Microsatellite diversity of the Nordic type of goats in relation to breed conservation: how relevant is pure ancestry?

In the last decades, several endangered breeds of livestock species have been re-established effectively. However, the successful revival of the Dutch and Danish Landrace goats involved crossing with exotic breeds and the ancestry of the current populations is therefore not clear. We have generated genotypes for 27 FAO-recommended microsatellites of these landraces and three phenotypically similar Nordic-type landraces and compared these breeds with central European, Mediterranean and south-west Asian goats. We found decreasing levels of genetic diversity with increasing distance from the south-west Asian domestication site with a south-east-to-north-west cline that is clearly steeper than the Mediterranean east-to-west cline. In terms of genetic diversity, the Dutch Landrace comes next to the isolated Icelandic breed, which has an extremely low diversity. The Norwegian coastal goat and the Finnish and Icelandic landraces are clearly related. It appears that by a combination of mixed origin and a population bottleneck, the Dutch and Danish Land-races are separated from the other breeds. However, the current Dutch and Danish populations with the multicoloured and long-horned appearance effectively substitute for the original breed, illustrating that for conservation of cultural heritage, the phenotype of a breed is more relevant than pure ancestry and the genetic diversity of the original breed. More in general, we propose that for conservation, the retention of genetic diversity of an original breed and of the visual phenotype by which the breed is recognized and defined needs to be considered separately.

Incorporating a social networking approach to enhance contact tracing in a heterosexual outbreak of syphilis.

OBJECTIVE: This report describes the outcomes of a social networking approach (SNA) in a heterosexually transmitted syphilis epidemic by street nurses in British Columbia, Canada. METHODS: Street nurses used SNA interviewing cues, environmental observation, peer outreach, serial interviewing, conducted blood tests, and offered treatment on the street. Rates of cases of syphilis identified by outreach nurses and cases linked to another case were compared before and after adoption of an SNA. RESULTS: SNA resulted in a significantly increased proportion of cases identified by the street nurses (p = 0.01) and increased the percentage of cases linked to a previous case (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: This preliminary study confirms that SNA can increase the number of cases and contacts identified in an epidemic of a sexually transmitted disease in a vulnerable, hard to reach population.

Fat intake in patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes: a 4-year follow-up study in general practice.

BACKGROUND: Although treatment targets for the consumption of dietary fat in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are well accepted, little is known about the actual fat consumption by newly diagnosed patients or the dietary adjustments that they make in the following years. AIMS: To measure fat intake in patients with type 2 diabetes in general practice at diagnosis, shortly after dietary consultation, and after 4 years. DESIGN OF STUDY: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Thirty-three general practices in The Netherlands. METHOD: One hundred and forty-four patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were referred to a dietician, and fat consumption (the main outcome measure) was assessed with a 104-item food frequency questionnaire at diagnosis, 8 weeks following diagnosis, and after 4 years. Reference values for fat consumption were obtained from an age-matched sample of a population-based survey. RESULTS: At diagnosis, total energy intake was 10.6 MJ/day and cholesterol intake was 300 mg/day. Total fat consumption was 40.9% of energy intake, with saturated fatty acids 15.0%, monounsaturated fatty acids 14.3%, and polyunsaturated fatty acids 9.2% of energy intake. All levels, except for polyunsaturated fatty acids, were significantly unfavourable compared with those for the general population. After 8 weeks, consumption of saturated fatty acids had decreased to a lower level than in the general population and all other levels measured were similar to those for the general population. After 4 years there was a slight increase in the consumption of total fat and monounsaturated fatty acids, but cholesterol and saturated fatty acid consumption had decreased further. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes have an unfavourable fat consumption at diagnosis. They adapt to a more desirable consumption shortly after diagnosis, and this improved dietary behaviour is sustained for 4 years. Recommendations regarding consumption of total and saturated fat are, in contrast to those for cholesterol, not met by patients in general practice.

[Udder infections with coagulase-negative staphylococci in freshly calved heifers]. / Uierinfecties met coagulase negatieve stafylococcen (CNS) bij nieuwmelkte vaarzen.

To determine the prevalence of udder infections in fresh calved heifers all quarters of 98 heifers on eleven commercial farms were sampled weekly during the first eight weeks of lactation. The samples during the first four weeks of this period were used for bacteriological examination and in all samples a somatic cell count was made. The prevalence of S. aureus after calving in these heifers was 12.5%. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were isolated from half of the heifers. The predominant coagulase-negative staphylococcus species were S. xylosis and S. hyicus. The CNS, with exception of S. hyicus, had a very small effect on the cell count.