The impact of digital presence and use of information technology on business performance of veterinary practices: a case study of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Introduction: The veterinary profession is facing various challenges in the 21st century, such as livestock production intensification, shifting distribution of infectious diseases, growing focus on food safety alongside growing demand for companion animals' veterinary services. Information technologies and digitalization trends had driven changes in many business sectors, including providing veterinary services thus opening new avenues to overcome the existing challenges this profession is facing. Methods: A study was conducted among 244 veterinary practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The gathered information related to subjects involving digital presence, the utilization of information technologies, and the business performance. To obtain this information, a personalized questionnaire was utilized as the means for collecting data. Results: The study revealed that only 10.2% had a business-associated website, and 54.9% were present on at least one social media platform. The study suggests that a positive impact on annual profit can be achieved through the implementation of effective digital marketing strategies such as web presence, search engine optimization, Google business account existence, website Google advertisement, continuous administration of social media, and social media advertisement. The statistical analysis indicates that Google advertisements, website search engine optimization, and social media advertisements greatly affect annual profit. Discussion: Improving digital presence of veterinary businesses with professionally managed websites, use of social media platforms, investment in online marketing strategies, and adopting telehealth services and online access to patient records positively affects business performance and better fits the growing needs of clients and society.

Distribution of ticks in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ticks are one of the important groups of parasites, whose populations have increased in Europe in the last 20 years and, as vectors of many emerging diseases, are a major threat to human and animal health. Bosnia and Herzegovina has both climate and environmental conditions favorable for ticks. Given this risk, the aim of this study was to identify tick species currently present in this country and to compare the findings with previous studies, in order to update information on their spatial distribution and other parameters of occurrence. From March 2017 to April 2020, ticks were collected in 42 sampling areas (municipalities) throughout the country. Prespecified identification keys were used for identifying the ticks to the species level. A total of 6193 tick specimens from the Ixodidae family were collected from animal hosts or from vegetation. Ixodes ricinus was the most dominant tick species found. However, our results indicate a decrease in the relative contribution of this tick species to the overall abundance of tick populations. Dermacentor marginatus, which almost doubled in abundance compared to earlier studies, is the second most common tick species. We further confirmed the presence of Dermacentor reticulatus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, Hyalomma marginatum and Haemaphysalis punctata. Ixodes hexagonus, Ixodes canisuga and Haemaphysalis concinna, which were previously reported at low abundance were not found amongst our specimens.

Contamination of Soil and Vegetation with Developmental Forms of Parasites in the Area of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

BACKGROUND: According to the WHO (2019), more than 1.5 billion people worldwide are infected with soil-transmitted parasites. Previous research in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H) was mainly conducted in the area of the Sarajevo Canton. Therefore, the aim of the research was to explore contamination of soil and vegetation with developmental forms of parasites in the other cantons of FB&H. METHODS: Between Apr and Oct 2018, a total of 1,618 soil and vegetation samples were taken from 386 different locations in the 9 cantons of the FB&H. RESULTS: Positive samples were observed, 65/66 (98.48%) municipalities/cities and on 239/386 (61.92%) locations. Out of 1,618 samples taken in total (1,263 soil samples and 355 vegetation samples), 357 (22.06%) were positive, out of which 337 (26.68%) and 20 (5.63%) were soil and plant samples, respectively. In total, the following adult and developmental forms were identified: Taeniidae eggs (7.30%), Toxocara spp. eggs (62.08%), Ancylostomatidae eggs (25.00%), Trichuris spp. eggs (9.55%), Capillaria spp. eggs (3.37%), Toxascaris leonina eggs (1.40%), Nematodes larvae (19.38%), Giardia duodenalis cysts (5.06%), Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts (1.4%), oocysts and cysts of different species of Protozoa (3.93%). CONCLUSION: The identified developmental forms of parasites pose a permanent threat to human health. It is necessary to carry out measures to reduce the contamination of soil and vegetation in coordination with systematic solutions (legislation), paralelly with contribution of animal owners, veterinarians, physicians, ecologists, parents and all the others involved in this issue.

Phylogenetic pattern of SARS-CoV-2 from COVID-19 patients from Bosnia and Herzegovina: lessons learned to optimize future molecular and epidemiological approaches.

