a widespread presence of Leptospira spp. in brown rats in the Netherlands, including areas with a low leptospirosis incidence in humans. No evidence for circulation of SEOV was found in this study.

Tularemia is a zoonosis caused by different subspecies of the Gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis. We report the first case in the Netherlands of pneumonic tularemia caused by the F. tularensis subspecies holarctica after probable occupational inhalation of contaminated aerosols. Notification of cases of tularemia has been mandatory by law in the Netherlands since 1 November 2016.

Contains fulltext : 155596.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access), Two experiments were designed to study the time course of avoidance learning in spider fearfuls (SFs) under controlled experimental conditions. To achieve this, we employed an immersive virtual environment (IVE): While walking freely through a virtual art museum to search for specific paintings, the participants were exposed to virtual spiders. Unbeknown to the participants, only two of four museum rooms contained spiders, allowing for avoidance learning. Indeed, the more SF the participants were, the faster they learned to avoid the rooms that contained spiders (Experiment. 1), and within the first six trials, high fearfuls already developed a preference for starting their search task in rooms without spiders (Experiment 2). These results illustrate the time course of avoidance learning in SFs, and they speak to the usefulness of IVEs in fundamental anxiety research.