This is the first report of molecular and epidemiology findings from Bosnia and Herzegovina related to ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 epidemic. Whole genome sequence of four samples from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks was done in two laboratories in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Veterinary Faculty Sarajevo and Alea Genetic Center). All four BiH sequences cluster mainly with European ones (Italy, Austria, France, Sweden, Cyprus, and England). The constructed phylogenetic tree indicates possible multiple independent introduction events. The data presented contribute to a better understanding of COVID-19 in the current reemergence of the disease.

Reproductive Performance in a Selected Sample of Dairy Farms in Una-Sana Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

BACKGROUND: The production of milk and dairy products and their placement on the market represent a constant profit for the farmers/producers in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH). The profitable operation of the dairy farms is influenced by the reproductive performance of the lactating animals. This study assessed individual animal reproductive characteristics in selected dairy farms and described their reproductive performance indicators. RESULTS: The median age at first insemination was 493 days (5th-95th percentile range 429-840), while the age at first calving was 802 days (5th-95th percentile range 708-1168). The median pregnancy proportion at first insemination was 40% (5th-95th percentile range 17-62), while the cumulative pregnancy rate calculated at day-60, day-80, day-100, and day-120 showed that approximately 64% of all pregnancies happened before day-120. The calculated interservice intervals showed that approximately 69% of the repeat breeding animals came back to the oestrus in the period of 18 to 24 days. This is an indication of very good oestrus detection in selected dairy farms. The mean number of services per pregnancy was 2.61 (range 1-12). The median calving-to-first-insemination interval was 62.5 days (5th-95th percentile range 16-408). The calving-to-conception interval was 101 day (5th-95th percentile range 36-506). Finally, the calving interval was 385 days (5th-95th percentile range 329-773). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for an organised, regular, and more comprehensive recording system for the reproduction of dairy cattle among dairy farms in Una-Sana Canton. The calculated reproductive measures indicated an undulant trend in reproductive performance among selected dairy farms in Una-Sana Canton. Knowing the apparent reproductive indicators described in this study, the farmers and veterinary authorities may identify and correct areas in their management that contribute to the reproductive underperformance.

The serostatus of Brucella spp., Chlamydia abortus, Coxiella burnetii and Neospora caninum in cattle in three cantons in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

BACKGROUND: Dairy production in Bosnia and Herzegovina exhibits limited productivity, which may partly, be explained by extensive reproductive problems of non-infectious and infectious origin. Brucella spp., Chlamydia abortus, Coxiella burnetii and Neospora caninum are common infectious causes of decreased reproductive outcomes in cattle worldwide. Little is, however, known about the disease status of herds with reduced reproductive performances. A cross-sectional study was designed to document the status of these pathogens in dairy cattle in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 1970 serum samples were collected from cattle in farms located in three cantons (regions). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays were used to screen for seropositivity against four selected pathogens. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence was estimated at both the herd level and at individual level for each pathogen. At the individual animal level, the prevalence for C. abortus, C. burnetii, N. caninum and Brucella spp. was 52.1% (95% CI: 41.2-62.7), 8.8% (95% CI: 5.3-14.2), 9.2% (95% CI: 6.0-12.3 and 0.2% (95% CI: 0.1-0.5), respectively. The corresponding estimates for herd level were 87.9% (95% CI: 82.6-91.8), 19.6% (95% CI: 14.6-25.8), 35.2% (95% CI: 28.8-42.1), and 1.5% (95% CI: 0.5-4.6). A substantial overlap was observed in the presence of N. caninum, C. abortus and C. burnetii at individual and herd level. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated a high level of antibodies to Chlamydia abortus. Considering the association of this agent with reproductive disorders in cattle, future studies should be directed to the epidemiological traits of this infection. Additionally, the relatively high levels of exposure to C. burnetii and N. caninum found in this study highlights the need for targeted control of infectious causes of reproductive disorders in dairy cattle of the studied areas. Given the low seroprevalence, Brucella spp. does not seem to represent a problem in the reproductive health of cattle in the studied areas.

Beta lactam antibiotics residues in cow's milk: comparison of efficacy of three screening tests used in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Beta lactam antibiotics are widely used in therapy of cattle, particularly for the treatment of mastitis.  Over 95% of residue testing in dairies in Bosnia and Herzegovina is for Beta lactams. The aim of this paper is to compare the efficacy of three most common screening tests for Beta lactam residues in cow's milk in our country. The tests used in the study are SNAP ß Lactam test (Idexx), Rosa Charm ß Lactam test and Inhibition MRL test. Study samples included: standardized concentrations of penicillin solution (0, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ppb). In addition we tested milk samples from three equal size study groups (not receiving any antibiotic therapy, treated with Beta lactams for mastitis and treated with Beta lactams for diseases other than mastitis). Sensitivity and specificity were determined for each test, using standard penicillin concentrations with threshold value set at concentration of 4 ppb (Maximum residue level - MLR). Additionally we determined proportions of presumably false negative and false positive results for each test using results of filed samples testing. Agreement of test results for each test pair was assessed through Kappa coefficients interpreted by Landis-Koch scale. Detection level of all tests was shown to be well below MRL. This alongside with effects of natural inhibitors in milk contributed to finding of positive results in untreated and treated animals after the withholding period. Screening tests for beta lactam residues are important tools for ensuring that milk for human consumption is free from antibiotics residues.

Brucellosis of ruminants in Bosnia and Herzegovina: disease status, past experiences and initiation of a new surveillance strategy.

The current animal health situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina requires the prioritization of diseases for the application of control measures. One of the diseases requiring high priority is brucellosis of ruminants. Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease and one of the most important zoonoses in the world. Brucellosis has been recognized during the past five decades as an important infectious disease in ruminants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Control and eradication of brucellosis in animals is based on test and slaughter control policy. When the existing brucellosis control program was instituted, the veterinary and animal production sector was almost exclusively owned by the government, an arrangement that promoted compliance with the program and resulted in the successful control of the disease. This paper provides an overview of the current institutional and legislative framework for brucellosis control including the laboratory detection system and the epidemiological status of brucellosis in ruminants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Relevant data were collected during the period spanning from the beginning of 2001 until the middle of 2007. Data we collected reveal an increase in the number of reported outbreaks in ruminants as well as a related increase in the number of human cases. This has brought serious consequences to public health, animal health and production and international trade.

Human Coxiella burnetii infections in regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2002.

Acute infections in humans and animals caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) are becoming an important medical problem for Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). From a clinical and epidemiological aspect, Q fever represents a complex medical problem, considering that one of the highest incidence rates of Q fever in Europe has been recorded during the last few years in B&H. The first case of this disease in B&H was described in 1950, by Muray et al., and the first epidemic, with 16 infected individuals, was recorded the same year. Confirmed animal infections by C. burnetii in B&H were first reported in 1985 when, of all tested sheep, positive results were found in 12.4%. During 2001, 2.11% of tested sheep and goats were found to have a positive result, which was also confirmed by studies from the following years in particular regions of B&H. These studies suggest that endemic loci of infected animals are established in particular geographic regions in B&H, which is important to emphasize for better understanding of the sources and routes of C. burnetii transmission to the human population. This conclusion is based on the studies from 2000, when 2.17% of positive cattle, 1.85% of positive sheep, and 0.27% of positive goats were registered. During the same period, in B&H, in 6 different regions, 156 individuals with Q fever were registered as were 3 separate epidemics with 115 infected individuals. Official data on the number of detected animal C. burnetii infections during 2002 suggest that 10 positive cattle and 88 positive sheep or goats were registered. During 2003, 24 positive cattle, 29 positive goats, and 167 positive sheep were detected, while in 2004, 71 positive cattle, 4 positive goats, 37 positive sheep, and 72 positive animals from the sheep-goat group were registered. According to official reports from 2001, 19 individuals with Q fever were registered in B&H, while in 2002, the number of infected individuals increased to 250. In five cantons in B&H, 43 infected individuals were registered during 2002, while in Republika Srpska of B&H, 207 infected individuals in the region of Banja Luka were registered. From 1998 to 2003, 373 individuals with Q fever were reported in B&H, whereof 265 individuals (71.04%) were infected during epidemics, and 108 (28.95%) sporadically. Q fever incidence rates in B&H were high during 1998 (5.68%ooo) and very high in 2000, with 115 individuals with an acute clinical form and an incidence rate of 6.95%ooo. The incubation time varied between 9 and 28 days.